Set on Prairie Creek, Prairie Creek at Washington Loop Bridge - Primitive Launch - Very Small Boats Only offers Charlotte County boaters a straightforward freshwater launch with a short run to productive water. It's a practical, no-drama ramp that does exactly what a good launch should. It runs a single lane, so plan to arrive early on peak weekends. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
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At a glance
- County
- Charlotte
- City
- Punta Gorda
- Waterbody
- Prairie Creek
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Ramp type
- Stand Alone Ramp
- Launch lanes
- 1
- Dock
- No Dock
- Parking surface
- Not Paved - Gravel/Limestone/Packed Soil
- Trailer parking
- 2
- Restroom
- No Toilet
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- Charlotte County Road Department
- Status
- Open for Business
Address: Washington Loop Road - County Road 764, Punta Gorda, FL, 33982 · Coordinates: 26.990625, -81.894283
Get directions on Google Maps →
Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Clean, drain, and dry your boat between freshwater launches to help stop the spread of invasive plants like hydrilla.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- There are no restrooms on-site, so plan accordingly before you head out.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is Fort Myers, about 24 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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