What county is Port Richey in?

Port Richey is in Pasco County, Florida, on the state's central-west Gulf Coast. It sits immediately west of New Port Richey and roughly 30 miles north of Tampa, within the greater Tampa Bay region.

What river runs through Port Richey?

The Pithlachascotee River, commonly called the Cotee River, runs through Port Richey and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The river and its tidal canals shape the city's waterfront character, supporting boating, fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

What school district serves Port Richey?

Port Richey is served by Pasco County Schools, the countywide public school district. Students attend district elementary, middle, and high schools, with specific assignments based on residential address, and private and charter options are available in surrounding Pasco County communities.

How far is Port Richey from Tampa?

Port Richey is roughly 30 miles north of downtown Tampa. The drive typically takes 45 minutes to an hour via US 19 or the Suncoast Parkway, and both Tampa International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport are within about an hour's drive.

What state park is located in Port Richey?

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park lies within Port Richey. The park protects salt marshes, mangrove swamps, and salt springs along the Gulf Coast, offering hiking, paddling, and wildlife viewing in a preserved natural setting.

Lots & Land in Port Richey, FL | Susan Camus

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Gulf Coast Riverfront Town

Lots & Land in Port Richey, FL

Welcome to Port Richey, a compact Gulf Coast city set along the Cotee River in Pasco County, just north of Tampa Bay.

Port Richey is a small incorporated city in western Pasco County, Florida, hugging the banks of the Pithlachascotee River — known locally as the Cotee River — where it meets the tidal bayous of the Gulf Coast. The city sits immediately west of the larger New Port Richey and about 30 miles north of Tampa, giving it a quiet, water-oriented identity within the broader Tampa Bay region. Port Richey traces its roots to the early twentieth century, when the McLoughlin family helped plat the community as a riverfront settlement, and the city was incorporated in 1925. Today it remains one of the county's smaller cities, with roughly 3,700 residents and a residential character built around canals, bayous, and riverfront parcels. Much of the housing is single-family, and the streetscape reflects a laid-back, Old Florida feel rather than dense suburban development. The city's defining feature is its access to the water. The Cotee River runs through the heart of Port Richey and feeds a network of canals that reach many homes, making boating and fishing part of daily life. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, a protected landscape of salt marshes, mangrove swamps, and springs, lies within the city and offers paddling and wildlife viewing. Port Richey's economy is small and locally oriented, with retail and services concentrated along the US 19 corridor and a growing cluster of restaurants and bars in the Waterfront District. Many residents commute to employment centers in New Port Richey, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa, which are reachable by highway within about an hour. Port Richey suits residents who want a slower, coastal pace with direct water access, while still being within commuting distance of Tampa Bay's larger job market. The city's waterfront district has grown around riverfront dining and public parks, and the surrounding Pasco County coast — often marketed as Florida's "Sports Coast" — adds beaches, trails, and preserves a short drive away.