KICCO Chuck Wagon Campground

This campground takes some effort to reserve and to find, but it is worth it. And it is FREE.

First, you have to apply for a special use license on the South Florida Water Management District page. It is free and easy to do. Look up camping for the KICCO property and chose your option (it might only say walk-in for an option but that is not really true, so chose it anyways).

The road to access is through this place called Westgate River Ranch Resort. You have to stop at the entrance gate to get in and can ask for directions.

There is a gate to get access to the road, and it is the weirdest looking lock I have ever seen- like a coffee can with a rod you move up and down and four locks on top, one of which unlocks the code you were given with your reservation. It took me awhile to figure this out, and then locking it up is another feat. There is a campground host right there at the gate who helped me.

The campground doesn’t have a sign on the main road so you need to sleuth it out by having the map from the SFWMD website. Once you actually find it, it feels like quite an accomplishment.

But it is worth it- so quiet, nice big area in an oak hammock. You can definitely drive a camper van in here.

Lots of birds, and at night wild boars so just be careful if you have pets.

Nice to find a quiet place finally in a state that feels like it is paving over all of nature so quickly.