A Safe Place to Explore: Ocala/Marion County is Open
As we are constantly evolving with the precautions related to COVID-19, we want to provide our visitors and residents with the latest information. Our many parks, restaurants, and horse farms are ready to welcome your smiling faces once again! As of the beginning of May, more than 130,000 Marion County residents have been vaccinated.
Our number one priority remains the health and safety of our Ocala/Marion county community and visitors. While we are all eager to return to a bit of normalcy, our local businesses are following recommended guidelines to maintain safety for themselves and patrons. We want to share with you our beautiful destination, while ensuring your confidence that Ocala/Marion County is a safe place to spend your time.
Ocala/Marion County: Current Status – Phase III
The state of Florida, including Ocala/Marion County is currently in Phase III of the Safe.Smart.Step-by-Step Plan for Florida’s Recovery. What does this mean for our destination?
Restaurants, Bars & Pubs
Restaurants, bars and pubs are now allowed to operate at full capacity indoors and outdoors. Following recommended safety guidelines, the majority of these local businesses are back open! For the most up to date information on hours and businesses’ individual safety policies, please contact the local business establishments directly.
Retail Stores
Retail establishments can operate at full capacity. Most of the local shops are now open and some took the time during the pandemic to remodel and add more fun things to see and buy.
Parks
Most local parks are open to the public again, including city and county parks. All the Florida State Parks are open as well, but at limited capacity. Some of the parks open include KP Hole, Rainbow Springs State Park, Silver Springs State Park and the recreational areas in the Ocala National Forest like Silver Glen Springs, Salt Springs and Juniper Springs. Especially during the summer these parks are popular, so if you plan to visit the park, arrive early.
Theaters
Entertainment venues including theatres, playhouses, bowling alleys and others are allowed to operate. The Ocala Drive-In theatre continues to be open 7 days a week—at one point, the Ocala Drive-In was the only theater in the country showing new movies—check out the news story! *We recommend you contact the individual businesses about operating hours and their current safety measures.
Museums
Museums and libraries may operate at full capacity. All branches of the Marion County Public Library, the Appleton Museum of Art and Don Garlit’s Museum of Drag Racing are all open. We encourage you to check with the museums individually for specific re-open information.
Places to Stay
Hotels and motels are open and continue to operate following social distancing and sanitation protocols. Campgrounds are open again including places to set up tent, park the RV or stay in a cabin.
Vacation Rentals are allowed to operate as well.
Organized Youth Activities
Organized youth activities including sports teams, leagues and camps may operate.
Visitor Center
The Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau located in Downtown Ocala is open to the public. For your safety and the safety of others, we are taking precautions. We welcome you to stop in chat with our team.
For a list of things to do that are socially distant in the destination, check out our blog Top 10 Places to Have Fun in Open Spaces.
Local Healthcare Resources
Hospitals/ERs
The hospital systems in Ocala/Marion County continue to remain ready to support citizens and visitors.
AdventHealth Ocala
1500 SW 1st Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
(352)351-7200
*Open 24 hours
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital
431 SW 1st Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 401-1000
*Open 24 hours
West Marion Community Hospital
4600 SW 46th Ct, Ocala, FL 34474
(352) 291-3000
*Open 24 hours
HCA Florida Maricamp Emergency
2897 SE Maricamp Rd, Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 421-7500
*Open 24 hours
HCA Florida Summerfield Emergency
14193 US-441, Summerfield, FL 34491
(352) 245-4440
*Open 24 hours
Testing
There are drive-up COVID-19 testing sites available. Please visit marion.floridahealth.gov for a list of these sites, as well as vaccination information. For additional resources regarding COVID-19 and the community’s response, visit our COVID-19 information page.
