§ Beyond Lake Wales
A ring of Central Florida towns within an hour of Lake Wales — where to eat, drink, hike, and spend an afternoon. Each one has its own guide.
Interactive map
Tap any pin for distance, drive time, and a quick summary. Filter by county to narrow the map.
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Polk County · 12 min drive
Known for
A college hamlet on Crooked Lake, twelve minutes from downtown.
Roger Babson's planned ridge community on Crooked Lake — Webber University, a lakeside beach, scrub preserves, and the closest quiet water to Lake Wales.
Explore Babson Park →Polk County · 15 min drive
Known for
Ridge town on the lakes, closest neighbor to Bok Tower.
A small US-27 town wrapped in lakes, fifteen minutes from Lake Wales and the shortest hop to Bok Tower Gardens from the north.
Explore Dundee →Polk County · 20 min drive
Known for
A citrus town that kept its main street.
An old citrus town south on US-27 with a preserved main street, the National Register Ramon Theater, and bass fishing on Lake Reedy and Lake Clinch.
Explore Frostproof →Polk County · 22 min drive
Known for
Antiques, citrus science, and a very good rail-trail.
A small town north of Winter Haven known for its antique shops, the UF Citrus Research and Education Center, and access to the paved Chain of Lakes trail network.
Explore Lake Alfred →Polk County · 25 min drive
Known for
The US-27 gateway — ballfields, Lake Eva, and the road to I-4.
A fast-growing town on US-27 with Lake Eva Community Park, a large youth sports complex, and the closest straight shot from Lake Wales to I-4 and the Orlando attractions corridor.
Explore Haines City →Polk County · 25 min drive
Known for
Chain of Lakes · Legoland · downtown dining
Twenty-five interlinked lakes, a bustling Central Avenue, and lakeside seafood at Old Man Franks. The closest full night out from Lake Wales.
Explore Winter Haven →Polk County · 25 min drive
Known for
The county seat, and the best porch-and-oak street grid in Polk.
Polk County's government seat, with a walkable historic Main Street, the Polk County History Center, and one of Florida's densest concentrations of Victorian homes.
Explore Bartow →Polk County · 30 min drive
Known for
Lake Ariana, the TECO Trail, and Polk's biggest indoor sports draw.
A family lakeside town between Winter Haven and Lakeland, with Lake Ariana Park, the paved Auburndale TECO Trail, and the RP Funding Center circuit nearby.
Explore Auburndale →Polk County · 40 min drive
Known for
The big city on the Ridge — swans, Frank Lloyd Wright, and a real dinner scene.
Polk County's largest city, home to the world's biggest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, Lake Mirror's promenade, and Central Florida's deepest downtown restaurant lineup.
Explore Lakeland →Highlands County · 50 min drive
Known for
The circle, the raceway, and the best old-growth hammock in Florida.
Highlands County's seat, built around a historic traffic circle, home to Sebring International Raceway and Highlands Hammock State Park.
Explore Sebring →Related