Deep Creek Preserve

I camped here for a few nights back in 2020. However, since then the sight is no longer available for camping. For a while SWFWMD had the site available for group camping, now it is only a day use equestrian site. That is unfortunate. This was a nice place to camp with the peace river and a cool little river front restaurant/bar down the street.

Free camping in Florida at Deep Creek Preserve is administered by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The free camping area at Deep Creek Preserve near Port Charlotte, Florida is both big rig and solar friendly. A free online permit is required. In this video, I provide a walking tour the the free camping area and highlight points of interest for both RV and tent campers; video uploaded here on Campendium for your immediate reference. Non-potable water and a portable toilet are available on-site within the camping area. There are no trash receptacles, so pack out all your trash. Verizon cellular service clocked in at 60.9 Mbps download speed and 2.87 Mbps upload speed. AT&T cellular service clocked in at 10.9 Mbps download speed and 0.28 Mbps upload speed. T-Mobile cellular service clocked in at 0.14 Mbps download speed and 0.81 Mbps upload speed.

This is a no cost SW Florida Water Management District property that requires reservations and is behind a locked gate. It lies on the north edge of a large parcel of land that is the preserve on which we enjoyed long bike rides.
I am guessing it would host 10-12 camping units without crowding. This is controlled by the WMD. There was one portable toilet. I saw non-potable water but no potable water. This is just comfortable grass and weed ground cover under sprawling trees. Both full sun and shaded parking is available. Don't park in the SE corner where we first set up until told to move by a Water District employee who claimed that we were blocking the road to the south into the preserve. Make sure you've got the right combo for the lock (provided in your email confirmation) and then be prepared to just work at it. We tried some WD-40 on it as we left to try to make it easier for us to get out and the next guy to get in. Close to a Walmart and other services. Stayed here 2/18/20.

Very nice for free. You must have a reservation to get the gate code. (Google: Southwest Florida Water Management District camping. They offer many other sites as well.) No designated sites but a few fire rings here and there. Nine tables so I think that is how many sites there are supposed to be. The port-a-potty was pretty full. Other campers told us it was cleaned on TH’s. One spigot of non potable water that smells very sulfur-y. The campground itself was pretty clean. Nice options for either shade or sun. All sites are on the grass. Loved the Spanish moss. There is 6-8 miles of hiking trails. We saw a tortoise!
We had 2-3 bars of Verizon LTE but slow speeds.
Right off a main road. Less than half an hour to the gulf.

Just off the main road, you can hear the noise but that's better than miles of potholes to me. It was within an hour of every beach from Bradenton to Fort Meyers. And it was within 10 minutes of a Walmart, that's luxury. Just a spigot of non-potable water and a portapotty that was serviced during our stay and stayed clean. It is a good, safe, locked place that is convenient and free! There are lots of shady sites but it's hard for a big rig to find just the right place unless you park in the wide open backlot. It was pretty level, a few ruts, but it's so close to the entrance you'll be fine. The left side may become troublesome after torrents of rain, but I don't foresee it being a problem unless it does nothing but rain during your stay.

Deep Creek is a primitive camping area with lots of space, and shade. The Spanish moss hangs over the campsites and provides a very nice view!

There are normal chain shopping areas nearby which makes reprovisionig very easy.

Cell service on TMobile was not as great but AT&T was better, we did not have Verizon while here.

Great place to relax and have some peace!