The best river, stream, or creek camping near Cape Girardeau

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Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to resource for camping in the United States! If you're looking to pitch your tent or park your RV near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and have a preference for a campsite near a river, you're in luck! We offer over 600 options specifically tailored to your needs. With prices averaging at $30 per night and options as low as $5, there's something for every budget. Looking for the top campsites in the area? Check out Spring Lake Ranch (522 reviews), Wine Trail Wilderness (291 reviews), and Four Creeks Campground (169 reviews) for highly recommended experiences. And don't worry about amenities - our popular campsites offer trash, showers, and toilets. Plus, you'll have plenty of activities to choose from, including swimming, horseback riding, and wind sports. Happy camping!

95% (918)

Top-rated campgrounds

Gathering around the fire at Hickory Ridge Winery.

1. Wine Trail Wilderness

100%
(666)
25mi from Cape Girardeau · 16 sites · Tents, RVs · Pomona, IL
The Shawnee National Forest surrounds us, accessible only by wandering roads, passing over creeks and alongside wineries. The trip is worth the beautiful drive, eventually arriving at "The Villa". Our home looks like an Italian villa, appropriately placed between two wineries in the middle of the Shawnee Forest. It is actually a straw-bale home with supplemental solar energy. Originally built as a Holistic Healing Center, we have converted it into a comfortable home with great vibes. We have converted an old grain bin into a "GrainZebo" just outside our home as a fun place to hang out with friends and family. We hope you enjoy the same relaxed feel we get while living out here in the woods, when you come visit. We will be happy to help you feel at home out here. We love sharing the Shawnee experience and believe all should enjoy this beautiful part of the country. LGBTQ are all welcome and accepted. We welcome all types of campers.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$24
 / night
The Hickory Chicken

5. The Hickory Chicken

100%
(5)
43mi from Cape Girardeau · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Bardwell, KY
Welcome to The Hickory Chicken — Hard to find, worth the search! Tucked away in the peaceful countryside, The Hickory Chicken is your ideal escape for outdoor fun, family bonding, and Southern charm. Named after the beloved "hickory chicken" — a local nickname for the elusive and tasty wild morel mushroom — our campsite captures that same spirit of hidden treasure and down-home discovery. At The Hickory Chicken, you'll find full access RV sites perfect for weekend warriors or long-haul adventurers, plus cozy cabin rentals if you're looking to rough it just a little less. Spend your days casting a line at our well-stocked fishing spots, cooling off with a stroll through the creek, or cooking up something special in our outdoor kitchen space. Whether you're into s'mores or smoked brisket, we’ve got you covered. Outdoor lovers will find plenty to enjoy — and hunters especially will appreciate the area's abundant wildlife and public hunting grounds. We're also just minutes from both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, offering scenic views and endless recreational opportunities. History buffs and trail enthusiasts will love being a stone’s throw from Columbus-Belmont State Park and Wright’s Area 252 Ride Park. Working nearby? The Hickory Chicken is a short, easy drive from the Four Rivers Nuclear Plant, Phoenix Paper Mill and James Marine Wickliffe division — making it the perfect home base whether you’re here for business or pleasure. So pack your boots, your bike, or just a cooler full of snacks. However you like to camp, The Hickory Chicken is ready to welcome you with open arms.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$24
 / night
Saco Valley Farm, LLC

7. Saco Valley Farm, LLC

98%
(26)
49mi from Cape Girardeau · 4 sites · Tents · Fredericktown, MO
Camp, Swim, BBQ, wade the creek, enjoy the campfire! Primitive Camping. Very Private. Water is cool and clear. Open to the stars. A great place to commune with nature, or enjoy some peace and quiet! 12 mile creek runs directly through our property. Shallow and deep all throughout. Great for wading, swimming, floating, kayaking. Great small mouth fishing! We are approximately one mile by water from the St. Francois River. We have kayaked down the creek to the river for many years. The farm is very rural. We are 16 miles to the closest gas station, and 25 miles to town. There is no internet. Cell phone service is spotty at best. Currently a working farm, we have 2 high tunnels on the property behind the house, and our original market garden. Across the creek we are finishing up our 5 acre agroforestry planting. 3 acres of elderberries and 2 acres of blackberries. 28 acres, 3 on one side, and 25 on the other. The farm is located approximately 2 hours south of St. Louis. Fredericktown is 30 mins away. Food, Drinks, Golf, and Lalo's Mexican Restaurant! There are a ton of local antique shops, and outdoor activities. Local places of interest: Amidon Arcadia Valley Black River Bonne Terre Mine Elephant Rocks Johnson Shut Ins Mill Stream Gardens One Nation Paintball Park Sam A. Baker State Park Saco Valley Farmstand Sherpher Mountain Bike Park Silvermines Taum Sauk Mountain
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$25
 / night
Scottish Highland Cattle Ranch

9. Scottish Highland Cattle Ranch

100%
(12)
27mi from Cape Girardeau · 9 sites · Tents, RVs · Glen Allen, MO
Learn more about this land: We have five campsites in 135 acres of acres of forest and ranch land in our working cattle and sheep ranch.  Located in a serene valley in the Ozark Highlands, the Ranch has Sheep, Scottish Highland Cattle, Chickens, Ducks and Great Pyrenees livestock guard dogs (only in the sheep pastures - and they are friendly).  If you want to meet our animals and see the farm we are happy to show you around! This is a unique site located in the Ozark Highlands. Only 45 minutes from Cape Girardeau (a small river town on the Mississippi), and 45 minutes from the Arcadia Valley including Taum Sauk mountain (the highest point in Missouri), Elephant Rocks, the Johnston Shutins, and other beautiful areas in the highlands.  The farm is five minutes from Marble Hill, which is home to the Bollinger County Natural History museum which highlights the only dinosaur bones found in Missouri. The bones were found at a farm in Glennallen (a few minutes from our farm) as well as a great barbeque (Jay’s Restaurant) and a good catfish restaurant (Jers Restaurant). On the way to our farm, feel free to stop at the 1,700 foot deep artesian well to get a cool, refreshing jug of natural artesian well water – the water is free, but you have to bring your own containers!  We are two and a half hours southwest of St. Louis, and two and half hours northwest of Memphis.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$24
 / night

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to resource for camping in the United States! If you're looking to pitch your tent or park your RV near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and have a preference for a campsite near a river, you're in luck! We offer over 600 options specifically tailored to your needs. With prices averaging at $30 per night and options as low as $5, there's something for every budget. Looking for the top campsites in the area? Check out Spring Lake Ranch (522 reviews), Wine Trail Wilderness (291 reviews), and Four Creeks Campground (169 reviews) for highly recommended experiences. And don't worry about amenities - our popular campsites offer trash, showers, and toilets. Plus, you'll have plenty of activities to choose from, including swimming, horseback riding, and wind sports. Happy camping!

95% (918)

Top-rated campgrounds

Gathering around the fire at Hickory Ridge Winery.

1. Wine Trail Wilderness

100%
(666)
25mi from Cape Girardeau · 16 sites · Tents, RVs · Pomona, IL
The Shawnee National Forest surrounds us, accessible only by wandering roads, passing over creeks and alongside wineries. The trip is worth the beautiful drive, eventually arriving at "The Villa". Our home looks like an Italian villa, appropriately placed between two wineries in the middle of the Shawnee Forest. It is actually a straw-bale home with supplemental solar energy. Originally built as a Holistic Healing Center, we have converted it into a comfortable home with great vibes. We have converted an old grain bin into a "GrainZebo" just outside our home as a fun place to hang out with friends and family. We hope you enjoy the same relaxed feel we get while living out here in the woods, when you come visit. We will be happy to help you feel at home out here. We love sharing the Shawnee experience and believe all should enjoy this beautiful part of the country. LGBTQ are all welcome and accepted. We welcome all types of campers.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$24
 / night
The Hickory Chicken

5. The Hickory Chicken

100%
(5)
43mi from Cape Girardeau · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Bardwell, KY
Welcome to The Hickory Chicken — Hard to find, worth the search! Tucked away in the peaceful countryside, The Hickory Chicken is your ideal escape for outdoor fun, family bonding, and Southern charm. Named after the beloved "hickory chicken" — a local nickname for the elusive and tasty wild morel mushroom — our campsite captures that same spirit of hidden treasure and down-home discovery. At The Hickory Chicken, you'll find full access RV sites perfect for weekend warriors or long-haul adventurers, plus cozy cabin rentals if you're looking to rough it just a little less. Spend your days casting a line at our well-stocked fishing spots, cooling off with a stroll through the creek, or cooking up something special in our outdoor kitchen space. Whether you're into s'mores or smoked brisket, we’ve got you covered. Outdoor lovers will find plenty to enjoy — and hunters especially will appreciate the area's abundant wildlife and public hunting grounds. We're also just minutes from both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, offering scenic views and endless recreational opportunities. History buffs and trail enthusiasts will love being a stone’s throw from Columbus-Belmont State Park and Wright’s Area 252 Ride Park. Working nearby? The Hickory Chicken is a short, easy drive from the Four Rivers Nuclear Plant, Phoenix Paper Mill and James Marine Wickliffe division — making it the perfect home base whether you’re here for business or pleasure. So pack your boots, your bike, or just a cooler full of snacks. However you like to camp, The Hickory Chicken is ready to welcome you with open arms.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$24
 / night
Saco Valley Farm, LLC

7. Saco Valley Farm, LLC

98%
(26)
49mi from Cape Girardeau · 4 sites · Tents · Fredericktown, MO
Camp, Swim, BBQ, wade the creek, enjoy the campfire! Primitive Camping. Very Private. Water is cool and clear. Open to the stars. A great place to commune with nature, or enjoy some peace and quiet! 12 mile creek runs directly through our property. Shallow and deep all throughout. Great for wading, swimming, floating, kayaking. Great small mouth fishing! We are approximately one mile by water from the St. Francois River. We have kayaked down the creek to the river for many years. The farm is very rural. We are 16 miles to the closest gas station, and 25 miles to town. There is no internet. Cell phone service is spotty at best. Currently a working farm, we have 2 high tunnels on the property behind the house, and our original market garden. Across the creek we are finishing up our 5 acre agroforestry planting. 3 acres of elderberries and 2 acres of blackberries. 28 acres, 3 on one side, and 25 on the other. The farm is located approximately 2 hours south of St. Louis. Fredericktown is 30 mins away. Food, Drinks, Golf, and Lalo's Mexican Restaurant! There are a ton of local antique shops, and outdoor activities. Local places of interest: Amidon Arcadia Valley Black River Bonne Terre Mine Elephant Rocks Johnson Shut Ins Mill Stream Gardens One Nation Paintball Park Sam A. Baker State Park Saco Valley Farmstand Sherpher Mountain Bike Park Silvermines Taum Sauk Mountain
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$25
 / night
Scottish Highland Cattle Ranch

9. Scottish Highland Cattle Ranch

100%
(12)
27mi from Cape Girardeau · 9 sites · Tents, RVs · Glen Allen, MO
Learn more about this land: We have five campsites in 135 acres of acres of forest and ranch land in our working cattle and sheep ranch.  Located in a serene valley in the Ozark Highlands, the Ranch has Sheep, Scottish Highland Cattle, Chickens, Ducks and Great Pyrenees livestock guard dogs (only in the sheep pastures - and they are friendly).  If you want to meet our animals and see the farm we are happy to show you around! This is a unique site located in the Ozark Highlands. Only 45 minutes from Cape Girardeau (a small river town on the Mississippi), and 45 minutes from the Arcadia Valley including Taum Sauk mountain (the highest point in Missouri), Elephant Rocks, the Johnston Shutins, and other beautiful areas in the highlands.  The farm is five minutes from Marble Hill, which is home to the Bollinger County Natural History museum which highlights the only dinosaur bones found in Missouri. The bones were found at a farm in Glennallen (a few minutes from our farm) as well as a great barbeque (Jay’s Restaurant) and a good catfish restaurant (Jers Restaurant). On the way to our farm, feel free to stop at the 1,700 foot deep artesian well to get a cool, refreshing jug of natural artesian well water – the water is free, but you have to bring your own containers!  We are two and a half hours southwest of St. Louis, and two and half hours northwest of Memphis.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$24
 / night

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Stories from the community

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field