Clermont offers several distinct ways to plan a stay: trails along Lake Minneola, parks of varying sizes, and local history. The routes range from a paved path by the lake to a soft-surface, traffic-free running route; a historic house, a museum, and the Clermont Performing Arts Center offer other points of interest. For your plans, choose the themes that interest you most.
Lakeside trails and longer routes
The Clermont/Minneola Trail is 5.2 miles long, paved, and runs along Lake Minneola. It connects to the West Orange Trail. The 8th Street Trailhead serves as an access point to the Clermont/Minneola Trail and as a rest stop.
The South Lake Trail in Clermont lies halfway along the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail. Facilities at the South Lake Trail include restrooms, shade, benches, information boards, trail signs, drinking fountains, and showers. This means the routes differ in their planning features: for the Clermont/Minneola Trail, the focus is on its length, paved surface, and connection; for the South Lake Trail, its facilities and position on the longer trail route are relevant.
Another running option is Clermont’s 10-mile Clay Loop. It offers long-distance runners a traffic-free route with a soft surface. When choosing between routes, you can take the surface into account: the Clermont/Minneola Trail is paved, while the Clay Loop has a soft surface. Their lengths and intended uses also differ considerably.
Parks and events
The acreage offers a concrete comparison: Lake Hiawatha Preserve covers 220 acres, while Victory Pointe covers 10 acres. Both are passive parks. Lake Hiawatha Preserve is also home to the Champions Pointe Disc Golf Course; Victory Pointe has trails. This means the parks’ different sizes come with their own recreational offerings.
Waterfront Park is on Lake Minneola between East Avenue and Eighth Street. Festivals such as Pig on the Pond take place there nearly every week. Check the specific event dates before your trip if you want to include a festival in your plans.
History, culture, and sports
The Townsend House in Clermont Historic Village was built around 1895. It was the home of James and Sallie Townsend, who were the first African American couple to make a home in Clermont. The approximate construction date and the Townsends’ story highlight two different aspects of the house. Also in Clermont Historic Village, the Quonset hut is used as a World War II museum.
The Citrus Tower was built in 1956. Visitors can take the elevator to the top; check current visiting options before your visit. The Clermont Performing Arts Center has a 1,200-seat Mainstage auditorium and a 250-seat Black Box Theater. The different capacities give an idea of the range of event spaces.
The National Training Center offers memberships as well as fitness, sports, and health programs for youth and adults. It primarily serves the local community and is not aimed specifically at tourists. This adds another sports-related aspect of Clermont to its trails and parks.
Discover more destinations: Lady Lake, Tavares, Groveland, Eustis, Leesburg, Umatilla, Minneola, Sorrento.
For the broader travel overview: Lake.
