Shell Creek Airport (F13): Charlotte County's Quiet Strip Along the Peace River Watershed
Shell Creek Airport (FAA identifier F13) is a private-use airstrip in the Punta Gorda area of Charlotte County, situated near the Shell Creek watershed that feeds into Charlotte Harbor. The airport sits within a landscape defined by the Peace River's lower drainage, flatwoods, and the transition zone between inland agriculture and the coastal estuary ecosystem. Charlotte County's general aviation environment includes the nearby Charlotte County Airport (PGD) for public operations, but Shell Creek F13 serves the more private needs of landowners and agricultural operators in the outlying areas east of the city.
Aircraft operations at F13 are limited to light general aviation aircraft suited to short, potentially soft-field runways. Pilots familiar with Charlotte County's weather patterns know that afternoon cumulus buildups along the sea breeze convergence zone are common from May through September, with rapid deterioration possible during active thunderstorm periods. The proximity to Charlotte Harbor and its associated bird populations also means pilots should exercise caution during low-altitude operations for wildlife strike hazards. FAA identifier F13 is referenced in FDOT aviation data for Charlotte County's private aviation inventory.
What is the FAA identifier for Shell Creek Airport?
Shell Creek Airport is assigned FAA identifier F13. It is a private-use facility in Charlotte County, Florida, and is not open for public transient operations without landowner permission.
Where is Shell Creek Airport relative to Charlotte County Airport (PGD)?
Shell Creek Airport (F13) is located in the Punta Gorda area, in the general vicinity of Charlotte County Airport (PGD). PGD is the primary public-use general aviation airport for Charlotte County and provides full FBO services, fuel, and instrument approaches.
What types of aircraft are appropriate for Shell Creek Airport?
Shell Creek F13 is suited to light single-engine piston aircraft with short-field and soft-field capability. Pilots should contact the property owner for current runway surface conditions before planning any arrival.
Shell Creek Airport - F13 Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Punta Gorda, Florida.
| Name | Shell Creek Airport - F13 |
| Address | 36880 Washington Loop Road, Punta Gorda FL 33982 Map |
| Phone | (941) 628-3564 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Shell Creek Airport - F13
About Shell Creek Airport (F13) in Punta Gorda, Florida — Charlotte County Private Airstrip
Charlotte County encompasses a broad area of Southwest Florida that extends from the Gulf Coast estuaries of Charlotte Harbor inland through flatwoods and cattle ranching country to the Peace River corridor. Shell Creek, which gives this airport its name, drains a significant portion of the eastern county and flows westward into Charlotte Harbor — one of Florida's most ecologically important estuaries and a major recreational boating destination. Private airstrips like Shell Creek F13 reflect the county's agricultural heritage and the practical need for aviation access across large landholdings where road infrastructure is limited.
For Charlotte County's aviation community, Shell Creek Airport represents one of many private facilities catalogued by FDOT that fill the gaps between public-use airports. The county's aviation system is anchored by Charlotte County Airport (PGD), which serves as the regional GA hub, but the network of private strips in the rural areas east of Punta Gorda provides essential support for farming, wildlife management, and recreational use. Landowners and pilots operating in this part of Southwest Florida rely on this distributed network of facilities as part of their daily and seasonal operations.