Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

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 5 days in order to fully appreciate everything Lakeland has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Lakeland

If you’re looking for affordable options, Texas Cattle Company-Lakeland, FL (735 E Main St) and Terrace Grille (329 E Main Street) are great picks.

When to visit Lakeland

Lakeland in July
Estimated hotel price
$106
1 night at 3-star hotel
Lakeland in July
Estimated hotel price
$106
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

When flying to Lakeland, you’ll arrive at Lakeland Linder Intl (LAL), which is located 5 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Lakeland departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 1h 04m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by Train. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $12 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $45 for a 3h 07m trip. The train station in Lakeland is called Lakeland, and is located 0.4 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Lakeland is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 49 miles from Lakeland. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Lakeland’s bus station is located 3 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Lakeland, you’ll arrive at Lakeland Linder Intl (LAL), which is located 5 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Lakeland departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 1h 04m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by Train. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $12 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $45 for a 3h 07m trip. The train station in Lakeland is called Lakeland, and is located 0.4 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Lakeland is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 49 miles from Lakeland. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Lakeland’s bus station is located 3 miles from the city center.

Airports near Lakeland

SRQSarasota Bradenton Intl
TPATampa
ORLOrlando All airports

Airlines serving Lakeland

KLM
Good (1,434 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,653 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,011 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,614 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,113 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,818 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,057 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,114 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,690 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,443 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,513 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,555 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,337 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (884 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,105 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,624 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,339 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,419 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,528 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,152 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Lakeland

Where to stay in Lakeland

Average rates range from around $141 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $66 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lakeland North - I-4 By IHG and Travelodge by Wyndham Lakeland. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Lakeland, with prices from $48 to $320 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Lakeland are about 55% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Lakeland by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Lakeland

Most booked hotels in Lakeland

See all
Travelodge by Wyndham Lakeland
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1382 reviews)
$62+
View
Hyatt Place Lakeland Center
3 stars
Good (7.9, 1106 reviews)
$93+
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La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeland West
3 stars
Good (6.6, 1542 reviews)
$55+
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Best Motel Lakeland
2 stars
Good (6.3, 546 reviews)
$62+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Lakeland
2 stars
Good (6.2, 1536 reviews)
$51+
View
Baymont Inn and Suites Lakeland
3 stars
Okay (4.2, 1428 reviews)
$48+
View

Renting a car in Lakeland

Renting a car in Lakeland costs $52 per day, on average, or $261 if you want to rent if for 5 days. Avis, Hertz and Budget 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 1 mile from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 34% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.26 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 $39.07 and $52.09. The most frequently booked car type in Lakeland is Full-size (Chevrolet Suburban or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Jeep Compass or similar) are, on average, 45% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Lakeland costs $52 per day, on average, or $261 if you want to rent if for 5 days. Avis, Hertz and Budget 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 1 mile from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 34% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.26 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 $39.07 and $52.09. The most frequently booked car type in Lakeland is Full-size (Chevrolet Suburban or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Jeep Compass or similar) are, on average, 45% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Lakeland

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$24/day

Compact

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$24/day

Economy
Find car rentals in Lakeland