Getting Around Lakeland
Lakeland is a car-oriented Central Florida city, and most visitors find that a vehicle makes the trip far easier. That said, there are walkable pockets, a local bus network, and a handful of options for reaching the city from the region's major airports. Here's how the pieces fit together.
Orientation and Walkability
Walkability in Lakeland is limited overall, and a car is needed to reach much of the city. The good news is that the most visitor-friendly districts are compact and pleasant on foot. Downtown Lakeland and the East Lake Morton neighborhood are the standout pedestrian areas, with shops and restaurants reachable without a car. If you base yourself in one of those areas, you can cover a good deal of ground on foot; if you're staying anywhere else, plan on driving.
Rail: Amtrak and Thruway Connections
Lakeland is served by one long-distance Amtrak route, the Silver Star, which runs between New York City and Miami with a detour to and from Tampa. Note that travelling between Lakeland and Tampa is not permitted on this route, so don't count on it for that short hop.
Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach service extends the reach of the rail network, connecting Lakeland with Orlando, Tampa, Pinellas Park–St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Port Charlotte and Fort Myers. Thruway service is booked together with train travel through Amtrak, so you arrange it as part of your rail itinerary rather than as a standalone bus ticket.
Lakeland's railway station sits at 600 Lake Mirror Drive, on the northeast corner of downtown along Lake Mirror Drive, and is open daily from 10AM to 6PM. One quirk worth knowing: although there is only one Amtrak station in Lakeland, it carries two different station codes — LAK for travel between Lakeland and points north, and LKL for travel between Lakeland and points south. Onward connections from the station are relatively straightforward, with local Citrus Connection buses departing just outside.
Buses and Local Public Transport
Public transit in Polk County is provided by the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District, which operates as Citrus Connection. It functions as the unified countywide provider, having consolidated what were formerly three independent agencies — including Winter Haven Area Transit (WHAT), rural routes serving Bartow, Ft. Meade and Frostproof, and all paratransit service.
Citrus Connection runs a small fixed-route bus network covering routes throughout the Lakeland area. Coverage within the city is inconsistent and frequencies are limited, so it's best treated as a supplementary way to get around rather than your sole means of travel. For visitors, the most useful piece may be the Squeeze Shuttle Service, a free shuttle operating in Lakeland and Lake Wales and marketed as "Fun, Fast and Free."
Beyond the fixed routes, Citrus Connection offers several specialized services: countywide paratransit/ADA transportation for people with disabilities who are unable to ride fixed-route buses; a bookable door-to-door service aimed at physically, mentally, emotionally or economically disadvantaged individuals; and Bartow Mobility-On-Demand (MOD), an unshared, curb-to-curb service that also includes wheelchair transport. There is also a Regional Mobility Center acting as a one-call/one-click transportation resource coordinating with community providers, and a student program offering free public transportation in partnership with other organizations.
For intercity travel, connections to other cities are available through partnerships such as FlixBus. Lakeland also has a Greyhound station at 303 N Massachusetts Ave (☏ +1 863 682-3107), open Mon–Sat 7:30–9:30AM and 12:30–6:30PM, and Sun/holidays 7:30–9:30AM and 12:30–4PM. It's a couple of blocks north of downtown on the edge of a shady side of town, but close to the city's police headquarters.
Route changes and transit news are posted via Citrus Connection's Facebook and Instagram accounts, and a Quality Assurance Line is available for rider feedback. If you have planning questions, the agency accepts email at planning@ridecitrus.com.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Given the car-oriented layout and limited transit coverage, visitors should expect to rely on a rental car or their own vehicle for most trips, and to arrange any taxi or rideshare needs directly rather than assuming a dense, readily available supply.
Driving and Car Rental
Lakeland lies along Interstate 4, the main east–west highway across Central Florida, which makes it easy to reach by car and convenient as a base for exploring the region. Rental agencies in the city include Budget Car & Truck Rental at 120 W Memorial Blvd (☏ +1 863 682-1415); Enterprise Rent A Car at 619 E Memorial Blvd (☏ +1 863 682-0153), 4510 S Florida Ave (☏ +1 863 647-0866) and 4997 U.S. 98 S (☏ +1 863 815-7642); and Hertz Rent A Car at 117 E Memorial Blvd (☏ +1 863 683-2003) and at 3900 Don Emerson Dr (☏ +1 863 683-2003), the latter located at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.
Cycling
Lakeland is reasonably bike-friendly, with established trails including the Fort Fraser Trail and the Three Parks Trail for recreational riding. The Lake-to-Lake Bikeway is a well-known urban cycling route. Be aware that not all roads have dedicated bike lanes, so caution is advised where the infrastructure is less developed.
Getting There from the Airport
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL) is the city's own airport. As of 2026 it has service on Avelo Airlines to a limited number of destinations. In addition, the air taxi operator Atlantic Airlines (☏ +1-800-879-0000) offers air taxi service to a large list of airports throughout Florida, including both large airports and smaller municipal airports. Their aircraft accommodate two passengers plus luggage. Flights operate based on demand rather than a regular schedule, can be booked as soon as four hours before departure if aircraft are available, and don't require arriving two hours early for screening and check-in. The convenience comes at a price — as an example, a one-way fare from Lakeland to Key West runs $957 for one passenger, or $478 per person for two.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) is the closest major airport for Lakeland and northwestern Polk County. It is served by all major airlines and has flights nationwide and to Canada, the Caribbean and London. To reach Lakeland by car, follow signs to get onto Interstate 275 East (via a short drive on SR 60/Veteran's Expressway), go past downtown and get on Interstate 4 East. State Road 60 is a major route across Polk County, but it runs through urban areas for a stretch that includes downtown Tampa, so allow extra time. Lakeland is roughly 35 miles from TPA, and Winter Haven (via the Polk Parkway/S.R. 570, toll $1.50, and Winter Lake Rd/S.R. 540) is about 55 miles. Importantly, there is no public transportation to Polk County, and there are no airport shuttles or taxis with service to Polk County.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is another option, though farther from the city than TPA. It is one of the nation's busiest airports, and with Orlando being the top tourism destination in the U.S., there are hundreds of flights each day connecting it with destinations big and small nationwide as well as Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. The airport also has one of the largest rental car fleets in the country, with several companies and a wide range of vehicles. To get to Lakeland, take the South exit from the airport to the Central Florida GreeneWay (S.R. 417), head south ($2.50 in tolls) and get on Interstate 4 heading west, towards "Tampa."
Finally, South Lakeland Airport (FAA LID: X49) is a small turf runway located about a mile south of downtown.
Practical Summary
- Best bet for most visitors: a rental car, since Lakeland is car-oriented and transit coverage is inconsistent.
- On foot: stick to downtown Lakeland and East Lake Morton, where shops and restaurants are reachable without a car.
- Local buses: Citrus Connection provides the fixed-route network, plus a free Squeeze Shuttle in Lakeland and Lake Wales.
- Rail: Amtrak's Silver Star stops in Lakeland; Thruway Motorcoach extends connections to Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Fort Myers and more, booked with your train ticket.
- Intercity bus: Greyhound and FlixBus partnerships connect Lakeland with other cities.
- From the airport: TPA is closest but has no public transit or shuttle service to Polk County; MCO is farther but offers extensive flights and rental cars; LAL has limited Avelo service and on-demand air taxi options.