Ocala to St Augustine drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Ocala to St Augustine by car is 83 miles, with a 1h47m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Ocala to St Augustine drive are the Endangered Animal Sanctuary, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Park and Palatka FL.
Planning an Ocala to St Augustine road trip itinerary
The Ocala to St Augustine drive connects one of north Florida’s hub cities to the oldest continuously inhabited city in the US.
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.
St Augustine is the oldest continually inhabited city in the United States, and it has largely escaped heavy modernised development. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León.
In the compact, historic centre, there are several chintzy heritage attractions which are fun but not exactly brimming with centuries of authenticity.
The Spanish-built Castillo de San Marcos on the waterfront does pack that historic power, though. It should be sight number one before mooching around town.
Other St Augustine experiences include hop-on, hop-off trolley passes, sunset cruises and dolphin, manatee and sea turtle-viewing tours.
Ocala to St Augustine distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Ocala to St Augustine is 83 miles. You can expect a driving time of around one hour and 47 minutes. The quickest route is via US-301, FL-19 and FL-207.
The best stops to add to an Ocala to St Augustine road trip are the Endangered Animal Sanctuary, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Park and Palatka FL.
Ocala to St Augustine drive: Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary
The Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Citra, Florida, was started as a way to give abandoned and mistreated exotic animals a home. These include bears, primates and big cats. Tours of the property take visitors to see the animals currently being looked after.
Private tours are available if booked well in advance. Otherwise, the sanctuary is open for tours on the first Saturday of every month.
Best stops between Ocala and St Augustine: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Park
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Park is based around the cracker-style homestead once inhabited by author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Her Pulitzer-prize winning novel, The Yearling, was written here.
Today, the tours of the homestead give a taste of 1930s Floridian life. There’s also a nature trail within the park.
Ocala to St Augustine road trip attactions: Palatka FL
Palatka FL is home to the Bronson Mulholland House, a handsome and beautifully-restored antebellum home from the 1850s. It is open for tours.
You’ll also find Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka. This is based around two steep ravines that were turned into gardens back in the 1930s. There are picnic tables and grills here, plus a 1.8 road winding around the ravines to offer the best views.
More Ocala road trips
Gainesville to Ocala | Ocala to Jacksonville | Ocala to Orlando | Ocala to Tallahassee | Ocala to Tampa.
More St Augustine road trips
Atlanta to St Augustine | St Augustine to Daytona Beach | Fort Lauderdale to St Augustine | Gainesville to St Augustine | Jacksonville to St Augustine | Miami to St Augustine | Orlando to St Augustine | Savannah to St Augustine | Tallahassee to St Augustine | Tampa to St Augustine.