Paddy Creek Campground

Open — Open year-round for first-come, first-served camping. Access requires crossing a low-water bridge that can become impassable after heavy rain.

About

Paddy Creek Campground is nestled in a scenic hollow along Paddy Creek, a crystal-clear, year-round wading creek with swimming holes and a major tributary to Big Piney River. Located one hour southwest of Rolla and about an hour from Fort Leonard Wood, the campground sits on the eastern edge of the 7,035-acre Paddy Creek Wilderness in Mark Twain National Forest. Sites are mostly secluded with an open meadow space for outdoor activities, offering both river and bluff-side camping options. The campground provides access to the Paddy Creek Trail system via a trailhead in the day-use area, offering spectacular scenic overlooks and connections to wilderness trails. The surrounding area features lush deciduous and conifer forests with diverse vegetation including oak, redbud, cedar, and hemlock trees. Amenities include picnic tables, lantern posts, fire rings, and trash removal. No RV hookups or potable water are available. This is one of the most scenic areas on the Mark Twain National Forest, ideal for those seeking a quiet, rustic camping experience near wilderness terrain.

Directions

From Roby: Take Highway 17 north 2 miles, turn east on Slabtown Road and travel 6 miles to Paddy Creek Road, turn south and travel 2 miles. The campground is on the left just over the low-water crossing. From Licking: Take Highway 32 west for 15 miles to Paddy Creek Road, turn north and travel 8 miles. The campground is on the right just before the creek. From Fort Leonard Wood: Take South Gate onto Highway AW for 6.7 miles to Highway 17, turn east for 1 mile, then left onto Slabtown Road. Continue 4.3 miles, turn right onto Paddy Creek Road and continue 2 miles.

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