UCF is a suburban, car-first campus. In this guide, "near campus" means a 5 to 10 minute drive, not a walk. The shopping students use sits along Alafaya Trail, which runs past the east side of campus. There is no walkable main street, so plan on a car, a friend with a car, or the free UCF shopping shuttles covered below.
Start on campus at Knights Plaza, where the official UCF Campus Store (Tower 3, Knights Plaza, 4000 Central Florida Blvd) sells textbooks, supplies and gear. Head north on Alafaya into Oviedo and you reach University Palms (4250 Alafaya Trail), the everyday plaza. It has Publix Super Market at University Palms, plus boba, acai, coffee and a few sit-down restaurants. Farther north, Alafaya Square (81 Alafaya Woods Blvd, Oviedo) has another Publix and Frogger's Oyster Bar.
Go south on Alafaya instead and you hit Waterford Lakes Town Center (413 N Alafaya Trail), an open-air center owned by Kimco. This is where students do most of their clothes, tech and beauty shopping. Its directory lists more than 40 brands, from Best Buy and Old Navy to Nike and Sephora. Plaza on University, at University Blvd and Alafaya Trail, has retail space too, but we could not confirm its current tenants, so it is not listed here.
For official UCF gear, go to the UCF Campus Store, run by Barnes & Noble College. It is in Tower 3 at Knights Plaza on the main campus. It carries textbooks and course materials, school supplies, home decor, and UCF-branded apparel, gifts, accessories and electronics. Apparel comes in men's, women's, youth, toddler and infant sizes, which helps when a younger sibling wants a shirt too. You can also shop online at ucf.bncollege.com. Hours are not posted on the pages we checked, so call 407-823-2665 before you go, especially in summer or on breaks.
The free campus shuttles stop at Addition Arena/Knights Plaza/Towers, so you can reach the store without moving your car.
For groceries, the closest full supermarket is Publix Super Market at University Palms (4250 Alafaya Trail, Oviedo). UCF runs a free grocery shuttle there, so it is the default for students without a car.
For move-in, Waterford Lakes covers most of the list. Best Buy handles laptops, chargers and a mini speaker. TJ Maxx and Ross Dress for Less are the off-price stops for towels, bedding and storage. Five Below is good for cheap extras like hooks, cables and desk odds and ends. The campus store also sells home decor if you want something with the school colors.
A Trader Joe's has been announced for 1444 N Alafaya Trail in the Waterford Lakes area, but it had not opened as of the last report we found. Check before you plan a run.
Waterford Lakes is the answer for clothes and sneakers. Old Navy and Tilly's cover basics and casual wear. Nike and lululemon handle workout gear for the rec center. Warby Parker is there if your glasses break mid-semester.
Beauty runs are easy here too. Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Bath & Body Works are all in the same center.
We could not verify a thrift, vintage or record shop within a short drive of campus. For those, plan a trip west to Mills 50 or downtown (see the last section).
The UCF Campus Store is the first stop for graduation gifts: official apparel and gifts for the grad, plus smaller items for siblings. For something less school-themed, Pandora at Waterford Lakes has jewelry, and The Paper Store has cards and gifts. Sephora and Bath & Body Works work well for quick thank-you gifts for parents or roommates.
University Palms is the student food court on Alafaya. Joury Ice Cream & Coffee is the coffee and dessert stop. All My Tea Boba Cafe does boba, and 3 Natives Acai and Juice Bar covers acai bowls and juice. Dragon Court Restaurant serves Chinese food.
At Waterford Lakes, Shake Shack and Panera Bread are reliable between stores.
For a parents' dinner, book Giovanni Italian Ristorante at University Palms, or head up Alafaya to Frogger's Oyster Bar at Alafaya Square. Hours are not posted on the pages we used, so call ahead.
Campus shuttles. The Pegasus Express and Knights Express run the Gemini loop in opposite directions. They are free, Monday to Friday when classes are in session, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in fall and spring and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in summer. Stops include the LYNX Transit Center, the Student Union and Addition Arena/Knights Plaza/Towers.
Shopping shuttles. A Waterford Lakes shuttle runs Tuesdays and Thursdays every 45 minutes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Publix shuttle runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays every 45 minutes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Both pick up at Lake Claire Community, the Towers at Knights Plaza, the RWC and Greek Park. Off-campus shuttles require a valid UCF ID.
LYNX. Students and employees ride all LYNX routes free with a valid UCF ID. Buses use the LYNX Transit Center on campus.
Parking. Visitors buy an $8 virtual daily permit, good for 24 hours; your plate is your permit. No overnight parking in Garages D, H or F from midnight to 6 a.m. Short-term 1- and 2-hour spaces are at the Visitor & Parking Information Center (Lot B6), paid by ParkMobile. Daily permits and short-term spaces are not valid on gamedays.
For vintage and records, drive west on Colonial Drive to Mills 50, where Out of the Closet (1349 N Mills Ave) sells resale and Remix Record Shop (1221 N Mills Ave) sells vinyl. Rock & Roll Heaven (1814 N Orange Ave) is another record stop near downtown. Without a car, take the UCF Downtown express shuttle (15 trips a day, Monday to Friday) or ride LYNX free with your UCF ID.
For a parents' weekend afternoon, Park Avenue in Winter Park has Writers Block Bookstore (316 N Park Ave) and Rifle Paper Co. (558 W New England Ave), with lunch along the way.
