Ocala, renowned for its stunning parks, horse farms, and Fort King National Historic Landmark, has a plethora of attractions for those who appreciate history and nature.
If you like horses, there are hundreds of stud farms that offer tours to the public. You can also find plenty of stables with horses available to rent if you would like to go on a trail ride.
For non-equestrians, there are lots of opportunities to explore the natural surroundings on foot, with miles of hiking trails in the Ocala National Forest and Silver Springs State Park.
Looking for something to do with kids? The Ocala Petting Zoo makes for the perfect family outing, where visitors can feed and interact with a wide variety of animals.
Another wonderful attraction to check out is the Reilly Arts Center, a concert and entertainment venue that hosts a number of different shows throughout the year.
If this sounds like the kind of place you’d like to visit, why not check out our list of recommendations below to make the most out of your trip?
The 40 Most Popular Things To Do In Ocala, Florida
40. Webber Gallery
5.0 (2 reviews)
Location: 3001 SW College Road Ocala FL
Tel: 352 873 5809
Web Address: http://cf.edu/webber
39. Historic Santos Recreation Area
4.7 (11 reviews)
Credit: Francisco Martínez, Google Maps
Location: Ocala FL
Web Address: https://floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/historic-santos-recreation-area
38. Silver Springs
5.0 (30 reviews)
Credit: Ebyabe, License, Wikimedia commons
37. Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area
4.6 (50 reviews)
Credit: Bryan Lindenberger, Google Maps
Location: 6381 E FL 326 Silver Springs FL
Tel: 386 329 4404
Web Address: http://sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/silver-springs/
36. Tuscawilla Playground
4.6 (58 reviews)
Credit: Russ Cooper, Google Maps
Location: 836 NE Sanchez Ave Ocala FL
35. Indian Lake State Forest
4.5 (62 reviews)
Credit: Ebyabe, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 7728 8126 NE 58th Ave Silver Springs FL
Tel: 352 732 1201
Web Address: https://fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Indian-Lake-State-Forest
34. Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology
4.6 (66 reviews)
Location: 307 SE 26th Terrace Ocala FL
Tel: 352 236 5245
Web Address: http://marioncountyarchaeology.com/mcmha/mcmha.htm
33. Marion Cultural Alliance at Brick City Center for the Arts
4.8 (74 reviews)
Credit: Brick City Center for the Arts, Home of Marion Cultural Alliance, Google Maps
Location: 23 SW Broadway Street Ocala FL
Tel: 352 369 1500
Web Address: https://mcaocala.org/
32. Silver Springs Conservation Area
4.5 (80 reviews)
Location: 5415 NE 7th Street Ocala FL
Tel: 352 671 8560
Web Address: https://marioncountyfl.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/92/663
31. Marshall Swamp Trailhead
4.6 (101 reviews)
Credit: leslie peebles, Google Maps
Location: 8282 SE Hwy 314 Ocala FL
Tel: 352 671 8560
Web Address: https://marioncountyfl.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/58/663
30. Silver Springs State Park, Campground and Museum Entrance
4.7 (115 reviews)
Credit: Heather Brushwood, Google Maps
Location: 1425 NE 58th Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 236 7148
Web Address: http://floridastateparks.org/park/Silver-Springs
29. City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department
4.6 (141 reviews)
Credit: Daykiller 1920, Google Maps
Location: 828 NE 8th Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 368 5517
Web Address: https://ocalafl.org/recpark
28. Ocala Wetland Recharge Park
4.8 (154 reviews)
Location: 2105 NW 21st Street Ocala FL
Tel: 352 351 6772
Web Address: https://ocalafl.org/government/city-departments-i-z/water-resources/ocala-wetland-recharge-park#ad-image-1
27. Santos Trails
4.9 (172 reviews)
Credit: Zachary Long, License, Flickr
Location: 3080 SE 80th Street Ocala FL
Web Address: https://floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/santos-trailhead-campground
26. Baseline Road Trailhead
4.8 (194 reviews)
Credit: Joseph Martin, Google Maps
Location: 4255 SE 58th Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 671 8560
Web Address: http://marioncountyfl.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/6/663
25. Tuscawilla Art Park
4.7 (196 reviews)
Credit: Jessica Sullivan, Google Maps
Location: 213 NE 5th Street Ocala FL
Tel: 352 629 8447
Web Address: https://ocalamarion.com/directory/tuscawilla-art-park/
24. Discovery Center
4.5 (214 reviews)
Credit: Kelly Michals, License, Flickr
Location: 701 NE Sanchez Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 401 3900
Web Address: http://mydiscoverycenter.org/
23. Florida Trail Land Bridge Trailhead
4.8 (247 reviews)
Credit: mario rafael ayala, Google Maps
Location: 11100 SW 16th Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 236 7143
Web Address: https://floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/landbridge-trailhead
22. Toms Park
4.3 (251 reviews)
Credit: Anand Mahabir, Google Maps
Location: 2300 NW Magnolia Ocala FL
Tel: 352 368 5517
21. Heritage Nature Conservancy
4.7 (288 reviews)
Credit: ANGÉLICA JUDITH SILVERA MENDOZA, Google Maps
Location: 2005 NE 3rd Street Ocala FL
Tel: 352 368 5517
Web Address: https://ocalafl.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/38/182
20. Letty Towles Dog Park
4.6 (379 reviews)
Credit: Jeff Taylor, Google Maps
Location: 2299 SE 32nd Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 368 5517
19. Cactus Jack’s Trail Rides
4.7 (427 reviews)
Credit: Cactus Jack’s Trail Rides, Google Maps
Location: 11100 SW 16th Ave Ocala FL
Web Address: https://floridahorseriding.com/
18. Coehadjoe Park
4.6 (442 reviews)
Credit: Tim Sullivan, Google Maps
Location: 4225 NE 35th Street Ocala FL
Tel: 352 671 8560
Web Address: http://marioncountyfl.org/
17. Lillian Bryant Park
4.6 (447 reviews)
Credit: Abhisheak Sharma, Google Maps
Location: 2200 NW 17th Pl Ocala FL
Tel: 352 368 5517
Web Address: http://lillian-bryant-park.keeq.io/
16. Brick City Adventure Park
4.5 (456 reviews)
Credit: Ralph Demilio, Google Maps
Location: 1211 SE 22nd Road Ocala FL
Tel: 352 671 8560
Web Address: http://marioncountyfl.org/
15. Ray Wayside Park
4.6 (505 reviews)
Credit: Lori Hendrix – Davis, Google Maps
Location: 9564 NE 28th Ln Silver Springs FL
Tel: 352 671 8560
Web Address: http://marioncountyfl.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/84/663
14. Scott Springs Park
4.6 (529 reviews)
Location: 2825 SW 24th Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 368 5517
Web Address: http://ocalafl.org/
13. Meadowbrook Church
4.8 (689 reviews)
Credit: Meadowbrook Church, Google Maps
Location: 4741 SW 20th Street Ocala FL
Tel: 352 873 3767
Web Address: http://mbcocala.com/
12. Reilly Arts Center
4.7 (780 reviews)
Credit: Reilly Arts Center, Google Maps
Location: 500 NE 9th Street Ocala FL
Tel: 352 351 1606
Web Address: http://reillyartscenter.com/
11. Baseline Trailhead Park
4.7 (834 reviews)
Credit: Ralph Demilio, Google Maps
Location: 4803 SE 58th Ave #4397 Ocala FL
Tel: 352 671 8560
Web Address: http://marioncountyfl.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/6/663
10. Jervey Gantt Park
4.6 (1,271 reviews)
Credit: Kenny Boyd, Google Maps
Location: 2200 SE 36th Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 368 5517
Web Address: http://ocalafl.org/
9. Tuscawilla Park
4.6 (2,404 reviews)
Credit: Ebyabe, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 829 NE Sanchez Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 368 5517
Web Address: http://ocalafl.org/
Our Top picks
8. Silver River
4.9 (90 reviews)
Credit: Ebyabe, License, Wikimedia commons
7. Appleton Museum of Art
4.7 (143 reviews)
Credit: Ebyabe, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd Ocala FL
Tel: 352 291 4455
Web Address: http://appletonmuseum.org/
6. Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center
4.7 (493 reviews)
Credit: mike crea, Google Maps
Location: 1445 NE 58th Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 236 5401
Web Address: https://silverrivermuseum.com/
5. Fort King National Historic Landmark
4.5 (512 reviews)
Credit: Ebyabe, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3925 E Fort King Street Ocala FL
Tel: 352 368 5517
Web Address: http://fortkingocala.com/
4. Petting Zoo Ocala
4.2 (693 reviews)
Location: 11150 West Highway 40 Ocala FL
Tel: 352 300 6688
Web Address: http://pettingzooocala.com/
3. Sholom Park
4.9 (1,790 reviews)
Location: 7110 SW 80th Ave Ocala FL
Tel: 352 873 0848- -7650
Web Address: http://sholompark.com/
2. The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park
4.9 (3,118 reviews)
Credit: The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park, Google Maps
Location: 8045 NW Gainesville Road Ocala FL
Tel: 352 351 9477
Web Address: http://zipthecanyons.com/
1. Silver Springs State Park
4.7 (7,975 reviews)
Credit: Calmuziclover, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd Silver Springs FL
Tel: 352 261 5840
Web Address: http://silversprings.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Ocala, Florida! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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