Sebring Florida Travel: A Charming Escape Awaits

Facebook26 Tweet Pin LinkedInShares26

Just 70 miles from Disney World, Sebring offers a refreshing slice of “real Florida” with lakes, a charming circular town square and revitalized local businesses featured on HGTV’s Hometown Takeover. This under-the-radar Central Florida gem blends small-town character, outdoor adventures and easygoing charm.

Highlights

A Storybook Town Square that’s Really a Circle: Sebring’s unique circular downtown features colorful murals, local shops, cafés and family-friendly public art.
Easy Disney Side Trip: Close enough for a day or overnight escape, Sebring delivers a calmer, more authentic Florida experience.
Nature, Food & Fun: Lakes, state parks, craft soda, quirky wine bars and nearby communities add variety for families and adult groups alike.

Editor’s Note: The writer was hosted by Visit Sebring.

Sebring, Florida, Comes into Its Own

Sixty miles from Disney World and an easy drive from Orlando or Tampa, Sebring sits in the middle of Central Florida, even if it’s long flown under the radar. Outside of racing circles – Sebring International Raceway is the birthplace of endurance racing- it hasn’t drawn much attention. That’s changing, thanks to HGTV’s Hometown Takeover and renovation team Ben and Erin Napier.

As a frequent Orlando visitor (Disney Vacation Club member) and a reno show diehard, I spent two days exploring where the Napiers filmed season three of Hometown Takeover.

Who Should Visit Sebring?

Sebring makes an easy side trip for families or adult travel groups and delivers precisely what small-town Florida should. Anyone who wants a dose of “real Florida” outside the Disney bubble should give Sebring a look.

Are you ready to explore more? Let us inspire you!

Explore Sebring’s Town Circle

Visit Sebring sign on a pink building — The vibe of downtown Sebring is very old “coastal Florida” with lots of pastels and palm trees. Photo credit: Visit Sebring

Anyone can have a town square but the central hub of Sebring is circular. Many of the businesses renovated on the show are here.

Businesses line Circle Park, a round patch of recreational space with side streets stemming from the center circle, like spokes on a bicycle.
Downtown Sebring brings a pleasing mix of painted brick, ice cream colors and inviting cafe seating dotting the sidewalks.
The public art piece, The Wave, stands out as a central landmark and a fun place for kids to play and climb.
Hometown Takeover added murals with 3D details and brightly painted flowers on the asphalt adjacent to the parking spaces, as part of a community beautification project.

Don’t-Miss Spots on the Town Circle

Interior of Sophies Cafe with a yellow glass Havana Cuba sign — Sophie’s Cafe is a Cuban eatery that is very popular in Sebring. The building renovation was featured on Hometown Takeover and Erin Napier named it as one of her favorites. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

These gems are directly on the circle or just steps from it, on the “bicycle spoke” side streets.

301 Eatery, Brewery, and Distillery – Burgers, craft beer brewed on-site and rotating entertainment that includes trivia, open mic night and music.
Circle Theater – This prominent Sebring landmark hosts a variety of musical performances. The lobby is a mini history exhibit featuring artifacts from the theater’s 1923 beginnings.
Sebring Soap Company – Natural, locally made soaps, shampoo bars, bath bombs and other scent items for the home.
Sophie’s Cafe, named for the owner’s daughter and located in the historic Salvation Army Building, serves Cuban cuisine and legendary homemade pastries.

Other Sebring Highlights

Boardwalk in Highlands Hammock State Park in Florida — Set aside at least half a day to explore Highlands Hammock State Park. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

Mon Cirque Wine Bar – For anyone who has ever secretly – or not so secretly – wished they could run away and join the circus, this quirky wine bar filled with circus memorabilia checks the box.
Highlands Hammock State Park – Florida’s first state park has easy camping, hiking trails, an overwater boardwalk and a tram tour that takes visitors into areas of the park ordinarily off-limits to the public. There’s also a small museum of Civilian Conservation Corps work in Florida.
Organically Local – Coffee, smoothies, healthy breakfast and lunch + unique locally made gifts.

Healthy bowl with fruit on a table with a white spoon — Sebring is full of delicious “cheat meals,” but if you want a healthy reset for breakfast or to grab a cold-pressed juice, this is your place. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

SheBuysTravel Tip: Don’t skip the tram tour at Highlands Hammock State Park. Although wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, the odds of seeing alligators, turtles, herons and other water birds are higher in the less-trafficked areas of the park that the tram tour explores.

Sebring Soda Festival

Sebring Soda Works on the corner of the town circle — Although Sebring Soda Works has over 200 varieties of craft soda, they sell hand-dipped ice cream and all kinds of other treats. It’s got a very 1950’s soda shop aesthetic. Photo credit: Visit Sebring

Sebring’s annual party, which occurs every April (2026 dates are April 11-12), is dedicated to craft soda and was initiated by the owner of Sebring Soda Works (fun town circle spot to visit).
Visitors can purchase punch cards for soda samples ranging from $6 to $25.

Craft Soda + Treats Year-Round

Sebring Soda Works has an impressive selection of craft sodas – over 200 kinds.
They also sell hand-dipped ice cream, gourmet hot dogs, soft pretzels and more.

Explore-Worthy Nearby Communities

soft serve ice cream in front of Maxwells House of Fruit sign — Stop for an orange soft serve on your way into Sebring. You’re welcome. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

The neighboring communities of Avon Park and Lake Placid are easy to include in your “things to do in Sebring” planning.

Avon Park (10 miles)

I stopped at Maxwell Groves Country store on my way into Sebring and recommend you do the same. Order the homemade orange soft serve(you can thank me later) and pick a spot on the cozy front porch to enjoy your cone.
Browse the boutique shops on Avon Park’s Main Street.
Explore the lake and sandy beach at Donaldson Park.

Lake Placid (16 miles)

View of June Lake and blue sky with puffy white clouds — You can rent a pontoon boat and explore June Lake, or have one delivered to one of the other nearby lakes to enjoy fishing, swimming and lots of Florida sunshine. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

Lake Placid has 27 named lakes: boating, swimming and water sports top everyone’s list of things to do.
Lake June Pontoons offers pontoon tours and rentals on Lake June and boat delivery to other area lakes.
Sugar Sand Distillery, a 10-minute drive from Lake June and a prime spot to relax with a cocktail or do a tour and tasting. It’s a little out of the way but sampling spirits made with estate-grown sugar cane is quite the experience!
Explore downtown Lake Placid’s Journal Plaza – eateries and boutiques are scattered around a community gathering space.

Pink cocktail with an orange slice sitting on a bar — Sugar Sand Distillery is the perfect spot to enjoy an adult beverage after a day on the lake or, a day exploring Sebring. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

Where to Stay in the Sebring Area

Antique bed in a room with gold walls and artwork. — The Old Florida room is the Roanoake Hotel’s most spacious room. It comes with a private balcony and a perfect view of downtown Sebring. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

Roanoke Hotel – Perched above Gavaghan’s Irish Pub and The Pitch on Sebring’s town circle, this 10-room micro-hotel was featured on Hometown Takeover. The Old Florida room has a private balcony; other rooms share an outdoor space.
The Inn on the Lakes – A 155-room hotel with sunset views over Lake Jackson. On-site Chicane’s serves upscale American fare, and a stay includes breakfast delivery.
SEVEN Sebring Raceway Hotel – A 123-room favorite with endurance racing fans, located at Turn Seven of Sebring International Raceway with track views.

Living room at Inn on the Lakes with white loveseat brown rug and white subway brick walls — This two-room suite at the Inn on the Lakes has a separate eating and living area plus a spacious bedroom with a King bed. It’s worth staying here for the sunset views over the lake alone. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

Getting to Sebring

Sebring, 90 miles from Tampa and 85 miles from Orlando, requires a car to get around, so renting a car at the airport and driving is the easiest way to get there.
I flew into Tampa and rented a car. The drive to Sebring was about 90 minutes; I encountered some traffic exiting the city, but it’s otherwise a pleasant drive through the Florida countryside.