USA 250 Shirt →

Float Camp Picnic Area

Open

Open for day use. This is a picnic area only; overnight camping is not permitted. Nearby Float Camp Campground operates April 1 through October 1 for overnight stays. Day-use fee is $5 per vehicle.

Heat Advisory issued September 19 at 10:19AM CDT until September 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

10:19 AM — September 20th, 4:15 AM

* WHAT...Peak Heat Index values up to around 100 degrees this weekend. * WHERE...All of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ Sunday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The Heat Advisory was extended thru the weekend due to the prolonged high heat conditions that have basically been ongoing for the entirety of the past week; this continues to heighten the risk of heat-related health impacts.

Mark Twain National Forest

Forest Closure - Bridge Replacement at Paddy Creek

Paddy Creek Recreation Area, National Forest System Road 211, Big Piney Trailhead Spur Trail (03-016-D), Paddy Creek Trail Loop (Trail 03-016-C), and a section of the Big Piney Trail (03-016-A) will be closed from December 1, 2026 until December 31, 2027 while a bank on the creek is restabilized…

Mark Twain National Forest

Forest Order - Trail 119 Closure (Chadwick Motorized Trail System)

The closure of Forest Trail 119 in the Chadwick Motorized Trail System will serve to ensure the protection of people who visit the Mark Twain National Forest by preventing access to the trail during the removal of a culvert. The Closure Order and Map can be accessed in the green links below.

About

Float Camp Picnic Area sits just 150 feet from the crystal-clear Current River in Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest. The site is nestled under a mature hardwood canopy providing ample shade for picnicking, swimming, and staging float trips on the swift-moving river. The day-use area offers an accessible group shelter that accommodates up to 75 people, equipped with electricity, picnic tables, and grills. Individual picnic sites are available first-come, first-served. Amenities include accessible vault toilets, pressurized drinking water, and trash collection. Visitors can enjoy horseshoe pits, a volleyball court, and two hiking trails: the half-mile Woodchuck Trail connecting to the campground, and the 1.5-mile White Oak Trail loop. This is strictly a day-use facility. Overnight camping is available at the adjacent Float Camp Campground, located half a mile away via trail or road, which offers electric and non-electric sites from April through October.

Directions

From Doniphan, Missouri, go 4.5 miles north on Highway Y. Turn west on Forest Service Road 3210 and continue 0.5 miles to the recreation area.

Amenities

Water Yes
Fires Allowed
Toilets Yes
Dump Station No
Wifi No
Pets Allowed
Showers No
Electric Hookups
Water Hookups
Sewer Hookups
Camp Store No
Price $50

Vehicle

Max RV Length
Max Trailer Length
Big Rig Friendly
Pull Through Sites No

Cell Service

AT&T Yes
Verizon Yes
T-Mobile None

Availability

Photos

Walkway to lower picnic area
View of Current River from Float Camp Picnic Area
White Oak Trailhead at the Float Camp
Pavilion available for reservation
Woodchuck trailhead near float camp parking lot
View of Current River from Float Camp Picnic Area

Community Posts

No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!