Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting 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 3 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 June
Estimated hotel price
$110
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ocala in June
Estimated hotel price
$110
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Ocala in July, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 91.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 46.4 °F, with an average temperature of 57.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 8.3″. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Ocala, with an average rainfall of 1.6″.

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. Tampa Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from Air France, JetBlue, Delta and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Ocala departs from Atlanta and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by AccesRail. 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 $27 for a 2h 39m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.5 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Ocala is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 64 miles from Ocala. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Ocala, including Jet Set Express, Bus and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Ocala takes 110 miles and will cost you around $34. From Lake Worth, the ticket costs about $23 for a journey of 165 miles. The most popular bus station is Ocala Pilot Travel Ctr - 2020 135th St, located 11 miles from downtown Ocala. Ocala is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city center.

Plane

Although Ocala doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Daytona Beach (DAB), which is located 65 miles from Ocala. Tampa Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from Air France, JetBlue, Delta and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Ocala departs from Atlanta and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by AccesRail. 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 $27 for a 2h 39m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.5 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Ocala is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 64 miles from Ocala. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Ocala, including Jet Set Express, Bus and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Ocala takes 110 miles and will cost you around $34. From Lake Worth, the ticket costs about $23 for a journey of 165 miles. The most popular bus station is Ocala Pilot Travel Ctr - 2020 135th St, located 11 miles from downtown Ocala. Ocala is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city center.

Airports near Ocala

TPATampa
DABDaytona Beach
ORLOrlando All airports

Airlines serving Ocala

Lufthansa
Good (7,044 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,836 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,935 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,790 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (780 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,243 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (346 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,069 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,967 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,851 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Ocala

Where to stay in Ocala

Average rates range from around $223 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $333 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.

Most popular hotel in Ocala by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Ocala

Most booked hotels in Ocala

See all
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Silver Springs - Ocala, An IHG Hotel
2 stars
Excellent (8.7, 812 reviews)
$132+
View
Hilton Ocala
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 622 reviews)
$146+
View
Equus Inn
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1893 reviews)
$99+
View
Holiday Inn & Suites Ocala Conference Center
3 stars
Good (7.9, 1181 reviews)
$113+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Ocala I-75
2 stars
Good (6.8, 1066 reviews)
$67+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Ocala FL I-75
3 stars
Good (6.4, 2527 reviews)
$77+
View

Renting a car in Ocala

Renting a car in Ocala costs $79 per day, on average, or $236 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Ocala is the Budget branch at 1506 South Pine Avenue, which is 1 mile from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 56% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.41 per gallon in Ocala (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.88 and $54.51. Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Ocala, while also 55% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Ocala costs $79 per day, on average, or $236 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Ocala is the Budget branch at 1506 South Pine Avenue, which is 1 mile from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 56% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.41 per gallon in Ocala (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.88 and $54.51. Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Ocala, while also 55% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Ocala

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$38/day

Compact

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$38/day

Supplier choice
Find car rentals in Ocala

Ocala Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Ocala city guide for the best Ocala travel tips. To help you organize 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.