10 Best Things To Do Near Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is located in the ideal location of Central Florida. Therefore, offering passengers direct access to several recreational activities. Whether a traveller has a short or long layover, a wide range of vacation spots awaits flyers.
From relaxing at the pleasant corridors of Airport Lakes Park, to shopping at The Florida Mall. Passengers can visit these fun places found 10 to 30 minutes away from MCO at economical prices. So, on this page, travellers can explore the 10 best things to do near the Orlando Airport.
Things to do Near Orlando International Airport during a Short Layover
First and foremost, the best activities to do near the MCO Airport depend on the layover duration. For passengers who have only 1.5 to 3 hours waiting time till their next flight, they should prefer visiting places located within 10 minutes range. In addition, travellers can visit the nearby places using the transportation facilities of Orlando Airport.
Airport Lakes Park
Located 4 miles away from the Orlando International Airport is Airport Lakes Park. The destination can be accessed in 7 minutes' drive. Also, there is no entry fee, and the park opens every day from 06:00 AM to 09:00 PM. The following are some of the things for visitors to do at the park.
- Visitors can walk and jog on the 0.8-mile trail.
- Families can visit the park as a picnic spot and relax amidst the beauty of nature.
- They can also use the lunch tables to eat food and charcoal grills for barbecue.
- Travellers can also play disc golf or have fun in the park’s playground.
- Additionally, a lighted, rentable athletic soccer field is present in the park.
The Florida Mall
Secondly, passengers on a short layover can visit The Florida Mall. It is the biggest mall in the state and is situated 8 miles from the Orlando Airport. Furthermore, the mall remains open from 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 09:00 PM and on Sundays from 11:00 AM to 07:00 PM. Below are things to do at the mall.
- A plethora of 250 retail stores are available in the mall.
- An extensive range of famous restaurants can be explored.
- Fun activities such as the Play Park, Escape Rooms and Game Park Arcade can be visited.
- Along with this, customers can also purchase sweet delights from the bakeries.
- In addition, visitors can utilize the complimentary WiFi and currency exchange booths of the Florida Mall.
Lake Nona Town Centre
Another thing to do near the Orlando Airport is that passengers can visit Lake Nona Town Centre. It is a 10-11-minute drive from the airport. Quite importantly, this is a one-stop place where travellers can find restaurants, shops and engage in fun activities. To be precise, all the worth visiting locations of the town centre are written here:
- Boxi Park is the most renowned attraction of the town centre. It is full of restaurants and bars with live music and night lighting.
- After trying delicious cuisines, visitors can have a look at the art pieces of Beacon as well as the Code Wall.
- Passengers can also walk on the 40-mile-long trail to explore the neighbouring locations of the town.
- Additionally, visitors can head for an expedition to Nona Adventure Park. Although it can be a little time-consuming.
- Also, the tennis lovers could navigate to the USTA National Campus to play or watch some matches on the court.
iFLY Orlando
Equally important, customers who are keen about flying and want to experience a unique skydiving adventure. iFLY Orlando is the go-to place. It is an indoor skydiving space that allows customers to experience free fall in an air-cushioned tunnel. Key pointers about the tourist attractions are given here:
- Above all, IFLY Orlando is situated at 8969 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819.
- It usually opens from 09:00 AM to 08:30 PM. However, the daily hours can differ, so travellers should cross-check from official sources.
- Further, the official contact number of the company is (407) 337-4359.
- Moreover, the cost to visit this destination ranges between $99 to $154 per flyer.
- Families can skydive together by purchasing a 10-flight shareable package costing $459.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
The globally acclaimed Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is just 15 minutes away from Orlando International Airport. Passengers can visit the Art Museum almost daily from 11:00 AM to 09:00 PM. Also, the primary highlights of the place are as follows:
- Visitors can take selfies and pose with the top-rated celebrities in the world.
- Amazingly, the museum not only covers actors' statues but also the honoured sportsmen and musicians as well.
- Guests can also grab props and perform a real-life scene with the wax statue of their favourites.
- Additionally, tourists above the age of 8 can get a wax mould of their own hand as a souvenir.
- All this can be done at just $30 for adults and $25 for children.
Similarly, travellers can explore things to do near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Denver International Airport.
Things to do Near Orlando International Airport during a Short Layover
Likewise, travellers who have a long layover of 8-12 hours at the Orlando International Airport. So, along with engaging in the above-mentioned activities, they can pay a visit to some other highlights of Florida. Most importantly, the places included in this section are around 25 to 35 minutes away from the Orlando Airport.
Lake Eola Park
The first one in the row is the famous landmark of Lake Eola Park, Orlando. Located 12.5 miles away from MCO, it takes around 25 minutes to drive to reach the destination. Also, the park operates from 06:00 AM to 11:59 PM. The primary things to do at Lake Eola Park are mentioned here:
- Swan Paddle Boating at Lake Eola is the most pleasant thing to do close to the Orlando Airport. It costs $15 for 30 minutes.
- After boating, visitors can walk for sometime at the 0.9-mile-long paved sidewalk.
- During the nighttime, travellers can witness the historic 1912 light fountain.
- Passengers can also feed the wildlife animals living in Lake Eola Park under expert supervision.
- Also, visitors can attend shows and watch movies at the Walt Disney Amphitheatre.
Gatorland
This place is not just a tourist spot but the hotspot of Florida’s wildlife preservation. To be precise, Gatorland is a theme park and a wildlife sanctuary 13 miles away from Orlando Airport. This Aligator Capital can be reached in 20 minutes. Further, Gatorland opens daily from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM, including all holidays. Things to do here for visitors include:
- Tourists can participate in numerous sports, such as Screaming Gator Zipline, Croc Rock Adventure Climbing Wall and Gator Gauntlet.
- Apart from this, guests can ride a custom-made 12-foot-high monster vehicle and explore the park and alligators.
- Also, visitors can relax and enjoy watching alligator-centric shows called Gator Jumparoo.
- Quite interesting, curious travellers can enroll in the ‘Trainer for a Day’ program and experience cohabiting with wildlife.
- All these programs cost $34.99 for adults and $24.99 for children.
SeaWorld Orlando
Another award-winning destination near the MCO Airport is SeaWorld Orlando. This unconventional theme park focuses on marine life. Also, the 15-mile distance can be covered in a 30-35-minute drive. All the important information for passengers’ convenience is given here:
- Firstly, Seworld Orlando has an online entry fee of $99. Although for dining add-ons it goes up to $169.
- The adventure park is full of rides and roller coasters. The most famous of these are Mako, Sea Quest, Journey to Atlantis, and Pipeline, among others.
- For kids, there are fun rides and activities such as the Elmo’s Choo Choo Train, Rosita’s Harmony Hill and Rubber Duckie.
- Guests can also visit Dolphin Nursery along with Sea and Manta Aquarium to feel close to marine life.
- Therefore, Seaworld Orlando allows travellers to do the best things near Orlando International Airport.
Orlando Museum of Art
Orlando Museum of Art is the leading cultural centre of Florida. The building is 15.5 miles from MCO Airport, and it takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the location. Quite importantly, this museum showcases American and contemporary African art pieces. Things to explore at this museum are listed below:
- Firstly, the entry fees for the museum are $20 for adults and $12 for seniors. But for students its $10 and $8 for children between 6 and 17 years.
- There are Sunday and Family Highlight Tours to the Orlando Museum of Art, where a guide explains the primary art pieces.
- A monthly event called ‘Art Night Out’ is held at the museum. In this, adults can create art, enjoy beverages and meet each other.
- Visitors can also access the Bloomberg Connect to hear more about the art that fascinates them.
- A collection of historical American art can be seen at the gallery.
Disney Springs
For all the Disney enthusiasts, the main attraction near Orlando International Airport is Disney Springs. It is an extensive outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex found 18.8 miles from MCO. Travellers can rent a car and conveniently reach the location in 35 minutes. Key highlights of the place are as follows:
- Visitors can enjoy live entertainment at Adventhealth Waterside Stage.
- Realx at Dine-In Theatres.
- Click Pictures at Disney Photo Pass Studio, and kids can have fun at Disney Spring Kids Club.
- Also, diverse dining options are available for the guests.
- Additionally, retail stores such as the Art of Disney and the Coca-Cola Store are among the famous shops of Disney Springs.
Conclusion
Passengers who are visiting Orlando International Airport can spend time doing several things near the airport. In this page, the top 10 attractions near MCO are mentioned, coupled with their entry fee and overall activities. So, travellers can go through the activities highlighted above and choose the places they want to visit during their layover.
