All reservations, day and half-day trips, weekday overnight, and off-season overnight trips are handled through the main office in Arcadia.
Postal Address: 2816 NW County Road 661, Arcadia, FL 34266
GPS: 27°13”54.92”N 81°53”29.84”W
Some help in finding us:
- Please be careful when using MapQuest, OnStar, or other mapping service on the Internet to try to locate us. Sometimes when you enter our address you'll end up in the wrong spot. If you use MapQuest, you will get to see the DeSoto County Landfill. This is a common problem in rural areas in Florida. Use the GPS coordinates and you'll find us without problem. Google Maps is the only mapping service that shows our location correctly.
- If you are coming from the east coast on SR 70, give yourself an least extra half hour to an hour of travel time. The lure of the Super Wal-Mart as you come into town is proving to be too much. Everybody stops. You can't tell us you don't, we can see it in your eyes when you run up to the check-in desk breathless and late!
- All overnight & weekend paddle trips require reservations made in advance with the Arcadia office, 863-494-1215 or 1-800-268-0083. To avoid mix-ups, please call ahead to verify which office you need to check-in at.
- The Gardner office is only open on busy weekends during spring and fall for overnight check-in. Please do not go straight to Gardner without double checking with the main office. When in doubt, go to Arcadia!
Arcadia Outpost / Main Office Directions
The Canoe Outpost is two miles west of Arcadia off State Road 70 just behind the Arcadia Peace River Campground. Turn north onto County Road 661, which is also the road to Ona and the Road Prison. CR 661 runs along the west side of the campground, along the long, grey, metal fence. Canoe Outpost-Peace River is the next parking lot on the right just behind the campground. Watch for the canoe mailbox and the blue & white buses.
From the Southwest Florida Area/Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Bradenton or Central West Florida/Tampa Bay Area:
- I-75 Exit 217/State Road 70 from Tampa Bay Area/Bradenton Area: State Rd. 70 east about 39 miles to Arcadia. Turn left at campground. Approx. travel time: from Tampa: 2 hrs., Bradenton/Sarasota: 40-60 mins.
- I-75 Exit 205/State Road 72 from Sarasota/Venice Area: State Road 72 (Clark Road) north to Arcadia. SR 72 dead ends at SR 70. Left onto 70 and go 1/8 mile west to the campground and turn right. Approx. travel time: 40-60 mins. from Sarasota.
- I-75 Exit 170/County Road 769 from Port Charlotte Area: North on King's Highway (CR 769). Dead ends at SR 72. Right on 72 until it dead-ends at SR 70. Turn left and go 1/8 mile west to campground and turn right. Approx. travel time: 30-45 mins.
- I-75 Exit 164/U.S. 17 from SW Florida/Punta Gorda, Ft. Myers, Naples: North on U.S. 17 to Arcadia. At fourth traffic light in Arcadia turn left onto SR 70. Go west on 70 two miles to campground and turn right. Approx. travel time: From Punta Gorda: 45 mins., Ft. Myers: 1 hr., Naples: 1.5 hrs.
From the Central Florida Area/Orlando, Winter Haven, Lakeland:
- I-4/U.S. 27 Exit 55 from Orlando Area: I-4 west to U.S. 27. U.S. 27 south to Avon Park. Right on State Road 64. 64 west about 23 miles to Zolfo Springs. In Zolfo Springs turn left at traffic light onto US 17. Go south on 17 about 23 miles to Arcadia. At second traffic light in Arcadia, turn right onto SR 70. West on 70 two miles to campground and turn right. Approx. travel time: 2-2.5 hrs. from Orlando.
- U.S. 17 from Lakeland, Winter Haven: (From Lakeland take 98 south to SR 60, go east on 60 to US 17, turn south on 17.) Go south on 17 thru Ft. Meade, Bowling Green, Zolfo Springs to Arcadia. At second traffic light in Arcadia, turn right onto SR 70. West on 70 two miles to campground and turn right. Approx. travel time: 1.5 hrs. from Lakeland.
From the Southeast Florida Area/Miami/Ft. Lauderdale:
- U.S. 27 Route: North on US 27 to SR 70. Turn left, west 33 miles to Arcadia. Continue through town to campground. Approx. travel time: 3-3.5 hrs. from Miami. Gatorama on US 27 is halfway to Arcadia.
- I-75 Route: Alligator Alley (I-75) to I-75 North outside of Naples. North on I-75 to US 17 /Exit 164 to Arcadia. At fourth traffic light in Arcadia turn left onto SR 70. West on 70 two miles to campground and turn right. Approx. travel time: 3-3.5 hrs. from Miami.
From the West Palm Beach Area:
- North Lake Blvd. Exit or PGA Blvd off I-95. Exit, go west to 710. Right on 710 and follow to Okeechobee. Left on 70 (west) to Arcadia, about 64 miles. Continue through town to campground and turn right. Approx. travel time: 2-2 ½ hrs.
From Northeast Florida/Ft. Pierce Area:
- Take State Road 70/Exit 129 off 195 outside of Ft. Pierce and head west to Okeechobee. Continue west on State Road 70 through Okeechobee to Arcadia. Stay on 70 west through town to campground and turn right. Approx. travel time: Ft. Pierce-1.5 to 2 hrs.
If you are doing any of the day runs (Gardner, Brownville, Oak Hill, or Dock to Dock) any day of the week or the 33 mile/Zolfo Springs to Arcadia any day of the week, you come to the Arcadia office. You check in at Arcadia, we take you upriver and you canoe back to Arcadia. If doing the 19.5 mile starting on a weekday, you check in at Arcadia, load your gear on the bus in Arcadia, then follow the bus to Gardner to park your vehicle or arrange to be let out of the gate when you return to Gardner and your vehicle.
Gardner Outpost Directions (Do not go to Gardner without checking with the main office in Arcadia first!) That is only a part-time office.
If you are doing the Zolfo Springs to Gardner on a busy Saturday in October, November, February, March, or April, you usually go straight to the Gardner office. You check in at Gardner, we take you upriver and you canoe back to vehicles in Gardner. If doing the Zolfo Springs to Gardner starting on a weekday or on a Sunday, you check in at Arcadia, load your gear on the bus in Arcadia, then follow the bus to Gardner to park your vehicle or arrange for a pick-up. When in doubt, call first or come to Arcadia.
The Canoe Outpost/Gardner is about 10 miles north of Arcadia or 10 miles south of Zolfo Springs on US 17. Gardner is just a few houses, a golf course, and a radio station. Watch for the River Road SW and Peace River Public Boat Landing signs on the west side of the highway. Follow dirt road (River Road) west about 1.5 miles to the gate with the blue canoe. Turn left to the gate. The gate is recessed off the road. Follow the shell drive. If you miss the gate, turn around at the boat ramp.
From the Southwest Florida Area/Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Bradenton or Central West Florida/Tampa Bay Area:
- I-75 or I-275 south to I-75 Exit 220A/State Road 64 from Tampa Bay/St. Pete Area: 64 east about 57 miles to Zolfo Springs. Turn right at the first and only traffic light in Zolfo Springs onto US 17. South on 17 about 10 miles to the community of Gardner. Once past the golf course on the left, watch for River Road which is a dirt road, on the right just around the bend in the road. Turn right onto the dirt road. Approx. travel time: Tampa/St. Petersburg: 1.5-2 hrs, Bradenton: 1 hr.
- I-75 Exit 217/State Road 70 from Bradenton Area/Sarasota Area: 70 east about 39 miles to Arcadia. At the second light in Arcadia, turn left onto US 17. Go 10 miles north to the community of Gardner. Watch for River Road on the left, just past the Gardner Baptist Church. Approx. travel time: from Tampa: 2 hrs., Bradenton/Sarasota: 1 hr.
- I-75 Exit 205/State Road 72 from Sarasota/Venice Area: State Road 72 (Clark Road) north to Arcadia. SR 72 dead ends at SR 70. Right onto 70 and go 2 miles east. At the second light in Arcadia, turn left onto US 17. Go 10 miles north to the community of Gardner. Watch for River Road on the left, just past the Gardner Baptist Church. Approx. travel time: 1.5 hrs. from south Sarasota.
- I-75 Exit 170/County Road 769 from Port Charlotte Area: North on King's Highway (CR 769). Dead ends at SR 72. Right on 72 until it dead-ends at SR 70. Turn right onto SR 70. At the second light in Arcadia, turn left onto US 17. Go 10 miles north to the community of Gardner. Watch for River Road on the left, just past the Gardner Baptist Church. Approx. travel time: 1 hr.
- I-75 Exit 164/U.S. 17 from SW Florida/Punta Gorda,Ft. Myers,Naples: North on U.S. 17 to Arcadia. Continue on thru town about 10 miles to the community of Gardner. Watch for River Road on the left, just past the Gardner Baptist Church. Approx. travel time: From Punta Gorda: 1.25 hrs., Ft. Myers: 1.5 hrs., Naples: 2-2.5 hrs.
From the Central Florida Area, Orlando, Winter Haven, Lakeland:
- I-4/U.S. 27 Exit 55 from Orlando Area: I-4 west to U.S. 27. U.S. 27 south to Avon Park. Right on State Road 64. 64 west about 23 miles to Zolfo Springs. In Zolfo Springs turn left at traffic light onto US 17. South on 17 about 10 miles to the community of Gardner. Once past the golf course on the left, watch for River Road which is a dirt road, on the right just around the bend in the road. Turn right onto the dirt road Approx. travel time: 2 hrs. from Orlando.
- U.S. 17 from Lakeland, Winter Haven: From Lakeland take 98 south to SR 60, go east on 60 to US 17, turn south on 17. Go thru Ft. Meade, Bowling Green, Wauchula, and Zolfo Springs. Continue south on 17 about 10 miles from Zolfo to the community of Gardner. Once past the golf course on the left, watch for River Road which is a dirt road, on the right just around the bend in the road. Turn right onto the dirt road Approx. travel time: 1 hr from Lakeland.
From the Southeast Florida Area/Miami/Ft. Lauderdale:
- U.S. 27 Route: North on US 27 to SR 70. Turn left, west 33 miles to Arcadia. At fifth traffic light turn right onto US 17. Go 10 miles north to the community of Gardner. Watch for River Road on the left, just past the Gardner Baptist Church. Approx. travel time: 3.5-4 hrs. from Miami. Gatorama on US 27 is halfway to Arcadia.
- I-75 Route: Alligator Alley (I-75) to I-75 North outside of Naples. North on I-75 to US 17 /Exit 164 to Arcadia. Go 10 miles north to the community of Gardner. Watch for River Road on the left, just past the Gardner Baptist Church. Approx. travel time: 3.5-4 hrs. from Miami.
From the Central East Florida Area/West Palm Area:
- North Lake Blvd. Exit or PGA Blvd off I-95. Exit, go west to 710. Right on 710 and follow to Okeechobee. Left on 70 (west) to Arcadia, about 64 miles. At 5th traffic light turn right onto US 17. Go 10 miles north to the community of Gardner. Watch for River Road on the left, just past the Gardner Baptist Church. Approx. travel time: 2.5 hrs.
From the Northeast Florida Area / Ft. Pierce Area:
- Take State Road 70/Exit 129 off 195 outside of Ft. Pierce and head west to Okeechobee. Continue west on State Road 70 through Okeechobee to Arcadia. At 5th traffic light turn right onto US 17. Go 10 miles north to the community of Gardner. Watch for River Road on the left, just past the Gardner Baptist Church. Approx. travel time: Ft. Pierce: 2 hrs.
NOTE: The Gardner office is only open for check-in on busy weekends in March, April, May, October, November, and on the Friday after Thanksgiving and on Good Friday if we're busy, call first and confirm if that office is going to be open. If the Gardner office is not open for check-in, you'll come by the Arcadia office, check-in and we'll send you to Gardner to meet the bus, regardless, you park in Gardner. Reservations are required.
Confucius Didn't Say: Man who drive like hell is bound to get there.
