Clermont in Spring: Hills, Lakes & Citrus Tower

What Spring Reveals: From Citrus Groves to Hills

The citrus industry dominated Lake County’s economy into the mid-twentieth century, then dwindled fast under repeated freezes and suburban development. Spring shows you what replaced it. With the underbrush still low and the air clear, the rolling terrain—the steepest in peninsular Florida—stands exposed. Wildflowers bloom on slopes that once held row after row of orange trees. The hills are still here, even if the groves aren’t. That’s the trade, and spring is when you can read it best.

Citrus Tower Views: See Clermont's Hills and Lakes

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. Is it worth visiting? As a vantage point, yes. From the top, you see the hills that remain, the lakes scattered between them, and the suburban spread that filled the void left by the freezes. It’s less a monument to citrus than a monument to how fast Florida changes. Go for the view, not the nostalgia.

Spring Training in Clermont: Cycling and Running Routes

Clermont adopted the slogan Choice of Champions in 2014, on the strength of the National Training Center established there in 2001. Spring’s mild temperatures—cool mornings, warm afternoons—make it prime season for the athletes who train here and the amateurs who follow them. You don’t need a race bib to use the hills. Cyclists climb the same routes the pros ride, and runners pound the lakefront paths. If you’ve come to move, this is the season.

Waterfront Park and Lake Louisa: Best Spring Lake Spots

Spring days at Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola mean swimming, fishing piers and a playground, all with the hills rising behind the water. It’s a solid base for a half-day, but pair it with a hike or paddle at Lake Louisa State Park to get the full picture. The state park’s trails cut through sandhill and hammock, and the lakes there are quiet enough for a kayak. Do both in one day: morning at Lake Louisa, afternoon at Waterfront Park, and you’ve seen the range of what Clermont’s outdoors actually offers.

Pig on the Pond Festival and Other Spring Events

The big spring draw is 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. It anchors the season, and it packs the waterfront. If you’re driving in that weekend, plan ahead.

Beyond that, spring is the hinge between winter races and summer heat. The training center keeps the calendar full, and the parks stay busy without being unbearable. Want the lakes to yourself? Go midweek.

Best Restaurants in Clermont After Outdoor Adventures

Post-outdoor refueling in Clermont mostly means dependable chains near the highways. After a morning at Lake Louisa, Keke's Breakfast Cafe on S Hwy 27 handles the late breakfast crowd. For a heavier sit-down, Outback Steakhouse on E Hwy 50 and Texas Roadhouse on S Hwy 27 are the usual landing spots. Pepe's Cantina Clermont on W Minneola Ave is the closest thing to a local flavor stop near downtown. If you’re hitting the parks early, IHOP on S Hwy 27 opens early and stays reliable. None of this is a secret—it’s just where you go when the hills are done with you.

Clermont vs. Mount Dora: Which Spring Day Trip?

Clermont’s spring isn’t about flowers or festivals alone. It’s about seeing the hills for what they are now—training ground, lake country, and the skeleton of an industry that froze out. Come for the event, stay for the climb.