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
$108
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ocala in June
Estimated hotel price
$108
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 105 km from Ocala. Tampa Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from JetBlue, Delta, Aer Lingus and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Ocala departs from Knoxville and takes around 1h 37m.

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 $12 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from West Palm Beach, expect to pay about $24 for a 5h 59m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.7 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Ocala is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 103 km from Ocala. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Rent-A-Wreck, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Ocala Pilot Travel Ctr - 2020 135th St, located 18 km from downtown Ocala. Ocala is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city center.

Plane

Although Ocala doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Daytona Beach (DAB), which is located 105 km from Ocala. Tampa Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from JetBlue, Delta, Aer Lingus and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Ocala departs from Knoxville and takes around 1h 37m.

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 $12 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from West Palm Beach, expect to pay about $24 for a 5h 59m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.7 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Ocala is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 103 km from Ocala. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Rent-A-Wreck, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Ocala Pilot Travel Ctr - 2020 135th St, located 18 km from downtown Ocala. Ocala is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city center.

Airports near Ocala

TPATampa
DABDaytona Beach
ORLOrlando All airports

Airlines serving Ocala

Lufthansa
Good (7,198 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,372 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,104 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,651 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,954 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,896 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,826 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,468 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (806 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,846 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,287 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,590 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,418 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,692 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,093 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (351 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,222 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,366 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,312 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,914 reviews)
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Find flights to Ocala

Where to stay in Ocala

Average rates range from around $195 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $290 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 (8.6, 832 reviews)
$113+
View
Hilton Ocala
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 636 reviews)
$140+
View
Equus Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1930 reviews)
$88+
View
Holiday Inn & Suites Ocala Conference Center
3 stars
Excellent (8, 1196 reviews)
$110+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Ocala I-75
2 stars
Good (6.8, 1076 reviews)
$64+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Ocala FL I-75
3 stars
Good (6.5, 2563 reviews)
$70+
View

Renting a car in Ocala

Renting a car in Ocala costs $67 per day, on average, or $202 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 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 47% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.52 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 $42.25 and $56.33. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Full-size (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Ocala costs $67 per day, on average, or $202 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 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 47% more expensive than at Orlando.

Expect to pay $3.52 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 $42.25 and $56.33. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Full-size (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Ocala

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$33/day

Supplier choice

Standard

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$39/day

Standard
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.