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Established Camping

Paddy Creek Recreation Area

Paddy Creek Recreation Area, near Licking, Missouri, is a fantastic choice for those seeking a quiet escape into nature. This campground offers spacious, shaded sites that provide a good amount of privacy, making it perfect for relaxing and unwinding away from the hustle and bustle.

With amenities like vault toilets and picnic tables, visitors appreciate the basic comforts while enjoying the great outdoors. Many campers have noted the peaceful atmosphere, with one reviewer mentioning, “We love being able to have an escape from the world.” The creek nearby adds a lovely touch, with trails leading right to the water for swimming and fishing.

For those who enjoy a bit of adventure, there are hiking trails in the area, and the lack of cell service encourages a true disconnect from daily life. Just keep in mind that there’s no drinking water available, so be sure to bring your own. If you’re looking for a serene spot to camp, Paddy Creek is definitely worth a visit.

Description

National Forest

This recreation area is nestled in a hollow along Paddy Creek, a major tributary to the Big Piney River, 1/2 mile away. It provides a picnic area and 23 campsites. It is located adjacent to the east boundary of the Paddy Creek Wilderness and is one of the 3 trailheads for the Big Piney Trail.Paddy Creek flows year-round and is a crystal clear wading creek.

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Location

Paddy Creek Recreation Area is located in Missouri

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Roby, MO take Hwy 17 north 2 miles, turn east on Slabtown Road (formerly Forest Road 7600).  Go 6 miles and turn south on Paddy Creek Road (formerly Forest Road 220) for 2 miles to recreation area.  

Coordinates

37.55530755 N
92.04234136 W

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The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

Contact

General Info


Reviews

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8 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 17, 2022

Sweet!

Great place to camp. Stayed at site 22. Most sites are well shaded and spacious. Good privacy between sites. Parking pads are short and lined with huge boulders. Worked fine for our 16ft TT big rigs probably not so much. Vault toilet clean and stocked. No fee just donations. Dollar General and a gas station located in nearby Roby. No cell service at cg. Had to drive up the hill to get a signal.

Site22
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Paddy Creek Recreation Area by Cheryl M., October 17, 2022
  • Review photo of Paddy Creek Recreation Area by Cheryl M., October 17, 2022
Reviewed Mar. 29, 2022

Great Spot

Great free campground near the river. Volt toilets, trash cans, and picnic tables. All spots have paved pull-in spots. I'd say max length for rigs are 30 feet. I'd stay here again. They have a camp host but they are no bother.

Site9
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Paddy Creek Recreation Area by Brooke A., March 29, 2022
  • Review photo of Paddy Creek Recreation Area by Brooke A., March 29, 2022
  • Review photo of Paddy Creek Recreation Area by Brooke A., March 29, 2022
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Mar. 3, 2022

Quiet and secluded

We've been camping here for 3-4years now and we are still amazed at how quiet and secluded it is. We love being able to have an escape from the world and forced to not have our electrons since there is no service. Our first time here we got to experience the amazing raccoons which made for a pretty funny story later. We absolutely love it here.

Reviewed Sep. 20, 2021

Great Secluded Campground

I spent the weekend here mid September. It was a nice place. Quiet and secluded. On the creek side, every campsite has trails leading to the creek. There is a vault restroom if needed, each site has a paved parking spot big enough for my truck and 25ft camper. I would say it could fit up to a 35ft trailer. There is a picnic table, Shepard's hook, and a fire pit/grate. I really enjoyed my stay here and will be coming back often.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2020

Quiet, easy camping

Nice long weekend in a relatively primitive campsite. Vault toilets were a plus, but no water source that we saw. Access to swimming, fishing, and hiking trails. We were surprised with how many sites were taken up, but there were still quite a few available. Arrive early for a good spot (We stayed in spot 20 which had its own path to the river). Would definitely camp here again.

There isn't much in the 20 miles before you get to the campgrounds, but there is firewood for sale (self-serve) 10-15 minutes before.

Site20 (we think - the numbers were rubbed off)
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Paddy Creek Recreation Area by Kura O., July 14, 2020
Reviewed Jun. 1, 2019

Primitive camping

Quite, friendly area with very primitive camping. Creek is spring fed so water is always cooler then most creeks.

Reviewed May. 20, 2019

Great for solitude

$5 recommendation donation for the night. Stayed at this campground as a halfway point hiking the Big Piney Trail loop. Typical primitive campground with toilets, bear-proof trash cans, and camp sites with fire rings and picnic tables, but not much else. Didn’t see any water faucets near our site.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Paddy Creek Recreation Area?

    Paddy Creek Recreation Area allows vehicles up to 34 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Paddy Creek Recreation Area?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Paddy Creek Recreation Area, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Paddy Creek Recreation Area have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Paddy Creek Recreation Area does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Paddy Creek Recreation Area?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is available, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is unknown.