Central Oregon's Crescent area sits at approximately 4,500 feet elevation in the Deschutes National Forest, surrounded by volcanic peaks and mountain lakes. Summer temperatures typically range from 45°F at night to 80°F during the day, with occasional afternoon thunderstorms. The camping season generally runs from late April through mid-October, though some sites remain open year-round with limited services.
What to do
Boat rentals and water sports: Crescent Lake offers various watercraft options for enjoying the crystal-clear waters. At Crescent Lake Campground, campers appreciate the easy water access. "Big sites, boat ramp, clean pit toilets, you can buy firewood from the camp host or at the junction. Next to via a walk over the damn the resort that has a restaurant, dock and small store that rents SUP board, kayaks, wave runners, and canoes by the hour and sells fuel for fishing boats," notes one visitor.
Hiking trails: Numerous trails connect the lake campgrounds to scenic vistas and day-use areas. "There are hiking paths as well as the paved roads in the campground," mentions a camper who stayed at Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver. Another visitor at Crescent Lake notes, "We also found great activities nearby during the day like Crescent Lake and Moon Falls."
Fishing spots: The lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities with specific areas designated for anglers. "Sunset Cove is a beautiful campground with improved sites, group camps, and great singles. Vault toilets, firewood from camphosts, fish cleaning stations, and excellent freshwater spigots all over. The lake is gorgeous, with a lot of day time boat fishing and shore fishing," reports a camper.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds in the Crescent area offer larger-than-average sites. At LaPine State Park Campground, one visitor observed, "Campground, bathrooms, and showers are kept very clean. Campsites have plenty of room and some have shade depending on location. It is very dry and dusty but it is the high desert after all. Lots of Pine trees and wildlife. Paved road and parking."
Lakefront access: Sites with direct lake access are highly sought after. A camper at Odell Lake mentioned, "We got a camping spot right on the lake. I mean RIGHT ON the lake. One day was really nice and sunny and we went kayaking, the other day was VERY windy." Similarly, a visitor to Crescent Lake Campground noted, "Large sites, friendly hosts, lakefront sites, although many have a steep edge to the beach."
Evening atmosphere: The quiet evenings and night sky viewing opportunities receive many positive comments. "Sunset Cove is right off of Odell Lake and water access was easy to find. A trail marked with blue arrows took us from our campsite and brought us to a day-use area with a jetty, multiple picnic areas, and a beach! We enjoyed dinner and sunset there on our last night," shared one camper.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Mountain weather can change rapidly and nights remain cold even in summer. A visitor to Sunset Cove Campground shared, "Such an unexpected and beautiful spot. Right by Lake Odell with ample space between campsites so you're not right on top of other campers. Highway noise went on for sometime but eventually dwindled around 10 pm."
Road noise: Several campgrounds are located near highways, which can affect the outdoor experience. One camper noted, "This is a great campground if you're looking for something right off the road. The only downside, and probably the reason we were able to grab a spot so close to labor day weekend, is that this site is almost directly next to the highway. The traffic noise wasn't horrible, but it definitely detracted from the outdoorsy experience."
Insects: Mosquitoes can be abundant, especially in early summer. "We stayed at this campground over Memorial Day weekend in a C loop single site, and there was no disappointment! The mosquitos were fairly tame, the water was pure and clean, other campers kept quiet and to themselves, and the facilities were above our expectations for a state-run campground," reported a visitor to Diamond Lake.
Tips for camping with families
Yurt options: For families seeking yurt camping near Crescent, Oregon, several campgrounds offer these comfortable structures. "We stayed in a yurt here and inside was a sign in book with a lot of fun adventures shared from other travelers. There's walk path across the street to the river and park which was fun to tube down in the summer heat," notes a visitor to Tumalo State Park Campground.
Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds offer additional recreational facilities for children. A visitor to Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver explained, "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!"
Easy day trips: Family-friendly activities are accessible within short driving distances. "Quiet, wooded campground. No hookups. Vault bathrooms. Great areas for kids to play, lots of access to water via boat ramps or jetty or shoreline spots to sit. Close to Crescent lake where there are fun water rentals to enjoy on the lake and a great restaurant," shared one camper.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When booking an RV site, confirm the parking space is level enough. A camper at Wyeth Campground at the Deschutes River advised, "One more thing to consider if you are staying in a vehicle is that not all of the sites have flat parking spaces. I was able to make something work with my van in site 1, but site 2 would have been unpleasant for sleeping in a van. Sites 4 and 5 seemed to have the flattest parking."
Hook-up availability: Water and electrical hook-ups vary between campgrounds. "We arrived late Friday night to this quiet campground and couldn't really see what we got ourselves into. A tent from a neighboring site was fairly close to our space so we built a quick fire, pitched our tents on semi-level areas, and turned in early. When we awoke the next morning, we were pleasantly surprised!"
Seasonal considerations: For those looking for yurt camping options in Crescent, Oregon during shoulder seasons, plan accordingly. "Similar to nearby Princess Creek Campground, Sunset Cove Campground is part of the Deschutes National Forest and is located on Oddell Lake. They also both have docks for day-use boating, pit toilets, and generally nice, larger camp sites surrounded by trees."
