To produce 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) from crude glycerol, cultivation conditions were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) based on a $2^5$ factorial central composite design (CCD). RSM was adopted to derive a statistical model for the individual and interactive effects of crude glycerol, $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, pH, cultivation time and temperature on the production of 1,3-PD. Optimal conditions for maximum 1,3-PD production were as follows: crude glycerol, 35 g/L; $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, 8 g/L; pH, 7.37; cultivation time, 10.8 h; temperature, $36.88^{circ}C$. Under these optimal conditions, the design expert presented the maximal numerical solution with a predicted 1,3-PD production level of up to 13.74 g/L. The experimental production of 1,3-PD yielded 13.8 g/L, which was in close agreement with the model prediction.