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 100 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
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.
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 Australia departs from Sydney and takes around 21h 08m.
Train
Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by Brightline. 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 $43 for a 2h 50m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.7 km from the city centre.
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 Dollar and Thrifty, among others, in Orlando.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Ocala, including Jet Set Express, RedCoach and FlixBus. From Lake Worth, the bus ride to Ocala takes 266 km and will cost you around $37. From Fort Lauderdale, the ticket costs about $72 for a journey of 386 km. 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.
Airlines serving Ocala
Where to stay in Ocala
Average rates range from around $299 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $421 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include avid Hotel Ocala Downtown, an IHG Hotel and Candlewood Suites - Ocala I-75, An IHG Hotel.
Where to stay in popular areas of Ocala
Most booked hotels in Ocala
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 Hertz branch at 970 Sw 6th Ave Suite 107, which is 1 km from the city centre.
Expect to pay $1.59 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 $19.02 and $25.36. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Mazda Mazda5 or similar) is, on average, 48% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.