Best airport for Ocala if you can't rent a car?

[Caroline Weber]

I apologize if this has been covered before...but what are your options for getting to Ocala if you are not able to rent a car? Do any of the airports have shuttles to the Ocala area, or is there a regional bus/rail system in Florida that could get me there? The least expensive flights I've found so far are to Jacksonville and Orlando...

Thanks in advance for your help!

[EventingDaze]

Lake limo has a shuttle service that will drop you off at the BK on 200. I think it's www.lakelimo.com

[RealityCheck]

I think Orlando is closer than Jacksonville, and yes you can get a shuttle to Ocala. Just call the airport.

[AKB]

If the reason you can't rent a car is age, try Enterprise. Unlike most of the bigger companies, they will rent to 21-25 year olds. Flying into Orlando is often much cheaper than flying into other cities. Airlines like Jet Blue can have great prices. If you get a good deal on the plane ticket, you may decide to rent a car to get you to Ocala.

[BigRuss1996]

Isn't Gainesville the closest? You do have to change planes somewhere though...

[JanWeber]

She's 17 - won't be 18 until the end of February. This is for a WS interview, so would only be for a day or two (and it's got to be low $$$...)

[JanWeber]

bump

[RealityCheck]

Gainesville is almost exactly the same distance as MCO (Orlando), but I'd imagine more major airlines fly into MCO.

[GotSpots]

Gainesville is almost exactly the same distance as MCO (Orlando), but I'd imagine more major airlines fly into MCO.It's been awhile since we went to Ocala for the winter, but IIRC, only if by "almost exactly the same distance" you mean that 40 miles is almost exactly the same as 85 miles. Gainesville is an easy hop down to most of the farms in Ocala; the horse park is a bit further down but not bad by any means. Depending on the farm and the folks there, someone could probably pretty easily be convinced to run up there and pick her up, particularly if the farm is to the north or west of town. MCO is close to two hours to Ocala, by the time you fuss through the tolls (a little less if you're going to the HP). Gainesville is often much more expensive to fly into, though, because there are very few direct flights.

[NeverTime]

Lake Limo does a shuttle between the Orlando airport and Ocala. Regular trips go every two hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays (weekend times are different) and they'll drop you off at the Burger King on 200 in Ocala for $42/one way or $80 round-trip; more $$$ if you want door-to-door service.
I've looked into this a bunch and I don't think there is a cheaper option. (Well, renting a car during off days is much cheaper, but not possible for you guys...)

[Tumbleweed]

Tampa is the closet airport to Ocala.

[scubed]

Also, try asking around if you know folks down there, especially if you fly into Gainesville, someone might be willing to pick you up. If you have an entire day, you can take amtrak (train to Jax, bus to Ocala) and end up in Ocala directly. If you go down just before an event, try posting again and seeing if anyone else is flying down and driving up to Ocala (for example, if you come in Rocking Horse 2 weekend, I'll be happy to give you a ride). Greyhound also has a terminal in Ocala, so if you fly in, get to Greyhound on a shuttle and take the bus that may also be less expensive.

[RealityCheck]

Hmm, I guess it depends where in Ocala? I visited a friend last year and she assured me that Orlando was the best airport b/c Gainesville was the same distance but more expensive. Then again, maybe she was just wrong? :)

[Firefox]

Interesting, I flew into Daytona and it was just an hour to Ocala, really easy!

[katie16]

Gainesville is almost exactly the same distance as MCO (Orlando), but I'd imagine more major airlines fly into MCO.

Tampa is the closet airport to Ocala.



After living in Ocala for many years, I would have to say that neither of the above statements are accurate.

Gainesville is the closest airport to Ocala (with the exception of people with private planes can actually fly directly into Ocala). Last I knew Gainesville did not have too many nationally known commercial carriers that serviced it, only a couple. However, being a college town it is most certainly accessable by air. It is approx. 30 minutes from Ocala (depending upon which area of Ocala you are headed to). Orlando, is about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs away and so is Tampa. Jacksonville is a little bit farther still. Not sure about shuttle service from Tampa or Orlando to Ocala, but it wouldn't surprise me - I would contact the airports and inquire. It wouldn't be totally unreasonable to take a taxi from Gainesville either.

From my own personal traveling, I flew out/in of Gainesville lots as well as Tampa. Personally, I find Tampa an easier "straight shoot" drive than Orlando, but both are about the same distance.

[Dices]

I have to agree with Katie above - having flown around the whole FL penisula, Gainesville (GNV) would be the closest commerical airport to Ocala. Mapquest has it at 44 miles. Don't expect cheap fares flying into here mind you - the smaller airports tend to have higher ticket costs.

For the cheapest options you probably get the best deals flying with either Airtran or Southwest flying into Orlando (MCO) or Tampa (TPA) which according to mapquest is 90miles or 102miles respectively.

The roads to Ocala from all three airports are pretty good and direct interstates and toll roads.

Daytona (DAB) and Jacksonville (JAX) are certainly options, but I would be very surprised if they ended up being cheaper or even much easier than the 3 listed above.

Hope that helps in some way.

[JanWeber]

She'll be starting as a working student with Leslie Law February 6th - I'll have to drive down with her (too far for one person to drive) - and since she's 17 - I have to sign her lease, etc. I'll be flying home on the 5th, so I appreciate the suggestions about which airport is the closest.

[maxxtrot]

g-ville by far is the closest airport. i live in between g-ville and ocala in williston. the law's place is about 10-15 minutes from me and i can get to the airport in about 25-30 minutes. orlando takes an 1 1/2 to the airport, it is a pain with all the road work that seems to always be going on there. and tampa is a bit further. g-ville will be more $ as it is a smaller airport as others have said. jacksonville, will be about 50.00 dollars cheaper in ticket prices but it will take you 1:45-2 hrs. to get to the airport from ocala. g;ad to hear she got the WS position, she will love it down here. good luck.

[katie16]

Here's some more info that might be helpful to you:

Official Airport Transportation Service for HITS Ocala
352.377.0798 or 800.893.6683
6629 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL

I agree with Maxxtrot - if you need to get to Williston (which is technically northwest of Ocala proper - yet many people consider Marion County to be "Ocala") - you would want to fly in/out of Gainesville Regional Airport.

Additionally, someone mentioned that there are good roads, but toll roads, from the various airports to Ocala. That is partially, but not completely, correct. The road generally taken to/from Orlando, I-4, IS a toll road. However I-75, which you would take to get to either Tampa (South) or Gainesville (North) is NOT a toll road. Additionally, you could take SR441 and that is not a toll road either.

[c_expresso]

Orlando.

Last year we used a shuttle that ran right from the airport to Burger King in dt Ocala.

[IrishRydr]

I live right in Gainesville. Gainesville DOES have a few major airlines - Delta (ASA) and I think the other one is USAir - but there may be more - I usually fly Delta. I am a UF Grad student with a relatively open schedule and I remember the fortune I spent on an interview in NJ to be a working student. If I can help, please let me know.
Mary

[abrownhorse]

Not much help on the ground transportation but just wanted to bring up Orlando-Sanford Airport as an option. Allegiant Airlines has super cheap flights into Orlando-Sanford. Note- this is NOT Orlando International. Orlando-Sanford is actually north of Orlando, near Sanford. It's about 1 1/2 hours to Ocala, I think.

http://www.orlandosanfordairport.com/

http://www.allegiantair.com to check out flight options. The Allegiant flights into Orlando-Sanford are typically from smaller airports. I got a flight from Springfield-Branson airport direct into Orlando-Sanford for $29 + taxes. Was still under $40.