The Villages is located in the heart of Central Florida, about an hour north of Orlando, putting you close to all the attractions, shopping, restaurants and activities you could imagine.
But some folks (myself included) love being around water, whether its a river or the ocean. I get the question “How far is The Villages from the beach” quite a bit.
The Villages is about 70 miles from the Atlantic Ocean (Daytona Beach area). This trip will take you about an hour and 30 minutes or so because the route does not include interstate. However, not a bad distance to drive to get to the beach. There's always quite a bit going on in this area.
If you are looking for beaches that are a little more tranquil, you'll want to head west to the Gulf of Mexico. The Villages is about an hour drive to Crystal River, and roughly double that (2 hours) to Clearwater which is a popular beach destination.
No matter where you choose to go, bring your sunscreen 🙂
Also, here's a list of some of the best beaches in Florida.
Bob says
I found the book and previous videos educational and insightful. Definitely reduced our efforts to learn about The Villages and the culture. It even helped us to gain the knowledge we needed to purchase our home in The Villages.