Moving from Houston, TX to Orlando, FL

Moving from Houston to Orlando

If you’re moving from Houston to Orlando, you’ll be happy to learn that these two cities are very similar to each other. Houston is the most populous city in the state of Texas with a population of 2.1 million; Orlando is much smaller with a population of 238,300. However, the Greater Orlando metropolitan area’s population is the same as Houston’s at 2.1 million. Although moving from Houston to Orlando can take some time to get used to, you certainly won’t be missing out on a wide variety of things to do and places to explore in the friendly and beautiful city of Orlando!

What to expect when moving

Driving from Houston to Orlando can seem like a daunting task, but if you plan to drive yourself to Orlando, there are plenty of great cities along the way where you can take a rest and have some fun. The trip from Houston to Orlando will take about 16 hours, and you’ll be traveling about 1,000 miles. Along the way, you’ll pass by such cities as Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; and Tallahassee, Florida; you could even plan a little vacation while you’re making your way to Orlando!

Orlando’s Weather

Fortunately, moving from Houston to Orlando won’t mean that you’ll have to get used to completely different weather. Houston and Orlando have very similar climates, with both experiencing humid subtropical climates, although parts of Orlando do exhibit characteristics of a tropical climate. Compared to Houston’s average yearly temperature of 69 F, Orlando has an average yearly temperature that is slightly higher at 73 F. In the summer, Orlando’s temperatures usually rise above 90 F; while in the winter, Orlando’s temperatures rarely drop below freezing. Although Orlando is not as vulnerable to hurricanes as other parts of Florida, it is at somewhat of a risk.

Orlando Fun

Although Houston has many great places to have fun, there’s nothing quite like Orlando when it comes to recreation. Moving from Houston to Orlando will give you the chance to visit the best amusement parks anytime you want! Orlando is home to Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando, but Orlando also offers several other lesser known places that provide just as much fun. Some other places you might want to check out when you get there include Wet ‘n Wild Orlando, considered to be the first water park in the United States; Gatorland, where you can observe thousands of alligators and crocodiles as well as a petting zoo, an aviary, reptile shows and much more; The Holy Land Experience, which is made to look just as 1st century Jerusalem did in the ancient world; and Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba, where you can watch the performers do beautiful acrobatics in a custom-designed theater. 

Transportation

If you usually get around Houston using the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), you’ll be able to easily get used to using LYNX in Orlando. LYNX provides buses that stop all around five nearby counties: Lake, Orange, Volusia, Seminole and Osceola. However, using public transportation in Orlando may prove to be slightly more difficult than it was in Houston. If you’re used to driving in Houston, you should have no problem getting used to driving in Orlando. Orlando is linked to several major highways, but be prepared for heavy traffic, especially during rush hours.

Orlando’s Schools

If you have children, moving from Houston to Orlando will definitely be something they’ll have to get used to; however, they should find it fairly easy to transition from Houston schools to Orlando schools. Whereas Houston is served by 17 different school districts with a combined student enrollment of over 700,000 students, Orlando is served by one school district, Orange County Public Schools, with a student enrollment of over 175,000 students. Orange County Public Schools is composed of 126 elementary schools, 34 middle schools, and 19 high schools. In addition, Orlando is home to several private schools as well as many public and private colleges and universities.

Best Restaurants

Houston is certainly known for having some of the most delicious and diverse cuisine in the country, but moving from Houston to Orlando doesn’t mean that you’ll be missing out on several delectable eats. Although Houston is known for its great Tex-Mex cuisine, Orlando has some of the best authentic Latin American restaurants around as well as several other varied places to eat. Some of the best-reviewed restaurants that you might want to try out include Pollo Pio Pio, Luma, Tasty Wok, Lac Viet, Garden Café, Oh! Que Bueno Colombian Cuisine and Norman’s.

Come enjoy all that Orlando, The City Beautiful, has to offer! Learn more fun facts about cities here.