#255 Deep Creek preserve Boondock

We needed a two-hour stop to break up the distance to the next park and we saw a free camp.net called Peace River. It was in the town of Arcadia Florida.

As we got close to where it was we saw typical stuff like a Walmart, Huddle House, and fuel then very rural. We went down a secondary road for a little while maybe in a few miles. The next thing you know there's a little pull-out-looking place and you see a sign that says welcome to the Florida wild places. I pull over to take a look as the coordinates said you are here.

My first observation was that there was a locked gate and that was a bit of a drag. I called the number but got no answer so we weren't going to get any immediate assistance getting the gate unlocked. In the past, I have found the cogs of this system work slowly. You email or call on Monday. You get an answer back on Wednesday. They give you the information you need on Thursday and then you're ready to have the gate code that lets you in.

I even saw somebody drive up unlock the gate and go in. I knew that if I had begged and pleaded, they might have let me in. I thought maybe that was immoral or unethical so I didn't even bother.

I kind of decided that the whole area outside the locked gate was pretty appealing. I never said I wanted to live here forever I just wanted to rest to break up a 4-hour drive.

I guess it's a low bar so it just doesn't matter. We parked in a dirt lot area in a little shady spot. For a little while, I thought the sheriff was going to come but happily, we’ve had very little of that. It also helps that we're out in the boonies.

After we settled in and leveled we went for a little walk as the gate only blocks vehicles. I saw a large sprawling area that I think eventually has access to a river.

We saw a horse watering trough and I decided if it worked it didn't work very well. The water came out in a dribble but the valve was open. Back in here, you would feel safe because it was gated. We went back out to the RV and eventually kind of took a drive down to the end of the road where we had a bite to eat. It was a cool little restaurant indoor-outdoor place.

It was called the Nava-gator grill and Marina.

It had kind of a Jimmy Buffett mindset and they rent canoes and kayaks with a boat ramp. We ordered some food and they bragged about selling gator meat so we had a gator sandwich. It was a pleasant enough place and they had somebody singing with an acoustic guitar outback. We walked around a little bit and across the way there was a public parking lot and there were probably 500 parking places. It was about empty but during certain seasons it must be a pretty busy place. What an interesting little place to bump into and that was Arcadia.

Deep Creek preserve Boondock

Friday, Sat Apr 6,7 2018 (2 nights

This is a FREE campsite.

Arcadia, Florida

GPS: 27.060897, -82.021727

Elevation: 26'

Management

Public - Bureau of Land Management (Official)

(352) 796-7211

776 Peace River St, Arcadia, FL 34269