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, 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 August
Estimated hotel price
$166
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ocala in August
Estimated hotel price
$166
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 23h 51m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from West Palm Beach, expect to pay about $40 for a 5h 59m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.7 km from the city centre.

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 23h 51m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from West Palm Beach, expect to pay about $40 for a 5h 59m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.7 km from the city centre.

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

Lufthansa
Good (7,409 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,386 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,367 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,961 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,737 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,966 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,925 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,925 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,468 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,339 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,622 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (850 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,156 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,486 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,117 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,251 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,896 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,324 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (998 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (359 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Ocala

Average rates range from around $310 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $435 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 $79 to $758 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Ocala are about 72% 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 (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$97+
View
Hilton Ocala
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$189+
View
Holiday Inn & Suites Ocala Conference Center By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$136+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Ocala I-75
2 stars
Good (6.8, Good reviews)
$85+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Ocala FL I-75
3 stars
Good (6.4, Good reviews)
$104+
View
Motel 6 Ocala Conference Center
2 stars
Okay (5.2, Okay reviews)
$70+
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 $1.58 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 $18.89 and $25.18. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Premium (RAM Pickup or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Mazda Mazda3 or similar) is, on average, 53% 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 $1.58 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 $18.89 and $25.18. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Premium (RAM Pickup or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Mazda Mazda3 or similar) is, on average, 53% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

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.