Pomona Park · ZIP 32181
Pomona Park Daily Life
Shopping, dining, churches and parks in one of Putnam County's smallest, quietest towns — and where locals actually drive for the bigger errands.
Shopping, dining, churches and parks in one of Putnam County's smallest, quietest towns — and where locals actually drive for the bigger errands.
Pomona Park is a small Putnam County town of roughly 750 residents tucked along US Highway 17 between Crescent City to the south and Satsuma to the north. The town sits between Lake Broward to the west and the chain of small lakes that drain toward the St. Johns River, with Lake Como just outside the southern town limit. It is mostly residential — a Town Hall, a Baptist church, a Dollar General, a couple of beloved roadside food spots, and a lot of pine, palm, and pecan-shaded yards.
Day-to-day shopping in Pomona Park itself is intentionally limited. There is no supermarket inside the town. For a full grocery run, most residents drive about five minutes south on US-17 to Crescent City; for a Walmart, Lowe's, or Target trip they drive 25 minutes north to Palatka or about an hour south to DeLand or Daytona Beach. The trade-off is exactly what most Pomona Park homeowners came here for: quiet country roads, big lake views, and almost no traffic.
Verified local restaurants, retail, churches, and parks inside Pomona Park — plus the closest grocery, library and big-box anchors in nearby Crescent City and Satsuma that Pomona Park residents actually use.
The in-town dining list is short but loved. Both of the main sit-down spots cluster along South US-17 in the heart of town. For a bigger menu, plan a short drive to Crescent City or Satsuma.
Local favorite serving pizza, wings, burgers, subs and pasta in the historic Pomona Depot building, with outdoor seating. Also known as “Chez Porky's at the Whistle Stop” for the BBQ side of the menu. Open seven days a week. pomonadepot.com
Straightforward neighborhood pizza shop directly across US-17 from the Whistle Stop. Pizzas, subs, and casual sit-down or take-out. Hours run from breakfast through the evening.
Crescent Lake waterfront restaurant about five minutes south at 11 S Lake St, Crescent City. Burgers, wings, salads, drinks on the deck — one of the most common “let's go out tonight” picks for Pomona Park families. 3bananas.com
Long-running St. Johns River seafood house in nearby Satsuma. Fried shrimp, mullet, oysters and river views — a Putnam County staple just up US-17.
Pomona Park's only big-name retailer is the Dollar General. For a real grocery trip, every direction from town has a different anchor.
The default in-town stop for milk, snacks, paper goods, basic groceries, household and personal-care items. Open daily; phone (386) 463-0178. Store page
Crescent City is the closest full-service grocery option, and is the day-to-day grocery town for most Pomona Park households. For a true supermarket experience, many residents continue north to Hitchcock's Markets in East Palatka. Hitchcock's locations
The closest Walmart, Lowe's, Tractor Supply, auto-parts chains, fast food row, and Publix are all clustered in Palatka along US-17 and SR-100. Plan ~25 minutes door-to-door from Pomona Park for a big-shop trip.
For Target, Costco-style runs, mall shopping, big-box home improvement, and a wider restaurant scene, most Pomona Park residents drive south through Crescent City to either DeLand or Daytona Beach — roughly 45-50 minutes either way.
Pomona Park has several active congregations within a few blocks of US-17. Two of the largest are listed below; a few smaller AME, COG, and independent churches also serve the immediate area — we recommend calling ahead for current service times.
Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated congregation in the heart of town. Phone (386) 649-4265. Listed in the Florida Baptist Convention directory and the SBC Churches directory.
Active community church serving Pomona Park, Crescent City and the south end of Putnam County. Runs a regular food pantry ministry. southputnamchurch.com
For a town of this size, Pomona Park has unusually good lake access. Lake Broward sits right at the western edge of town, and the town maintains a small park on US-17 in front of the Town Hall.
Town-maintained access point to Lake Broward, with a boat ramp, picnic area, and shaded shoreline. The lake is well-known regionally for bass fishing and is part of the Pomona Park / Crescent Lake chain of fishing waters. Town parks page
Small shaded green in front of the Town Hall — used for community gatherings, holiday events, and Town Council meetings. Town Hall Park
Town-owned community building (originally a schoolhouse), bookable for up to 150 people for parties and public events. Stage, kitchenette, tables and chairs included. Community Center
Lake Como sits just south of the Pomona Park town limit and is the other lake most locals fish and paddle. Public access points are limited — most use is from lakefront homes — but the lake is a defining feature of the south side of the community.
If you are moving to Pomona Park, here is what daily errands realistically look like for most households — based on what we hear from clients who live in town:
Nobody who lives in Pomona Park is here for the shopping. They are here for the lake, the quiet, the pine trees and the night sky — and they have made peace with a 5-25 minute drive for everything else.
Closest grocery, library, downtown dining and Crescent Lake waterfront. The default “town” for Pomona Park.
St. Johns River frontage, Corky Bell's, boat ramps and access into the river fishing community.
Putnam County seat, Walmart, Lowe's, Publix, hospital, and the closest concentration of national chains.
Stetson University town with a charming downtown, indie shops and restaurants, and a Target. Easy day trip down US-17.
Beach day, Tanger Outlets at Daytona, mall shopping, and the I-95 corridor. About an hour door-to-door.
Tiny St. Johns River community on the west bank with a marina and the Georgetown Marina restaurant — a favorite back-roads drive.
Not a full supermarket — the only retailer of that kind in town is the Dollar General at 1700 S US-17. Most Pomona Park residents do their weekly grocery shopping about five minutes south in Crescent City, or drive ~25 minutes north to Palatka for Walmart and Publix.
In-town favorites are The Whistle Stop (pizza, wings, BBQ at 1749 S US-17) and Pomona Park Pizza & Subs right across the street. For waterfront dining, most locals drive to 3 Bananas on Crescent Lake in Crescent City or Corky Bell's Seafood on the St. Johns River in Satsuma.
No. The nearest Putnam County Library System branch is in Crescent City, a short drive south on US-17.
Two main ones. Lake Broward sits at the western edge of town and has a town park with a boat ramp — it is known regionally for bass fishing. Lake Como sits just south of the town limit and is the other defining lake for the community. Crescent Lake is a short drive south.
HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka is about 25 minutes north up US-17. AdventHealth Fish Memorial in Orange City is a similar drive south, and many south-Putnam residents prefer it. For minor care, Crescent City has urgent-care and primary-care offices five minutes south.
Real estate, lake-frontage, and the full neighborhood picture.
The pillar guide to living anywhere in Putnam County.
School map and zoning notes.
The nearest “real” town for Pomona Park residents.
Just up the road on the St. Johns River.
Tiny St. Johns River community on the west bank.
Every named business on this page was verified via direct web search before publication. Last verified June 2026.
We're lifelong Putnam County locals — we'll happily walk you through what daily life and lake access really look like here.
Call (386) 916-8707