Is Martel safe?
Ocala, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Martel as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Martel
“Go. Martel is a calm, low-density rural and semi-suburban pocket west of Ocala that is safe for visitors and travelers passing through Marion County's horse country. While it lacks pedestrian infrastructure and lighting, violent crime rates are low, with property theft and roadway accidents along State Road 40 being the primary concerns.”
About the area
Martel is an unincorporated rural community situated just west of Ocala and immediately south of the World Equestrian Center corridor. The area is defined by horse ranches, scattered single-family homes, industrial park supply lots, and open pastures along State Road 40 and SW 80th Avenue.
- Rural
- Equestrian
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet / Low-Density
Walking and biking in Martel
Walk score: 12/100 · Bike score: 24/100
There is no bike-share system in Martel, and cyclists must share high-speed, unbuffered rural roads or travel to the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway for dedicated paved trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Low rates of violent crime compared to the urban core of Ocala
- Spacious rural setting with low population density and minimal congestion outside SR 40
- Close proximity to the premier equestrian venues and nature preserves of Marion County
- High household vehicle ownership ensuring reliable mobility across the county
Cons
- Isolated rural roads with poor nighttime lighting and no pedestrian sidewalks
- Occasional property thefts and equipment burglaries common to rural acreage properties
- Extremely car-dependent with virtually no public transportation coverage
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in Martel due to its rural layout and lack of pedestrian services, with supportive resources concentrated closer to downtown Ocala.
What Martel is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with farm traffic and early commuters along SR 40, feeling completely safe.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and sunny across residential lanes and horse properties, with moderate commercial traffic on main thoroughfares.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Settles into a dark, calm countryside atmosphere where street activity drops off rapidly.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark with negligible foot traffic; safe from street crime, though dark roads require careful driving.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is virtually nonexistent in Martel; Ocala's municipal bus service, SunTran, operates routes within the city limits but does not extend regular service out to this unincorporated area.
Parking is abundant and free throughout Martel, with spacious surface lots at all commercial spots and large private driveways on residential properties.
Things to do in Martel
- Watch premier hunter-jumper competitions and dine at the nearby World Equestrian Center
- Visit the adjacent Ocala International Airport viewing areas to watch general aviation traffic
- Take a scenic drive through Marion County's surrounding thoroughbred horse pastures
Local favorites
- The Equestrian Hotel Restaurants · Fine Dining · 4.8★ (1150)Upscale dining destination featuring multiple restaurants and bakeries at the nearby equestrian center.
- Stirrups Restaurant · Steakhouse · 4.6★ (420)Refined dining venue offering prime steaks and terrace views over the Grand Outdoor Arena.
- Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.7★ (2300)Critically acclaimed regional smokehouse serving brisket, ribs, and classic Southern sides nearby.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.