Lakeland travel guide

Lakeland Tourism | Lakeland Guide

You're Going to Love Lakeland

With a population of 97,422, Lakeland is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Lakeland has to offer.

Where to Eat in Lakeland

If you’re looking for affordable options, Nineteen61 (1212 South Florida Avenue) and bd's Mongolian Grill - Lakeland (1474 Town Center Dr) are great picks.

When to visit Lakeland

Lakeland in December
Estimated hotel price
$117
1 night at 3-star hotel
Lakeland in December
Estimated hotel price
$117
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Lakeland in July, when the average temperature is 82.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 89.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 50 °F, with an average temperature of 60.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in August, when precipitation is around 8.5″. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Lakeland, with an average rainfall of 2.3″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Lakeland

Plane

Although Lakeland doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Tampa Airport (TPA), which is located 58 km from Lakeland. Sarasota Bradenton Intl is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, United Airlines, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Lakeland departs from Charlotte and takes around 1h 44m.

Train

Brightline is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from West Palm Beach, expect to pay about $25 for a 2h 12m trip. The train station in Lakeland is called Lakeland, and is located 0.7 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Lakeland is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 79 km from Lakeland. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Hertz, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Lakeland, including Jet Set Express, RedCoach and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Lakeland takes 185 km and will cost you around $16. From Lake Worth, the ticket costs about $47 for a journey of 266 km. Lakeland’s bus station is located 5 km from the city center.

Plane

Although Lakeland doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Tampa Airport (TPA), which is located 58 km from Lakeland. Sarasota Bradenton Intl is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, United Airlines, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Lakeland departs from Charlotte and takes around 1h 44m.

Train

Brightline is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from West Palm Beach, expect to pay about $25 for a 2h 12m trip. The train station in Lakeland is called Lakeland, and is located 0.7 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Lakeland is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 79 km from Lakeland. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Hertz, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Lakeland, including Jet Set Express, RedCoach and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Lakeland takes 185 km and will cost you around $16. From Lake Worth, the ticket costs about $47 for a journey of 266 km. Lakeland’s bus station is located 5 km from the city center.

Airports near Lakeland

Airlines serving Lakeland

Lufthansa
Good (4,681 reviews)
KLM
Good (846 reviews)
SWISS
Good (950 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,614 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,255 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,584 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (488 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,602 reviews)
Air France
Good (978 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,112 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,436 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,975 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,983 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (227 reviews)
Finnair
Good (856 reviews)
LOT
Good (677 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (930 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,168 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (838 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (412 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Lakeland

Average rates range from around $175 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $98 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Lakeland

Most booked hotels in Lakeland

Hyatt Place Lakeland Center
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 784 reviews)
$128+
Travelodge by Wyndham Lakeland
2 stars
Good (7.9, 1600 reviews)
$85+
Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeland
3 stars
Good (7.6, 962 reviews)
$75+
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Lakeland
2 stars
Okay (5.6, 948 reviews)
$58+
Stayable Lakeland
2 stars
Okay (4.5, 204 reviews)
$56+
Baymont Inn and Suites Lakeland
2 stars
Okay (4, 737 reviews)
$48+

Renting a car in Lakeland

Renting a car in Lakeland costs $46 per day, on average, or $182 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Budget, Avis and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Lakeland is the Hertz branch at 117 E Memorial Blvd, which is 2 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 19% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Lakeland (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Lakeland is Full-size (RAM Rebel or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Juke or similar) are, on average, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Lakeland costs $46 per day, on average, or $182 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Budget, Avis and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Lakeland is the Hertz branch at 117 E Memorial Blvd, which is 2 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 19% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Lakeland (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Lakeland is Full-size (RAM Rebel or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Juke or similar) are, on average, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.