Ozone (O3) is a secondary pollutant which is produced photo‐chemically by reactions involving NOx and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m‐, p‐xylenes (BTEX) in the presence of sunlight. The present study determined outdoor air quality in both the urban area of Balikesir City and rural area (around Ikizcetepeler Dam) in the same region in the western part of Turkey. The main objectives of this study were to analyze the temporal evolution and qualify the spatial distribution by using geostatistical techniques; to determine the spatial variability of air pollutants using the spatial auto‐correlation statistic; and to identify the local spatial patterns of the pollutants in order to highlight the areas of potential risk of O3, NO2, and BTEX pollution and its possible causes. For this purpose firstly, the data were compiled by using passive sampling in winter and in summer. Concentrations of O3 ranged from 14.03 to 42.43 μ g …