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
$171
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ocala in September
Estimated hotel price
$171
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 26h 48m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by Train. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $49 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fort Lauderdale, expect to pay about $140 for a 2h 59m 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 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 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 26h 48m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by Train. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 45m and costs around $49 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fort Lauderdale, expect to pay about $140 for a 2h 59m 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 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 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 (7,946 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,508 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,910 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,325 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,451 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,926 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,195 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,579 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (906 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,643 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,759 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,560 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,961 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,189 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,390 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (404 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,220 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,434 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,295 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Ocala

Average rates range from around $232 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $449 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 $80 to $522 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Ocala are about 90% 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)
$107+
View
Best Western Ocala Park Centre I-75
2 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$143+
View
Holiday Inn & Suites Ocala Conference Center By IHG
3 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$146+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Ocala I-75
2 stars
Good (6.6, Good reviews)
$80+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Ocala FL I-75
3 stars
Good (6.5, Good reviews)
$102+
View
Motel 6 Ocala Conference Center
2 stars
Okay (4.7, Okay reviews)
$82+
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 $2.01 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 $24.09 and $32.12. Full-size (Chevrolet Impala or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ocala, while also 64% 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 $2.01 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 $24.09 and $32.12. Full-size (Chevrolet Impala or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ocala, while also 64% cheaper than other types, on average.