USDA Forest Service · Missouri
Watercress
USDA Forest Service · Missouri, United States
- Sites
- 19
- Hookups
- 17 with water, 17 no hookups
- Season
- May 1 to October 31
- Max RV length
- 40 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 492 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile good · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- WATERCRESS REC AREA SPUR A (NFSR 4282A) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Mark Twain National Forest
- Nearest town
- Poplar Bluff
- Address
- 1420 Maud St., Poplar Bluff, MO, 63901
- Activities
- Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming, Tubing
19 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
***Watercress sustained substantial damage to the pavilions during the 2017 flood, they are not reservable at this time, however the boat ramp is still open for public use.***
Watercress Campground lies on the banks one of the forest’s greatest treasures; the Current River. Floats on the river provide views of southeastern Missouri that otherwise can't be seen. The area is home to a variety of birds and wildlife and recreation opportunities are plentiful in the surrounding area.
Recreation
Boating and canoeing on the Current River, as well as on other nearby rivers, are popular activities. A boat ramp for both motorized and non-motorized boats is available on the east bank of the Current River. Anglers enjoy fishing for bass, walleye, sunfish and the occasional catfish.
Big Spring, Missouri's largest spring, is just five miles from the campground. Hikers at Watercress area enjoy the Songbird Trail, a 1.2-mile loop that leads to Watercress Spring, passing remnants of Civil War-era earthwork that overlook the Current River.
Facilities
The campground offers 17 campsites for tent or RV camping and the sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Two group picnic shelters which can accommodate up to 75 people each are located alongside the river. Each is equipped with tables and grills. A seasonal trash collection dumpster is also available between April 1 and October 1 at the campground entrance.
Natural Features
Located within the town of Van Buren, the campground and day use area are adjacent to the Current River, which flows past scenic bluffs, springs, caves as it meanders through the Mark Twain National Forest toward Doniphan, MO.
Nearby Attractions
The campground is adjacent to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, which is a series of protected rivers in the area managed by the National Park Service. More information about the National Park Service sites can be found here.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 28° | 7° | 67° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 49° | 31° | -7° | 76° | 9 of 11 |
| March | 60° | 42° | 21° | 82° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 70° | 49° | 30° | 86° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 78° | 62° | 44° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 69° | 55° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 90° | 73° | 63° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 88° | 72° | 62° | 102° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 86° | 67° | 52° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 69° | 50° | 35° | 84° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 60° | 41° | 18° | 78° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 49° | 34° | 14° | 68° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Big Spring · National Park Service · 3 mi · 137 sites
- Pinewoods Lake Rec Area · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 16 sites
- Webb Creek Park · Army Corps of Engineers · 15 mi · 31 sites
- River Road Park · Army Corps of Engineers · 17 mi · 116 sites
- Piedmont Park · Army Corps of Engineers · 17 mi · 99 sites
All public campgrounds in Missouri · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-22. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.