While i have fished a handfull of times at both Lake Kissimmee, and Lake Okeechobee, i have not fished the Kissimmee river, other than near the very end where it empties into Lake Okeechobee.
There is a public ramp adjacent to Rt 60 where the south end of lake Kissimmee empties into the river. Ive been there, and decided it wouldnt be a good place for me personally to launch. It is 54 miles from my house to that ramp.
There are several other ramps on the lake in that area as well.
Just a bit to the south from Rt 60 is a very large resort called River Ranch, located right on the river. They have a launch site at their marina, also a campground.
That for me would be about 58 miles.
But i recently saw in my Florida map book that there is a ramp where Rt 70 crosses the river west of the town of Okeechobee.
So yesterday i drove there.
It is 10 miles to the west of town right on Rt 70, about 1/10 of a mile past the bridge over the river. For me from Vero Beach its 60 miles by taking Rt 70 from Fort Pierce.
It is a very nice private campground, ramp fee for non campers is $4.00.
Yesterday there was only one vehicle/boat trailer parked there.
Its a 55 and older campground and very nice with lots of shade trees.
Daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal rates seem very fair.
No tents, pickup campers or camping in vans is permitted.
Docks are available as is storage for boats and RVs.
The river looks very nice, and there are some canals and other type tributaries nearby according to my map.
Kissimmee River Resort for those interested.
Of coarse Lake Okeechobee wouldnt be very far from there as well.
Yesterday both launch sites at the mouth of the river were almost empty of vehicles.