Main Page - Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Manager's Message

Cooler days, less humidity and cooler nights await the visitor to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve as we move into our busy season of autumn and winter. After a very wet summer, thanks to Tropical Storm Fay, there is water in the sloughs and in the wetlands. The fall flowering season is well under way.

We will be operating our Prairie Buggy tours again this season. This offers visitors an opportunity to access portions of the Preserve they might not otherwise be able to enjoy. These 2 ½ hour rides will take you through the best and largest example of Florida Dry Prairie in the world. Park Rangers will reveal the subtle beauties of the Prairie, both on foot and atop the deck of the buggy. Visitors will often see alligators, white tail deer, wild turkey and a wide array of birds. Tours will begin the weekend of November 1st, 2008 and will be conducted until the last weekend in March 2009. Buggy tours are only offered on weekends and only those holidays recognized by the State of Florida between the months of November and March. Two tours per day: one in the morning, 8:30am, and one in the afternoon, 2:30pm, (this is the time the buggy leaves, so please be here before the listed times). Be aware that the buggy holds 8 passengers. Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance by calling our preserve at (863) 462-5360.

Fees for a Prairie Buggy tour are as follows: Children 5 yrs old and under, and sitting on parents’ lap: FREE Children 6 yrs to 12 yrs old: $8.00 Children over 12 yrs and adults: $15.00

For those who camp with us, fall and winter are no doubt the best times for star gazing at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. The night are cool, the sky is clear and easy to recognize constellations that fill the night’s sky on dark nights. When the moon is full, campers can enjoy pleasant walks along the park drive at night without the aid of a flashlight.

Whether you enjoy walking, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, birding, photography, painting, or camping, make sure you come by the park office and enjoy a visit while sitting on our front porch rocking chairs. You’ll be glad you did!

- Charles M. Brown, Park Manager

Welcome to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

This preserve protects one of the largest remaining stretches of Florida dry prairie, home to an array of endangered plants and animals. While driving the five-mile-long road into the park, visitors can enjoy sweeping vistas of grasslands reminiscent of the Great Plains of the Midwest. The park offers excellent seasonal birding opportunities and is home to the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow, as well as the crested caracara and sandhill crane. Over 100 miles of dirt roads allow hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians to explore prairies, wetlands, and shady hammocks. Ranger-led prairie buggy tours take visitors to remote areas of the park. For overnight stays, the park has full-facility and primitive equestrian campgrounds. Kissimmee Prairie's remote location makes it one of Florida's premier locations for stargazing. Located 25 miles northwest of Okeechobee via U.S. 441 and County Road 724.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, please call 863-462-5360.

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Hours of Operation

Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.

Driving Directions

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is located approximately 25 miles north of the City of Okeechobee. The Preserve is located 5 miles north of the western terminus of Okeechobee County Road 724. US Hwy 441 and Okeechobee County Road 700A intersect County Road 724. The campground is located 5 miles inside the park entrance gate.