Fly into lake country without routing through Orlando
The Villages is the largest retirement community in the world — over 130,000 residents spread across 32 square miles of Sumter, Lake and Marion counties, with 50 golf courses, three town squares, and a population that grows by roughly 4,500 people a year. For the families, friends, and business contacts flying in to visit, Leesburg International is the closest airport with a runway long enough for charter jets, and the drive to The Villages takes about 20 minutes on US-27 and US-441.
The airport sits three miles northeast of downtown Leesburg with a 6,300-foot main runway, a control tower, and SunAir Aviation as the sole FBO. AvSky coordinates flights into LEE from a network of more than 12,000 aircraft, matching the trip to the right jet and confirming ground transportation before departure (upon request). Mount Dora, the Harris Chain of Lakes, and Ocala National Forest are all within a 30-minute drive.
From
Aircraft
Passengers
Pax
Estimate
Atlanta (PDK)
PC-12 NGX
10 max
$17,800
(Round Trip)
Columbus, OH (OSU)
King Air 250
9 max
$25,200
(Round Trip)
Indianapolis (TYQ)
King Air 350i
8 max
$32,600
(Round Trip)
Pittsburgh (AGC)
Phenom 300E
9 max
$40,100
(Round Trip)
Detroit (PTK)
Citation XLS+
9 max
$51,200
(Round Trip)
We fly to Leesburg from any airport in the world. These estimated prices are for some of the most popular charters into LEE. All estimates are based on a round-trip, Friday through Sunday itinerary. Actual quotes vary depending on factors like season, available aircraft and more. Your quoted price may be more or less than the estimates on this page.
The flight into LEE is straightforward, but the FBO closes at 7 PM — which means late arrivals need advance coordination with SunAir to avoid complications on the ground. AvSky confirms FBO availability, arranges car service to The Villages or Mount Dora (upon request), and schedules your arrival within the airport's operating window. If the trip includes a return leg or a connection elsewhere in Florida, we hold the aircraft at LEE or coordinate the next departure from our network. Call and let our team build your perfect itinerary.
Get notified when deeply discounted empty legs to Leesburg become available.
Leesburg International Airport (LEE) sits three miles northeast of downtown Leesburg in Lake County, roughly 35 miles northwest of Orlando. The main runway (13/31) measures 6,300 feet and handles most light and midsize charter jets comfortably. A second runway (3/21) at 4,957 feet serves smaller turboprops and light jets. SunAir Aviation operates the sole FBO on the field, with Jet-A fuel, Hertz car rental, and a pilot's lounge — but hours are limited to 7 AM to 7 PM daily, including most holidays. The airport has a control tower and U.S. Customs designation as a User Fee facility, though customs hours are limited. There are no other charter-capable airports within practical driving distance of The Villages — Orlando Executive (ORL) is nearly 50 miles southeast, and Ocala International (OCF) is about 40 miles north.
Leesburg International Airport (LEE/KLEE)
Arriving Leesburg, FL
8807 Airport Boulevard, Leesburg, FL 34788
Leesburg International is a single-FBO airport with limited hours, strong demand from The Villages, and some of the best freshwater fishing in the state nearby.
Lake County holds more named lakes than any other county in the state. The Harris Chain — eight connected lakes totaling roughly 75,000 acres — supports one of Florida's top largemouth bass fisheries and hosts national-level tournaments throughout the year. Mount Dora, 20 minutes east of the airport, draws visitors for its antique markets and nationally ranked arts festival. The area is quieter and less developed than the Orlando metro to the south.
Most destinations from LEE are a straight shot on US-27 or US-441, and traffic is light by Florida standards. The Villages is about 20 minutes north, Mount Dora roughly 20 minutes east, and downtown Leesburg under 10 minutes. The exception is Bikefest weekend in late April, when 30 blocks of downtown close to vehicle traffic. AvSky can arrange car service or rental pickup at SunAir.
LEE's 6,300-foot runway handles most light and midsize jets. A Phenom 300 is the common choice from the Northeast or Midwest, seating up to eight with room for a long weekend's luggage. Families visiting The Villages with extra bags or medical equipment may prefer a Citation XLS for its stand-up cabin and 90 cubic feet of cargo. A King Air 350 works well for shorter Florida hops at a lower hourly rate. Larger jets may face weight restrictions on longer routes.
Family visits drive steady charter traffic into LEE year-round, most of it connected to The Villages. Snowbird season — roughly November through April — is the peak window, when the community's population swells and hotel inventory around Leesburg and Lady Lake tightens. Milestone birthdays, memorial services, and graduation events also drive short-notice bookings. AvSky can source separate aircraft arriving the same day and coordinate shared ground transportation from LEE.
A few things worth knowing before you book a flight into Lake County
SunAir's Hertz desk is a satellite location, not a full-service rental counter. Inventory is limited compared to an airport like Orlando or Tampa, and availability can be thin during snowbird season or festival weekends. Reserve at least a week out through SunAir directly, or let AvSky arrange a private car instead.
Mount Dora hosts the Arts Festival in early February, the Craft Fair in late October, and Renninger's Antique Extravaganza three times a year. Each draws tens of thousands of visitors and pushes hotel rates across Lake County, even in Leesburg and Lady Lake. AvSky flags calendar conflicts early so ground logistics are locked in before the flight.
If weather or a mechanical issue forces a diversion from LEE, Ocala International (OCF) is 40 miles north with an 8,000-foot runway and Jet-A fuel. Orlando Executive is 50 miles southeast into significantly heavier traffic. AvSky files OCF as the alternate when conditions warrant it, keeping the drive to The Villages under 45 minutes even on a diversion.
Lake County doesn't have the ride-hail coverage of Orlando or Tampa. Uber and Lyft availability near LEE is unpredictable, especially for trips north to The Villages. Pre-arranged car service is the only reliable option — AvSky confirms a driver before your flight so there's no guessing at the curb.
Yes, and it's one of the most common trip profiles into LEE. AvSky sources separate aircraft from each origin city, aligns arrival times at Leesburg, and arranges shared ground transportation to The Villages so the whole group arrives together. If return schedules differ, we build individual departure legs from LEE as well. The coordination happens on our side — you get one point of contact and one itinerary covering all the flights.
SunAir has community hangar space available for transient aircraft, but availability varies — especially during snowbird season when based aircraft and longer-stay visitors compete for the same spots. If hangar space isn't open, tie-down parking is available on the field. AvSky confirms parking or hangar arrangements before your flight departs so there are no surprises on arrival.
It can. Inland Central Florida — especially the lake-heavy corridor around Leesburg — is prone to radiation fog on calm winter mornings, typically burning off by mid-morning. If your flight is scheduled for an early arrival between November and February, AvSky monitors conditions and may adjust departure timing to avoid holding patterns or diversions. The airport has instrument approaches, but low visibility can still delay landings.
From South Florida, absolutely — a Phenom 300 covers the distance in well under an hour, and the aircraft holds at LEE while you're on the ground. From the Northeast, it's more aggressive but doable if the schedule is tight. The constraint is SunAir's 7 PM close — AvSky builds the return leg around that window so the aircraft departs before ground services shut down.
Charter aircraft can accommodate wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators, and other medical equipment that wouldn't fit easily on a commercial flight. A Citation XLS or similar midsize jet offers a stand-up cabin and enough cargo space for both personal luggage and bulky medical gear. AvSky coordinates loading and unloading with SunAir and can arrange accessible ground transportation from LEE to The Villages or any medical facility in the area.