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
$107
1 night at 3-star hotel
Lakeland in July
Estimated hotel price
$107
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 Columbus and takes around 2h 08m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by Train. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $34 for a 2h 50m 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 America Car Rental, 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 Columbus and takes around 2h 08m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by Train. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $34 for a 2h 50m 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 America Car Rental, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

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

Airlines serving Lakeland

KLM
Good (1,461 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,820 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,773 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,242 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,240 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,889 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,130 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,378 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,541 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,745 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (900 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,538 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,702 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,770 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,182 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,371 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,424 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,184 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (388 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,978 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Lakeland

Average rates range from around $160 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $99 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 $50 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 56% 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

Comfort Inn and Suites Lakeland
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 263 reviews)
$115+
Travelodge by Wyndham Lakeland
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1403 reviews)
$94+
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeland West
3 stars
Good (6.8, 1570 reviews)
$67+
Best Motel Lakeland
2 stars
Good (6.5, 573 reviews)
$71+
Stayable Lakeland
2 stars
Okay (4.7, 422 reviews)
$53+
Baymont Inn and Suites Lakeland
3 stars
Okay (4.3, 1442 reviews)
$66+

Renting a car in Lakeland

Renting a car in Lakeland costs $56 per day, on average, or $278 if you want to rent if for 5 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Lakeland is the Budget branch at 120 West Memorial Boulevard, 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, 36% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.29 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 $39.52 and $52.69. Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Lakeland, while also 41% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Lakeland costs $56 per day, on average, or $278 if you want to rent if for 5 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Lakeland is the Budget branch at 120 West Memorial Boulevard, 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, 36% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.29 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 $39.52 and $52.69. Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Lakeland, while also 41% cheaper than other types, on average.