The Ocala National Forest encompasses 383,000 acres, making its the largest sand pine forest in the world. In the continental United States, it is the oldest National Forest east of the Mississippi River and the southern most in the nation. The word Ocala is believed to have come from the name of an Indian chief called Ocali, who was in the area around 1539. Established in 1908, Ocala National Forest receives more visitors than either of the other national forests located in Florida. The topography allows for a wide variety of environments and consists of highlands, coastal lowlands, swamps, springs, lakes and ponds.
Vegetation ranges from lush subtropical to prairie.
Towering palms, large live oaks, and sand pine dominate the forest's scrub oak ecosystem. In the areas with more moisture, hardwoods thrive along with longleaf and slash pines.