Lake Nona: A Guide to the Master-Planned Community

The Story of Lake Nona

Lake Nona is a master-planned community in southeastern Orange County developed by the Tavistock Group. Its modern history began in 1986 with the opening of the Fazio-designed Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. In 1996, Tavistock bought the roughly 7,000-acre Lake Nona development, including the golf club, and residential growth followed with NorthLake Park in 1998 and VillageWalk in 2004, according to published timelines of the community's development.

The Medical City concept took shape in October 2005, when Tavistock donated $12.5 million and 50 acres to UCF to build a College of Medicine. The UCF College of Medicine opened at Lake Nona in 2009, and Medical City opened in August 2010. Since then the community has grown into one of the most recognizable planned communities in the Orlando region, with a focus on wellness, technology, and innovation.

Medical City

Medical City is a roughly 650-acre health and life sciences park that anchors the community. Its institutions include the UCF Health Sciences Campus (home of the UCF College of Medicine), Nemours Children's Hospital (opened 2012), the Orlando VA Medical Center (opened 2015), the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Valencia College at Lake Nona, and a newer AdventHealth hospital with UCF's Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, according to published coverage of the campus. The VA facility at 13800 Veterans Way has been described as the VA's most advanced hospital.

For relocating buyers, Medical City matters in two ways: it is a major employment center for healthcare, research, and biotech professionals, and it means the community has a concentration of medical services close to home. The Healthcare in Central Florida guide covers the region's hospital systems in more detail.

The Lake Nona Town Center

The Lake Nona Town Center is the community's roughly 100-acre, open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment hub along Lake Nona Boulevard, just south of SR 417. Its first phase opened in 2015, according to Tavistock Development Company. The center includes restaurants such as Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen and Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine, local shops, offices, hotels, and a year-round event calendar. Other dining verified as operating as of October 2026 includes Nona Blue Modern Tavern, Piazza Italia, and Park Pizza & Brewing Company.

Boxi Park, at 6877 Lake Nona Blvd., is a roughly 30,000-square-foot family- and dog-friendly outdoor venue with restaurants and bars, beach volleyball courts, and a live entertainment stage, per the community's published materials. Menus, hours, and event lineups change, so check each venue directly.

Parks and Trails

Lake Nona's developers set aside about 40 percent of the community for open green space, including more than 1,000 acres of lakes and waterways and more than 40 miles of paved and unpaved trails and paths, according to the community's published materials. The Orlando Southeast Trail, a City of Orlando multi-use path network of roughly 13 miles, threads through Lake Nona neighborhoods including East Park, Education Village, Lake Nona Central, Lake Nona South, Northlake Park, and Randal Park, with Heroes Community Park serving as a trailhead.

Neighborhood parks include Poitras Park, a roughly 14-acre city park on Luminary Boulevard with pickleball and basketball courts, a splash pad, playgrounds, fitness pods, and walking trails; Crescent Park, a community green in Laureate Park; and Heroes Community Park with lit multi-use fields. Laureate Park's Village Center adds an aquatic center, a fitness facility, Canvas Restaurant & Market, gathering lawns, playgrounds, and a community garden. Nona Adventure Park adds a floating aqua park, a cable park for wakeboarding, and a climbing tower with a ropes course, and the Lake Nona Sculpture Garden is a free outdoor art gallery. Hours and fees vary, so confirm with each facility.

The New-Build Character

Lake Nona is above all a new-construction community. Its villages and neighborhoods, including NorthLake Park, VillageWalk, Laureate Park, Eagle Creek, Storey Park, and Nona Sound, have been built out over the past two decades, and builders continue to sell new phases. The Lake Nona community guide tracks the active builders and price ranges by village, from townhomes to gated estate homes, and the New Construction Guide explains how to evaluate builders, CDDs, and HOA structures before you buy. Just outside the master plan, communities like Nona West near Meadow Woods offer a lower entry point close to the airport and Medical City.

Because most homes are newer, buyers typically deal with builder warranties, HOA and CDD assessments, and community amenity fees rather than older-home maintenance. The Homeowner's Guide covers the Florida ownership basics, including insurance and property tax considerations.

Getting Around

Lake Nona is served by SR 417 (the Central Florida GreeneWay), which connects to the airport, east Orlando, and the wider toll network, and by Narcoossee Road, which runs north-south through the community. Depending on traffic, trips to downtown Orlando typically take about 25 to 40 minutes by car, and trips to Orlando International Airport are typically 10 to 20 minutes. SunRail does not currently serve Lake Nona, so daily life is car-oriented, with the trail network providing local recreation and short trips.

Things to Consider Before Moving to Lake Nona

Nearby Communities and Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Nona

Is Lake Nona a city?

No. Lake Nona is a master-planned community within the City of Orlando's limits in southeastern Orange County, not a separate incorporated city.

What is Medical City?

Medical City is a roughly 650-acre health and life sciences park in Lake Nona. It includes the UCF College of Medicine, Nemours Children's Hospital, the Orlando VA Medical Center, the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, the UF College of Pharmacy, Valencia College at Lake Nona, and a newer AdventHealth hospital.

What is there to do in Lake Nona?

The Lake Nona Town Center offers dining, shops, and events, including Boxi Park, an outdoor venue with restaurants, bars, beach volleyball courts, and a live stage. The community also has more than 40 miles of trails, neighborhood parks, the Lake Nona Sculpture Garden, and Nona Adventure Park.

How far is Lake Nona from downtown Orlando and the airport?

Lake Nona is about 20 miles from downtown Orlando and about 10 miles from Orlando International Airport. Depending on traffic, downtown trips typically take 25 to 40 minutes and airport trips 10 to 20 minutes.

Is all of Lake Nona new construction?

Most homes in Lake Nona are newer, built since the late 1990s, and builders continue to sell new phases in several villages. There is also resale inventory as earlier phases mature.

Sources and Reporting

Facts on this page were checked against public sources in October 2026: the community's published materials at lakenona.com and Tavistock Development Company's project pages; published timelines of Lake Nona and Medical City development; the Orlando Sentinel's Medical City timeline; and current local business listings for Lake Nona Town Center restaurants. Trail mileage, park facilities, business hours, and event schedules change, so verify with the official source before planning around them.

Last updated: October 13, 2026 at 19:06 UTC. Published by Moving to Orlando Guide with Tyler Gibson.