Watercress

Limited confidence
Nearest town
Van Buren, MO · 1.1 mi
Elevation
466 ft
Coordinates
37.00194, -91.01861

About this place

***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.

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Services

What you can do here

Sewer hookupPotable waterRV fresh tank fillElectric hookupCampground

A dotted outline means nobody has told us either way. It is not a no — it is an honest gap, and the fastest way to close it is a traveller who has been there.

Rates

What it costs

Peak season, May 1, 2026 to October 1, 2026. Outside those dates the site may be closed or priced differently.

Site typePer night
Standard Nonelectric$20.00
Group Picnic Area$25.00

Recreation.gov booking system · read Aug 19, 2026. Fees change; the booking page is authoritative.

The details, and where each came from

Everything we know

ADA accessible
No
Limited confidence·published by the source by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026
Back-in spaces
17
Limited confidence·published by the source by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026
Campfires allowed
Yes
Limited confidence·published by the source by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026
Electric hookup (amps)
20
Limited confidence·published by the source by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026
Longest rig that fits (ft)
40
Limited confidence·published by the source by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026
Number of campsites
19
Limited confidence·published by the source by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026
Pets allowed
Yes
Limited confidence·published by the source by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026
Potable water
Yes
Unverified·inferred from description by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026
Reservable
No
Limited confidence·published by the source by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026
Water hookup at site
No
Limited confidence·published by the source by RIDB / Recreation.gov·confirmed Aug 19, 2026

If this one is closed

Other dump stations nearby

LocationDistanceConfidence
Webb Creek Park15 miLimited confidence
River Road Park17 miLimited confidence
Piedmont Park17 miLimited confidence
Bluff View(clearwater Lake)18 miLimited confidence
RV Dump Station26 miLimited confidence

Photos

What it looks like

Watercress
Mark Twain National Forest
WATERCRESS
WATERCRESS
WATERCRESS
WATERCRESS
WATERCRESS
Sources for this page. Data courtesy of Recreation.gov (US-PD)
Last updated Aug 19, 2026.
Verify before you rely on this. Facilities close, fees change and equipment breaks. Every figure above shows when it was last confirmed — check those dates before driving out of your way. Something wrong? Tell us — a report from somebody who has been here outranks anything we imported.