Is Lake Nona Actually Worth It? What You Get and What to Check (2026)
Quick answer
As of October 2026, Lake Nona is a 17-square-mile Tavistock community beside Orlando International Airport with Medical City, a 64-acre USTA campus and a new 405,000-square-foot shopping district. Whether it is worth it depends on the village, any special-district assessment and your Narcoossee Road commute.
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Size of the Lake Nona master plan | 17 square miles (about 11,000 acres) |
| Location | Contiguous to Orlando International Airport (MCO) |
| Trails | More than 44 miles |
| USTA National Campus | 64 acres; 98 tennis courts, 4 pickleball and 4 padel courts |
| Lake Nona West (opened 2026) | More than 405,000 sq ft on 54 acres, anchored by Target |
| Boggy Creek Improvement District | About 1,126 acres of Lake Nona |
| Moss Park (Orange County) | 1,551 acres |
| Low-speed vehicles (LSVs) | Allowed on streets posted 35 mph or less |
Sources: Lake Nona Fact Sheet 2026 and Q2 2024 (Tavistock Development Company; checked Oct 30, 2026); USTA, Our Campuses (checked Oct 30, 2026); Lake Nona, Lake Nona West Is Now Open (July 2026; checked Oct 30, 2026); Boggy Creek Improvement District Public Facilities Report (checked Oct 30, 2026); Orange County Parks, Moss Park (checked Oct 30, 2026); Florida Statutes section 316.2122 (2026).
What do you actually get in Lake Nona?
You get a 17-square-mile master-planned community, about 11,000 acres, planned by Tavistock Development Company and contiguous to Orlando International Airport, per the 2026 Lake Nona Fact Sheet.
The plan is built around clusters: Lake Nona Medical City, a Sports and Performance District anchored by the USTA National Campus, and Lake Nona Town Center. Tavistock reports more than 44 miles of trails, and the community has direct access to SR 417 and the Beachline Expressway. In the video, Jared covers how these pieces shape a normal week, from Town Center events to Boxi Park.
Is Lake Nona 32827 or 32832, and does it matter?
Both ZIP codes carry Lake Nona addresses, and the difference matters less than the specific village you choose.
In the video, Jared describes 32827 as the original core, home to Medical City, Laureate Park, Village Walk, Town Center and Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, and 32832 as the area mostly east of Narcoossee Road, including Storey Park and the neighborhoods toward Moss Park. Lot sizes, home types, gates and fee structures change from village to village, so tour streets and compare the full yearly cost of each home.
Do Lake Nona homes have CDD or special-district fees?
Some do. Parts of Lake Nona were built with special districts, and the Boggy Creek Improvement District alone covers about 1,126 acres, per its public facilities report.
A Chapter 190 district can levy assessments that show up as non-ad valorem lines on the property tax bill, on top of any HOA dues. Whether a particular home carries one depends on the parcel, so pull the tax bill from the Orange County Property Appraiser or Tax Collector before you compare homes. Our guide to master-planned communities with CDD fees explains how these fees work.
What amenities and shopping does Lake Nona have?
Lake Nona has a public-access tennis center, a new regional shopping district, a Michelin-recommended restaurant and a 1,551-acre county park nearby.
The USTA National Campus covers 64 acres with 98 tennis courts, four pickleball courts and four padel courts, according to USTA. Lake Nona West opened in 2026 with more than 405,000 square feet on 54 acres, anchored by Target. Bacán at the Lake Nona Wave Hotel is listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Orange County’s Moss Park sits between Lake Hart and Lake Mary Jane with boat ramps, camping and trails.
Can you get around Lake Nona in a golf cart or LSV?
In some areas, yes. Florida allows registered, insured low-speed vehicles only on streets posted at 35 mph or less, under section 316.2122 of the Florida Statutes.
LSVs can cross faster roads at intersections but cannot drive along them, and local governments can restrict them further. A standard golf cart follows separate, tighter rules. Check community rules and the posted limits on your own route before you count on an LSV for errands.
What should you check before deciding Lake Nona is worth it?
Check the parcel’s tax bill, your peak-hour commute and the specific village before you decide.
- Special-district or CDD lines on the home’s tax bill, plus HOA dues.
- Your real drive at rush hour, especially on Narcoossee Road.
- Whether the home is inside the City of Orlando or unincorporated Orange County.
- Flood zone and insurance quotes for the exact property.
- Assigned public schools, confirmed by address with Orange County Public Schools.
Want side-by-side comps for Lake Nona homes? Call or text the Jared Jones Team, Brokered by eXp Realty, at 407-706-5000 or visit jaredjones.com.
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Frequently asked questions
How big is Lake Nona?
Lake Nona covers 17 square miles, or about 11,000 acres, according to the 2026 Lake Nona Fact Sheet from Tavistock Development Company. It sits next to Orlando International Airport, and the developer reports more than 44 miles of trails along with Medical City, the USTA National Campus and Lake Nona Town Center inside the plan.
Is Lake Nona 32827 or 32832?
Both ZIP codes carry Lake Nona addresses. In the video, Jared describes 32827 as the original core, with Medical City, Laureate Park, Village Walk, Town Center and Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, and 32832 as the area mostly east of Narcoossee Road, including Storey Park and the neighborhoods toward Moss Park. Compare villages, not just ZIP codes.
Do Lake Nona homes have CDD fees?
Some do. The Boggy Creek Improvement District, a special district created under Chapter 190 of Florida law, covers about 1,126 acres of the Lake Nona development, per its public facilities report. Whether a home carries an assessment depends on the parcel, so read the non-ad valorem lines on that home’s tax bill before you compare yearly costs.
What is there to do in Lake Nona?
Lake Nona has the USTA National Campus on 64 acres with 98 tennis courts plus pickleball and padel courts, Boxi Park, Town Center events, and Michelin-recommended Bacán at the Lake Nona Wave Hotel. Orange County’s Moss Park, 1,551 acres between Lake Hart and Lake Mary Jane, adds boat ramps, camping and trails nearby.
Can you drive a golf cart or LSV in Lake Nona?
Florida law, section 316.2122, allows registered and insured low-speed vehicles only on streets posted at 35 mph or less, and they may cross faster roads at intersections. A standard golf cart has tighter rules. Check the community’s own rules and posted speed limits on your exact route before you buy one.
What shopping opened in Lake Nona in 2026?
Lake Nona West, a Tavistock open-air center on 54 acres with more than 405,000 square feet of retail, dining and community space, opened in 2026 at 5959 Lake Nona Boulevard. Target is the anchor, and Lake Nona’s July 2026 update listed Homesense, Barnes and Noble and Total Wine and More as open.
Sources
- Lake Nona (Tavistock Development Company): Lake Nona Fact Sheet 2026 (17 square miles, 11,000 acres, contiguous to MCO; data as of 2026; checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Lake Nona (Tavistock Development Company): Lake Nona Fact Sheet Q2 2024 (more than 44 miles of trails; data as of Q2 2024; checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Tavistock Development Company: Lake Nona (districts, SR 417 and Beachline access; checked Oct 30, 2026)
- USTA: Our Campuses (64 acres, 98 tennis, 4 pickleball and 4 padel courts; checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Lake Nona: Lake Nona West Is Now Open (54 acres, more than 405,000 sq ft, open stores; data as of July 2026; checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Boggy Creek Improvement District: Documents and Public Facilities Report (about 1,126 acres; checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Orange County Parks: Moss Park (1,551 acres; checked Oct 30, 2026)
- The Florida Senate: 2026 Florida Statutes, section 316.2122 (low-speed vehicles on roads posted 35 mph or less; checked Oct 30, 2026)
- MICHELIN Guide: Bacán, Orlando (checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Jared Jones – Orlando Living (YouTube): Is Lake Nona Actually Worth It? (premiere Oct 15, 2026)