Peoples Creek
People's Creek Recreation Area, located in the southeastern Ozark foothills of Missouri, is a great launchpad for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking or simply exploring the Wappapello Lake area. Completed in 1941, Wappapello Lake provides an estimated $3.9 million in annual flood protection to agricultural lands and developed areas along the St. Francis River. A peaceful cove offers endless recreation opportunities with 57 campsites, a picnic shelter, beach, accessible fishing pier, and Lake View Trail.
More like this: electric hookups in Missouri · full hookups in Missouri · reservable in Missouri · big rigs in Missouri · pets allowed in Missouri · group sites in Missouri
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗



Site mix
| Standard with electric | 50 |
| tent only electric | 3 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 62 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
54 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Preferred | |||
| 02 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | ||
| 03 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Preferred | |
| 04 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | ||
| 05 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | ||
| 06 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | ||
| 07 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | ||
| 08 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | ||
| 09 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | ||
| 10 | PCRL | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.

Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 59 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Site Type. Full Service (50 Amp, Water, Sewer) $28.00. Limited Service (50 Amp, Water) $24.00. Walk-in Tent Sites (50 Amp, Water) $16.00 |
| Accessibility | Sites 03, 25, 30, 41 and 1 more are listed accessible |
The day-use portion of People's Creek includes a two-lane boat ramp with courtesy dock, an accessible fishing pier, swimming beach and large picnic shelter. The campground portion has an upper and lower campground. The lower area offers 38 sites with 50-amp electric and water hookups. Peoples Creek Lower section is the only campground at Wappapepello Lake with waterfront campsites. A large sandy mooring area is available for campers. The upper area has 19 full-service campsites with 50-amp electric, water and sewer hookups.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From St. Louis: take I-55 South to Highway 67. Head south to D Highway. Take D Highway South for about 15 miles and look for signs. From Poplar Bluff: Take Hwy 60 East to Highway T. Then take Highway T North and look for signs.
| Nearest town | Wappapello, Missouri |
| Coordinates | 36.9464° N, 90.2753° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 3.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Check Out These Sites! In Depth Tour. Peoples Creek Campground.
Worth a stop
Explore the nearby Pine Ridge Nature trail, Shell Lake Archery Trail and Wappapllo Wildflower Trail and Greenhouse areas or St. Francis River. The Mingo Wildlife Refuge is approximately 11.5 miles from Peoples Creek Recreation Area. The Lake Wappapello State Park is approximately 18.2 miles away, and the Sam A. Baker State park is 33.4 miles away from Peoples Creek Recreation Area.
- under 0.1 miPeoples Creek Day Use ↗Day use
- 0.4 miSundowner Day Use ↗Day use
- 5 miChaonia Landing Marina ↗Boat launch
- 5.1 miLost Creek Lodge Marina ↗Boat launch
Public land it sits in
Mingo Wilderness begins about 2.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.9 miMingo Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Fish and Wildlife Service · 7,730 acres
- 3.2 miMingo National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 21,690 acres
- 11.4 miMark Twain National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,069,958 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- J. Herbert Moore HouseBuilding · Poplar Bluff · 13.9 mi
- Mark Twain SchoolBuilding · Poplar Bluff · 14.3 mi
- Wheatley Public SchoolBuilding · Poplar Bluff · 14.3 mi
Natural features
Wappapello Lake stretches 8,400 acres on 45,000 acres of public land. Lightly wooded shorelines add shade to the scenic landscape.
Recreation
People's Creek is ideally suited for swimming and boating activities. The lake is home to some of Missouri's most sought after game fish, including largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass and channel catfish. Hunting, fishing and kayaking are popular activities year-round. Hiking and biking on one of the Lake's 9 trail systems provides opportunities for all ages and abilities. The new accessible Shell Lake Archery Trail is a unique destination for achery enthusiasts.
Guidebooks for Missouri
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Peoples Creek?
Sites at Peoples Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Peoples Creek?
Site Type. Full Service (50 Amp, Water, Sewer) $28.00. Limited Service (50 Amp, Water) $24.00.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Peoples Creek?
Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Peoples Creek have?
57 sites, including 50 standard sites with power, 3 tent only electric, and 1 group shelter electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Peoples Creek?
The longest site here provides 59 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Peoples Creek have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Peoples Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Peoples Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Peoples Creek?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Peoples Creek?
Sites 03, 25, 30, and 41 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 5 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Peoples Creek?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Peoples Creek?
People's Creek is ideally suited for swimming and boating activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Peoples Creek?
Wappapello, Missouri. Explore the nearby Pine Ridge Nature trail, Shell Lake Archery Trail and Wappapllo Wildflower Trail and Greenhouse areas or St.
Source: Getting there




