Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Ocala travel guide

Ocala Tourism | Ocala Guide

You're Going to Love Ocala

With a population of 56,315, Ocala is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Ocala to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Ocala

If you’re looking for affordable options, Sky Fine Dining (3600 SW 38th Ave. Sixth Floor) and Mesa de Notte (2436 E. Silver Springs Blvd.) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Katya Vineyards (11 E Silver Springs Blvd) and Celebrity’s Soul Food - Ocala (2237 SW 19th Ave RD Suite 102) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Ocala.

When to visit Ocala

Ocala in June
Estimated hotel price
$187
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ocala in June
Estimated hotel price
$187
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Ocala in July, when the average temperature is 27 °C, and the highest can go up to 33 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 8 °C, with an average temperature of 14 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 210 mm. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Ocala, with an average rainfall of 40 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Ocala

Plane

Although Ocala doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Daytona Beach (DAB), which is located 65 miles from Ocala. The shortest flight to Ocala from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 27h 11m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $31 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $37 for a 3h 07m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.5 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Ocala is to pick up a car hire from Orlando, which is about 64 miles from Ocala. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Hertz, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Ocala, including Jet Set Express, Bus and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Ocala takes 90 miles and will cost you around $56. From Pompano Beach, the ticket costs about $39 for a journey of 175 miles. The most popular bus station is Ocala Pilot Travel Ctr - 2020 135th St, located 11 miles from the city centre of Ocala. Ocala is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city centre.

Plane

Although Ocala doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Daytona Beach (DAB), which is located 65 miles from Ocala. The shortest flight to Ocala from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 27h 11m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $31 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $37 for a 3h 07m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.5 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Ocala is to pick up a car hire from Orlando, which is about 64 miles from Ocala. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Hertz, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Ocala, including Jet Set Express, Bus and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Ocala takes 90 miles and will cost you around $56. From Pompano Beach, the ticket costs about $39 for a journey of 175 miles. The most popular bus station is Ocala Pilot Travel Ctr - 2020 135th St, located 11 miles from the city centre of Ocala. Ocala is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Ocala

TPATampa
DABDaytona Beach
ORLOrlando All airports

Airlines serving Ocala

Lufthansa
Good (7,072 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,344 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,890 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,947 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,595 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,800 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,732 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,451 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (790 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,731 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,230 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,571 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,343 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,361 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,071 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (351 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,052 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,279 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,867 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,206 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Ocala

Where to stay in Ocala

Average rates range from around $389 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $566 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include avid Hotel Ocala Downtown by IHG and Candlewood Suites Ocala I-75.

Where to stay in popular areas of Ocala

Most booked hotels in Ocala

See all
Hilton Ocala
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$245+
View
Equus Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$177+
View
Holiday Inn & Suites Ocala Conference Center
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$190+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Ocala I-75
2 stars
Good (6.7, Good reviews)
$117+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Ocala FL I-75
3 stars
Good (6.4, Good reviews)
$133+
View
Motel 6 Ocala Conference Center
2 stars
Okay (5.5, Okay reviews)
$112+
View

Hiring a car in Ocala

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Ocala is the Budget branch at 1506 South Pine Avenue, which is 1 mile from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.57 per litre in Ocala (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $18.76 and $25.02. Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ocala, while also 57% cheaper than other types, on average.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Ocala is the Budget branch at 1506 South Pine Avenue, which is 1 mile from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.57 per litre in Ocala (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $18.76 and $25.02. Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ocala, while also 57% cheaper than other types, on average.

Ocala Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Ocala city guide for the best Ocala travel tips. To help you organise your Ocala trip ideas, this Ocala visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.