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.
If you’re looking for affordable options, Nineteen61 (1212 South Florida Avenue) and Texas Cattle Company-Lakeland, FL (735 E Main St) are great picks.
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″.
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 New Orleans and takes around 1h 44m.
Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by Brightline. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $12 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $22 for a 2h 39m trip. The train station in Lakeland is called Lakeland, and is located 0.7 km from the city center.
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 Fox and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Lakeland, including Jet Set Express, RedCoach and Megabus. From Lake Worth, the bus ride to Lakeland takes 282 km and will cost you around $24. From Fort Lauderdale, the ticket costs about $47 for a journey of 386 km. Lakeland’s bus station is located 5 km from the city center.
Average rates range from around $179 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $81 and up for a 5-star experience.
Renting a car in Lakeland costs $49 per day, on average, or $197 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, 23% 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 (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Juke or similar) are, on average, 63% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.