Guides · Clermont, Florida
Half a Day in Clermont, FL: Citrus Tower & Lake Loop
Clermont’s hills were made for citrus, and the freezes took the groves. What’s left is a compact, steep half-day itinerary that pairs a 1956 relic with a working lakefront.
Clermont's Citrus Tower: A Quick Stop with a View
The Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, is the town’s most direct encounter with its own contradiction. From the top, you see the rolling terrain that once made this the heart of the county’s orange economy, now largely stripped to subdivisions and scrub. The tower outlived the industry it celebrated. That’s the whole story in one elevator ride. Worth the stop not for nostalgia but for the view—the steepest ground in peninsular Florida doesn’t reveal itself from a car window.
Lake Minneola Waterfront Park: A Short Loop by the Water
Head down from the tower to Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola. The park gives you the town’s recreational side in one compact loop: a swimming area, fishing piers, and a playground. Burn an hour here without planning. The lakefront anchors whatever else you do, and the hills rise behind the water—topography and recreation in the same glance.
Where to Eat in Clermont: Quick Breakfast or Lunch on Hwy 27
The Highway 27 strip is where Clermont’s dependable eating lives, close enough to the tower and the park to slot in before or after. Keke’s Breakfast Cafe and IHOP both sit on the corridor with strong ratings—4.7 and 4.7 respectively—and they move you in and out without ceremony. Lunch follows the same logic; the strip is built for speed.
| Restaurant | Rating (out of 5) | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Keke's Breakfast Cafe | 4.7 | 2435 S Hwy 27, Clermont, FL 34711 |
| IHOP | 4.7 | 2589 S Hwy 27, Clermont, FL 34711 |
| Pepe's Cantina Clermont | 4.7 | 794 W Minneola Ave, Clermont, FL 34711 |
| The Crooked Spoon | 4.4 | 200 Citrus Tower Blvd, Clermont, FL 34711 |
| Outback Steakhouse | 4.6 | 1625 E Hwy 50, Clermont, FL 34711 |
Why Clermont's Hills Make It Unique in Florida
The hills that made citrus farming viable now define the town’s identity. Clermont adopted the slogan “Choice of Champions” in 2014, leaning on the National Training Center established there in 2001. The terrain that once grew oranges now draws athletes. The elevation—rare in Florida—is the through-line. You don’t need to train to appreciate it; just drive a few of the steeper residential streets and you’ll feel the difference from the flatlands an hour south.
More Time in Clermont? Pig on the Pond or Showcase of Citrus
If your half-day stretches, two options fit the theme. Pig on the Pond runs three days at Waterfront Park and draws more than 20,000 people; the 2026 edition was the 27th, run by Project Scholars. It’s the biggest event in south Lake County, and it sits right where you’ve already been. For a quieter extension, Showcase of Citrus on Frank Jarrell Road keeps the citrus story alive with a working grove and tours—a direct contrast to the tower’s view of what’s lost.
The short version of Clermont is simple: tower, lake, meal, and a few hills in between. It doesn’t need more than that.
Common questions
- What is there to do in Clermont for half a day?
- Hit Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola for swimming, fishing piers, and a playground. If you want a landmark, the 1956 Florida Citrus Tower still stands, though the groves it celebrated are mostly gone. That's a solid half-day loop.
- Where should I eat in Clermont?
- Top-rated spots include IHOP, Pepe's Cantina Clermont, and Keke's Breakfast Cafe, all rated 4.7. For dinner, Outback Steakhouse and Miller's Ale House are strong at 4.6. The Crooked Spoon, at 4.4, is a local favorite near Citrus Tower Boulevard.
- Is there a citrus grove or farm to visit?
- Showcase of Citrus, rated 4.5, is the place—it's at 15051 Frank Jarrell Rd. The area's groves dwindled after repeated freezes, but this attraction keeps the citrus experience alive. It's a working farm and tour stop.
- What's the story behind the Florida Citrus Tower?
- Built in 1956, it was one of Florida's earliest roadside landmarks, celebrating the citrus industry that dominated the local economy. Today, the groves are largely gone due to freezes and development, but the tower still stands as a relic of that era.
- Is Clermont hilly?
- Yes—it's the steepest ground in peninsular Florida. The hills were once planted with citrus until freezes killed the groves. Now those slopes are part of the landscape, and the city's slogan, 'Choice of Champions,' reflects the National Training Center established in 2001.
- What big events happen in Clermont?
- Pig on the Pond is the biggest—three days at Waterfront Park, drawing over 20,000 people. It's run by Project Scholars, and the 2026 edition was the 27th. It's the main annual event in south Lake County.
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