3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV parks serve the Malheur National Forest area with varying amenities and accessibility. Grant County RV Park in John Day provides full hookup sites with 20/50 amp electrical service, water, and sewer connections. Sites are level gravel pads situated along the John Day River with some pull-through options available. "The sites in the row we were in were all pull-throughs and the John Day River was just beyond the road which was nice," noted one visitor, though they mentioned sites are positioned close together with minimal privacy. Burns RV Park offers big-rig friendly spaces and includes 50-amp service with water and sewer hookups, while Fish House Inn and RV Campground provides similar full-service sites with the addition of picnic tables at each location.
Seasonal considerations affect RV camping in this region, with some parks like Sumpter RV Park operating year-round while others have limited availability during winter months. Most parks in the area are first-come, first-served, though a few accept reservations. Cell service varies significantly throughout the forest region, with better reception near towns like Burns and John Day. Sanitary dump stations are available at most developed RV parks, including Grant County and Burns RV Park. Many campgrounds permit pets, though restrictions may apply. Road access to some sites requires navigating mountain roads with elevation changes and tight turns, particularly for larger rigs heading to more remote locations. Shade availability differs between parks—Grant County offers some tree cover while more exposed sites may experience intense summer heat.
"Shaded pull through and easy back in sites. Good value. Stream running next to the sites. Close to town. It is next to the fairgrounds, but very quit when no events."
"Self service kiosk, 30$ a night full hook ups. Pull throughs and back in sites. Showers and bathrooms are clean and across a grass area (see photo)"
from $45 / night
"FEATURES: PROS:
-A firepit with wood is provided for guests. The owner says he sometimes hosts "Smore Nights," for guests in peak season. "
"We visited during Oregon’s “high” season, so by the time we booked, only back in spots were available for our big rig."
"Easy back in and lovely grassy area. Full hook ups allowed us to "refresh"! I'd definitely stay here again when in the area."
"It was right next to the bathrooms but that was ok for us. The hot showers were lovely. The camp host was super nice. We enjoyed sitting outside on a hot evening. There is even a laundry."
from $25 - $150 / night
"Full hookups. 30/50 amps power. Camp area clean. Large sites."
"The park was clean, and the restrooms/laundry room was spotless. We really enjoyed exploring the area in the evenings."
"I highly suggest this campground for Sumpter Oregon, the campground just went under new ownership and they are doing such a great job taking care of it and making it a fun family friendly destination."
from $34 - $44 / night
"Small RV park with large, level pull thru sites. Nice grass areas to relax in. Full hookup....water, electricity, sewer, but no shower or flush toilets."
"But if you need a break from the drive for a night or more, this is the place. Food and other resources are nearby, some walking distance (food)."
"This is in Burns/Hines Oregon. This town is basically a stopover between Boise/Treasure Valley and Bend, Oregon. This park is well suited just for an overnight on the road."
from $45 / night
"Date Stayed: July 7th& 8th 2019 Campsite:#25 was level Price:$26 electrical Dump Station: Yes Altitude: 2875 ft Camp Host: Didn't meet Ease of Access: Very easy, our 28 ft travel trailer fit with room"
"This is always such a great place to stop when traveling between Idaho and western Oregon. It has lots of shade, lawn, and hedges that offer privacy between the large camp sites."
Available this weekend
from $26 - $32 / night
TravelerWe have camped here many times over the years. Last year they were closed for renovation. Love the heated bathrooms, especially in the off season. Nice trails along the river. Fall color is excellent. Just a few miles from town, groceries, restaurants. Services.
Guidehot springs 10/10. no service, and extremely rough road. i was the only one there mid day, some hunters on the hill stopped me on the way out and harassed me about traveling alone/inviting them to swim with me. i do not recommend this spot if you are a solo female traveler. some cool spots to camp, great springs, but weird people with no service had me turn around and find a new spot.
TravelerA variety of site sizes/deapthes that all seemed to be easy to get into. Road noise near the highway could be annoying for light sleepers. Nice hiking path to a wayside to the west along the river.
GuideWe stayed here in early October, hoping the mosquitos would be gone so late in the year, but they were still out in force.
The potable water to the campground has been shut off since August 2026, with no time frame given as to when it will be turned back on.
The vault toilets are... "vintage," with the lock to the door on one of the two outhouses not working. However, the camp host is at least diligent in keeping the outhouses clean.
There are only about a dozen campsites, but there were only two other parties camping at Chukar Park the night we were there, so finding a good site was still easy. Some of the sites are situated along a bank of the north fork of the Malheur River, and the setting with the river and mature cottonwoods is exceptional - or would be without the mosquitos. We spent most of our time inside our van.
The price is certainly right: $5 / night, or $2.50 / night if you have a Natl. Parks and Federal Lands Pass. Only cash is accepted, and the sites are all first-come first-serve.
ScoutIt's 5 miles off highway 20 up a washboard gravel road. The campsites are nicely spaced with trees between most sites. It's primitive with no hook ups and pit toilets. I was there in early Oct and the water spickets were still working. The price of $5 was perfect (1/2 price for America the Beautiful pass holders). Can't beat that! No cell service.
GuideSite #27 great view of lake. Cost $8 with senior pass. Hiked around lake great trail with awesome views. Saw 8 otters playing and swimming in lake and a couple of grouse on the trail. Only negative is gravel road in, just go slow.
GuideAccess via primitive road on east bank of river to cross small channel to island hotspring. Half dozen campsites on this road. West bank road goes miles up into BLM land popular camping for hunting
TravelerThis is a decent affordable campground with two pit toilets and only costs $8 per night. No fresh water.
There are larches/tamaracks here but unfortunately they hadn’t changed to their fall colors yet when I was there.
TravelerUnfortunately, the water here smelled like death. The camp host was super nice and pleasant and came to warn me before I filled my fresh water tank. She even offered me free firewood because of the bad water. She said that someone is testing it daily and it somehow passes. I had rinsed my hands in preparation to fill, and I could not get the smell off for hours, so I don’t know how it passed! In light of the water situation, I decided to stay at a cheaper dry camp further down the highway.
Malheur National Forest RV camping options span elevations from 4,000 to 9,000 feet across eastern Oregon's diverse terrain. Most RV campgrounds near Malheur National Forest experience hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, while spring and fall offer milder conditions. Water conservation is necessary at many sites during peak summer months when natural water sources may be limited.
Wildlife viewing near Burns: Burns RV Park offers a convenient base for exploring Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. "Drove out to do the Steens Mountain loop, see the Round Barn, etc. Love this area and nice to come back to a comfortable site. Love all the quail, squirrels and listening to coyotes at night," notes camper Jill R.
Visit historical sites: The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is accessible from Fish House Inn and RV Campground. Camper Kim G. shares, "We stayed here as we had plans to visit John Day Fossil Beds National Monument the next day. We pulled our class B onto a lovely grassy FHU site."
Explore ghost towns: The semi-ghost town of Sumpter offers a glimpse into Oregon's mining history. Lawrence M. at Gold Rush RV Park mentions, "Awesome stay, near semi ghost town of Sumpter, OR."
Clean facilities: Many RV parks maintain exceptional cleanliness standards. Gerard M. staying at Fish House Inn notes, "The bathrooms and showers are exceptionally clean and nice...they even include cloth hand and bath towels for you to use!"
Riverside locations: Several campgrounds feature water access. Dave B. mentions Grant County RV Park has a "Stream running next to the sites. Close to town." This provides both scenic views and recreational opportunities.
Shade from summer heat: Trees provide essential relief during hot summer days. Jim M. describes Grant County RV Park as "Secluded with trees and a large grass area," offering natural protection from the intense eastern Oregon sun.
Spacious sites: Quail Ridge RV Park offers ample space despite its simple layout. Greg K. observes, "It's surprisingly empty, for a Saturday. The few that are here seem to be long-term, as the size of their propane tanks demonstrate. But that's only a few and the camp has many, many more open spots."
Water pressure variations: Some RV campgrounds at Malheur National Forest require pressure regulators. Mike E. at Quail Ridge RV Park cautions, "The water pressure is about 100PSI, so use your regulator unless you want to risk popping your plumbing at some place or another."
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely throughout the region. Rich J. at Timbers Inn and RV Park suggests using it as a "good home base for exploring the area" since connectivity may be limited while traveling.
Seasonal closures: Water systems at some parks shut down during colder months. Melanie A. notes that at Quail Ridge RV Park during late fall, "There was no water and the bathroom/shower build was also turned off."
Tree sap concerns: Trees providing shade can sometimes create maintenance issues. Rachel H. warns about Burns RV Park: "Our back in spot was under trees that drip sap. We have sap on our rig and our tow."
Recreation options: Sumpter RV Park offers family-friendly activities. Anthony T. recommends, "Sumpter has a lot to offer and we can't wait to go back do the train and hopefully rent a side by side and explore the trails in the area."
Small-town exploration: Dayville offers unique shops within walking distance. Charyl B. shares about Dayville South Fork RV Park: "Dayville is a very cute little town, with cute lil shops! Great location to stay to explore the area!"
Onsite games: Some Malheur National Forest RV campgrounds provide entertainment options. Joey and Lauren T. mention Burns RV Park has "lots of camping games available to play and there's 3 dog areas."
Pet areas: Multiple campgrounds accommodate pets with designated spaces. Amanda W. notes Burns RV Park offers "yard games on site too for convenience and fun!" making it suitable for the whole family.
Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven sites at some locations. Kelsey G. at Burns RV Park notes, "Our site was unlevel so we needed our levelers."
Access considerations: Some parks offer pull-through options for easier parking. Jack P. at Grant County RV Park shares, "I checked in late and it was a little confusing. Had a hard time getting the PIN to access the bathroom."
Overnight stops: When traveling through, consider parks with easy highway access. Jill R. found Hitching Post RV Park "perfect for what I needed. Full hookups, easy parking, nice view of a local ranch in the back, deer everywhere!! It was also super quiet all night."
Long-term stays: For extended visits, look for parks with stable utilities. Melissa S. recommends Gold Rush RV Park: "We stayed at The Gold Rush RV park in Sumpter, OR for one week. We absolutely loved our stay. The park was clean, and the restrooms/laundry room was spotless."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Malheur National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Malheur National Forest is Grant County RV Park with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Malheur National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 60 RV camping locations near Malheur National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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