The Best Things to Do in Longwood, FL for Parks, Springs, and Day Trips
Longwood sits in the middle of Seminole County, about 12 miles north of downtown Orlando and a short drive from Lake Mary and Altamonte Springs. It is one of the older cities in the Orlando metro, with a historic district full of 19th-century buildings and a downtown that still hosts a Saturday farmers market and monthly concerts. What surprises people who know the area mainly for its commute to Orlando is how much natural Florida sits right at the edge of town.
If you are weighing a move here or just want a full weekend of local outings, the range is wide. You can float down a spring-fed river in the morning, walk under a 2,000-year-old cypress in the afternoon, and grab dinner near a lake that same night. Below is a practical rundown of the parks, springs, trails, and nearby attractions worth your time. For a broader look at the area and its neighborhoods, the Longwood community page is a good place to start.
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Wekiwa Springs is the headliner for anyone who wants to get on or in the water. The main spring pumps out crystal-clear water that holds steady at 72 degrees all year, so it feels cold in July and almost warm in January. The swimming area is roped off and shallow near the edge, deeper toward the boil where the spring rises, and flotation devices are allowed.
The park sits at 1800 Wekiwa Circle in Apopka, just west of Longwood, and the entry fee runs about $6 per vehicle. Getting there is simple thanks to signage off Interstate 4 and easy access roads through Longwood, which is why many locals treat it as their default weekend spot.
Paddling is the other big draw. You can rent a canoe or kayak on site and take a one-mile paddle up to Wekiva Island for a two-mile round trip, or push farther to Otter Camp for a six-mile round trip. Beyond the water, the park keeps about 13 kilometers of trails open for hiking, off-road biking, and horseback riding, with turtles and the occasional deer along the way.
One honest tip: on hot weekends the park often reaches capacity and closes its gates before noon, so arriving early is smart.
Big Tree Park and The Phoenix
Big Tree Park is free, quiet, and one of the more meaningful stops in the area. It sits at 761 General Hutchison Parkway and forms part of the larger Spring Hammock Preserve. For more than 150 years this park was home to The Senator, a bald cypress estimated at 3,500 years old and 125 feet tall, one of Florida’s oldest tourist attractions long before the theme parks arrived.
The Senator was lost to a fire in 2012, but the story did not end there. In 2014, county workers planted a 50-foot clone grown from grafted branches of the original. Local elementary students named it The Phoenix through a county-wide contest, and it carries the exact genetic makeup of the tree that stood here for millennia.
The park is not only about The Phoenix. A boardwalk leads through the hammock to Lady Liberty, a bald cypress that is roughly 2,000 years old and about 90 feet tall, now the largest tree still standing in the park. The walk is short, shaded, and rarely crowded, and 30 to 45 minutes is enough to take it in.
Reiter Park and Historic Downtown Longwood
Reiter Park is the center of community life in Longwood. The six-acre park reopened in 2018 after a full renovation and now includes an amphitheater, five pavilions, tennis and basketball courts, a splash pad, a playground, a fishing pier, and a walking path. It sits right against the historic district, so it doubles as a launch point for exploring the older part of town on foot.
The programming is what keeps people coming back. Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the City of Longwood Farmers’ Market sets up at the amphitheater. The same stage hosts a monthly Concerts in the Park series, and downtown food trucks roll in on the second Thursday of each month.
The historic district next door is worth a slow walk. It holds 37 historic buildings across a few square blocks, including the Longwood Hotel and the Bradlee-McIntyre House, a Victorian cottage built around 1885 for New England vacationers. The Longwood Historical Society maintains the house as a museum with tours on the second and fourth Wednesdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.
Getting Around by SunRail
Longwood has its own SunRail station in the historic district, which changes how you can spend a day here. From the platform you can catch a train south to Winter Park and downtown Orlando or north to Lake Mary and Sanford without dealing with I-4 traffic or parking.
That makes car-free outings realistic. You can ride down to Winter Park for lunch and window shopping along Park Avenue, then be back in Longwood by dinner without ever moving your car.
The Cross Seminole and Seminole Wekiva Trails
Longwood is a strong base for cyclists and walkers because two major trails run right through the area. The Seminole Wekiva Trail links Altamonte Springs, Longwood, and Lake Mary along the route of the old Orange Belt Railway, and it now covers about 19 miles past neighborhoods, shops, and restaurants.
From there the network keeps going. The Seminole Wekiva Trail connects to the 27.6-mile Cross Seminole Trail, which stretches across the county from the Orange County line near Aloma Avenue up to Lake Monroe near Sanford. A pedestrian bridge over Interstate 4 in Lake Mary ties the two systems together, so a determined rider can string together a long ride without touching a busy road.
Both trails are part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail, a paved route being built to cross the state from the Atlantic to the Gulf. For most visitors the day-to-day appeal is simpler: smooth pavement, plenty of shade, and enough access points to jump on for a two-mile stroll or a 30-mile ride.
Where to Eat Around Longwood
Dining in and around Longwood covers a wide range without much of a drive. Enzo’s on the Lake is a longtime Italian standby set on a lakefront property, and The Melting Pot draws people who want a fondue dinner that stretches out over a couple of hours. Bonefish Grill handles the seafood side for a sit-down meal.
For more casual outings, Bayridge Sushi has served the community for over 25 years with sushi rolls and hibachi, and Sally’s Diner leans into a vintage feel with homestyle plates. When you want variety without a plan, the second-Thursday food trucks at Reiter Park put several options in one spot. Just south in Maitland, the Enzian is a single-screen arthouse cinema café set among 400-year-old oaks, with an outdoor Eden Bar.
Easy Day Trips to Orlando Attractions
Part of the appeal of Longwood is what sits within an easy drive. Downtown Orlando is roughly 12 to 15 miles south by I-4 or SunRail, which puts museums, sports, and the downtown dining scene within reach for a single afternoon.
The bigger theme parks take more planning. Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando both sit on the south and west sides of the metro, generally 30 to 45 minutes away depending on traffic, so leaving early and coming home late is the usual move.
Closer options round out the list. Winter Park, with its Park Avenue shops and the Morse Museum, is a short SunRail ride south, and Sanford’s historic riverfront sits just north with its own restaurants and the St. Johns River. For more on the wider area, the Todd Schroth Home Selling Team blog is worth a look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the top free thing to do in Longwood, FL?
Big Tree Park is the standout free option. The short boardwalk takes you past The Phoenix and the roughly 2,000-year-old Lady Liberty cypress in about 30 to 45 minutes, with no entry fee.
Can you swim at Wekiwa Springs near Longwood?
Yes. The spring holds a steady 72 degrees year-round, and the roped swimming area works for both waders and swimmers. The park charges about $6 per vehicle and can close its gates once full on hot weekends, so arrive before mid-morning.
Is Longwood good for biking and walking?
The area connects to two paved trails, the 19-mile Seminole Wekiva Trail and the 27.6-mile Cross Seminole Trail, joined by a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 4. Together they run from Altamonte Springs toward Sanford mostly off-road.
How far is Longwood from Orlando attractions?
Downtown Orlando is about 12 to 15 miles south by I-4 or SunRail. The major theme parks on the south and west sides of the metro usually take 30 to 45 minutes by car, so most people treat those as full-day outings.
