Ocala · East Silver Springs Blvd. · College of Central Florida
Appleton Museum of Art
See European, Asian, African and modern art in a travertine-clad museum behind a long reflecting pool, a few minutes east of downtown Ocala. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month.
Opens the Appleton’s Plan Your Visit page with hours, admission and accessibility details.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Art museum
A campus of the College of Central Florida
Admission
$10 adults
$8 seniors 55+; free first Saturdays
Hours
Tue–Sat 10 am to 5 pm
Sun noon to 5 pm; closed Mondays
Time needed
1 to 2 hours
Tripadvisor’s suggested duration
Parking
Free parking
No RV rules posted
Collection
24,000+
Objects in the collection, per the museum
What you’ll see
Two floors of art, and a pool out front
The Appleton’s permanent galleries cover European, Asian, African, pre-Columbian, Florida, equine and modern art, with changing exhibitions in the two-story Edith-Marie Appleton Wing.
Photo: Appleton Museum of Art on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Start here
Start with the permanent collection
The museum says it holds more than 24,000 objects. Look for European paintings such as William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s The Shepherdess and Elizabeth Jane Gardner’s Daphnis and Chloe, then head upstairs, by stairs or the elevator to the right of the lobby, for the modern, Art Deco and Japanese galleries.
RV tip: come on the first Saturday of the month for free admission: November 7 and December 5 in 2026. Non-flash photos are allowed in the permanent galleries.
More to see
- Jeffrey Kronsnoble: Master of AllusionMore than 100 works from six decades by the Florida artist, in the Edith-Marie Gallery through March 21, 2027.
- A Dickens ChristmasThe Urban family’s holiday exhibition of themed trees, a miniature Dickens Village and nutcrackers, November 7, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
- ArtspaceA hands-on art room for every age, with painting, weaving and building; included with admission. Children need an adult 18 or older.
- The Appleton StoreJewelry, art books, supplies and craft kits on the first floor. You don’t need admission to shop.
Why go
A serious museum in horse country
Arthur I. Appleton, an inventor and Thoroughbred breeder, founded the museum with his wife, actress Martha O’Driscoll. It opened in 1987 on land donated by the City of Ocala, in a building clad in Italian travertine.
Since 2004 the museum has been part of the College of Central Florida, and it is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Reviewers often say they were surprised to find a collection this broad in Ocala.
It is an easy indoor plan for a hot or rainy afternoon, and it is a few minutes from both Silver Springs and Fort King along SR 40.
Photo: Ebyabe on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Why it made our list
- More than 24,000 objects, per the museum
- Free on the first Saturday of each month
- Free parking
- Hands-on Artspace for kids and adults
- A few minutes from Silver Springs
For RVers
Visiting the Appleton with an RV
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Parking is free
The college says parking is free, and a 2026 reviewer called it easy. The museum doesn’t post RV or bus rules, so call (352) 291-4455 if you’re bringing a big rig, or come in the tow vehicle.
Check the bag rules
Bags and backpacks larger than 11 by 15 inches, and all umbrellas, must be checked at Visitor Services. Food and drink are allowed only in designated areas, and there is no restaurant.
No pets inside
Only trained service animals are allowed; emotional support animals are not. Plan for your dog to stay at your RV park, not in a hot rig in the lot.
Accessible visits
Wheelchairs are free to borrow in the lobby, and an elevator serves the second floor. Sensory kits and EnChroma color-blindness glasses are free, too.
What visitors say about Appleton Museum of Art
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 25–28, 2026.
Among the few Florida art museums with an entire wing dedicated to education
The Appleton, in its fall 2026 Artifacts guide · appletonmuseum.org
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Tripadvisor’s popular mentions
ExhibitsCollectionFree first Saturday
Tripadvisor’s popular mentions point to the exhibits, the collection and the installations, and several reviewers mention the free first Saturday. Checked October 25, 2026.
Admission by age
Prices from the Appleton’s Plan Your Visit page, checked October 25, 2026. Veterans, members, College of Central Florida students and staff, and Florida educators, first responders and healthcare workers get in free with ID.
Good to know
Adults$10 ages 18–54
Seniors 55+$8 also AAA, students, educators
First SaturdayFree each month, 10 am–5 pm
Free with IDVeteransKids 5 and underMembersCommunity Heroes
Prices from the Appleton’s Plan Your Visit page, checked October 25, 2026. Youth ages 6–17 are $5. NARM and SERM reciprocal members get in free. Groups of 15 or more get reduced rates when booked a month ahead.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Appleton Museum of Art
- Address4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470
- HoursTue–Sat 10 am to 5 pm
Sun noon to 5 pm; closed Mondays - Phone(352) 291-4455
- Admission$10 adults; see all prices
- Getting thereThe museum is on SR 40 (E. Silver Springs Blvd.), about seven miles east of I-75 Exit 352, in the Appleton Cultural Center east of downtown Ocala.
- ParkingFree parking, with accessible spaces near the entrance. No RV or bus rules are posted.
Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Check the museum’s events page for special hours.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Appleton Museum of Art
These are the Ocala-area parks we have visited and written up, closest first. Most are about 15 minutes from the museum.
Wilderness RV Resort
An owner-lot resort off SR 40 near the Ocklawaha River, with a pool, a fishing pond and a nature trail.
Wild Frontier RV Resort
An oak-shaded park on Ocala’s north side with a heated pool, a lodge-style clubhouse and a big dog park.
Silver Springs State Park Campground
A wooded state park campground with 59 water-and-electric sites at the park’s camping entrance on SR 35.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Free first Saturdays
Ready for an afternoon of art?
Go Tuesday through Sunday, come on a first Saturday to get in free, and leave large bags in the rig.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: the Appleton Museum of Art (fountain, sign and entrance; CC BY-SA 4.0) and Ebyabe (reflecting pool and sculpture; CC BY-SA 3.0), with Elizabeth Jane Gardner’s painting in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Appleton Museum of Art on YouTube. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Appleton Museum of Art unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the Appleton Museum of Art’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the Appleton and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Appleton Museum of Art at appletonmuseum.org or (352) 291-4455. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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