Watercress
Watercress is a national forest campground in Missouri. Hookups: electric.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- Missouri
- Coordinates
- 37.00194, -91.01861
- Hookups
- Electric
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming Site, Water Sports
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Watercress
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
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- National Park Service · 29 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 47 designated routes (45 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Spring Campground | National park campground | 3.4 mi | $140 | — |
| Big Spring | National park campground | 3.4 mi | — | Electric & Water |
| Big Spring Campgrounds | Private campground | 3.4 mi | — | — |
| Big Tree Campground | National park campground | 8.3 mi | $10–$25 | — |
| Clubhouse Campground | National park campground | 8.7 mi | $10 | — |
| Log Yard Campground | National park campground | 9.8 mi | $10 | — |
Open Watercress in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB), USFS and BLM recreation sites. Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.