Overnight in Ocala Enroute?

[SuzEm]

Can anyone suggest a good overnight location, easy off-easy on, clean, safe, reasonable, etc., hotel in Ocala?

 

[DC7800]

There's a Hilton in Ocala which certainly ought to be the nicest, cleanest property. I've checked rates a few times (but never stayed there) and found rooms in the $80-$95 range. I believe this Hilton (and the less expensive La Quinta) regularly show up on Priceline (maybe Hotwire?) for Ocala.

There are many other popular chains in Ocala as well, though I can't recall any other names off the top of my head.

 

[ducklite]

I'm wondering why Ocala? You're only another hour to WDW. Leaving from Ocala in the am means battling the terrible traffic down the turnpike and I-4 in the morning. There are a ton of inexpensive rooms in the LBV area...I'd keep driving and get one of those instead.

That way you wake up the next morning and you're "there".

Anne

 

[SuzEm]

Anne: You ask why - because I'm traveling alone with my 7 yDD, and I'm not sure exactly what time I'll get away. The thought of fighting Orlando traffic while I'm exhausted and potentially in the dark does not appeal to me. I'd rather have an easy off/easy on location, where's it's not city traffic. I can push myself to drive 10 hours, but it's another hour and a half to Orlando, and I want to be alert when figuring out where I need to turn! I also "lose" an hour since I'm in central time zone. I'd really like to be off the road before dark! And I'd wait a little in the a.m. so I can be behind the morning rush; anyway driving in morning rush hour traffic in a large city is nothing new to me...I did it for over 20 years.

 

[ducklite]

Very understandable--just wanted to warn about the am traffic through Orlando It's truly as bad as am traffic here in the NYC metro area! Have a great trip!

Anne

 

[BCV23]

Can't recommend a hotel but wanted to mention that you can avoid the whole I-4 mess by getting off the Turnpike quite a bit earlier at Rt. 27. Take it south to 192 and head east to the main entrance for WDW.

 

[SuzEm]

BCV23: We took that route going home last time; unfortunately, I'm going to have to take I-4 because I've got to make a stop off I-4 going north from the turnpike.

I don't remember I-4 being particularly bad, or different from any other downtown city corridor. Is it alot worse than it was in 2000? We arrived on a Friday morning last time, as we stayed over in Gainesville. This time I'll be coming in on Thursday. Is there some kind of construction going on now that I need to know about?

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by BCV23
Can't recommend a hotel but wanted to mention that you can avoid the whole I-4 mess by getting off the Turnpike quite a bit earlier at Rt. 27. Take it south to 192 and head east to the main entrance for WDW.

You know, I should have thought of that, seeing as how tomorrow I'm most likely signing a contract on a house just off of 27 between the turnpike and 192

That is a nice ride, and you'll laugh as you go past the one grove with the huge "monster truck" vehicle out front

Anne