Between the plethora of coffee shops, parks, and arts + culture venues, there are a lot of spots we want to travel to around Swan City. For the days when driving isn’t possible (or you’re hoping to save the mileage on that sweet ride), check out our guide to walkability and public transportation in Lakeland.
Walkability
Out of a possible score of 100, Lakeland scores a 35 on Walk Score’s walkability meter, meaning Lakeland is considered a car-dependent city. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get around the old-fashioned way with a few workarounds. Check out our examples of a walkable day (plus how long each walk will take you) in these Lakeland districts:
Downtown
- Find a parking spot using our downtown parking guide — the Main Street parking garage is centrally located.
- Head over to Catapult Lakeland and get a day pass for a day of remote work. | 5 minutes
- Grab lunch at one of The Joinery’s seven food stalls. | 4 minutes
- Take a stroll around Lake Mirror while your lunch settles and head to Black and Brew Coffee House & Bistro for an afternoon tea or coffee. | 10 minutes
- End your downtown day with dinner + drinks at The Terrace Grille, across the street from your parked ride. | 3 minutes
Dixieland
- Park your car in the Dixieland Mall parking lot (near Good Thyme and Concord Coffee).
- Speaking of Concord, stop by for your morning coffee + stick around to work, gather, or settle in with a good book. | 1 minute
- Head across the street for lunch at Subs ‘n Such. | 2 minutes
- Let your lunch settle while you do some light shopping at The Shop Across the Street. | 2 minutes
- Pop into Union Hall to end your day with some live music or line dancing, just across the street from the Dixieland Mall parking lot. | 2 minutes
The Squeeze
Not in the walking mood? Hitch a ride on a Citrus Connection bus or Squeeze shuttle.
The Squeeze, a fare-free downtown circulator, offers quick shuttle service on a golf cart — perfect during busy downtown events. It’s available on Fridays from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 4 to 11 p.m.
If you’re working or visiting downtown Lakeland on weekdays, hitch a ride on the Lunch Squeeze. The newly expanded program offers short rides to downtown dining + shopping destinations on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Citrus Connection
Finding routes
Polk County’s public transportation service offers rides Monday-Saturday with one additional route, Route 30, running on Sundays in Winter Haven. Pro tip: When checking routes online, look at the West County Routes to find those in Lakeland.
Once you know where you’re headed, myStop is a convenient way to find when the bus is scheduled to hit each stop on your route.
Purchasing rides
Purchase a reloadable SMARTCARD for $2 on any fixed route bus (with cash), at the Citrus Connection Main Office, or at the Lakeland Transit Terminal. Once purchased, you can load it with fare options like single-day passes, 7-day passes, and 31-day passes.
Don’t have a pass? You can purchase one-way fares and single-day passes with cash, but exact change is required.
Deals
Several types of riders can hop on Citrus Connection for free.
- Children | Free transit for children 7 and under when accompanied by an adult
- Older adults and adults with disabilities | Discounted daily, weekly, and monthly passes with proof of eligibility
- High school students | Free transit for high school students via the Community of Learning Transportation Services (COLTS) Program
- College students | Free rides for Polk State College, Southeastern University, and Ridge Technical College students via the Universal Access Program with proof of a valid school ID
Accessibility
All Citrus Connection buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Additionally, individuals with disabilities and older adults can inquire about eligibility for the paratransit service, a door-to-door, call-ahead fleet of small buses.
