Downtown Orlando certainly has its charms: the picturesque swan boats at Lake Eola, brick-paved streets in historic neighborhoods like Thornton Park, and a busy nightlife scene. But living downtown isn’t without its issues. Namely, space is limited, and you’ll pay a premium for it. 

With this in mind, many Orlando-area residents who work downtown opt to live in nearby suburban cities with easy commutes. Take a peek at five such cities below—three main contenders and two honorable mentions—with tips on directions and estimated commute times to downtown office buildings.

Winter Park

SunRail photo by Shutterstock

View homes for sale in Winter Park

Just northeast of Downtown Orlando is Winter Park, a beautiful, serene little city originally founded as a resort town. That heritage rings true today: Winter Park is known locally for its upscale homes, country club, lake access, attractive civic buildings, art galleries, boutique shopping, and the annual Winter Park Art Festival. It’s also home to the private liberal arts school Rollins College, which features a sprawling, lakefront campus dotted with Spanish-Mediterranean-style buildings underneath plentiful shady oak trees.

Home prices tend to be on the higher side for greater Orlando, which is indicative of Winter Park’s appeal. Winter Park High School is not only one of the best public schools in Orlando, it also ranked No. 35 in best public high schools statewide for 2018—another major draw for families.

Winter Park is about seven miles northeast of Orlando. Barring major traffic on I-4 (which is likely), it’ll take you about 15 minutes to get from the heart of Winter Park to the heart of downtown. Or, you can take the scenic route via Orange Avenue and still make it downtown in about 20 minutes. Winter Park also has a charming SunRail station, offering an alternate commuting option for Orlandoans.

Maitland

Photo courtesy of Michael Rivera

View homes for sale in Maitland

Due north of Downtown Orlando sits Maitland, almost exactly 8 miles from the heart of downtown via Mills Avenue. For folks taking I-4, it’s a 10-mile drive. Maitland also features a SunRail station.

Maitland is one of the oldest suburban municipalities in the area, dating back to 1885. The neighborhood pays frequent homage to its origins as home to the Timucua tribe. Many street names are Native American and even Lake Maitland was once called Lake Fumecheliga. The vibe in Maitland is laid-back and suburban, with lovely greenspaces like Lake Lily, Minnehaha Park, and Maitland Park, plus plenty of boating and water sports activities via Lake Maitland. Cultural attractions like the Maitland Art Center give this community a distinct character separate from other Orlando suburbs.

Dr. Phillips

Dr. Philips Center for the Performing Arts photo by Shutterstock

View homes for sale in Dr. Phillips

Switch up the direction of your commute by buying a home in Doctor Phillips, located about 11 miles southwest of Downtown Orlando via I-4 with a 17-minute drive time pending traffic. In 2015, Time’s Money Magazine named the area one of the nation’s best places to live for its high rate of job growth and close proximity to theme parks. Notably, it was the only Florida city on the list. 

Its real estate and population cater to a more highly educated set with sprawling mansions readily available at high price points. Dr. Phillips’ proximity to Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Invitational makes it an ideal home for golf enthusiasts. Theme Park fans, too, will love the location. It’s close enough to Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Walt Disney World that you can see nightly fireworks from all three properties in some parts of the city. 

True story: The suburb was named after Dr. Phillip Phillips, a businessman and philanthropist.

Honorable Mentions

Typical suburb homes of Orlando

View homes for sale in Altamonte Springs and Casselberry

Both Altamonte Springs and Casselberry sit north of Orlando. Altamonte Springs is another 3 miles north of Maitland, and Casselberry is about 5 miles northeast of Maitland.

These suburbs offer more affordable housing with benefits like lakefront areas: Lake Orienta and Cranes Roost Lake in Altamonte Springs are attractive options, while the Triplet Lakes and Lake Kathryn in Casselberry provide the lakefront lifestyle as well. Altamonte Springs in particular features lots of shopping and dining plus close proximity to the Altamonte outpost of the Florida Hospital system.

From Altamonte Springs to Downtown Orlando, you’re looking at an 11-mile drive down I-4. In Casselberry, you can avoid I-4 altogether by taking Semoran Boulevard (note: This is a toll road). That’s a drive of 15 miles, or about 30 minutes.