Naturally beautiful and serene, DeSoto County spreads across the Peace River Valley in lush abundance; life here is attuned to inviting river rhythms and focused on the bounty of fertile land. We are one of Florida’s leading producers of oranges, watermelons, blueberries, peaches, olives and tomatoes.
Conveniently located one hour from beautiful Gulf beaches, and just a less than an hour from metropolitan centers of Sarasota and Ft. Myers, DeSoto County is in the heart of everything! We are also one of Florida’s most beloved visitor destinations, with some of the best places to camp in South Florida. Our wide-open spaces, our endless vistas of farms, citrus groves and cattle ranches, our gorgeous river scenery, all put visitors immediately at ease and relaxed. Our activities are equally refreshing–from the outrageously fun recreational choices on the Peace River to the pleasures of our historic county seat of Arcadia, where our charming downtown is home to dozens of antique emporiums.
DeSoto’s packed calendar of events ranges from monthly antique fairs to festivals to wine walks, charity galas, car & motorcycle shows, and award-winning rodeos in October and March.
But you don’t need a special reason to visit us. Every day is naturally beautiful, naturally special in DeSoto County.