Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city of 66,584 people in Marion County, Florida, founded in 1845.
Why visit Ocala
Townapedia lists 18 museums and landmarks, 45 parks and trails, 149 places to eat, 38 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Ocala Drive-In, Six Gun Territory, Appleton Museum of Art and Fort King.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 46°F.
Weather in Ocala
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ocala
Ocala is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Florida, United States. Located in North Central Florida. The population was 63,591 as of the 2020 census, and was estimated at 71,753 in 2025, making it the 42nd-most populated city in Florida. It is the principal city of the Ocala metropolitan area, which had a population of 442,660 in 2025.
From the Wikipedia article Ocala, Florida (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
Six Gun Territory
Monument and historic site · 5.4 mi
Former Western-themed amusement park in Silver Springs, Florida
Epic Theaters of Ocala
Cinema and theater · 3.6 mi
4414 Southwest College Rd, Ocala
Museums and landmarks18
Appleton Museum of Art
Museum · 4.9 mi
Museum in Ocala, Florida
4333 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala
Fort King
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
Fort in Florida
Coca-Cola Bottling Plant
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic building in Ocala, Florida, United States
E. C. Smith House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic house in Florida, United States
East Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Historic building located in Ocala, Florida, United States
Marion Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic building in Ocala, Florida, United States
Ocala Historic Commercial District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic district in Ocala, Florida, United States
Ocala Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in Florida, United States
Ocala Union Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Railway station in Ocala, the United States of America
Tuscawilla Park Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in Florida, United States
West Ocala Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in Florida, United States
6 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds45
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Silver Springs
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 6.5 mi
Group of artesian springs in Marion County
Booster Stadium
Sports field and stadium · 4.6 mi
2900 Northeast 36th Avenue, Ocala
33 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes149
Brick City Southern Kitchen
Restaurant · Barbecue · 1.1 mi
10 South Magnolia Avenue, Ocala
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Burger King
Restaurant · American, Burger · 4.1 mi
2900 Southeast 36th Avenue
Mo-Th 05:30-23:00; Fr 05:30-23:30; Sa 06:00-23:30; Su 06:00-23:00
IHOP
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 0.6 mi
1124 S Pine Avenue, Ocala
Mo-Sa 06:00-23:00; Su 06:00-22:00
Lakis Restaurant
Restaurant · Greek · 2.3 mi
3405 Southwest College Road
Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su-Th 11:00-20:00
Latin American Cafe
Cafe · Spanish, Breakfast, Coffee Shop, Local · 3.3 mi
1427 Northeast 25th Avenue
Mo-Fr 07:30-18:00; Sa 08:00-15:00
Miller's Ale House
Diner · American · 1.1 mi
305 Southeast 17th Street, Ocala
Mo-Th 11:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-02:00; Su 11:00-00:00
Ocala Downtown Diner
Restaurant · Breakfast, Burger, American · 0.9 mi
816 South Magnolia Avenue, Ocala
Mo-Sa 06:00-15:00; Su 08:00-14:00
Pronto Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.1 mi
303 Southeast 17th Street, Ocala
Mo-Sa 10:00-21:45; Su 11:00-20:00
137 more on the map.
History
Ocala is named after Ocale (also Cale, Etocale, and other variants), a Timucua village and chiefdom recorded in the 16th century, the name of which is believed to mean "Big Hammock" in the Timucua language. Another possible meaning of the name is "song or singer of admiration or glorification". Spaniard Hernando de Soto's expedition recorded Ocale in 1539 during his exploration through what is today the Southeastern United States. The site of Ocale has not been found, but historians believe it was located in southwestern Marion County, near the Withlacoochee River. References to Ocale, Olagale, and Etoquale occur in 16th and early 17th century sources, but do not specify a location. A Spanish mission named San Luis de Eloquale was established by 1630. Milanich believes the mission was near the Withlacoochee River. Eloquale is not named in a 1655 list of missions, and Ocale (and its variants) disappeared from history.
From the History section of Ocala, Florida on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay38
Holiday Inn & Suites Ocala Conference Center, an IHG Hotel
Motel and hotel · 2.8 mi
3600 Southwest 38th Avenue, Ocala
Churches and places of worship171
Mount Zion A.M.E. Church (Ocala, Florida)
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Maricamp Road Church of Christ
Church · Church Of Christ · 3.1 mi
2750 Southeast Maricamp Road
Shopping37
Gas and EV charging38
Schools, colleges and libraries63
Trinity Catholic High School
School · 2.5 mi
2600 Southwest 42nd Street, Ocala
Healthcare17
Map of Ocala
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 46°F | 3.4 in |
| Feb | 74°F | 48°F | 2.9 in |
| Mar | 79°F | 52°F | 3.7 in |
| Apr | 84°F | 57°F | 2.2 in |
| May | 89°F | 64°F | 3.5 in |
| Jun | 91°F | 70°F | 7.4 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 72°F | 6.9 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 72°F | 7.1 in |
| Sep | 90°F | 70°F | 6.5 in |
| Oct | 84°F | 63°F | 3.2 in |
| Nov | 77°F | 54°F | 2.1 in |
| Dec | 72°F | 48°F | 2.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ocala Hcn (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Marion County has had 30 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-10-11: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-10-07: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-28: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-24: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-10: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-03: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ocala International Airport (OCF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Liberty Triangle 8 mi southwest, about 13 min by car
- Marion Oaks 12 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Lady Lake 22 mi southeast, about 36 min by car
- Citrus Springs 23 mi southwest, about 36 min by car
- Leesburg 35 mi southeast, about 57 min by car
- Homosassa Springs 35 mi southwest, about 56 min by car
- Eustis 36 mi southeast, about 58 min by car
- Gainesville 37 mi north, about 59 min by car
- Mount Dora 40 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Groveland 43 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ocala square 2011, Luv24jmg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- AdventHealth Ocala, Michael Rivera, CC0
- Post Office, SW 1st Ave, Ocala, 34478, Michael Rivera, CC0
- Ocala, United States (Unsplash), Ravi Pinisetti ravipinisetti, CC0
- Ocala Knitting and Manufacturing Company, Moorhead Engineering Company, Ocala Florida 2019-03-06-2, Tim Kiser, CC BY 4.0
- Ocala Coffee - panoramio, Matthew Nichols, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SB NW 1st Ave at Silver Springs Blvd intersection, Ocala, Michael Rivera, CC0
- Former Marion Hotel Ocala Florida 2019-03-06-2, Tim Kiser, CC BY 4.0
- Ocala downtown 2011, Luv24jmg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ocala Street Tracks (South) - panoramio, Matthew Nichols, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ocala Street Tracks (North) - panoramio, Matthew Nichols, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Eighth Street Elementary School (South face), Ocala, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Eighth Street Elementary School (East face), Ocala, Michael Rivera, CC0
- WB NE 3rd St at N Magnolia Ave intersection, Ocala, Michael Rivera, CC0
- Fiore's Cafe interior, Ocala, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Sausage Stromboli, Fiore's Cafe, Ocala, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Fiore's Cafe, Ocala, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Seminole Feed Stores, Downtown Ocala, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Midtown Station, Ocala 2, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Midtown Station, Ocala 1, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Howard Middle School, Ocala, Michael Rivera, CC0
- City of Ocala Recreation Operation Center, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Ocala Amtrak Station - panoramio, Matthew Nichols, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ocala Appleton Museum with pool01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fort King marker Ocala01, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- SilverSprings, NeilEvans, Public domain
- Mountzionocala, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Tuscparkhistoricdistrict, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Hotelmarionocala1, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Cocacolaplantocala2, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- NB S Pine Ave FL200 left, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Loxaulus vaccinii galls, Jeff Clark, CC BY 4.0
- Marion County Judicial Center, Michael Rivera, CC0
- Fixed Approach Signal - panoramio, Matthew Nichols, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mallard, Muscovy ducks and turtles, Tuscawilla Park, Michael Rivera, CC0
- Lake Tuscawilla from south, Tuscawilla Park, Michael Rivera, CC0
- Footbridge over Lake from west side, Tuscawilla Park, Michael Rivera, CC0
- Anhinga on footbridge, Tuscawilla Park, Mjrmtg, CC0
- EB US27 Road junction FL492 US 301 441, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Footbridge over Lake from east side, Tuscawilla Park, Mjrmtg, CC0
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