Explore Orlando: What's Just Outside the Nona Area

Nona residents get the best of both worlds: a quiet community and all of Orlando at the doorstep.

SeaWorld is about 15 miles away, Disney, Universal and downtown Orlando about 17 to 22 miles, and Cocoa Beach about 48 miles, so Lake Nona is well placed for day trips in every direction. Below is a guide to what's worth the drive, with a quick note on what you'll find at each. Things to do inside Lake Nona itself are on the Nona Fun attractions and entertainment hub.

On this page: Arts, Sports & Performance Venues · Beaches & Space Coast · Downtowns, Districts & Day Trips · Getting Around · Museums · Nature, Gardens & Springs · Theme Parks & Attractions · FAQ

Arts, Sports & Performance Venues

Camping World Stadium — bowl games, the Florida Classic & stadium concerts · west of downtown
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts — touring Broadway, the Orlando Ballet & concerts in the Walt Disney Theater & Steinmetz Hall · downtown Orlando
Hard Rock Live Orlando — a 3,000-capacity concert hall at Universal CityWalk
House of Blues Orlando — a standing-room music hall & live-music restaurant at Disney Springs
Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride soccer · downtown Orlando
Kia Center — Orlando Magic & Solar Bears games and arena concerts · downtown Orlando
Silver Spurs Arena — the Silver Spurs Rodeo, Osceola Magic basketball & concerts · Kissimmee
UCF Knights Games — Big 12 football at the Acrisure Bounce House, basketball on the main campus & tennis at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona

Beaches & Space Coast

Cocoa Beach & the Space Coast — the closest Atlantic beach, the Cocoa Beach Pier, rocket launches & Port Canaveral · about 48 miles east
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex — Space Shuttle Atlantis, the Rocket Garden & the Saturn V bus tour on Merritt Island
New Smyrna & Daytona Beach — drive-on Atlantic beaches, Flagler Avenue & Daytona International Speedway

Downtowns, Districts & Day Trips

Downtown Orlando — Lake Eola Park, the Sunday farmers market & downtown's arts and sports venues
Mills 50 & Audubon Park — Orlando's Vietnamese food district & the East End Market food hall
Mount Dora — antique shops, festivals, the Dora Canal & a lakeside lighthouse
Sanford — a historic downtown on Lake Monroe, breweries & the RiverWalk
Winter Garden — Plant Street dining, the Saturday farmers market, the Garden Theatre & the West Orange Trail
Winter Park — Park Avenue, Central Park, Rollins College & the Scenic Boat Tour

Getting Around

Brightline — intercity rail from Orlando International Airport to West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale & Miami
Orlando International Airport (MCO) — one of the nation's busiest airports, next door to Lake Nona, with an on-site Brightline station
Roads & Transportation — SR 417, the Beachline (SR 528), toll roads & how they connect Lake Nona
SunRail — weekday commuter rail through downtown Orlando, Winter Park & Sanford

Museums

Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art — the world's most comprehensive collection of Tiffany glass · Winter Park
Cultural Day Trips Planner — how Orlando's museums and stages cluster, which are free & how to plan a museum day or show night
Mennello Museum of American Art — American folk & fine art and a sculpture garden on Lake Formosa
Orange County Regional History Center — Central Florida history inside a restored 1927 courthouse · downtown Orlando
Orlando Museum of Art — American, African, contemporary & ancient Americas collections · Loch Haven Park
Orlando Science Center — hands-on science exhibits, a giant-screen dome theater & observatory · Loch Haven Park
Rollins Museum of Art — thousands of works from antiquity to today, free admission · Winter Park

Nature, Gardens & Springs

Central Florida Springs — Wekiwa Springs, Kelly Park tubing & Blue Spring's winter manatees
Gator Airboat Rides — the closest airboat tour, off Boggy Creek Road · about 7 miles away
Harry P. Leu Gardens — nearly 50 acres of botanical gardens on Lake Rowena

Theme Parks & Attractions

Crayola Experience — hands-on art for young kids inside The Florida Mall · about 14 miles away
Disney Springs — Disney's free-to-enter shopping, dining & entertainment district
Fun Spot America — free-admission go-karts & roller coasters in Orlando and Kissimmee
Gatorland — Orlando's original alligator park, open since 1949 · about 10 miles away
ICON Park — The Wheel, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE Aquarium & thrill rides on I-Drive
International Drive — the I-Drive corridor: attractions, dining, outlets & the Convention Center
LEGOLAND Florida & Peppa Pig Theme Park — two parks built for young children · Winter Haven
Pointe Orlando — steakhouses, nightlife, IMAX & WonderWorks across from the Convention Center
SeaWorld Orlando — marine life, thrill coasters, Aquatica & Discovery Cove · the closest major park
Universal Orlando Resort — Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, Volcano Bay & CityWalk
Walt Disney World — four theme parks, two water parks, mini golf & resort dining

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Lake Nona from the Orlando theme parks?

SeaWorld Orlando is the closest major park, about 15 miles from Lake Nona Town Center. Universal Orlando is about 17 to 19 miles away and Walt Disney World about 18 to 22 miles, mostly on SR 417 without I-4.

What is the closest beach to Lake Nona?

Cocoa Beach is the closest Atlantic beach, about 48 miles east on the Beachline (SR 528). Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is about 45 miles away on the same route.

What are the best historic downtowns near Lake Nona for a day trip?

Winter Park for Park Avenue and the Morse Museum, Winter Garden for Plant Street and the West Orange Trail, Sanford for its brick-street downtown and Lake Monroe RiverWalk, and Mount Dora for antiques, festivals and Lake Dora.

Where can I see a Broadway show or concert near Lake Nona?

Touring Broadway shows play the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and the Kia Center hosts Orlando Magic games and arena concerts. Both are downtown, about 22 miles from Lake Nona. Hard Rock Live at Universal CityWalk and House of Blues at Disney Springs host mid-size concerts, and Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee hosts concerts, family shows and the Silver Spurs Rodeo.

Are there natural springs near Lake Nona?

Yes. Wekiwa Springs, Kelly Park at Rock Springs and Blue Spring State Park are about 39 to 50 miles from Lake Nona. Blue Spring is a winter refuge for manatees from mid-November through March.

What theme parks are best for young children near Lake Nona?

LEGOLAND Florida, designed for ages 2 to 12, and Peppa Pig Theme Park, for toddlers and preschoolers, sit side by side in Winter Haven. Closer to home, Crayola Experience at The Florida Mall is a hands-on indoor option for young kids.

Thinking About a Move to Lake Nona?

Being central to all of it, from the parks and the coast to downtown and the airport, is a big part of Lake Nona's appeal. Let's talk about finding the right neighborhood as your home base: compare the Lake Nona neighborhoods, then Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form.