Bend sits at 3,623 feet elevation in Oregon's high desert, creating distinct camping seasons with summer highs near 82°F and winter lows around 24°F. The town's position between the Cascade Mountains and Deschutes River makes it a central hub for exploring diverse landscapes. RV sites in the area vary from fully developed resorts to more basic setups with limited amenities.
What to do
Hiking nearby: Smith Rock State Park is accessible from many Bend Oregon RV resorts, with excellent hiking and climbing opportunities. "Close to town, excellent town of Bend, OR. Don't miss Smith Rock State Park on your way out of town for excellent hiking and rock climbing," notes a camper from Crown Villa RV Resort.
Fishing options: Trout fishing spots are accessible even for younger campers at some locations. "Across the street is a family park with a children's fishing pond that is stocked with rainbow trout for anyone 17 and under," according to a visitor at Crook County RV Park.
Recreational trails: Several RV parks offer on-site walking paths with canyon views. "There's a nice walking trail (Matt's Trail) that takes you around the campground along the canyon edge (level: easy). There's also a BLM trail (Crooked River Trail) you can access from the campground that takes you down to the water (level: moderate to hard)," shares a camper from Crooked River Ranch.
What campers like
Private spaces: Some parks offer spacious sites with separation from neighbors. "The individual sites are pretty spacious and have a decent amount of trees," notes a camper from Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver.
Clean facilities: Bathrooms and shower amenities are frequently mentioned as well-maintained. "The bathrooms are wonderful. The fairgrounds are next door and we were able to let the pups run free there," shares a visitor to Bend / Sisters Garden RV Resort.
Convenient locations: The proximity to activities and towns is a major advantage. "Location is great for doing things around the Bend area! The park itself is nothing terribly special but it works!" mentions a guest at Scandia RV Park.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Some parks operate on limited schedules. Cascade Meadows RV Resort is only open April 15 to October 15, which is important for winter travel planning.
Price variations: Rates can fluctuate significantly between parks and seasons. "First let us say that this is a very nice RV Park. However, and a BIG however, is that there is no justification for the $117 per night price tag for a paved, full hook up site," notes a visitor to Crown Villa RV Resort.
Reservation requirements: Many parks fill quickly during peak seasons. "We got very lucky and walked in with no reservation. The host was so nice and gave us one of the 2 remaining although the sign said full," shares a guest at Scandia RV Park.
Amenity limitations: Some parks have restrictions on fires or other common camping activities. "No wood or charcoal fires. Only propane grills," mentions a Crooked River Ranch visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Look for parks with built-in entertainment for children. "The kids (mostly teens) found plenty to do with the pool, putt putt, pump track, etc. Some things could use a little work to be significantly improved (ground covering on putt putt course, etc)," according to a family staying at Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver.
Wildlife viewing: Small wildlife can be entertaining for kids. "My kids are helping us out with reviews for parks. Kids loved Sunriver-Bend Thousand Trails because there is bunnies, bullfrogs, mini-golf, a great little river to float on or swim in, ladderball, bingo, movies outside, and some pretty great pools!"
Water features: Swimming options are important during summer months. "They have a really great common area with a gas fire pit, 2 gas grills, tables, and corn hole. They also have heated bathrooms and laundry trailers," notes a visitor to The Camp.
Tips from RVers
Leveling information: Site conditions vary widely between parks and even within the same park. "Site was level, only needed 2 inch lift to level left side," reports an RVer at Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver.
Utilities access: Hookup placement can be problematic at some sites. "The hookup plugs were really far away though from the spot itself," notes a visitor to Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver.
Site selection strategy: Choosing the right site can make a big difference in comfort. "When we got there the people in 13 had pulled in the wrong direction, so if we pulled in the right way we would step out our door into their picnic table. We had friends in 14a, which is probably one of the best spots in the campground so we reversed our pull through direction where we faced their 5th wheel," shares a camper at Deschute County Expo RV Park.
Dump station options: Plan for waste management during longer stays. "They have laundry facilities but they were locked. Its kept well and maintained fairly well but we were not offered a sewer site and they have no dump station on site," mentions a visitor to Cascade Meadows RV Resort.
