Hotels & Places to Stay

Where to Stay in Florida

Grand resorts, city hotels and small inns, and the condominiums, campgrounds and RV parks in each Florida county, with what each one is and where it sits.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Eight things to check before you book.

A nightly rate is not the price of the stay, and a scouting trip has questions a vacation does not.

Nightly rate and all mandatory taxes or fees
Parking, resort, pet and destination charges
Deposit, cancellation and refund rules
Kitchen, laundry and workspace if staying longer
Drive time to the communities—not only mileage
Accessibility, elevator and mobility requirements
Storm, evacuation and interruption policies
Direct confirmation from the property or platform

HOTEL DIRECTORY

Pick the county. See where to stay.

Choose a county to compare distinct hotels, locations and trip styles.

65counties with listings

435places to stay

CHOOSE A COUNTYMarion County5 Researched Properties

HotelOcala

Staybridge Suites Ocala Near Equestrian Aquatics, an IHG Hotel

Rated 4.8 out of 5 by 216 Google reviewers

An extended stay hotel at 4627 Northwest Blitchton Road in Ocala, four miles from the World Equestrian Center and close to Interstate 75. Every suite has a full kitchen, and some have a pull out couch. Breakfast is included every morning, and there is a social hour with light food and drinks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. There is an outdoor pool, a fitness center, meeting rooms and an acre and a half of grass for dogs.

Check Rates on Official Site ↗Map & directions ↗

Campground & RVOcklawaha

Lake in the Forest RV Resort

Rated 4.7 out of 5 by 126 Google reviewers

A family run campground on Half Moon Lake at 19115 Southeast Forty-fourth Street in Ocklawaha, in the middle of the Ocala National Forest. There are full hookup RV sites with thirty and fifty amp service, standard and accessible cabins, mini cabins, a rental camper and a lake house. There is a heated pool, a large recreation center, a laundry, shuffleboard, a playground, walking trails and fishing on the lake. Pets are taken.

Check Rates on Official Site ↗Map & directions ↗

Campground & RVOcala

Southern Springs RV Resort

Rated 4.7 out of 5 by 67 Google reviewers

A gated RV park at 156 Southwest Thirty-third Terrace in Ocala. Sites are concrete with landscaping and thirty and fifty amp electric hookups. There is a heated pool and spa, a clubhouse, an activity center, pickleball courts, cornhole and horseshoes, a laundry, a post office, high speed internet and cable television. There are covered patios with tables and grills.

Check Rates on Official Site ↗Map & directions ↗

HotelOcala

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Ocala

Rated 4.6 out of 5 by 243 Google reviewers

An extended stay hotel at 8125 Southwest Highway 200 in Ocala, minutes from the World Equestrian Center and near golf courses and Rainbow Springs. There are studios and one bedroom suites with separate living and sleeping areas, and every suite has a full kitchen. A full hot breakfast is included. There is a zero entry outdoor saltwater pool, a fitness center with cardio machines and free weights, a laundry and meeting space. Up to two pets a room are taken.

Check Rates on Official Site ↗Map & directions ↗

HotelOcala

stayAPT Suites Ocala

Rated 4.6 out of 5 by 135 Google reviewers

An extended stay hotel at 3509 West Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, about three miles from downtown, six from the World Equestrian Center and ten from Silver Springs State Park. Every suite is more than five hundred square feet, with a private bedroom with a walk in closet, a living room with a sleeper sofa and a kitchen with full size appliances, cookware and dishes. There is a laundry, a fitness room and free wireless internet. Small pets are taken.

Check Rates on Official Site ↗Map & directions ↗

Booking disclosure: 1stFlorida does not sell hotel rooms or take reservations. Buttons open the property's own site or an outside booking site. Where a booking link pays 1stFlorida a commission it is marked as sponsored, and the price to you is the same. Verify rates, fees and policies with the booking site.

USE THE STAY TO TEST THE COUNTY

Three trip lengths, and what each one is for.

Choose the shortest format that still lets you test ordinary life without racing from one end of Florida to another.

3-day county test

Choose one county and two communities. Use day one for essential routes, day two for neighborhoods and housing, and day three for repeat drives and unresolved questions.

5-day comparison trip

Split the stay between two county areas. Give each finalist two ordinary days, then reserve the final day to revisit the strongest community.

7-day regional trip

Use two lodging bases rather than crossing the region every day. Compare no more than three counties and protect time for unplanned discoveries.

FROM THE FRONT DOOR

Six routes worth driving from the lodging base.

Morning commute

Leave at the time you would normally travel and use the likely work route.

Healthcare

Drive to the hospital, primary-care area or specialist you expect to use.

Daily errands

Test groceries, pharmacy, fuel and ordinary services—not only dining and attractions.

Airport access

Measure the full route, parking and realistic departure-time burden.

Weekend movement

Check beach, event or tourism traffic when that pattern affects the community.

Evening return

See lighting, noise, access and neighborhood conditions after dark.

PERSONALIZE THIS SCOUTING-TRIP GUIDE

Do you need a mover, realtor, lawyer or other local professional?

Choose your destination county and only the services you want. Each real active advertiser you select is placed directly into this report. No county is picked for you; the services start fresh on each page.

1 · DESTINATION COUNTY

2 · WHO WOULD HELP WITH YOUR MOVE OR NEW LIFE HERE?

YOUR MARION COUNTY CONNECTIONS

Only the professionals you selected.

Select at least one help category above.

Your active county matches will appear here and will be included when you print or save this page.

Paid placement disclosure: Participating businesses pay for category placement. Only active real advertisers—not fictional demonstrations—can enter a visitor's printed report. Placement does not change 1stFlorida editorial information, county comparisons or report results. Verify credentials, terms and fit independently before hiring any professional.

NEXT BEST STEP · Turn the scouting trip into a decision

Record what each lodging base taught you.

Update the working plan while the routes, neighborhoods and ordinary-life observations are still fresh. Move into the complete checklist only after a county has earned the decision.

CONTINUE YOUR 1STFLORIDA JOURNEYUpdate the Moving WorksheetSave routes, dates and observations →

ALSO USEFUL HERERe-Compare the CountiesRe-score the finalists after the visit →Open the 51-Item ChecklistBegin execution after choosing the county →