Highway K Campground
Annapolis, Missouri · Clearwater Recreation Area
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- river
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $14
- SEASON
- May
About Highway K Campground
Highway K Campground is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground on the Black River, a few miles upstream of Clearwater Lake near Annapolis, Missouri. The developed campground straddles both riverbanks and lists swimming as an on-site activity; in warm months campers wade and swim in the clear water, so anyone hunting a river to swim in near Clearwater Lake will find a ready-made swimming hole here.
The campground sits in a lush, wooded area of mixed hardwoods with campsites extending along both banks of the Black River, a few miles above where the river enters Clearwater Lake (recreation.gov).
Swimming at Highway K Campground
Swimming and wading happen directly along the Black River within the campground, described by the managing agency as offering 'clear waters' and by camper reviews as having 'easy beach access.' The setting is casual river swimming/wading suited to campers and families rather than a destination swim site with lifeguards or a marked swim beach; no official lifeguard or roped swim area is documented.
How to get to this swimming hole
Highway K Campground is located at 5347 Co. Rd. 452 near Annapolis, Missouri, on the Black River a few miles upstream of Clearwater Lake (recreation.gov).
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up, developed USACE campground with sites and river frontage along both banks of the Black River; swimming/wading happens at an in-campground beach/day-use area reached by a short walk from the campsites or parking, not via a hiking trail. No trail name, trailhead, or distance-to-water figure applies here.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Camper reviews describe 'easy beach access' for wading/swimming directly along the Black River within the campground, which suits families, but there is no lifeguard, no roped/marked swim area, and prior review found rocky riverbed/ground conditions plus normal river current -- so young kids should be supervised closely rather than left to swim unattended.
Restrooms
Yes
Recreation.gov lists 'hot showers' among on-site amenities campground-wide; a restroom/shower building is implied but its exact type (flush vs. vault) and distance from the specific river/beach access point are not documented in available sources.
Water clarity
Clear
Recreation.gov (official USACE listing) explicitly describes 'clear waters of the Black River' at this campground. Clearwater Lake itself, a few miles downstream, is described on Wikipedia as named for its 'clear, spring-fed water,' consistent with the upstream river reach at Highway K.
Hours
No explicit daily operating hours were found for the gatehouse or swim/beach area. Camper reviews (The Dyrt, Campendium) indicate the campground itself runs seasonally, roughly mid-May through mid-September; outside peak season sites are first-come, first-served per recreation.gov.
On the water
Recreation.gov states 'fishing and canoeing are very popular on the river' at this campground, and a camper review mentions a 'good float down stream' with 'easy access to beach,' indicating canoeing/floating is an established, encouraged activity here. Kayaks and paddleboards are not explicitly named in any source found, so they are left off the confirmed list even though the calm river-frontage setting would likely accommodate them; no motorized-craft, no-wake, or electric-only restrictions were documented for this specific reach (ATVs/UTVs/golf carts are prohibited in the developed recreation area, but that is a land-vehicle rule, not a watercraft rule).
What regulars say
Camper reports describe 'easy beach access' for swimming/wading and a 'good float down stream' on the Black River at this campground, plus general appreciation that 'river access nearby was really nice' and that the campground is 'just a few minutes away from Annapolis.' Earlier visitor notes also flagged rocky, riverbed-like ground in the more primitive tent sites (relevant for bare feet at the water's edge) and limited cell service.
Highway K Campground: FAQ
Does Highway K Campground charge a fee?
Camping fees range from about $14 to $50 per night depending on site type and hookups (recreation.gov, The Dyrt); a separate day-use swimming fee was not documented, though a 'Highway K Gatehouse' entrance/contact number (573-558-2202) suggests the campground has a staffed entrance station.
Is Highway K Campground kid friendly?
Camper reviews describe 'easy beach access' for wading/swimming directly along the Black River within the campground, which suits families, but there is no lifeguard, no roped/marked swim area, and prior review found rocky riverbed/ground conditions plus normal river current -- so young kids should be supervised closely rather than left to swim unattended.
Do I need to hike to reach Highway K Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Highway K Campground?
No dedicated day-use parking lot is documented separately from campsite parking; the campground has a staffed 'Highway K Gatehouse' (573-558-2202) at the entrance, implying vehicles pass through an entrance station, but no parking fee, lot size, or day-use-only parking arrangement was found in official or aggregator sources.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Highway K Campground?
Recreation.gov states 'fishing and canoeing are very popular on the river' at this campground, and a camper review mentions a 'good float down stream' with 'easy access to beach,' indicating canoeing/floating is an established, encouraged activity here. Kayaks and paddleboards are not explicitly named in any source found, so they are left off the confirmed list even though the calm river-frontage setting would likely accommodate them; no motorized-craft, no-wake, or electric-only restrictions were documented for this specific reach (ATVs/UTVs/golf carts are prohibited in the developed recreation area, but that is a land-vehicle rule, not a watercraft rule).
When is the best time to visit Highway K Campground?
Warm months for swimming/wading; camper reviews report the campground operates seasonally from roughly mid-May through mid-September.
What are the rules at Highway K Campground?
Per recreation.gov: sites limited to two camping units (one wheeled unit and one tent, or two tents) with a maximum of 10 people per site; maximum stay of 14 consecutive days; firewood must be purchased locally to prevent spread of invasive pests; generators prohibited 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts prohibited in developed recreation areas; sites are first-come, first-served outside peak season.
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