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. We recommend you stay at least 14 days in order to fully appreciate everything Ocala has to offer.

Where to Eat in Ocala

If you’re looking for affordable options, Market Kitchen & Bar (3600 SW 36th Ave) and Stirrups at World Equestrian Center (8510 NW 17th Lane) are great picks.

When to visit Ocala

Ocala in September
Estimated hotel price
$173
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ocala in September
Estimated hotel price
$173
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 105 km from Ocala. The shortest flight to Ocala from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 26h 48m.

Train

Train is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $28 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $42 for a 2h 41m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.7 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Ocala is to pick up a car hire from Orlando, which is about 103 km from Ocala. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Blue Auto Trading, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Ocala Pilot Travel Ctr - 2020 135th St, located 18 km from the city centre of Ocala. Ocala is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city centre.

Plane

Although Ocala doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Daytona Beach (DAB), which is located 105 km from Ocala. The shortest flight to Ocala from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 26h 48m.

Train

Train is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $28 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $42 for a 2h 41m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.7 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Ocala is to pick up a car hire from Orlando, which is about 103 km from Ocala. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Blue Auto Trading, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Ocala Pilot Travel Ctr - 2020 135th St, located 18 km from the city centre of Ocala. Ocala is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city centre.

Airports near Ocala

TPATampa
DABDaytona Beach
ORLOrlando All airports

Airlines serving Ocala

KLM
Good (1,480 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,879 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,838 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,364 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,294 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,907 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,163 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,558 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (903 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,525 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,731 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,550 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,729 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,866 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,179 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,376 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (397 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,185 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,432 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,234 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Ocala

Average rates range from around $239 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $477 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 By IHG. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Ocala, with prices from $91 to $629 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Ocala are about 84% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Ocala

Most booked hotels in Ocala

See all
Equus Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$110+
View
Best Western Ocala Park Centre I-75
2 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$140+
View
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ocala
3 stars
Good (6.5, Good reviews)
$114+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Ocala FL I-75
3 stars
Good (6.5, Good reviews)
$114+
View
Motel 6 Ocala Conference Center
2 stars
Okay (4.7, Okay reviews)
$87+
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 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.89 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 $22.64 and $30.19. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Intermediate (Class Intermediate Crossover or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Chevrolet Impala or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

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 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.89 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 $22.64 and $30.19. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Intermediate (Class Intermediate Crossover or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Chevrolet Impala or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.