Ocala to Orlando road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The distance from Ocala FL to Orlando by car is 80 miles, with a 1h13m driving time. The best Ocala to Orlando road trip stops are Ocala FL, the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, the Chain of Lakes and Nehrling Gardens.
Planning an Ocala to Orlando road trip itinerary
The Ocala to Orlando drive takes you from the University of Florida to Florida’s theme park capital of the world.
Ocala is home to the Golden Gypsy Horse Farm, where visitors can meet the rare and beautiful Gypsy Vanner horses. The Appleton Museum of Art, meanwhile, mixes contemporary art with pre-Columbian artifacts and the Discovery Center does the interactive science thing.
The most important site in Ocala, however, is the Fort King National Historic Landmark. This was a major military post in the Second Seminole War, and the first inland fort in Florida.
Book ahead for Ocala hotel deals.
Orlando is known worldwide as the home of Disney World, but there’s far more to it than Mickey and Co. You can get crazy selfies at the Museum of Illusions or WonderWorks, learn how chocolate is made at Chocolate Kingdom and ride the Wheel at ICON Park or Orlando StarFlyer. Alternatively, visit Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, play adventure golf at Pirates’ Cove and say hi to the stingrays at Sea Life.
In the evenings, there’s the Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show, Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn To Life and the Outta Control magic comedy show.
Other Orlando experiences include glow-in-the-dark kayaking, foodie walking tours and kayaking through Cypress forest.
There are hundreds of hotels to choose from in Orlando. Flexibility is key (precise location is not critical here) – and compare prices online before booking.
Ocala to Orlando distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Ocala FL to Orlando is 80 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 13 minutes. The quickest route is largely along the I-75 and Florida’s Turnpike.
The best stops to add to an Ocala to Orlando road trip itinerary are the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, the Chain of Lakes and Nehrling Gardens.
Ocala to Orlando drive: Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing
The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing celebrates an especially American form of motor racing. It covers the history of the sport – which is generally about blasting along a short course in a straight line as quickly as possible.
It also looks at drag racing’s greatest competitors with its Hall Of Fame.
Ocala to Orlando road trip attractions: The Chain of Lakes
As the name suggests, the Chain of Lakes is a collection of lakes near Clermont and Winter Haven in Florida.
Perhaps the most fun way of exploring is on board a small personal catamaran, guided to all the best spots over a two-way radio. These mini-catamaran tours leave from Clermont.
Things to do between Ocala and Orlando: Nehrling Gardens
In 1885, horticulturalist Henry Nehrling purchased a property in Gotha FL, and used its grounds to experiment with tropical and subtropical plants.
The tradition continues today on the six remaining acres of the site at Nehrling Gardens. Some trees are more than 100 years old, and the 1880s homestead still offers period charm.
More Ocala road trips
Gainesville to Ocala | Ocala to Jacksonville | Ocala to St Augustine | Ocala to Tallahassee | Ocala to Tampa.
More Orlando road trips
Albany GA to Orlando | Asheville to Orlando | Atlanta to Orlando | Augusta to Orlando | Austin to Orlando | Baton Rouge to Orlando | Orlando to Daytona Beach | Orlando to Destin | Gainesville to Orlando | Houston to Orlando | Huntsville AL to Orlando | Jacksonville to Orlando | Lakeland to Orlando | Macon GA to Orlando | Nashville to Orlando | New Orleans to Orlando | Orlando to Palm Coast | Panama City to Orlando | Pensacola to Orlando | Orlando to St Augustine | Tallahassee to Orlando | Orlando to Tampa | Valdosta to Orlando.