Are you looking for a waterfront home in Tavares, Florida? Known as "America's Seaplane City," Tavares sits at the center of the Harris Chain of Lakes, with a walkable, waterfront downtown built directly on Lake Dora. Whether you're interested in a single-family home, condo, or mobile home, there's a waterfront option here for nearly every buyer.
Tavares Waterfront Homes for Sale
Tavares sits along the shores of four lakes on the Harris Chain of Lakes: Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Dora, and Lake Eustis. This gives waterfront buyers direct boating access to Mount Dora, Eustis, and the rest of the chain. Common waterfront property features in Tavares include:
- Private boat docks and lifts
- Lakefront or canal-front lots
- Walking distance to Downtown Tavares and Wooton Park
- Access to the Harris Chain of Lakes
- A mix of single-family homes, condos, and 55+ mobile home communities
Tavares is also home to several smaller, private lakes, including Lake Frances, Lake Elsie, Lake Idamere, Lake Saunders, and Lake Etowah.
Tavares Community Quick Facts
| Location | Tavares, Florida |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Nearby Metro | Orlando |
| Nickname | "America's Seaplane City" |
| Primary Lakes | Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Dora, Lake Eustis |
| Smaller Private Lakes | Lake Frances, Lake Elsie, Lake Idamere, Lake Saunders, Lake Etowah |
| Waterfront Lifestyle | Boating, seaplane watching, waterfront dining, fishing |
| Connected Waterways | Harris Chain of Lakes |
Downtown Tavares & Wooton Park
Downtown Tavares sits directly on Lake Dora and centers around Wooton Park, a lakefront park with a splash pad, marina, walking trails, and playgrounds, right next to the Tavares Seaplane Base. It's one of the few Lake County downtowns where you can watch seaplanes land on the water while walking to dinner.
Residents and visitors often enjoy:
- Watching seaplanes take off and land from the lake
- Boating to nearby waterfront restaurants
- Festivals and events at Wooton Park throughout the year
- Fishing and recreational boating on Lake Dora and Lake Harris
For a closer look at the downtown district, see our full Downtown Tavares guide, and for dining, browse Lake County's Best Waterfront Restaurants, most of which sit right in Tavares.
Get New Waterfront Listings First
Get a list of the newest waterfront listings delivered to your inbox.
Sign UpBoating on the Harris Chain of Lakes
The Harris Chain of Lakes is a system of interconnected lakes that lets boaters travel between multiple towns by water. The chain includes:
- Lake Harris
- Little Harris
- Lake Eustis
- Lake Dora
- Lake Beauclair
- Lake Griffin
- Lake Carlton
Together these lakes create one of the largest freshwater boating systems in Central Florida, stretching across nearly 77,000 acres. Because Tavares sits centrally on four of these lakes, it's one of the easiest Harris Chain towns to reach the rest of the chain from by boat.
Tavares Waterfront Communities
Downtown Tavares
Not a traditional master-planned neighborhood, but a walkable waterfront district on Lake Dora with restaurants, shops, and easy lake access. Explore Downtown Tavares →
Lakeview Condos
An age-restricted condo community built in 1973, a few blocks from Lake Dora and Downtown Tavares. See Lakeview Condos →
La Dora Manor
A 55+ mobile home community with community boat slips available on Lakeshore Drive. See La Dora Manor →
Lake Frances Estates
A neighborhood on the smaller, private Lake Frances. See Lake Frances Estates →
Nearby Cities on the Harris Chain
Living in Tavares also means easy access to nearby waterfront towns:
👉 Mount Dora Waterfront Homes — historic downtown on Lake Dora
👉 Eustis Waterfront Homes — historic homes and waterfront parks on Lake Eustis
👉 Harris Chain of Lakes Waterfront Living Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Tavares Waterfront Homes
What lakes is Tavares on?
Tavares sits on four lakes of the Harris Chain: Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Dora, and Lake Eustis, plus several smaller private lakes including Lake Frances, Lake Elsie, Lake Idamere, Lake Saunders, and Lake Etowah.
Why is Tavares called "America's Seaplane City"?
Tavares is home to the Tavares Seaplane Base, a public seaplane base on Lake Dora right next to downtown, where seaplanes regularly land and take off within view of waterfront restaurants and Wooton Park.
Can you boat from Tavares to other Harris Chain towns?
Yes. Tavares sits centrally on the Harris Chain, with direct water access to Mount Dora, Eustis, and the rest of the chain's interconnected lakes and canals.
Are there waterfront restaurants in Tavares?
Yes. Tavares has one of the largest concentrations of true waterfront dining in Lake County. See Lake County's Best Waterfront Restaurants for current options.
Stacy Bracewell
Lake County Waterfront Homes
