A little plan for your visit.
Start well before last admission
Allow at least 3–4 hours before the 6 p.m. closing. Last admission at 5 p.m. leaves only one hour.
Walk to the tower
Follow the garden paths to the tower, then loop back through the gardens.
Break at the café
Blue Palmetto Cafe is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Good for
A slow half-day of gardens and views for guests staying near ChampionsGate or Davenport.
Plan your time
Allow at least 3–4 hours. This is planning advice.
Getting there, without the guesswork.
1151 Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Official hours (opens in a new tab)Parking
The venue does not list parking details online.
Admission
Adults $25; ages 6–17 $12; 5 and under free; dogs $10.
A docent-led El Retiro tour upgrade costs extra.
Before you go
Dogs are allowed for a $10 fee. El Retiro is closed Mondays from Thanksgiving through April 30. Parking is not described on the admission page.
Drive times from your staying area
Disney area: 64–115 min · I-Drive / Universal: 73–130 min · Kissimmee: 65–115 min · ChampionsGate: 50–90 min
Estimated drive each way from each staying area, from a routing check on Oct 25, 2026 plus a traffic allowance. Live traffic can make the trip longer, and routes can include toll roads.