Florida /

Peace River

River in Florida · near Arcadia, Bartow, Bowling Green, Fort Meade

The Peace River is a river in the southwestern part of the Florida peninsula. It begins northeast of Bartow in Polk County, where Saddle Creek and the Peace Creek Drainage Canal join. From there it flows south through Hardee and DeSoto counties and enters the Charlotte Harbor estuary near Punta Gorda. Fort Meade, Bowling Green, Wauchula, Zolfo Springs and Arcadia lie along the river. It is 76 miles long and drains about 2,300 square miles. Tributaries include Payne, Charlie, Horse and Shell creeks. Sixteenth-century Spanish charts called it Rio de la Paz.

A 67-mile stretch from Fort Meade to State Road 70 west of Arcadia is the Peace River Paddling Trail, a Florida Designated Paddling Trail. Its access points include Heritage Peace River Landing, where overnight parking is not allowed. Paddlers need a gate combination from the ranger station to use the launch at Paynes Creek Historic State Park. Other access points are Crews Park in Wauchula, Pioneer Park in Zolfo Springs, Gardner Boat Ramp, Brownville Park and DeSoto Veterans Memorial Park. When the water is low, paddlers may have to drag boats through the northern reaches. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission maintains boat ramps at Deep Creek near Fort Ogden and on CR 652 near Wauchula. In Charlotte County, the tidal lower river has slow-speed and 25 mph manatee protection zones, including the federal Peace River Manatee Refuge north and east of US 41.

The river holds largemouth bass, bream and catfish. Snook come up from Charlotte Harbor as far as Fort Meade, and tarpon are caught in the lower river. The river is also known for fossil hunting. Collecting fossilized animals requires a permit, and no fossil collecting is allowed on state lands between Bartow and Wauchula.

Boating rules

Rules change; check with the agency or town before you go.

Launches

Community

Where people who fish, boat and paddle Peace River talk about it. Lake associations, clubs and local groups will be added as we find them.

Sources

  1. Peace River (Florida) - Wikipedia
  2. Peace River Paddling Trail Guide - Florida Department of Environmental Protection
  3. Peace River Recreation - Southwest Florida Water Management District
  4. Peace River - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  5. Charlotte County Manatee Protection Plan - Charlotte County

Researched October 14, 2026 from the sources above. Written content CC BY 4.0. Something wrong? Corrections are welcome.

Wikidata: Q3373802