Royal Lakes

Jacksonville, FL

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Royal Lakes - Jacksonville, FL

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A centrally located neighborhood near downtown and the University of North Florida

Great Location Convenient Accessible Family-Friendly

True to its name, Royal Lakes is home to several lakes and is proximate to Jacksonville’s white-sand beaches. The neighborhood is about 10 miles southeast of Downtown Jacksonville and seven miles away from the University of North Florida. Royal Lakes is family friendly with access to good schools and plenty of restaurants and stores. The Avenues, a large mall, is only four miles from the neighborhood. Bounded by Interstate 95 on the west, Route 152 in the north, and Route 115 on the east, its residents have easy access to adjacent areas. The neighborhood features modern apartments and ranch-style houses for rent and is a great option for any renter seeking a central location.

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Rent Trends

As of January 2025, the average apartment rent in Royal Lakes is $1,144 for one bedroom, $1,422 for two bedrooms, and $1,662 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Royal Lakes has decreased by -2.8% in the past year.

  • 1 BR

  • 672 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,144/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 988 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,422/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,216 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,662/month

    Average Rent

Transportation

47

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

30

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

47

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Reviews of Royal Lakes - Jacksonville, FL

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3.6 29 Reviews

Niche User

9 years and 10 months agoNiche Review

Though I cant drink yet, the bars and restaurants in this area are seriously good places to chill and just relax in.

Niche User

9 years and 10 months agoNiche Review

In all honesty, I've applied in my area and I couldn't get hired. But I'm sure if I tried hard enough I could.

Niche User

9 years and 10 months agoNiche Review

The Publix on Baymeadows is very clean and have friendly employees that welcome you on the spot!

Niche User

10 years and 6 months agoNiche Review

we have them when we need them

See All Reviews on Niche.com

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Camp Tomahawk
  • Touchton Road Park
  • Lovelace Park
  • Beach and Peach Park
  • Julington Durbin Preserve

Commuter Rail

Airports

  • Jacksonville International

Top Apartments in Royal Lakes

Houses for Rent in Royal Lakes

Property Management Companies

Living in Royal Lakes

History

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Originally inhabited by the Sammamish tribe, this area was claimed by Europeans in 1870. In 1876, logging began, made possible by the Sammamish River, and brought construction of buildings. David Bothell bought 80 acres in 1885 and, in 1888, the area was named Bothell and incorporated in 1909. Shortly afterward, the river was diverted and caused logging to slow and eventually cease, while farming took over. After World War II, road construction began and, by 2006, the population rose to 30,000. When the tech boom arrived in the region, the University of Washington branched out to Bothell.

Restaurants

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Find local restaurants along Old Baymeadows Road on the north side of the area. Chain restaurants, along with barbeque, Mediterranean and Vietnamese cuisines tempt the palate.

Serving sophisticated barbeque in a rustic setting, 4 Rivers Smokehouse on Baymeadows Road satisfies that urge for rich, smoky meat. Try the Texas destroyer, smoked brisket with provolone or, if you feel faint from hunger, see if you can manage the brontosaurus beef ribs. Round it out with scrumptious sides, including fried pickles and jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon.

Mandaloun Mediterranean Cuisine on Old Baymeadows Road prepares sumptuous dishes from the Middle East, as well as American dishes, and has a lunchtime buffet. Check out the mixed grill of three chicken, beef and lamb kabobs to get the full flavor of this exotic restaurant.

To enjoy a casual meal, try Bowl of Pho located along Old Baymeadows Road. Pho means noodle soup in Vietnamese, and this restaurant serves noodle soups, along with salads and meat and rice dishes. For a rare treat, enjoy the shrimp noodle pho.

Pure Nightclub on Phillips Highway stays open until the wee hours of the morning, providing a great spot for dancing on a packed dance floor, with well-known DJs spinning the music. The nightclub draws a number of professionals, and patrons dress to the nines.

My Tap Room on Baymeadows Road presents a classic, casual bar where you go with your friends to drink a brew and watch a game. It carries 30 types of draft beer and has package deals on game nights. Find the Ritz Bar and Cocktail Lounge on Jacksonville Beach, about 16 miles along Highway A1A, for a cold drink, a game of pool and arcade games. A Jacksonville institution since 1945, the bar lies two blocks away from the beach and serves all its drinks in pint glasses, with live bands appearing nightly. Lynch’s Irish Pub lies along the same stretch, and carries a large menu including Irish food and 50 taps with domestic, local and imported beers. Enjoy nationally touring headline acts at Florida Theater on East Forsyth Street.

Transportation

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Many people use personal vehicles to get around the area, but the JTA bus service is cheap and reliable. If you ride regularly, a monthly pass costs $50. Taxi services operate in the area, as does Uber. Parking is free many places, though downtown uses metered parking, which costs 25 cents for a half hour. Garage parking runs more. The Royal Lakes neighborhood, conveniently located near interstates 95 and 295, makes it easy to travel. Wide streets and sidewalks in the neighborhood make it easy for pedestrians to stroll to neighborhood destinations.

Shopping

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Visit one of the five big department stores in The Avenues Mall on Southside Boulevard for the latest trends in apparel. Upscale stores such as Charlotte Russe and Banana Republic reside among the 150 shops as well.

Apricot Lane Boutique, located at The Avenues, carries trendy clothing in a rustic atmosphere. Try it out for the latest in dresses and summer wear. Wolfgang, about 11 miles up Route 9 on Park Street, has an enormous selection of hip clothing, including fabulous prints and sunglasses that glow in the dark. On Atlantic Boulevard, you can browse for the latest in rompers or McGuire jeans at the upscale AshleGryre.

Publix and Winn-Dixie stand as the most popular options for standard groceries. There are also specialty markets that specialize in Mexican, Caribbean and Japanese ingredients around the area. The Jacksonville Farmers Market on West Beaver Street opens daily, including holidays, to offer residents local produce and unique items used in ethnic or specialty cooking.

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