Overview
Fort Meade is a town in Polk County, Florida.
1 sights · 5 things to do · 2 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Fort Meade
Homeland Heritage Park
Located in Homeland, just a couple miles north of town off U.S. 17.
Streamsong Golf Resort & Spa
An $80 million resort built by the phosphate mining company Mosaic on reclaimed land where they once operated a strip mine. The resort features two 72-par golf courses (known as "Red" and "Blue"). The clubhouse has a fin…
Fort Meade Outdoor Recreation Area
Small park on Peace River. Great spot to launch a canoe or kayak on the river.
Mosaic Peace River Park
Boardwalk through oak hammocks.
Patterson Park
Paved trail winds around a couple small lakes.
Peace River Hammock
A 42 ac park along the Peace River. A short trail runs through an oak hammock to the Peace River, where canoes & kayaks can be launched (they must be carried to river from parking area). Aside from the parking area, …
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Apr. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 50°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Aug. (climate data from nearby Bartow)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LAL Lakeland Linder International Airport, Lakeland — 21 mi away. Directions
- TPA Tampa International Airport, Tampa — 48 mi away (major hub). Directions
Fort Meade is located at the junction of U.S. 17 (which runs north-south through town) and U.S. 98. The two roads meet in the center of town, where U.S. 98 comes from the east (from Frostproof/Avon Park), U.S. 17 comes from the south (from Hardee County), and the combined U.S. 17/98 runs north to Bartow.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Fort Meade Outdoor Recreation Area, Patterson Park
- Lunch Classic Pizza
- Afternoon Mosaic Peace River Park, Peace River Hammock
- Dinner John's Drive-In & Restaurant
Day 2
- Morning Streamsong Golf Resort & Spa
- Afternoon Homeland Heritage Park
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
History
Fort Meade is the oldest city in Polk County, dating its origins to 1849 when it was an old military road from Tampa (Fort Brooke) to Fort Pierce during the Indian wars. The 1880s business district was located on old Wire Street (now Broadway), which was a casualty of 4 devastating fires. Today, there are over 150 which are designated as landmarks. In the 1890s the Fort Meade Street Railway operated a horse-drawn service in the town.
The earliest known burial is John I. Hooker (1821–1862) located in the Evergreen Cemetery in town. Fort Meade's Christ Church (Episcopal) located at 526 N. Oak was built in 1889. It is a frame vernacular with Gothic Revival elements and was designed by architect J. H. Weddell. Located within the historic district, the church was used for the HBO motion picture The Judgement featuring Blythe Danner, Keith Carradine and Jack Warden (1990).
Future Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was stationed at the fort in 1851. The town was burned by Union forces in 1864 and all of the original structures were destroyed, except the 2nd fort which was dismantled in the 1890s. Fort Meade has over 300 homes on the National Register of Historic Places and a handful that date to the late 1800s.
Climate
Visitor's Information
The Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce (+1 863 285-8253) is located at 214 W Broadway, Ste B.
Get in
By car
Fort Meade is located at the junction of U.S. 17 (which runs north-south through town) and U.S. 98. The two roads meet in the center of town, where U.S. 98 comes from the east (from Frostproof/Avon Park), U.S. 17 comes from the south (from Hardee County), and the combined U.S. 17/98 runs north to Bartow.
By bus
By plane
The nearest airports with regular, commercial flights are Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO), both about 75-90 minutes away. Bartow Municipal Airport off U.S. 17 a couple miles northeast of Bartow is the closest airport for general aviation.
Get around
The town is quite small (extending only a few blocks in all directions from the intersection of U.S. 17 & U.S. 98. Homeland is located a couple miles north of town, near the junction of U.S. 17/98 and C.R. 640.
Fort Meade is small enough that it is easy to get around on foot. To reach any of the rural area around town, the only practical means of getting around is with a car. Rental cars are available in Bartow.
By bus
By taxi
See
Do
Do Streamsong Golf Resort & Spa (Streamsong Resort)
An $80 million resort built by the phosphate mining company Mosaic on reclaimed land where they once operated a strip mine. The resort features two 72-par golf courses (known as "Red" and "Blue"). The clubhouse has a fine restaurant, conference facilities, and 12 guest rooms. The courses & clubhouse opened in December 2012. The remainder of the resort will open towards the end of 2013 and will include a 216-room upscale hotel, spa, and shooting range. The hope of the builders and local tourism officials is that this will become a world-renowned resort and be able to host professional tournaments. Prices will be higher during the winter and lower in the summer, when the heat, humidity, and regular thunderstorms will make a day of golfing less pleasant.
Nature
Do Peace River Hammock
A 42 ac park along the Peace River. A short trail runs through an oak hammock to the Peace River, where canoes & kayaks can be launched (they must be carried to river from parking area). Aside from the parking area, trail, and cleared canoe/kayak launch, there are no facilities.
Events
The annual Alafia River Rendezvous is a large reenactment of a frontier village (early/mid 19th century) held near Homeland in January. The village is open to the public for the weekend, while the Rendezvous lasts for an entire week for Boy Scouts, school trips, and the Florida Frontiersmen society.
The Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club, +1 863 285-9121, puts on a few events each year at a venue at 7000 Avon Park Cut Off Road (a few miles east of town). These events feature old/antique engines, farm equipment, tractors, cars, and machinery as well as an antiques market. An antique engine & tractor swap meet is held in January; an antique engine & tractor show is held in February; and the "Fall Fuel Up" is held in November.
The Peace River Folk Festival is held each January (contact the Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce: +1 863 285-8253. The Annual Cracker Storytelling Festival (+1 863 534-4340) is held each October at the Homeland Heritage Park. Storytellers take listeners back to the Florida's frontier days with tales of "Cracker" life.
Eat
Sleep
Stay safe
Polk County Sheriff: +1 863 533-0344 (Emergencies: 911)
Fort Meade Police Dept: +1 863 285-100 (Emergencies: 911)
Nearby
Bowling Green
City / town · 2 listings · 8 mi away
Bartow
City / town · 20 listings · 10 mi away
Wauchula
City / town · 11 listings · 14 mi away
Mulberry
City / town · 17 listings · 15 mi away
Frostproof
City / town · 17 listings · 16 mi away
Lake Wales
City / town · 53 listings · 17 mi away
Winter Haven
City / town · 57 listings · 19 mi away
Avon Park
City / town · 12 listings · 21 mi away
My experience
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