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.
Where to Eat in Ocala
If you’re looking for affordable options, Sky Fine Dining (3600 SW 38th Ave. Sixth Floor) and Braised Onion (754 NE 25th Avenue) are great picks.
When to visit Ocala
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.
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 Christchurch and takes around 29h 27m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Ocala. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $30 for a 3h 15m 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 Thrifty and Alamo, among others, in Orlando.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Ocala, including Jet Set Express, Greyhound and FlixBus. From West Palm Beach, the bus ride to Ocala takes 274 km and will cost you around $41. From Pompano Beach, the ticket costs about $92 for a journey of 346 km. 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.
Airlines serving Ocala
Where to stay in Ocala
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Candlewood Suites - Ocala I-75, An IHG Hotel and Budget Inn.
Where to stay in popular areas of Ocala
Most booked hotels in Ocala
Hiring a car in Ocala
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Ocala is the Hertz branch at 970 Sw 6th Ave Suite 107, which is 1 km from the city centre.
Expect to pay $1.67 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 $20.01 and $26.68.