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Whether you’ve lived in Florida your whole life or your time at SEU is your first time in the Sunshine State, you’ll never run out of things to do here in Central Florida. So come and love life among the palm trees and tropical breezes — guaranteed to keep you sunny side up all year long.
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Sources: *U.S. News & World Report | **Lightcast
With an awesome mix of great places to eat, beautiful places to visit, fun things to do, and great people to meet, Lakeland is the perfect hometown for your college years — and after!
Lakeland has just the right balance of small-town connectivity and city-based excitement, and plenty of opportunities for work experience during your college years.
Thanks to our centralized location, strong local economy, and supportive community, Lakeland is a popular hub for entrepreneurs and houses locations for national companies. In fact, many nearby businesses hire SEU students and alumni, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to stay right here after you graduate!
Lakeland was ranked #2 nationwide for the fastest-growing places in the U.S. in 2022–2023.
Source: U.S. News & World Report
Lakeland is about an hour away from two international airports — Tampa (TPA) and Orlando (MCO) — so catching your next flight is a breeze.
Downtown farmer’s market
Craft coffee shops
Drive-in movie theater
Running paths & trails
Monthly food truck rally
300+ churches & ministries
Downtown bicycle rentals
Sun ’n Fun Fly-in
Detroit Tigers Spring Training
Downtown Lakeland — Shopping, dining, entertainment, antiques
The Joinery
Lakeland Magic Basketball
Lakeside Village — Shopping, dining, entertainment
Unique restaurants
Polk Museum of Art
38 lakes and 47 parks
Hollis Gardens
Circle B Bar Reserve
…and much more
You’ve heard of our world-famous theme parks and some of the nation’s best beaches, but there’s even more to experience right here, all close to SEU! From entertainment to local events to shopping and dining, you’ll find endless activities to fill your weekends and create unforgettable memories.
Steeped in history but always full of new things to do, you’ll love exploring Tampa and the surrounding areas on the weekends. Grab coffee at Buddy Brew Coffee, fill up on delicious tacos at Bartaco, tee off at Top Golf, or take a stroll through Downtown St. Petersburg.
Armature Works | Indie Flea Market Museums Professional sports (NFL, MLB, NHL) Sparkman Wharf State Parks Strawberry Festival Tampa Riverwalk Tampa/St. Petersburg shops & eats Zoo Tampa …and so much more! |
There’s more to Orlando than theme parks and resorts. In this ever-growing metropolis, you’ll find unique markets, exciting entertainment, and fantastic eats.
| Atlantic beaches Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center Golf courses Madame Tussauds Museums Orlando Eye Orlando shopping & entertainment Professional sports (NBA, MLS) | Sea Life Orlando SeaWorld State Parks Universal Studios Florida Walt Disney World Resort Water parks Wekiwa Springs …and so much more! |
Driving Directions from Orlando and Tampa on Interstate 4 (I-4)
Due to the unpredictable nature of traffic in the Central Florida area, we highly recommend building in additional travel time when coming to campus, especially if your driving plans include traveling I-4 as part of your journey.
Our campus is conveniently designed so that students don’t need to drive between classes in order to get from building to building — everything is within walking distance! All students are permitted to have a car on campus.
No car? No problem! The City of Lakeland’s bus service, Citrus Connection, ensures students can still get around town as needed. Bus service is available 6 days a week and is free for SEU students (with valid student ID). We even have a bus stop on campus.
These hotels partner with SEU to host our visitors and guests in Lakeland. Use the below links and mention you are visiting SEU when you book.
| Address | Phone | Distance from Campus |
Courtyard by Marriott Lakeland Discount Code: 7UN 3725 Harden Blvd. | 863.802.9000 | 5.4 miles |
Discount Code: 7UN 3370 Highway 98 North | 863.680.1115 | 6.7 miles |
Hampton Inn & Suites Lakeland – South Polk Parkway 3630 Lakeside Village Blvd. | 863.603.7600 | 8.2 miles |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lakeland South 3405 S. Florida Ave. | 863.606.1000 | 4.0 miles |
3610 Lakeside Village Blvd Lakeland, FL 33803 | 863.500.6869 | 5.7 miles |
Hyatt Place (RP Funding Center, Downtown Lakeland) Call for discounted rate for SEU guests or use group/corporate code 33291 online 525 W. Orange St. | 800.993.4751 | 3.4 miles |
The Terrace Hotel (Downtown Lakeland) Call for discounted rate for SEU guests 329 E Main St. | 863.688.0800 | 3.2 miles |
La Quinta Inn & Suites Lakeland East 4315 Lakeland Park Dr. | 863.815.0606 | 7.1 miles |
La Quinta Inn & Suites Lakeland West 1024 Crevasse St. | 863.859.2866 | 6.3 miles |
Discount Code: 7UN 3701 Harden Blvd. | 863.680.2323 | 5.4 miles |
Discount Code: 7UN 4307 Sterling Commerce Dr. | 813.757.6202 | 10.2 miles |
Discount Code: 7UN 4040 Central Florida Pkwy. | 407.206.2300 | 45.2 miles |
Discount Code: 7UN 4012 Central Florida Pkwy. | 407.206.2400 | 45.5 miles |
511 West Lime St. | 407.206.2400 | 3.0 miles |
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