Best Tent Camping near Bend, OR

Camped in a tent, beautiful scenery

My wife I have been trying to go camping once a week this summer and it's been awesome. This was one of our stops! We went to the tent camp sites, I believe we picked spot 14 and were first blown away by the view. You're right on the water and overlooking the entire lake. We set up camp and the only big bummer for us the whole trip was there wasn't really a spot that we could find to avoid the huge number of ants! They didn't really bother us and our stuff but they were everywhere.

Also I'm a huge fisherman so Crane Prairie was also picked for the fishing AND the camping. But this is a very large lake so unless you have a boat the shore fishing is a challenge. I was able to pull a few off the point we were camping at but it's just so sad seeing a whole lake you cant fish because you don't have a boat.

We still had a blast, the bathrooms were conveniently located close to the tent camping but not to close. The spots were plenty far apart that if we had had company or would have been no bother.

All in all we would love to come back but the lost of other camping spots is so long its gunna be a while.

I stopped here on my motorcycle and got one of the 4 tent sites that the park has to offer.  The tent sites are at the front of the park and very close to the bathroom/shower building.  The showers and bathroom were very clean and there is WiFi available to guests. The tent sites are close to the roadway so there is a lot of truck noise through the night.  The tent area is flat with picnic tables. The tent sites were $20.00 + tax.

Showers, bathrooms, and running water are available. A tent site is $21/night with 1 car allowed. Additional cars are $7/night. There aren't any tent sites secluded from yurts and RVs, so you will be hearing generators run, though people did shut them off at 10. IMO, it's expensive for a tent site in a spot where you're surrounded by glampers.

Nice campground overall and amenities that include showers for guest, outside sinks at shower house for tent camping etc, small but newish playground, many FULL hook up sites for RVs (30amp only)… Day parking across the road from campground is river front to the Deschuttes River (very shallow) and was great for wadding in during warm months. Closest campground to Bend without being IN Bend Close to neighbors for all sites and they are all always full it seems…very convenient campground though!

Great spot for tent camping, friendly people.

One of the few places near Bend that was actually open for disperse camping in the winter. We stayed in a nice sight just across from the quarry, right by the turn around area. It was great for tent camping. Just beware that this is higher elevation and colder than Bend. We were unexpectedly snowed on in March! Also beware that some people use the quarry as a shooting range in the mornings, about 8am (safe distance away), but it's a good alarm if you're not already awake!

Awesome little campground. We came in on motorcycles & stayed overnight in tents. Owner was friendly & very accommodating, all around nice guy. Park was in process of expanding, adding a more RV hookups, a couple more tent sites, & hopefully another shower house. Would absolutely recommend if you are in Crescent, OR area, it's close to Bend, & has a couple of good restaurants close by. Will definitely be back.

I know this is an RV resort, but tent camping wasn’t like I expected. If you are tent camping you are relegated to the “tent area” which is ok, near the bathrooms so that’s a plus, but also just an open area you share with all other tent campers. They do have some ok amenities, like the pool and activities, so that may make up for the lack of privacy for some. Everything is fairly clean, and well kept up. All together not a bad spot, but I think next time we will find a campground more friendly to tent campers.

Very uncomfortable night, tent sites were on gravel. However, very nice staff & clean facilities.

Beautiful lakeside camping. A light breeze during the day helps to moderate warm days. Quiet camping. This campground is best suited for RV's with fewer sites that work well for tent camping.

Beautiful spot right on the river, but all the tent sites are on a slight slant and the parking is too steep for in vehicle sleeping.

This is a simple, wide open tent camping area and it's really close to Smith Rock. You can wake up early to see the sun on the rock formations and then hike to the climbs in approximately 20-30 minutes.

Clean and quiet. Many sites along the beautiful Metolius River. A few incredible tent sites with lots of privacy. There’s no water, but campsites with water are nearby.

This is located just out of Prineville and can get a lot of local traffic in the summer months. It is a fairly nice CG, with bathrooms and hot water. CG is set up for RV or tent camping. Primary feature is access to the water.

Picnic tables and fire pits available. Pretty good RV sites. Pretty good tent sites. Somebody even left us some wood. Other wood available in the area. Only one other camper while we were there (4-days).

Me and my girlfriend stayed at a tent campsite amongst many other tent/RV campers and it was great. Fire pit a picnic table and a short walk to the bathrooms. I would stay here again.

great campsites and frIendly host. $13 a night, tent sites were super dusty but not much of the dust came with us. The sites are visually stunning with all the Pondarosa’s (we’re not used to big trees) 10/10

 Right off Hwy 126 is this dirt parking lot where camping  is allowed. There is access to multiple hikes from this point. 

Over night parking without permit May - Oct ok, but inside a vehicle only, no tent camping allowed per sign in winter as snowplow drivers cannot see tents as well. 

No toilets or trash in this area so pack in and pack out. No cell reception.

It was just two of us in a tent. We were put in a open lot (like a field). No trees. The nearest bathroom wasn’t even enclosed, so it was like an large outhouse. I paid way too much. I just checked the website and it’s $46 for a tent site! Man, I am Cheap!

started camping at little lava lake when I was a kid with the family every summer and still do as an adult with my own family. place is absolutely gorgeous, there's hiking trails, fishing, and great people there's a lodge market at lava lake not to far away pet friendly and bathrooms tent camping or rv

This campsite was one of my favorites so far. Mostly because we had a long drive and arriving at this campsite felt good. VERY clean with private separate showers and a dish washing station outside the bathrooms. Although a smaller camp ground and the sites were relatively close it didn’t bother me. We stayed here 2 or 3 nights while exploring Bend. Maybe 10 15 minutes into bend but very heavily wooded area and on the river. We camped right in front of the play ground and there were definitely a lot of children and families. Also didn’t mind that. There also tent sites, yurts, and RV/ camper spots. I think what I enjoyed most about this site it just gave me a sense of “home” during our road trip. And of course dogs are welcome!

Loved being able to camp here, at Tumalo State Park. There were a couple of great hikes nearby that I wanted to do, so brought my husband and dog and we camped here and did some hiking. Here are a few things I really liked about this campsite:

1. Close to Bend. We wanted to stay somewhere that we were also able to tour and site see. We were able to spend some time wandering around Bend, eating at some great local places.
2. Hiking Trails- Tumalo Falls and Tumalo Mountain
3. Biking Trails
4. Great tent sites, but they also have RV sites and some yurts that you can rent

Vaulted toilets on site, water source, and the camp spaces are decent size. Highly recommend this place because again, it is close to the city but also isolated for true camping!