Sanford, FL Road Trips

Sanford sits on the southern shore of Lake Monroe at the head of navigation on the St. Johns River. Native Americans first settled the area thousands of years before the city was formed. The Seminoles arrived in the area in the 18th century. During the Second Seminole War in 1836, the United States Army established Camp Monroe and built a road now known as Mellonville Avenue. Sanford is about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Orlando. Sanford has a humid subtropical climate, with mild weather during winters and hot weather during summers. High temperatures average 64 to 91 °F (18-33 °C) throughout the year. High heat indices are not uncommon for the summer months in the Sanford area. High temperatures can reach mid to high 90s with heat index ranges of 105-115 °F. The highest recorded temperature in Sanford was 103°F in July 1998. It is common for daily thunderstorms to erupt during a standard summer afternoon. These are caused by the heating of the land and water, combined with extremely high humidity. During winter, the area can experience hard freezes during the night. Such cold weather is usually short lived, as the city averages only 15 nights below freezing. The coldest temperature recorded in Sanford was 19 °F on January 21, 1985, a day that still holds the record cold for many locations in the eastern half of the US. Even rarer in Sanford than freezing temperatures is snow. When snow does fall, it usually melts before touching the ground, or upon making contact with the ground. Sanford has suffered less damage from hurricanes than most East Coast cities.

1 Gallery on First (Jeanine Taylor Folk Art), 211 E First St, ☏ +1 407-323-2774. Working artist studios, with a focus on art from the Deep South. 2 Cameron Wight Park, 5502 Old Geneva Rd, ☏ +1 407-788-0405. This is a 3-acre (1.2 hectares) park used as a boat launching facility into the beautiful St. Johns river basin. It is 5 miles (8 km) east of US 17-92 on State Road 46 at the Lake Jesup Bridge. This park is open daily 24 hours. It has a pavilion, lighting, and paved parking. 3 Lake Dot Park, 100 Lake Dot Drive, ☏ +1 407-788-0405. This is a 15-acre (6.1 hectares) park with benches and a fishing area located at the south end of Sanford. From Sanford, go south on U.S. 17-92, left onto Fairmont Dr., and right onto Lake Dot Dr. It is open 8AM to sunset daily. 4 Lake Jesup Park, 5951 S Sanford Ave, ☏ +1 407-788-0405. This park is a 6-acre (2.4 hectares) park primarily used as a boat launching facility into Lake Jesup. The park is 4 miles (6.4 km) south of State Road 46 at the end of Sanford Avenue. There is a pavilion and paved parking available under shade from the many oak trees. The park is open 24 hours daily. 5 Lake Jesup Wilderness Area, 5951 S Sanford Ave, ☏ +1 407-665-7352. Wildlife lovers will find 3 miles (5 km) of trails in the 490-acre (200 hectares) Lake Jesup Wilderness Area where lakeside benches provide a great viewing platform for spotting bald eagles and alligators. 6 Lake Monroe Wayside Park, 4150 N W US-17/92, ☏ +1 407-788-0405. This is a 3.5-acre (1.4 hectares) park used as a boat launching facility into Lake Monroe and the St.

1 Central Florida Airboat Tours, 4650 E FL-46, Geneva (FL-46 at the Geneva Bridge), ☏ +1 407-321-0753. Operating from Jolly Gator Fish Camp, you can board an airboat and travel into the heart and soul of Lake Jesup and Lake Harney. 2 St. Johns Rivership Co. (Rivership Romance), 433 N Palmetto Ave, ☏ +1 321 441-3030, [email protected]. Offers daily riverboat cruises along the St. John's River. Climate controlled. Reservations required. 3 Mayfair Country Club, 3536 Country Club Rd, ☏ +1 407-322-2531. 18 holes over 6.400 yards (5.852 m) with a par of 72 (public).

1 China Star, 4585 St. Johns Parkway, ☏ +1 407-302-1901. The menu at China Star features entrees, sides and quick bites. The restaurant is off of I-4 near Rinehart Road and adjacent to the Seminole Town Center. 2 Colorado's Prime Steak, 3863 South Orlando Drive, ☏ +1 407-324-1741. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F 11AM-10PM, Sa noon-10PM, Su 4PM-9PM. Steaks and prime rib are on the menu here. There are also ribs, fish and shrimp on the menu and an array of sandwiches to choose from too. (updated Aug 2023) 3 Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe, 205 E 1st St, ☏ +1 407 321-2204. German cuisine. Extensive indoor and outdoor seating, plus a bar, live music, and additional shops. (updated Sep 2021) 4 St. Johns River Steak and Seafood, 550 N Palmetto Ave, ☏ +1 407 878-0980, [email protected]. American cuisine. Restaurant is at the far end of the marina, in a small blue-colored building at the loop, with views from the back overlooking Lake Monroe. (updated Sep 2021)

1 The Alley, 114 S Park Ave, ☏ +1 407-328-0700. Unique biker bar with a cozy 1930s atmosphere and live blues every Friday and Saturday. 2 West End Trading Company, 202 S Sanford Ave, ☏ +1 407-322-7475. Downtown bar with cheap drinks, live music, and a tropical laid-back beachy vibe.

1 Budget Inn, 3200 S Orlando Dr, ☏ +1 407-321-0690. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. It's close to Sanford International Airport on the highway south of downtown Sanford. 2 Comfort Inn & Suites, 590 Ava Ct, ☏ +1 407-585-1580. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. No smoking or pets. Pool open 8AM–10PM. From $113 per night. 3 Holiday Inn Express, 4750 SR 46 W, ☏ +1 407 638-9300, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. The hotel has a pool and gym. Smoking is not allowed. From $104 per night. 4 SpringHill Suites Sanford, 201 N Towne Rd, ☏ +1 407-995-1000. The hotel has a gym and pool, along with buffet open seven days a week for breakfast. 5 Hotel Magnolia, 401 S Magnolia Ave, [email protected]. 19th-century-built hotel south of the downtown area. Smoking is not allowed. Offers long-term room rentals. (updated Jan 2025)

1 Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB IATA). Smaller airport in the region served regularly by Allegiant Airlines from all over the U.S.; Arajet] from Dominican Republic; and by airlines chartered by tour operators. The airport is connected to Sanford by Airport Blvd and SR-417. The main airport to the region with additional airlines is Orlando International Airport (MCO IATA) 34 mi (55 km) south on SR-417 & 528. (updated Jul 2025) I-4 serves as the main (toll-free) interstate to connect Sanford to Daytona Beach 39 mi (63 km) to the east/northeast and Orlando 26 mi (42 km) west/southwest. From I-4 there are 3 exits into Sanford (exit 101 - 104). I-4 goes along the western shores of Lake Monroe which divides Sanford (southshore) from Deltona (northshore). US 17 connects Sanford to DeLand at 21 mi (34 km) north and to E Colonial Dr (SR-50) east of Orlando 19 mi (31 km) soutgh of town. Central Florida Greenway goes from I-4 along the southside of Sanford (exit 101A), around the Greater Orlando Metropolitan Area as an eastern loop/beltway, and rejoins I-4 south of Celebration (exit 62). SR-46 goes 19 mi (31 km) west to Sorrento. SR-46 ends at the toll booths of SR-429. Going east it follows US 17-92 and then on E 25th St out towards US 1 north of Titusville. Sanford is the southern terminus of the 2 Sanford Auto Train Station which carries passengers and automobiles directly between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Florida to the Washington, D.C. Metro Area.

Locally Park Ave goes north-south and it divides east from west. SR-46/1st Ave goes east-west and it divides north from south. Lake Monroe separates Sanford from Deltona. US 17/92 comes into town at its junction with I-4 at exit 104. It goes south on Monroe Blvd (County Road 15) to W SR-46. It then follows concurrently on SR-46 into downtown as W 1st St. From 1st Ave in downtown, US 17 goes north-south along French Ave/US 17-92 which is concurrent with SR-46 (see below). W Seminole Blvd comes in from its junction with US 17, N/NW of town, along the southern shores of Lake Monroe and into town as N French Ave. W SR-46 goes east-west between its junction with I-4 and Monroe St. East of Monroe St it goes concurrently on US 17 (but road is named 'W SR-46') into downtown. Going east, SR-46 follows US 17 on French Ave/US 17-92 to E 25th St where it turn east towards Titusville Lynx offers public transportation for Sanford and the Greater Orlando Metropolitan Area with the following local routes: Link 34 Seminole Center - Downtown - Sanford Sunrail Station Link 45 International Pkwy/H.E. Thomas Jr Pkwy in Lake Mary - Lake Mary Sunrail Station - Seminole Centre south of town Link 46E Sanford Sunrail - Downtown - True Health Link 46W Seminole Towne Center - Sanford Sunrail on W SR-46 Link 851 NeighborLink (shuttle). Door to door service, appointment required. Sanford 'Trolley' is operated by City of Sanford to shuttle visitors and locals between the Sanford Sunrail Station to Downtown and around downtown. Free.