Two small cities side by side, just north of Fort Lauderdale. Oakland Park is building a new downtown; Wilton Manors, the Island City, wraps around the Middle River with Wilton Drive at its heart. Here is what each is like, how long it takes to get places, the assigned schools and where to look things up for yourself.
In Oakland Park, three minutes from Wilton Drive's restaurants, bars and nightlife, with Fort Lauderdale beach and Las Olas close by. A native botanical garden is planned next door.
Source: Oakland Park, Florida
Source: Wilton Manors, Florida · Visit Florida: Wilton Manors
Source: OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM)
Source: BCPS Find My School, 2026–27
Neighbours that share a border at Oakland Park Boulevard and run into each other along the river. 3541 NE 13th Ave is on the Oakland Park side, a few blocks north.
| Oakland Park | Wilton Manors | |
|---|---|---|
What it feels like | A self-described “maker city” growing a new downtown, with mid-rise, mixed-use buildings rather than towers. Its brand: “Built to Belong.” | A small, walkable city wrapped by the river, with Wilton Drive as its main street. |
Source: City News Flash, 10 Dec 2025 · Visit Florida: Wilton Manors | ||
Homes | Established neighbourhoods plus new downtown homes: 136 at the Sky Building, 280 apartments and 12 townhomes at BLYS, and 311 planned at Horizon. | Established neighbourhoods along the river. Ask Share for recent sales in either city. |
Source: City News Flash, 28 Jul 2026 · Oakland Park CRA: featured projects | ||
Parks | Jaco Pastorius Park (the City's events park), Greenleaf Park (opened August 2026), City Centennial Park and the new library, and Glenwood Garden, planned next door to 3541. | About 15 parks and boat ramps, including Colohatchee Park (boardwalk, dog park, observation deck) and Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve. |
Source: City: Jaco Pastorius Park · City News Flash, 27 Aug 2026 · Visit Florida: Wilton Manors | ||
Going out | Funky Buddha Brewery, Tenth Level Tavern across the street, live music on Alberte's patio, and Peruvian, Jamaican, Haitian and Latin kitchens. | Wilton Drive's restaurants, bars and nightlife, Art Walk Wilton Manors and the Island City Canoe Race. |
Source: Visit Lauderdale: Oakland Park · Visit Florida: Wilton Manors | ||
Getting around | Dixie Highway and I-95 run through the city; a commuter-rail stop is proposed at Main Street. FLL airport is about 21 minutes from 3541. | Wilton Drive is about 3 minutes from 3541; the beach at Oakland Park Boulevard about 7. |
Source: Oakland Park CRA: featured projects · OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) | ||
Short-term rentals | City registration $500, renewal $250, inspection $150; 2 guests per bedroom, 8 per rental. | City registration $375, renewal $350, inspection $150; 2 per sleeping room plus 2 in a common area. All five cities → |
Source: City of Oakland Park: Short-Term Rentals · Wilton Manors application, rev. Jan 2023 | ||
Source: Visit Florida: Wilton Manors
Source: City News Flash, 28 Jul 2026
Source: OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM)
Source: OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM)
Source: Visit Lauderdale: Oakland Park · OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM)
Source: Visit Florida: Wilton Manors
Short, local drives: the beach, Las Olas and the airport are all under half an hour without traffic. Wilton Drive is close enough that most trips there are about three minutes.
Drive times without traffic from 3541 NE 13th Ave, from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), checked 26 October 2026. Allow more at rush hour and in season.
Source: OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM)
Real places, a few minutes from the front door.
Bluegreen Cafe in Oakland Park brews coffee tableside in a traditional pot called a bule.
Source: Visit Lauderdale: Oakland Park
Funky Buddha's brewery and taproom at 1201 NE 38th Street, home of Floridian Hefeweizen; about a minute from 3541.
Source: Funky Buddha Brewery · Visit Lauderdale: Oakland Park
Greenleaf Park opened downtown in August 2026; Glenwood Garden is planned on the lots next door to 3541.
Source: City News Flash, 27 Aug 2026 · City calendar: Glenwood Garden groundbreaking
Restaurants, bars and nightlife, three minutes from home.
Source: Visit Florida: Wilton Manors
Alberte's in Oakland Park has live music on its patio on Fridays and Saturdays.
Source: Visit Lauderdale: Oakland Park
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea or Fort Lauderdale beach at Oakland Park Boulevard, about 7 minutes each.
Source: OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM)
Kayak the loop around Wilton Manors or walk Colohatchee Park's boardwalk.
Source: Visit Florida: Wilton Manors
Oktoberfest, Holiday Village, Moonlit Movie and the Culinary Arts Showcase, a short walk from 3541.
Source: City: Jaco Pastorius Park
Unit B · Private plunge pool
Unit B · Balcony view over the garden lots
The two homes from NE 13th Ave
Oakland Park from the airShort answers, with where to check them.
Tell Share how you'd use it: a second home, an investment, or buying both. She'll send the buyer handout and set up a showing.
Sharon "Share" Ross