Downtown Orlando Without a Car: SunRail Stations, LYMMO and the Two-Station Trick
Downtown is the one part of Orlando where you can leave the car behind — two SunRail stations, a free LYMMO circulator and the region's bus hub, all within a few blocks. How the pieces fit, and the Sunday catch.
2 minute read
Downtown Orlando is the one part of this car-built city where you can genuinely leave the car behind — if you know the trick. The trick is that downtown has not one SunRail station but two, a free bus circulator stitching them together, and the region’s main bus hub in between. Here is how the pieces fit, and when the plan falls apart (it does, on Sundays).
The two-station trick
SunRail, Central Florida’s commuter rail line, runs 17 stations from DeLand in Volusia County south through downtown Orlando to Poinciana in Osceola County; service began on May 1, 2014, the southern extension to Poinciana opened July 30, 2018, and the northern extension to DeLand started August 12, 2024. Downtown gets two stops. LYNX Central Station, at 455 North Garland Avenue, is the main transfer center for LYNX, the regional bus system, as well as a SunRail stop. A few blocks south, Church Street Station — beside the Old Orlando Railroad Depot, built in 1889 — serves the downtown business area and the entertainment district; SunRail’s own station page notes Orlando City Hall, the Orange County government complex and the performing arts center are all a quick walk away.
Which one you want depends on where downtown you are headed: LYNX Central for the north end and for bus connections, Church Street for City Hall, the arena district and the Church Street nightlife blocks.
LYMMO: the free piece in the middle
Between and around the stations runs LYMMO, LYNX’s free downtown circulator. Its lines board at LYNX Central Station and loop the downtown core, which makes the workable pattern: ride SunRail in, hop LYMMO across downtown, walk the last block. For the bigger picture of the neighborhood you are arriving into, start with our Downtown Orlando hub, and for the lake at its center, our Lake Eola weekend guide.
The honest limits
SunRail is a commuter railroad, and it keeps commuter hours: LYNX’s system materials mark the service Monday to Friday only, with no Sunday or holiday trains. A downtown night out that runs late, or any Sunday plan, needs a bus, a rideshare or a car. Schedules and fares change, so check the current timetable at sunrail.com before you build a day around a specific train. If your trip starts further south, our Meadow Woods SunRail guide covers the southern end of the line, and game-day arrivals are covered in our Orlando game day guide.
Sources & notes
Key facts in this article were checked against:
- SunRail — Church Street Station — confirms the station’s location and what it serves downtown.
- SunRail — system overview — confirms 17 stations, the May 1, 2014 service start, the July 30, 2018 Poinciana extension and the August 12, 2024 DeLand extension.
- LYNX Central Station — confirms the 455 N. Garland Avenue address, its role as LYNX’s main transfer center and LYMMO boarding.
Service patterns checked November 2026; SunRail and LYNX schedules change — verify your train before you travel.
Photo: DanTD · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons. Graded to the magazine's photo finish; the scene is unaltered.
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