Guides · Clermont, Florida
Clermont vs Mount Dora: Which Florida Town to Visit
Clermont is the hilliest ground in peninsular Florida. That fact alone decides the argument.
Clermont vs Mount Dora: Terrain and Vibe Compared
Drive the 21 miles between Clermont and Mount Dora and you are not just changing towns—you are changing terrain. Clermont sits on the Lake Wales Ridge, its roads rising and falling in long, punishing gradients that make road cyclists groan and trail runners grin. Mount Dora is lakefront flat, built for ambling rather than climbing. The distinction runs deeper than scenery. One town rewards exertion; the other rewards browsing. Choose accordingly.
Clermont, FL: From Citrus to Sports Training Hub
Clermont’s history is written in citrus and then overwritten by athletics. Established in 1884 and incorporated in 1891, the town took its name from the French hometown of A.F. Wrotnowski, who managed the Clermont Improvement Company. Orange groves dominated the local economy for decades—until repeated freezes and suburban development wiped them out. The Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, still stands over a landscape that no longer grows what it was built to celebrate. It is one of Florida’s earliest roadside landmarks, now a monument to a vanished industry rather than a working farm.
What replaced the groves was endurance sport. The National Training Center opened in 2001, and in 2014 the city adopted the slogan "Choice of Champions." The hills that made citrus farming difficult make exceptional training terrain for triathletes, cyclists, and runners. Clermont’s identity is athletic, dry, and practical—not quaint.
Mount Dora, FL: A Lakeside Town for Antiques and Festivals
Mount Dora, by contrast, is built on the pleasure of looking at things slowly. Its waterfront is flat, its downtown is walkable, and its calendar is crowded with arts events. The Mount Dora Arts Festival and the Mount Dora Craft Fair draw crowds who come to shop, not to sweat. The town’s character is about leisure—browsing antiques, strolling streets, sitting by the water. It does not ask anything physical of you. That is not a criticism; it is a definition.
Best Things to Do in Clermont, FL
Clermont offers three distinct draws. Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola provides swimming, fishing piers, and a playground—a straightforward, family-friendly lakeside stop. The hilly terrain itself is the second attraction: runners and cyclists come from across the region specifically to train on roads that flatten visitors from less vertical places. The third is the annual Pig on the Pond, a three-day event at Waterfront Park run by the non-profit Project Scholars. It is the biggest event in south Lake County, drawing more than 20,000 people; the 2026 edition was the 27th.
Best Things to Do in Mount Dora, FL
Mount Dora’s main attractions are its festivals and its walkable downtown. The Mount Dora Arts Festival and the Mount Dora Craft Fair are the anchors, bringing in artists, craftspeople, and crowds who come to buy. Beyond those, the appeal is the town itself—lakeside views, shaded streets, and a pace that encourages lingering. If Clermont is a workout, Mount Dora is a rest day.
Which Town Should You Visit: Clermont or Mount Dora?
The question "which is better?" is really "which are you?" Clermont suits active travelers—people who want to earn their views on a bike saddle or running shoes. Mount Dora suits leisure seekers—people who want to wander, shop, and sit. Both are worth a day trip, but they serve different moods. Do not go to Clermont expecting charm; go expecting a climb. Do not go to Mount Dora expecting a challenge; go expecting a stroll.
| Feature | Clermont | Mount Dora |
|---|---|---|
| Terrain | Rolling hills, steep grades | Flat, lakefront |
| Primary identity | Endurance sports, training | Arts, antiques, festivals |
| Main outdoor draw | Waterfront Park, hilly roads | Lakeside strolls |
| Signature annual event | Pig on the Pond | Mount Dora Arts Festival |
| Vibe | Athletic, practical | Leisurely, curated |
| Best for | Runners, cyclists, triathletes | Shoppers, art lovers, browsers |
For the record: Clermont’s numbers show a working town—median household income of $79,789, a 5.9 percent unemployment rate, and a median age of 42.4 years. Its 18,718 housing units include only 558 held for seasonal or recreational use, and 1,800 sit vacant. This is not a resort town playing at being real; it is a real town with a serious hobby. Mount Dora is the postcard. Clermont is the pulse. Choose which one you need today.
Common questions
- Is Clermont worth visiting?
- Yes, if you want hills, lakes, and history. Clermont sits on the steepest ground in peninsular Florida, with Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola for swimming and fishing. The 1956 Florida Citrus Tower still stands, a landmark that outlived the groves it celebrated.
- What is there to do in Clermont?
- Head to Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola for swimming, fishing piers, and a playground. See the 1956 Florida Citrus Tower, a roadside landmark from the citrus era. If you're here for the annual Pig on the Pond, it's a three-day event drawing over 20,000 people.
- How far is Clermont from Mount Dora?
- Clermont is 21 miles from Mount Dora. Mount Dora offers the Arts Festival and Craft Fair, while Clermont has the Citrus Tower and Waterfront Park. Both are easy day trips from each other.
- Is Clermont a good place to live?
- Clermont's population is 44,984 with a median age of 42.4. Median household income is $79,789, and 35.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 5.9%, and median home value is $368,600.
- Why is Clermont called the Choice of Champions?
- Clermont adopted the slogan Choice of Champions in 2014, based on the National Training Center established there in 2001. The city's hills attract athletes, though the citrus groves that once covered the land are largely gone.
- What happened to the orange groves in Clermont?
- Citrus groves dominated the economy into the mid-twentieth century, then dwindled fast under repeated freezes and suburban development. The 1956 Florida Citrus Tower still stands, but the landscape it was built to celebrate has largely disappeared.
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