Ocala · SW 80th Ave. · Free botanical garden
Sholom Park
Walk 2.4 miles of paved paths past formal gardens, a koi pond, a labyrinth and a Japanese Zen garden at this free, privately run peace park on Ocala’s southwest side.
Opens the park’s Plan Your Visit page. Admission is free, and the entrance gate closes at 4:30 p.m.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Botanical garden
A nonprofit peace park, open to everyone
Admission
Free
Some special events charge a small fee
Hours
Daily 8–5
Gate closes 4:30 pm; open all holidays
Time needed
1–2 hours
Tripadvisor’s suggested time
Parking
Lot inside the gates
No RV rules posted; call ahead
Pets
Not allowed
Only ADA service dogs are allowed
What you’ll see
Gardens, a koi pond and a labyrinth
Sholom Park is a quiet place to walk, sit and look: paved paths wind past formal gardens, a pond full of koi and turtles, open prairie and shady woods.
Photo: Michael Hamments on Unsplash
Start here
The Enchanted Forest and the koi pond
Follow the paved paths to the Enchanted Forest, 0.18 miles of winding trail under a thick canopy that the park says runs a few degrees cooler. It ends at the pond overlook and koi feeding area, where reviewers say to bring quarters for the fish-food machine.
RV tip: bring water; the pavilion has restrooms. The park invites visitors to picnic on the Prairie and by the pond.
More to see
- Japanese Zen GardenOpened in September 2023. Visitors can rake patterns into the gravel.
- The LabyrinthA brick walking labyrinth for quiet reflection, one of the most-mentioned spots in Google reviews.
- Formal gardens and the Olive Tree PromenadeSeasonal flower beds, butterfly and ginger gardens, and a promenade lined with olive trees. Florida Hikes says the azaleas peak from late February into early March.
- Events in the parkPark After Dark evenings, Movie in the Park nights and L.E.A.F. learning sessions run through the year. Next up: a L.E.A.F. session on November 20 and Park After Dark: Moonlight Reflections on December 8, 2026.
Why go
A free garden built for peace and quiet
Sholom Park grew from the vision of Sidney and Ina Colen; Sidney developed the On Top of the World community in Ocala. The park opened in October 2004, and its name honors Sidney’s grandfather. Sholom is also the Hebrew word for peace.
The park is privately owned and run by a nonprofit, the Horticultural Arts & Park Institute, and admission is free. The park says it serves no political or religious agenda, and its landscape mixes native plants with ornamentals that need little or no extra watering.
In 2023 a travel company’s analysis of Tripadvisor reviews ranked it the second most peaceful tourist spot in America. For RVers it makes an easy morning walk on Ocala’s southwest side, about 14 minutes from Ocala RV Camp Resort.
Photo: Michael Hamments on Unsplash
Why it made our list
- Free admission, every day of the year
- 2.4 miles of paved, accessible paths
- Koi pond, Zen garden and labyrinth
- No bikes, scooters or pets, so it stays quiet
- Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., holidays included
For RVers
Visiting Sholom Park with an RV
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Leave the pets at camp
Pets are not allowed in the park, and neither are emotional support, comfort or therapy animals; only ADA service dogs. On warm days, don’t leave pets in a parked rig.
Parking a bigger rig
The parking lot is inside the gates, with accessible spaces at the front. The park doesn’t publish RV rules, so call (352) 854-3677 before bringing a motorhome, or come in the tow vehicle. One visitor guide mentions overflow parking on the grass on busy days.
Mind the 4:30 gate
The park is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the entrance gate closes at 4:30 p.m. and no one is let in after that.
No bikes, scooters or drones
Bicycles, scooters, skates and skateboards aren’t allowed, and neither are remote-controlled devices of any kind. Golf carts can’t go past the parking area, and professional photography needs the park’s permission in advance.
What visitors say about Sholom Park
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.
Sholom Park was designed as a place to find inner peace and to thrive in the Central Florida climate.
Sholom Park, describing itself · sholompark.org
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Google’s review topics
PeacefulKoi fishLabyrinth
Google’s review topics put the peaceful atmosphere first (224 reviews), then the koi fish (135), feeding the fish (60) and the labyrinth (38). Another 41 reviews mention that pets aren’t allowed. Checked October 25, 2026.
How far you’ll walk
Distances from the park’s trails, gardens and accessibility pages; the 1.6-mile loop is Florida Hikes’ suggested route through the main gardens.
Good to know
AdmissionFree every day
ParkingFree lot inside the gates
Movie in the Park$5 per car, by registration
Bring alongWaterQuarters for fish foodA picnic
Admission from the park’s Plan Your Visit page, checked October 25, 2026. The October 27 movie night was sold out; check the park’s events calendar for future dates and fees.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Sholom Park
- Address7110 SW 80th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481
- HoursDaily 8–5
Gate closes 4:30 pm; open all holidays - Phone(352) 854-3677
- AdmissionFree; see Plan Your Visit
- Getting thereFrom I-75 Exit 350, take SR 200 southwest, then follow SW 80th St. and SW 80th Ave. to the park.
- ParkingFree lot inside the gates, with accessible spaces at the front. No RV rules are posted.
The park can close early for special events. Check the events calendar on sholompark.org before you go.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Sholom Park
These are the Ocala-area parks we have visited and written up, closest first. Sholom Park is on the southwest side of town, off SR 200.
Ocala RV Camp Resort
An older, budget-friendly park beside I-75 Exit 350 with shady grass sites, ponds and a big pool.
Southern Springs RV Resort
A new, gated 55+ resort off I-75 Exit 352 with landscaped concrete sites, a heated pool and pickleball.
Champions Run Luxury RV Resort
A big, modern resort a mile off I-75 with 70 ft concrete pads, a resort pool, a tiki bar and pickleball courts.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Free · Daily 8 am–5 pm
Ready for a quiet morning walk?
Get there before the 4:30 p.m. gate, bring water and quarters for the koi, and leave the dog at camp.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Michael Hamments on Unsplash (all of the park photos); the images were resized. Video: Lulu’s Way 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 Sholom Park unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the park’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the park and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Sholom Park at sholompark.org or (352) 854-3677. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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