Living in Lake Nona

What Living in Lake Nona Is Like

Lake Nona is one of the most recognizable master-planned communities in the Greater Orlando area. Located in southeastern Orange County, it is approximately 20 miles from downtown Orlando and about 10 miles from Orlando International Airport. The community is focused on wellness, technology, and innovation, and it has attracted significant investment from healthcare, biotech, and technology companies.

The community has its own town center (Lake Nona Town Center) with restaurants, shops, and a performance venue. The Laureate Park village includes a community aquatic center, parks, and trails. The overall design emphasizes walkability within villages and extensive trail systems connecting the community.

Lake Nona Medical City

Lake Nona's most distinctive feature is its Medical City, a health and life sciences campus that includes:

• UHealth University of Miami Medical Center
• UCF College of Medicine
• VA Medical Center
• Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
• Nemours Children's Hospital
• Guidewell Innovation Center

The Medical City is a major employment center and has attracted healthcare professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs to the area. It continues to expand with new facilities and partnerships.

Communities Within Lake Nona

Lake Nona contains multiple distinct villages and communities, each with different builders, price points, and amenity packages:

• Laureate Park: One of the larger villages with a mix of home types, the Aquatic Center, community parks, and the Laureate Park Village Center.
• Eagle Creek: A golf community with a 18-hole championship course, clubhouse, and surrounding homes.
• VillageWalk at Lake Nona: A gated community with townhomes and single-family homes.
• Storey Park: A newer community with townhomes and single-family options.
• Northlake Park: A community with lakefront and interior homes near Lake Nona.

Builders active in Lake Nona have included Ashton Woods, Meritage, Pulte, KB Home, Lennar, M/I Homes, and Toll Brothers, among others. Specific builders and communities change as phases are released and completed.

Housing

Lake Nona's housing market ranges from townhomes in the lower $300,000s to estate homes well over $1 million. The community's master-planned design means that newer homes are common throughout the area, with most construction dating from the 2010s onward.

HOA fees vary by village and community. Some communities also carry CDD fees. Review the specific HOA and CDD structure for any community you are considering.

Transportation

Lake Nona is served primarily by SR 417 (the Central Florida GreeneWay) and Narcoossee Road (SR 15). SR 417 provides a direct connection to the Orlando International Airport area, the Orlando VINELY area, and I-4 to the north.

Commute times to downtown Orlando from Lake Nona are typically 25 to 40 minutes by car, depending on traffic and the specific starting point. Commutes to the airport area are shorter, typically 10 to 20 minutes.

The SunRail commuter train does not currently serve Lake Nona directly, though there have been discussions about future extensions.

Things to Consider

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Nona a city?

No. Lake Nona is a master-planned community within unincorporated Orange County. It is not an incorporated city or town. It does not have its own city government, though it has its own community association structure.

Is Lake Nona in Orlando?

Lake Nona is in southeastern Orange County, within the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. Many Lake Nona addresses use an Orlando mailing address, but the community is distinct from the city of Orlando proper.

How far is Lake Nona from Disney World?

Lake Nona is approximately 20 to 25 miles from Walt Disney World, with drive times typically ranging from 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and the specific route.

Last updated: August 11, 2026. Published by Moving to Orlando Guide with Tyler Gibson.