Water Parks & Beaches

The City of Ocala's southeast pool has spray features, a waterfall, and water slides, with a zero-depth entry and a maximum depth of five and a half feet. Lifeguards are on duty. Admission is $3 per child and $5 per adult for one session (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 to 5 p.m.), and the pool opens in summer only. It is the closest thing Ocala has to a small water park.

The City of Ocala's northwest pool has the same setup as Jervey Gantt: spray features, a waterfall, water slides, and a zero-depth entry, at the same $3 child and $5 adult session price. In 2026 its season ended Aug. 2, about five weeks before Jervey Gantt's, so check the city's schedule. Swimmers must be at least 44 inches tall to ride the slide.

The City of Ocala's two splash pads are free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset. They open on the second Saturday of March and close on the Monday before the third Saturday of November. There are no lifeguards, so stay with young children.

The headsprings swimming area at Rainbow Springs State Park, southwest of Ocala, is a buoyed natural swimming area 10 to 18 feet deep where the water averages 72 degrees year-round. There is no lifeguard, and tubes, rafts, and other inflatables are not allowed in the park; tubing is done from the separate tubing entrance on SW 180th Avenue Road in season. Since April 29, 2026, every visitor needs a day-use reservation.

A Marion County park on Lake Weir with two park sites that each have a swim beach, picnic pavilions, grills and a playground. Entry is $7 per vehicle, and hours run 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. from March 1 through October 31 and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 1 through the end of February. Pets and animals are not permitted.

A lakeside restaurant and bar on Lake Weir with a waterfront deck and a beach atmosphere. It hosts live music weekly. Come here to eat and look at the lake; for a swimming beach, Carney Island is the county park on the same lake.