Guides · Clermont, Florida
How Long to Spend in Clermont, FL: 2-Day Itinerary
Clermont is a two-day stop: one for the hills and lake, one for the roadside relic that outlived the groves it was built to celebrate.
Day 1 in Clermont: Hills, Lake, and Dinner
Start where the town's geography does its talking. The hills around the National Training Center area are the steepest in peninsular Florida, and they're why Clermont's slogan, adopted in 2014, is "Choice of Champions." You'll feel the grade on a morning walk or drive; no need to be an athlete to appreciate the elevation change that defines this patch of Lake County.
Afternoon belongs to Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola. Swimming, fishing piers, a playground—it's the town's civic heart, and it's where the flat water meets the rolling terrain. The lake is the counterweight to the hills, and the park is the easiest way to read both in a single afternoon.
For dinner, Pepe's Cantina Clermont on W Minneola Ave carries a 4.7 rating from nearly 5,000 reviews, the highest of any full-service spot on the list. If you want a quieter table, The Crooked Spoon on Citrus Tower Blvd (4.4) offers a different register. Both are local, neither is on the chain strip—which is exactly why they're worth the detour.
Day 2 in Clermont: Citrus Tower and Local Eats
The Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, still stands over a landscape that has largely stopped being citrus. That's the point. It's one of Florida's earliest roadside landmarks, and it outlived the industry it was built to advertise. From the top, you'll see what the freezes and suburban development did. The groves are ghosts; the sprawl is the present tense.
Then drive the loop on Hwy 27 and Hwy 50. This is the chain corridor, and it's honest about what Clermont's dining scene has become. For contrast, head to Showcase of Citrus on Frank Jarrell Rd—a working grove operation that keeps the old economy alive on a small scale. It's not the tower's grand ambition; it's the day-to-day reality of citrus that survived.
Florida Citrus Tower: A View of Clermont's Past and Present
The tower is a monument to a bet that failed. Built when orange groves dominated the county's economy, it now presides over subdivisions and highway retail. That's not a failure of the tower—it's a history lesson with an elevator. The view is the story: you can see exactly where the citrus went and what replaced it. It's the single most instructive stop in Clermont, and it's worth the ticket just to orient yourself to the town's arc from agriculture to suburbia.
Half-Day in Clermont: Best Route for a Quick Visit
Take the tower first—it's the landmark, and the light matters. Then Waterfront Park for the lake and a quick swim or pier walk. Grab a meal at a top-rated spot (see below). End with a drive through the hills near the National Training Center. That's Clermont compressed: the monument, the water, the elevation, and a decent plate. You'll have seen the town's whole argument in four hours.
Best Restaurants in Clermont: Top-Rated Spots
The strip is chain-heavy, but the ratings separate the worthwhile from the filler. IHOP on S Hwy 27 leads with 4.7 from 7,616 reviews—an outlier for a national breakfast brand, and a sign that this location gets it right. Keke's Breakfast Cafe (4.7, 3,848 reviews) is the better bet if you want a dedicated breakfast spot. Outback Steakhouse (4.6, 5,048 reviews) and Miller's Ale House (4.6, 3,640 reviews) round out the top tier for dinner. Pepe's Cantina holds its own at 4.7, and it's the only non-chain in the upper echelon.
| Restaurant | Rating (out of 5) | Cuisine / Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| IHOP | 4.7 | American breakfast, reliable volume |
| Pepe's Cantina Clermont | 4.7 | Mexican, local and independent |
| Keke's Breakfast Cafe | 4.7 | Breakfast and brunch, polished |
| Outback Steakhouse | 4.6 | Steakhouse chain, consistent |
| Miller's Ale House | 4.6 | Sports bar and grill, lively |
| The Crooked Spoon | 4.4 | Contemporary American, quieter |
Seasonal Timing: Pig on the Pond and Beyond
The big anchor is Pig on the Pond, three days at Waterfront Park and the largest event in south Lake County, drawing more than 20,000 people. The 2026 edition was the 27th, run by the non-profit Project Scholars. If you time your visit to that, you'll see the town at full civic throttle.
Outside Clermont, Mount Dora (21 miles) runs its Arts Festival and Craft Fair, Dade City (35 miles) hosts the Kumquat Festival, and Sanford (36 miles) does Porchfest. Any of these stretch a Clermont trip into a week of small-town Florida events, but none of them replace what Clermont offers: the hills, the lake, and a tower that refuses to stop narrating the past.
Plan two days. One for the ground and water, one for the history and the highway. That's the honest answer.
Common questions
- How long should I spend in Clermont?
- Plan for at least a full day. See the Florida Citrus Tower from 1956, walk Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola, and eat at a spot like Pepe's Cantina Clermont or The Crooked Spoon. If you want to do Showcase of Citrus too, add a second day.
- What is there to do in Clermont for a day trip?
- Start at the Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, for views over the old grove land. Then hit Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola for swimming and fishing. Grab lunch at Keke's Breakfast Cafe or IHOP, and end at Showcase of Citrus if you have time.
- Is Clermont worth visiting?
- Yes, if you like hills and history. It's the steepest ground in peninsular Florida, with a citrus past that's mostly gone. The 1956 Citrus Tower is a roadside landmark, and Waterfront Park is solid. It's not a beach town, but it's a good stop.
- What's the best time of year to visit Clermont?
- You'll want the cooler months, roughly November through April, when the hills are comfortable for walking. Summer is hot and humid. The Pig on the Pond festival, held at Waterfront Park, is the biggest event in south Lake County and draws over 20,000 people.
- Where should I eat in Clermont?
- For local flavor, try The Crooked Spoon at 200 Citrus Tower Blvd or Pepe's Cantina Clermont on W Minneola Ave. Both rate 4.7 or 4.4 from thousands of reviews. If you want chains, IHOP and Outback Steakhouse are solid, but the local spots have more character.
- Can I visit Clermont and Mount Dora in one day?
- Yes, they're only 21 miles apart. Spend the morning in Clermont at the Citrus Tower and Waterfront Park, then drive to Mount Dora for the afternoon. If you're there during festival season, check the Mount Dora Arts Festival or Craft Fair dates to time it right.
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