Several campgrounds near Crater Lake National Park accommodate tent and RV camping, with sites ranging from primitive to full hookups. Mazama Village Campground within the park operates seasonally from mid-June through late September without hookups. Most private RV parks in the area remain open longer, with some offering year-round access. Weather conditions change dramatically by season, with summer temperatures averaging 70°F during the day and dropping to 40°F at night.
What to do
Hike waterfalls near Prospect: Crater Lake RV Park in Prospect places you close to numerous waterfall hikes. "I stopped in here to camp while I checked out the surrounding area (Crater Lake, National Forest, Lava beds). The hosts and owner are top notch," reports Peter M.
Explore Annie Creek Trail: Access this trail directly from Mazama Village Campground. "We loved that we could access the Annie Creek trail from within the campground," notes Denise D. The trail follows a scenic canyon with varied terrain.
Mountain biking and OHV trails: Big Pines RV Park offers access to a trail system from the north side of the campground. "If you ride ohv's there is a trailhead connected to the Gilchrist Forest with tons of great riding and a lot of non technical smoother dirt roads for little ones in training," explains Chris S.
Kayak or canoe: Creek access is available at several campgrounds. At Crater Lake Resort, "the resort offered free canoe rentals, but we had brought our own kayaks and used them in the slow moving creek," shares Katy D.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Campers frequently spot birds and other animals. "The wildlife is so cool. Great spot for birdwatching! Be wary of bears though. Each site provides a bear box to help ward them off," explains Bri C. about Mazama Village Campground.
Weekend community events: Some campgrounds host special activities. At Crater Lake RV Park, "they have a Saturday Campfire, with music, food and drink. Open to the camp. It's a great place to kick back and relax with some live music," says Peter M.
Clean bathroom facilities: Waterwheel RV Park & Campground receives consistent praise for cleanliness. "The bathrooms/showers are immaculate and are accessed via a keypad. There is also a very nice laundry room," notes Lee D.
Riverside locations: Several campgrounds feature water access. "Nice sites set in giant fir trees with full hookups. Sites have concrete with gravel and walking distance to the lake and south shore Pizza Parlor," explains Dean about Diamond Lake RV Park.
What you should know
Limited or no connectivity: Cell service varies greatly by location. "Campground near the lake, with full hook-ups. Disappointing, and for us a disadvantage, there was no cellphone reception and no internet access possible. Also no WiFi available," reports Tjitte F. about Diamond Lake RV Park.
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds operate on limited schedules. At Umpqua's Last Resort & Oregon Mountain Guides, visitors can find accommodations beyond the typical camping season with "a mix of petite RV sites, deluxe RV sites, Super RV sites, glamping tents, cabins with heat and A/C, a cottage, a tiny home, camper, retro bunkhouse, and retro RV," according to Lee D.
Mosquito concerns: Insects can affect camping comfort during certain seasons. "The mosquito population was quite thick at that time of year so cooking during the daytime wasn't as fun as we would have liked," notes Racheil H. about camping at Diamond Lake in mid-June.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds sit close to main roads. "Sites located between main highway and lake edge. There is some distance between sites and each has a pretty good view of the water," mentions Valerie J.
Tips for camping with families
Look for playground facilities: Families appreciate dedicated play areas. "My daughter liked the little playground and chasing the groundhogs around their hill," shares Kodi R. about Waterwheel RV Park.
Choose campgrounds with beach access: Several locations offer swimming opportunities. "You have about 8' from your RV door to your neighbor's. Not much in the area to see. Staff was so so friendly!" notes Paul C. about Waterwheel RV Park & Campground.
Reserve early for peak season: For summer camping, especially at the national park, arrive early. "We knew campsites were FCFS so we arrived by noon and formed a line. At 2pm park staff opened up and we were lucky to get a spot," advises Laura H. regarding Mazama Village Campground.
Consider camping cabins: For families with young children or during unpredictable weather, cabins provide extra comfort. "Stayed in the primitive cabin for an evening with the spouse and our dog. The beds in the cabin were wood, so we should have brought more pillows," suggests Katy D.
Tips from RVers
Check site orientation: At some campgrounds, site layouts might not align with RV designs. "We stayed at Mazama campground where our site D1 was facing the opposite way so that the fire ring, picnic table and amenities was on the non door and side of our trailer," warns Robert D., suggesting "if you pick a numbered site be sure you pick an even numbered site so your rig is in the correct position."
Consider site size limitations: Not all RV parks accommodate larger rigs. "Our RV site was so poorly graded that achieving a level setup proved impossible, even with extensive adjustment. At one point, I had three wheels completely off the ground," reports Casey L. about Diamond Lake RV Park.
Look for pull-through availability: Many RV sites near Crater Lake offer pull-through options. At Big Pines RV Park, "mostly pull through sites" are available with "level sites," according to SEAN E., making it easier to position larger vehicles.
Check hookup availability: "We stayed for one week in site#23 with 50-amp electric service and water," shares On the Road of Adventure K. about Waterwheel RV Park. "Only the middle row of the park has full hookups," providing important information for RVers requiring specific connections.
