The Crescent area sits at approximately 4,150 feet elevation in central Oregon, surrounded by dense ponderosa pine forests and volcanic landscapes. RV camping options near Crescent range from full-service parks with modern amenities to more rustic forest settings. The region experiences significant temperature variations with warm summer days in the 80s and cool nights dropping to the 40s even in peak season.
What to do
Biking around Diamond Lake: Diamond Lake features a 12-mile walking/bike path circling the entire lake offering mountain views. "There is a 12 mile walking/bike path around the lake that is beautiful," notes a Diamond Lake RV Park visitor. The trail provides access to swimming areas and connects to amenities around the lake.
Explore nearby Crater Lake: Many campgrounds serve as base camps for Crater Lake National Park excursions. "We stayed two nights as we traveled toward Crater Lake, Oregon," mentioned a camper at Bend-Sunriver RV Campground. Diamond Lake RV Park provides accommodations approximately 40 minutes from the crater rim.
OHV trail access: Several campgrounds connect directly to off-highway vehicle trail systems. A visitor to Big Pines RV Park noted, "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."
What campers like
Large wooded sites: Campers frequently mention appreciating spacious sites set among mature trees. According to one review of Cascade Meadows RV Resort, "It has nice open spaces. Our kids had plenty of room to play out outdoor games." Another visitor noted the "dirt walking trail among a mixed sparse forest" available directly from the campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities receive positive mentions. "The bathrooms were always clean and the kids (mostly teens) found plenty to do with the pool, putt putt, pump track, etc," reported a family staying at Bend-Sunriver RV Campground.
Proximity to water recreation: Quick access to lakes and rivers ranks high for visitors. One camper at Umpqua's Last Resort mentioned, "Located just across the street from the North Umpqua River" with "Stream and river fishing holes" nearby and "Kayak rentals on Toketee Lake."
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most rv parks near Crescent, Oregon operate seasonally. According to Diamond Lake RV Park's information, they're typically open "May 15 - Oct 15," while Cascade Meadows operates "April 15 to October 15," and Big Pines RV Park runs "Apr 1 - Oct 31."
Variable internet and cell coverage: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. A camper at Crown Villa RV Resort mentioned, "It would be a 5-star rating if it were situated in a pristine natural forest. Alas, it's surrounded by suburbia," but this urban proximity provides better connectivity than forest locations.
Mosquito season considerations: Insect activity peaks in early summer. "We stayed here mid June 2018...The mosquito population, however, was quite thick at that time of year so cooking during the daytime wasn't as fun as we would have liked," reported a Diamond Lake visitor, who suggested visiting "in the mosquito off season."
Weather variability: The high elevation creates significant temperature changes. A reviewer noted, "Weather was sunny upper 80's, the nights low 40's" even during summer months, requiring appropriate clothing for cold evenings.
Tips for camping with families
Family-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated recreational facilities. "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!" reported one family.
Site selection matters: Family campers recommend researching specific site locations. "Our biggest downside was that we weren't able to select sites when we booked and because the campground is so large we ended up easily being at least 1/3 mile each way from our friends," noted a family at Bend-Sunriver RV Campground.
Bring quarters for laundry: Some campground laundry facilities require coins. "Bring quarters if you plan to wash laundry because they don't take debit cards and there isn't a change machine," advised one visitor at Bend-Sunriver.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Several rv parks near Crescent have uneven sites. One Big Pines RV Park visitor noted, "The sites at Big Pines are nearly level and well-maintained," but at Diamond Lake RV Park, a camper experienced significant issues: "Our RV site was so poorly graded that achieving a level setup proved impossible, even with extensive adjustment."
Hookup placement variations: The positioning of utilities differs between parks. One camper observed, "The hookup plugs were really far away though from the spot itself," requiring longer connection cables than standard.
Consider premium site tiers: Some rv parks offer different quality levels. At Crown Villa, "the bronze and copper were ridiculously neglected" while "if you paid extra for platinum or gold, the spaces were absolutely gorgeous and well maintained."
