Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233983
When Watercress reopens
Watercress's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
1
Openings · last 90 days
1
Only 1 opening in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 1, 2026 · of 19 monitored sites
Of the 252 tracked site-dates (Sep 18 – Oct 1, 2026): 11 open for online reservation · 241 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 19 monitored sites, 1 can be reserved online and 17 are first-come, first-served (1 closed).
Where the open windows are
95.6% of tracked site-dates are not currently open for online reservation. 11 of 252 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 1, 2026Not open online95.6%
Open site-dates11 / 252
Reserved (of online inventory)0 / 11
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026September holds the most room. 10 of 234 site-dates are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 17 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 1 day-use unit| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Old Hickory Pavilion | 11 |
This day-use unit currently has 11 reservation dates available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable night is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
0 open site-nights across 0 sites at Watercress, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
17 overnight sites and 1 day-use unit are represented in the current inventory. Day-use inventory is excluded from every night-based figure on this page — site-nights, longest runs, multi-night stays, holiday stays and RV fit; its reservation dates are listed separately below.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 40 ft. 17 sites take 25 ft, 17 sites take 35 ft, 17 sites take 40 ft.
Day-use inventory
11 available reservation dates across 1 day-use unit. Day-use inventory is reserved by the date, so it carries no stay length.
All 1 day-use unit with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Hickory Pavilion | 11 | 11 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 |
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 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 .
19 monitored sites17 FCFS sitesRVs up to 40 ftNo hookups17 shadedWaterfrontRiverfrontPets OKFire pitsMax party 16
Getting there
From Highway 60, drive north on Main Street to the National Park Service sign on Watercress Road. Turn north and drive just past the Park Service building complex, then make a left to Watercress Recreation Area. The picnic shelters are on the left toward the north end of the day use area.
1420 Maud St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
BoatingCampingFishingHikingPicnickingSwimming SiteWater Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233983 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233983 · Watercress · Poplar Bluff MO7 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Watercress?
Reservations for Watercress are made through Recreation.gov. 95.6% of tracked site-dates are not currently open for online reservation; 11 of 252 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 1 site opening here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site or unit on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Watercress?
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site-date opening here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which sites at Watercress fit a 35-foot RV?
17 of the 17 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 40 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Watercress?
September 2026, with 10 open site-dates in the current snapshot of 234.
When is the next open date at Watercress?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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We run paced availability checks for Watercress. One watch covers every matching online-reservable site.
Get the ping
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.
Alerts monitor online-reservable inventory only; first-come, first-served sites are not included.