Introduction
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
C$ 153
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ocala in June
Estimated hotel price
C$ 153
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. Tampa Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, Air France, Condor and other airlines departing from Canada. The shortest flight to Ocala from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 6h 39m.

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 C$ 25 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about C$ 37 for a 2h 39m 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 rental from Orlando, which is about 103 km from Ocala. You’ll find branches of Clubs Car Rental and Rent-A-Wreck, 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 177 km and will cost you around C$ 47. From Lake Worth, the ticket costs about C$ 32 for a journey of 266 km. 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 centre.

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 Air Canada, Air France, Condor and other airlines departing from Canada. The shortest flight to Ocala from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 6h 39m.

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 C$ 25 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about C$ 37 for a 2h 39m 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 rental from Orlando, which is about 103 km from Ocala. You’ll find branches of Clubs Car Rental and Rent-A-Wreck, 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 177 km and will cost you around C$ 47. From Lake Worth, the ticket costs about C$ 32 for a journey of 266 km. 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 centre.

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 C$ 308 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 461 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.

Where to stay in popular areas of Ocala

Most booked hotels in Ocala

See all
Hilton Ocala
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
C$ 202+
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Equus Inn
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
C$ 137+
View
Holiday Inn & Suites Ocala Conference Center
3 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
C$ 157+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Ocala I-75
2 stars
Good (6.8, Good reviews)
C$ 93+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Ocala FL I-75
3 stars
Good (6.4, Good reviews)
C$ 107+
View
Motel 6 Ocala Conference Center
2 stars
Okay (5.5, Okay reviews)
C$ 91+
View

Renting 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 rent a car in Ocala is the Budget branch at 1506 South Pine Avenue, which is 1 km from the downtown.

Expect to pay C$ 1.25 per litre in Ocala (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 14.95 and C$ 19.94. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 74% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

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 downtown.

Expect to pay C$ 1.25 per litre in Ocala (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 14.95 and C$ 19.94. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 74% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Ocala

Intermediate

5 adults, 3 Bags

C$ 72/day

Intermediate

Compact

4 adults, 2 Bags

C$ 72/day

Compact
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.