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.
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.
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″.
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 American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Ocala departs from Atlanta and takes around 1h 27m.
Brightline is the most popular train carrier serving Ocala, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Ocala to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from West Palm Beach, expect to pay about $25 for a 2h 12m trip. The train station in Ocala is called Ocala, and is located 0.5 miles from the city center.
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 Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Hertz, among others, in Orlando.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Ocala, including Jet Set Express, RedCoach and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Ocala takes 90 miles and will cost you around $29. From Lake Worth, the ticket costs about $47 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.
Average rates range from around $194 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $230 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.
Renting a car in Ocala costs $53 per day, on average, or $160 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 Hertz branch at 970 Sw 6th Ave Suite 107, 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, 31% more expensive than at Orlando.
Expect to pay $3.90 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 $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Ocala is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Sonic Sedan or similar) are, on average, 50% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$34/day
Intermediate
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$35/day