Ozello is a community located in Citrus County, Florida. It lacks the formal status of a city, because it is situated on unincorporated county land, but this adds rather than detracts from one of its great charms, which is the Ozello Trail. Contrary to its name, this winding roadway is not precisely a nature trail since it is paved and popular with motorcycle riders as well as nature enthusiasts. However, it does offer outstanding wildlife scenery and is one of the major reasons why Ozello vacation homes are popular with tourists traveling to the northern Gulf Coast of Florida.
The Ozello Trail
Technically, Ozello is made up of several keys, or islands, which are connected by C.R. 494, also known as the Ozello Trail. This twisting road is unique among roads in Citrus County. There are steep turns and curves as well as unexpected dips, making driving along the road somewhat akin to riding in a roller coaster. Two things are certain: drivers need to pay attention every second, and it will be a driving adventure they never forget.
The road is two lanes and connects Ozello to U.S. Highway 19, but its true attraction is not the final destination drivers reach, but the drive itself. Meandering along the Gulf Coast, the road features tides lapping right up to the edge of the pavement in places. In some senses, it is like a nature trail on steroids since rolling down the car windows will give drivers and passengers alike the chance to watch fish and sometimes even dolphins leaping out of the Gulf waters while the car speeds along.