Lake County, Florida
Clermont
The steepest ground in peninsular Florida, planted with citrus until the freezes took it.
The Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, still stands over a landscape whose groves have largely gone - one of Florida's earliest roadside landmarks outliving the industry it was built to celebrate.
What this place is
Why Clermont is here
Clermont was established in 1884, incorporated as a town on 9 June 1891, disbanded on 25 May 1895, and reincorporated as a city on 28 December 1916.
Orange and citrus groves dominated the county's economy into the mid-twentieth century, then dwindled fast under repeated freezes and suburban development.
- 1884Established
- 1956Citrus tower built
- 2001National Training Center
Worth the trip
What to look for
- 01
Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola, with swimming, fishing piers and a playground.
- 02
The 1956 Florida Citrus Tower.
Time your visit
The weekend that matters
-
March
Pig on the Pond
Three days at Waterfront Park and the biggest event in south Lake County, drawing more than 20,000 people. Run by Project Scholars, a non-profit; the 2026 edition was the 27th.
Hotels, inns, rentals and campgrounds
Where to Stay
-
Hotels
-
Campgrounds
-
Resorts
-
Hotels
-
Campgrounds
-
Hotels
Restaurants, seafood, cafes and bars
Where to Eat
-
Restaurants · $
-
Restaurants · $$
-
Restaurants · $$
-
Restaurants · $$
-
Cafes Bakeries
-
Restaurants · $
Parks, beaches, museums, tours and charters
Things to Do
-
Attractions · $
-
Parks Nature
-
Parks Nature
-
Tours Charters
-
Attractions
-
Parks Nature
Clermont on the record
Pictures of the place
Archive and Creative Commons photographs of Clermont. Nothing here is generated; every image is credited to the person who took it.
75 guides, written from this town’s own record
Guides
-
The Best Things to Do in Clermont, Florida
Clermont is a hill town in a flat state, a place where the old citrus economy failed and the landscape got more interesting for it.
-
The Best Restaurants in Clermont, Florida
Clermont’s dining scene is a flat-out assault on subtlety: highway corridors lined with big names, big plates, and ratings that do the talking.
-
Where to Stay in Clermont: Hotels, Inns and Rentals
Clermont’s lodging options split cleanly down the middle: chain hotels built for the highway, and gated vacation rentals aimed at families who came for the parks and stayed for the hills. We’ve sorted through the data so you don’t have to guess which exit to take.
-
A Weekend in Clermont: What to See, Eat and Do
Clermont sits on the highest ground in peninsular Florida, which is a polite way of saying the citrus industry got pushed off the hills and replaced with switchback roads, lake views, and a whole lot of climbing.
-
Things to Know Before Visiting Clermont, Florida
Clermont sits on the highest ground in peninsular Florida, a ridge that once paid for itself in citrus and now pays for itself in hill repeats and lake views. Here are 16 things worth knowing before you go.
-
The Best Time of Year to Visit Clermont
Clermont’s best season isn’t about perfect weather—it’s about knowing when the town belongs to you versus when it belongs to everyone else.
-
Clermont vs Mount Dora: Which Florida Town to Visit
Clermont is the hilliest ground in peninsular Florida. That fact alone decides the argument.
-
The History of Clermont in 7 Landmarks
Clermont’s history is written in what remains: a lake, a tower, a road, and the stubborn geometry of hills that once carried citrus.
Public record
Clermont by the numbers
- 44,984Residents (2023)
- 3% Homes held for seasonal use
- 292 Places in this guide