Ocala to Tampa road trip: Distance, drive time & attractions
The distance from Ocala to Tampa by car is 97 miles, with a 1h28m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Ocala to Tampa drive are the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park and Mirada Lagoon.
Planning an Ocala to Tampa road trip itinerary
The Ocala to Tampa drive connects one of Florida’s more interesting inland cities to the west coast.
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.
Tampa is justifiably one of the most popular holiday destinations in Florida. It’s home to top attractions such as the Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa, the Adventure Island water park and Busch Gardens theme park.
Other great Tampa experiences include historic Ybor City food walking tours, seeing the highlights in a street legal golf cart and a Haunted Tampa tour that combines ghosts and pubs.
Also on offer are Segway tours, history cruises, dolphin-watching and celebrity homes tours.
Tampa accommodation is best booked in advance – look for deals here.
Ocala to Tampa distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Ocala to Tampa is 97 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 28 minutes. The quickest route is mostly along the I-75.
The best stops to add to an Ocala to Tampa road trip itinerary are the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park and Mirada Lagoon.
Ocala to Tampa 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.
Things to do between Ocala and Tampa: Dade Battlefield Historic State Park
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park commemorates the 1835 battle that sparked the Second Seminole War. This was the longest and most costly American-Indian war in the country’s history, lasting seven years.
The visitor center has a small museum explaining more about the Florida Seminole Wars, while picnics, hiking and wildlife-spotting are other options within the park.
Ocala to Tampa road trip attractions: Mirada Lagoon
Mirada Lagoon in San Antonio FL is a giant water playground covering 15 acres. The centerpiece is the inflatable fun park, which kids like to charge around like an obstacle course. But there’s also a water slide, a splash zone for smaller children and a beach. Kayaks and paddleboards can be hired separately.
More Ocala road trips
Gainesville to Ocala | Ocala to Jacksonville | Ocala to Orlando | Ocala to St Augustine | Ocala to Tallahassee.
More Tampa road trips
Asheville to Tampa | Atlanta to Tampa | Austin to Tampa | Baltimore to Tampa | Buffalo to Tampa | Dallas to Tampa | Tampa to Daytona Beach | Tampa to Destin | Gainesville to Tampa | Houston to Tampa | Jacksonville to Tampa | Lakeland to Tampa | Memphis to Tampa | Nashville to Tampa | Orlando to Tampa | Philadelphia to Tampa | Pittsburgh to Tampa | Tampa to St Augustine | St Louis to Tampa | Tallahassee to Tampa | Valdosta to Tampa | Washington DC to Tampa.