Kayaking in New Port Richey, FL: Best Paddle Routes

The River That Drew the Cameras

Thomas Meighan built a house on the river in 1928, and the Meighan Theatre opened two years earlier, in 1926. The ambition was real: for a few years this town meant to be a Hollywood colony. The boom collapsed, but the river stayed. Paddling it now, you trace the same shoreline that once promised marquee lights—only the audience is herons and the occasional manatee.

Put In Where the Town Started

George Sims gave the land, and the city council accepted it on 2 December 1924—their first official act. That parcel is now Sims Park, at Grand Blvd & Bank St. It’s the natural launch point: wide water, easy access, and a view of the old downtown that still carries the theatre’s name. From here, the Pithlachascotee River winds north through cypress and oak, narrow enough that you feel the canopy close overhead.

If you want a longer, quieter run, head south to Robert K Rees Memorial Park on Green Key Road. The launch there puts you on the Gulf side, where salt marsh replaces river shade. The paddle is exposed—wind matters—but the reward is open sky and dolphin sightings that feel earned.

Rentals and Charters, No Guesswork

Two outfits sit on the water and both have strong reputations from people who actually paddled with them. Windsong Charters & Boat Rentals (Now Salty Boat Rental) operates off US-19 and handles kayak and boat rentals. Rusty Bucket Baithouse and Charters, on Avery Road, leans toward fishing charters but also gets paddlers out. Neither is a secret—they’re just the practical options, and the ratings reflect consistent service.

When You Want the River Without the Current

Not every paddle needs to be a workout. James E. Grey Preserve on Plathe Road has a small lake and a boardwalk—more of a glide than a paddle, good for beginners or for a short afternoon float. Moon Lake Park on Lake Drive is similar: calm water, low traffic, and a fishing pier if you’d rather sit still.

For a longer haul, Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park is inland and freshwater—no river current at all, just a chain of lakes and cypress sloughs. The Starkey Wilderness Park Playground nearby means you can pair a paddle with a stop for the kids, though the playground itself is not a launch.

The Short List, Rated by People Who Went

The Odd Ones Out

Tractor Supply Co. on FL-54 isn’t a paddling destination, but it’s where you buy a dry bag or a better paddle if you forgot yours. Landscape Creations on Plathe Road sits near the Grey Preserve—useful if you want to combine a plant nursery stop with a paddle, not essential. Hacienda Village is a residential community with a park, rated lower than the rest; skip it unless you live there.

What the Numbers Say

New Port Richey’s population is 17,057, with a median age of 53.5 years. The median home value is $164,600, and the median gross rent is $1,154. Of 9,423 housing units, 718 are held for seasonal or recreational use—a reminder that this town still knows how to host a winter visitor. The unemployment rate sits at 2.8 percent, and 15.7 percent of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Vacant units number 1,367, which is not a statistic to romanticize—it’s just the shape of a town that boomed once and settled into something quieter.