Eustis, FL

Eustis is a city of about 23,000 people in Lake County, roughly 35 miles northwest of Orlando on the eastern shore of Lake Eustis, part of the Harris Chain of Lakes. It calls itself America’s Hometown, and it is a quiet, historic lake town that grew with the citrus trade in the 1880s, a pleasant, uncrowded stop alongside neighboring Mount Dora and Tavares in Central Florida.

Things to do in Eustis

Ferran Park, established in 1913, is the center of town, with a lakefront promenade, a fishing pier, playgrounds, picnic areas and the historic Alice McClelland Memorial Bandshell, and it hosts the city’s Independence Day celebration. The biggest event is GeorgeFest, held from the last Friday of February through that Sunday, with parades, a carnival, live music and fireworks over the lake; the city calls it the longest consecutively running George Washington birthday festival in the country. For history, visit the 1911 Clifford House on North Bay Street, home of the Eustis Historical Museum, and the Classical Revival City Hall from the 1920s. Lake Eustis itself is open water for boating and fishing, with connections to the rest of the Harris Chain.

Getting to Eustis

US 441 is the main route, linking Eustis with Mount Dora, Tavares and Leesburg, and SR 44 heads west toward I-75. Orlando International (MCO) and Orlando Sanford International (SFB) are each roughly 45 minutes to an hour away, with SR 429 the fastest connection toward Orlando. Downtown centers on Bay Street and Magnolia Avenue near the lake. Late February is busy for GeorgeFest, and November through April is best for time on the water.