America’s Best College Towns: Orlando, Winter Park

Minutes from Orlando, Steps Away From Endless Opportunities

Welcome to America’s Best College Town. Located in Winter Park, Florida, (and just minutes away from Orlando), Rollins is perfectly positioned at the center of theme park adventures, thriving tech companies, and one of the nation’s hottest job markets. Take a walk to award-winning dining on Park Ave. Hop on a 15-minute train ride to downtown Orlando’s growing arts scene and pro sports. Or sink your toes into the sand of one of the world's best beaches.

What’s the Best College Town in America?

We’re glad you asked. From incredible internships to adrenaline-pumping adventures, this college town has something for everyone.

No. 1

Best Place to Start a Career in Florida

— WalletHub, 2025
No. 2

Most Fun Cities in America

— WalletHub, 2025
No. 3

Best College Towns in America

— WalletHub, 2025
No. 3

Best Foodie Cities in America

— WalletHub, 2025

Close to Campus: Winter Park & Park Avenue District

Known for its oak tree-lined brick roads and lakefront beauty, Rollins’ hometown of Winter Park is also home to more than 70 parks, multiple free art museums, and some of the region's best restaurants. The city's walkable main street, Park Avenue, extends directly from campus so students have safe and easy access to dining, shopping, entertainment, and more. Explore some of our students' favorite things to do in Winter Park.

Grab Brunch

Rise and shine! Or sleep in and savor the morning at a local restaurant. Local favorite The Briarpatch has been serving comfort-food classics like homemade waffles topped with Nutella and eggs benedict alongside scrumptious lunch fare like stacked burgers and sandwiches for over 40 years.
Hit the Water

You don’t even have to leave campus to leave land. Just walk over to the Rollins boathouse, where you can jump in a kayak, hop on a paddleboard, or don a pair of waterskis to explore beautiful Lake Virginia, your year-round playground.
Explore Local Events

Fresh goat cheese crumbled onto butter-softened bread. Butterflies hatching in jars. Just-picked cuts of wildflowers. These are just a few of the finds that make the Winter Park Farmers Market one of the area’s most anticipated weekly events.
Do a Museum Crawl

The College’s very own art museum, the Rollins Museum of Art (RMA), regularly exhibits the work of art majors as they hone their craft and displays thought-provoking pieces from its Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art at The Alfond Inn. You can also walk to the Morse Museum, home to the world’s most extensive collection of stained glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany, and the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens.
Get Real-World Experience

Leading Winter Park companies like financial firm DePrince, Race & Zollo (DPZ) regularly offer internships to Rollins students as well as opportunities to come aboard full-time after graduation. And Rollins’ close ties with city organizations like the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce mean our students get the opportunity to partner on real-world projects.
Make Community Connections

Each year, incoming first-year and transfer students, start with service by volunteering with local nonprofits. Known as SPARC Day (Service, Passion, Action at Rollins College), this beloved tradition introduces students to amazing organizations in the area like New Hope for Kids provides tools and resources to children suffering from devastating loss. From community engagement courses to immersive alternative breaks, Tars have lots of opportunities to create real change in the real world.

POV: You Live in Florida’s Best College Town

Explore your future classmates’ favorite spots and see what it’s like to be a college student in America’s best college town.

In the City: Orlando

Orlando may be well-known for its magic and wild rides, but there’s way more to this Central Florida metro. Affectionately known as The City Beautiful, it’s a one-of-a-kind community perfectly balanced by countless professional pursuits and amazing adventures. See why our students love calling Orlando home.

Catch a Game

From the NBA’s Orlando Magic and soccer teams Orlando City and Orlando Pride to the Solar Bears hockey team, you’re never far from taking in a pro game. Sports Business Journal recently named Orlando the No. 1 sports business city in America for attracting and hosting events, drawing on data that spanned 1,500 sports events in everything from youth sports to professional leagues.
Check Out a Show

Orlando is also home to hundreds of museums, galleries, theatres, gardens and historic homes—making the entertainment options endless. Enjoy a Broadway play at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Or check out Enzian Theatre—a cozy movie house that shows cult classics and indie films and serves up delicious fare right to your seat.
Get Outdoors

Orlando is home to loads of greenspace. Spend the afternoon tubing down a lazy river at Wekiva Springs. Learn about native plants at Leu Gardens. Pack a picnic and catch some rays at Kraft Azalea Park, a favorite among local photographers. Or head downtown to Lake Eola for a sunset outdoor concert.
Have a Laugh

You never know what’ll happen at one of SAK Comedy Lab’s live improv shows. Audience participation drives every show, and the results are often surprising and always hilarious. Not only does the 250-seat venue host local comedy troupes several days a week, but it’s also where big-name comedians stop on national tours (and sometimes drop in to try new material).
Kickstart Your Career

Orlando is home to many diverse industries, and our students intern for leading companies, like Universal Orlando. Plus, grads often stay here to work for tech titans like Electronic Arts, as well as real estate developers, financial firms, and consultancies looking to support the city’s rapid economic growth.
Learn Beyond the Classroom

Rollins is known for its discussion-based classes, but don’t expect to be tethered to a round table all the time. Marine biology students dive into the area’s unique aquatic environments, English majors explore Zora Neale Hurston’s hometown of Eatonville, and art majors curate exhibitions at the College’s very own Rollins Museum of Art. At Rollins, all of Orlando is your classroom.

Our Students’ Top Picks

Beach trips. Boba breaks. Disney days. See where our students like to be when they’re not in class.

“With its trendy shops and restaurants, Park Avenue is basically an extension of campus. Drinking boba tea at Bonsai Tea is one of my favorite happy places between classes.”
– Jordan Febish ’23, ’24MBA
“Rollins is so close to venues like (Inter&Co) Stadium, where the Orlando City and Orlando Pride soccer teams play. There are so many different opportunities in the area to explore and try something new.”
– Claire Angel ’23, Studio Art major
“One of my go-to’s on the weekend is to walk over to Park Avenue for coffee and croissants at Financier Patisserie, which overlooks the park.”
– Grace Hurt ’23, Business Management major

Driving Distance: Theme Parks & More

One of the many perks of living in Central Florida is that you’re close to everything! Enjoy quick access to world-famous attractions. And keep in mind, you’re never more than 60 miles from the nearest body of salt water—no matter where you are in the state.

Make Magic

Everyone knows Orlando is the world’s theme park capital. And yeah, a day spent hanging with Mickey Mouse or playing wizard is a total blast. But the parks offer another kind of magic too. Rollins students frequently intern and start their careers at the area’s theme park titans.
See the Stars

At Kennedy Space Center, you can attend launches and learn more about the shuttle program’s history. Or join fellow Rollins students and professors in connecting directly with NASA scientists for internships and research.
Take a Trip to the Beach

Rollins is less than 50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and only 70 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, so you can easily surf killer waves in New Smyrna Beach one day and snorkel the balmy waters of the Gulf Stream the next. And because a Rollins education means the world is your classroom, you might even visit the beach for course credit.