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, 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 December
Estimated hotel price
$173
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ocala in December
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 19h 22m.

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 Autounion Car Rental, among others, in Orlando.

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 19h 22m.

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 Autounion Car Rental, among others, in Orlando.

Airports near Ocala

TPATampa
DABDaytona Beach
ORLOrlando All airports

Airlines serving Ocala

Lufthansa
Good (8,220 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,576 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,212 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,068 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,474 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,567 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,247 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,650 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,733 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,653 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (959 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,205 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,984 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,200 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,617 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,535 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,430 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (429 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,482 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,600 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Ocala

Average rates range from around $233 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $425 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 $84 to $528 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
Hilton Ocala
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$163+
View
Best Western Ocala Park Centre I-75
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$134+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Ocala FL I-75
3 stars
Good (6.4, Good reviews)
$96+
View
Motel 6 Ocala Conference Center
2 stars
Okay (4.3, Okay reviews)
$77+
View

Hiring a car in Ocala

Hertz, 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 Budget branch at 1506 South Pine Avenue, which is 1 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.02 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 $24.15 and $32.20. Full-size (Chevrolet Impala or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ocala, while also 50% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hertz, 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 Budget branch at 1506 South Pine Avenue, which is 1 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.02 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 $24.15 and $32.20. Full-size (Chevrolet Impala or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ocala, while also 50% cheaper than other types, on average.