Oviedo Car Rental

Guide to Oviedo

Geography

The city of Oviedo is found in Seminole County in the U.S. state of Florida. The Econlockhatchee River and its little tributaries pass through the town center. And the city is located about 20 minutes from downtown Orlando.

Climate in Oviedo

You can expect long, humid and hot summers in Oviedo while winters typically tend to be short, cloudy and cool-in typical Floridian style. Throughout the year, the temperatures range from 51°F to 91°F and are rarely below 38°F or above 94°F. The best times to visit would be from mid-March to mid-May or from mid-October to early-December, as this is when the best warm-weather activities (like aforementioned lakeside grilling!) take place.

Culture

Until the 19th century, the area on which present-day Oviedo sits was inhabited by the Black Seminoles and African-American Freemen in what was then Spanish Florida.

The town was named after the northern Spanish city of Oviedo by Andrew Aulin, an early settler and merchant, “to honor the Spanish heritage of the state.”

Things to do in Oviedo

Amaze at the free-roaming chickens

One of the quirkiest things about Oviedo is the population of chickens that roam the downtown area just like any other inhabitant. They cross the roads so often that traffic often stops to give way to them. While some locals believe they should be removed, the majority of Oviedo consider them a source of harmless amusement. In fact, the entire city is designated a bird sanctuary due to the presence of these chickens and you will find images of roosters painted on all welcome signs leading to the city as well as amusing signs like “I brake for Oviedo’s chickens” on many bumper stickers. Pick up a t-shirt or coffee mug featuring the chickens for a whimsical souvenir.

Paddle boat on Econlockhatchee River

Econlockhatchee means ‘River of Many Mounds,’ in the Muskogee language and the area was named in reference to the many Indian mounds found along the river. Take a gently gliding paddle boat down the designated trail to see an incredible array of flora and fauna, including sandhill cranes, wood storks, wading birds, hawks, ospreys, bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, turkey, black bear, deer, waterfowl, shorebirds, cypress, and sable palm. The river also passed through the unmarred forests of Little Big Econ State Forest.

Eating out in Oviedo

Serving American and Greek classics, Townhouse Restaurant is one of the most popular spots in town. They also have weekly live music sessions that draw locals out of the woodworks in droves. For an extensive beer list paired with familiar pub fare, BJ’s Restaurant and Warehouse is the place to go with friends for a drink or two. Victorio's Oyster Bar & Grille is a local-chain pizzeria and oyster bar. It's great for a quick lunch or a casual date.

Oviedo Transport

Airport

The closest airport to Oviedo is Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB), which is about 7.6 miles away.

Getting around Oviedo

To get from Orlando to Oviedo, you can take a bus from Lynx Central Station operated by Lynx Central Florida Transport. It should take approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. However, the city itself doesn’t have its own public transit system. So most people opt to rent a car instead for maximum comfort and flexibility.