Marion district, Florida, United States

Places to visit near Ocala

Ocala is a town in Marion district, Florida, United States, home to about 58,218 people. Within 50 km by road there are 157 places to visit — 52 churches, 33 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 11 wildlife, forests & gardens and 15 parks. The must-see places are Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (1 km), Mount Zion AME Church (1 km) and Marion County Museum of History (5 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Ocala on the map

Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Marion district, Florida, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Ocala at a glance

Location
Marion district, Florida, United States
Population
about 58,218
Coordinates
29.1872° N, 82.1401° W
Places within 50 km
157 (25 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches and parks

Top places to visit near Ocala

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Ocala: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Ocala, by type

Churches near Ocala

59 churches within 100 km of Ocala. The closest is Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Ocala

58 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Ocala. The closest is Scott's Spring (4 km); the best-known is Indian Lake State Forest (13 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Ocala

34 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Ocala. The closest is Silver Springs Conservation Area (10 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Parks near Ocala

22 parks within 100 km of Ocala. The closest is Chazal Park (2 km); the best-known is Wild Waters (11 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Museums near Ocala

17 museums within 100 km of Ocala. The closest is Marion County Museum of History (5 km). Best time: year-round.

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Rivers, islands & mangroves near Ocala

12 rivers, islands & mangroves within 100 km of Ocala. The closest is Ross Allen Island (11 km). Best time: september to february.

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A one-day trip from Ocala

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 17 km on the road.

  1. Start in Ocala
  2. 1 km Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church · church, Marion
  3. 1 km Mount Zion AME Church · church, Marion
  4. 5 km First Baptist Church of Ocala · church, Marion
  5. 3 km Fort King · fort, Marion
  6. 2 km Marion County Museum of History · museum, Marion
  7. 5 km Back to Ocala

Plan a longer trip from Ocala — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Ocala

No traveller has reported from around Ocala yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Ocala

    All places near Ocala by distance

    Within 15 km of Ocala

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Ocala by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches5259Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs3358Scott's Spring (4 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1134Silver Springs Conservation Area (10 km)
    Parks1522Chazal Park (2 km)
    Museums817Marion County Museum of History (5 km)
    Other attractions513Circle Square Cultural Center (18 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves1112Ross Allen Island (11 km)
    Forts & heritage810Fort King (7 km)
    Beaches & coast89Lunging Arena (15 km)
    Temples22Temple Beth Shalom (2 km)
    Caves22Paradise Springs (14 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints12Sunday Bluff (38 km)
    Waterfalls11Waterfall Springs (38 km)
    Treks01Florida Trail (87 km)

    Ocala: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Ocala?

    Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (church, about 1 km), Mount Zion AME Church (church, about 1 km), Marion County Museum of History (museum, about 5 km), First Baptist Church of Ocala (church, about 6 km), Fort King (fort, about 7 km), Appleton Museum of Art (museum, about 8 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Ocala?

    157 places on Spotwander: 52 churches, 33 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 11 wildlife, forests & gardens, 15 parks, 8 museums.

    Which is the nearest church to Ocala?

    Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, about 1 km by road; Mount Zion AME Church (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Ocala?

    Scott's Spring, about 4 km by road; Indian Lake State Forest (13 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Ocala?

    Silver Springs Conservation Area, about 10 km by road; Silver Springs State Park (14 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Ocala?

    Start in Ocala, visit Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, then Mount Zion AME Church, then First Baptist Church of Ocala, then Fort King, then Marion County Museum of History, and drive back — about 17 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Ocala?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches and parks.

    Towns near Ocala

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Ocala’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Ocala on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.