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 4 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, Nineteen61 (1212 South Florida Avenue) and Texas Cattle Company-Lakeland, FL (735 E Main St) are great picks.

When to visit Lakeland

Lakeland in July
Estimated hotel price
$108
1 night at 3-star hotel
Lakeland in July
Estimated hotel price
$108
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 Atlanta and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $27 for a 2h 39m 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

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Lakeland, including Jet Set Express, Bus and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Lakeland takes 110 miles and will cost you around $34. From Lake Worth, the ticket costs about $23 for a journey of 165 miles. 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 Atlanta and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $27 for a 2h 39m 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

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Lakeland, including Jet Set Express, Bus and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Lakeland takes 110 miles and will cost you around $34. From Lake Worth, the ticket costs about $23 for a journey of 165 miles. 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

Lufthansa
Good (7,044 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,836 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,935 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,790 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (780 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,243 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (346 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,069 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,967 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,851 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
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Find flights to Lakeland

Where to stay in Lakeland

Average rates range from around $173 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $78 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 and Hampton Inn Lakeland. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Lakeland, with prices from $63 to $1,242 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Lakeland are about 10% 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
Hyatt Place Lakeland Center
3 stars
Good (7.8, 1051 reviews)
$119+
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Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeland
3 stars
Good (7.7, 1110 reviews)
$100+
View
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeland West
2 stars
Good (7.4, 1441 reviews)
$82+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Lakeland
2 stars
Okay (5.5, 1484 reviews)
$80+
View
Motel 6 Lakeland
2 stars
Okay (5, 1019 reviews)
$63+
View
Stayable Suites Lakeland
2 stars
Okay (4.3, 401 reviews)
$63+
View

Renting a car in Lakeland

Renting a car in Lakeland costs $54 per day, on average, or $218 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Avis, 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 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, 36% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Lakeland is Economy (Chevrolet Spark or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Chevrolet Equinox or similar) are, on average, 39% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Lakeland costs $54 per day, on average, or $218 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Avis, 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 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, 36% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Lakeland is Economy (Chevrolet Spark or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Chevrolet Equinox or similar) are, on average, 39% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Lakeland

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$27/day

Economy

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$28/day

Intermediate
Find car rentals in Lakeland

Lakeland Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Lakeland city guide for the best Lakeland travel tips. To help you organize your Lakeland trip ideas, this Lakeland visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.