Best Cabin Camping near Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland

My wife and I are working remotely and exploring the PNW, and certain amenities are important: full hook up for our trailer, pet friendly, laundry, WiFi, and good location. The Camp HAS it ALL. Located in Bend, close to a Safeway grocery store, Walgreens, Starbucks and Dutch & Bros plus a lot of other places...easy drive to the freeways so you can go explore around. We’ve met a few people that are regulars there and they love it. We loved it too and will be back when in the area. Tyler, the manager is great, cool guy, knows all the details of the trailers and he can tell you a bit about Bend and about things to do since he is local. He takes good care of the place! The Camp is a small campground and very cozy. It has vintage trailers for people to rent as well as a tiny house plus full hook up sites. They also have a common area with gas grills (2), a gas fire pit with blankets available, two tables with umbrellas and chairs, great laundry facility, awesome bathrooms (individual toilette, sink and shower, 4-5 hooks, which is great so you can hang your stuff. Pass code needed for bathrooms and laundry rooms. There is a gated pet area which is great for the dogs to be off leash for a bit (kinda of hidden by the office). They have trash and recycle, which is great. We’ve seen half and half in terms of campgrounds that recycle vs those who don’t. We wish they all had a recycle option and The Camp had glass, plastic, paper, can recycle. The sites are very close to one another and there are not mature trees but you are in the city so that’s expected. While there we went on a cool drive and stopped to see the sea of lava...we are still talking about it...those lavas have been there for over 1,500 years...it is amazing and picturesque. After stopping at the sea of lava, we went to Dee Wright Observatory, walked to the top and enjoyed the beautiful view, then continued on our scenic drive to the proxy falls. It was an easy 1.25 mile (round trip) hike. It was raining so it was a bit muddy and slippery in certain areas but super fun (we had our two dogs with us and we were fine), people were doing the hike with their kids-so good for families too. We loved it. While in Bend, we went to a park in town, which was cute and people were walking around, laying in the grass, paddle Bording, kayaking and we also saw some people getting into the river on a raft. Lots to do in Bend...scenic drives, hiking, mountain biking, road biking, river water rafting, etc. This is a super cool campground, well maintained, super clean and it even has a hair salon in an air stream! This place has personality! We loved it and will be back.

As far as RV parks go, this is the coolest one I have ever been to.  They have RV pads that you can bring your own trailer to, or you can rent one of their beautifully restored vintage trailers or tiny homes that they have on site.  They have a pretty central location in town, so although you won't feel immersed in the wilderness, you will be walking distance from several great breweries and restaurants.  This is the perfect respite after camping in the boondocks for several days.  

They have a really great common area with a gas fire pit, 2 gas grills, tables, and corn hole.  They also have heated bathrooms and laundry trailers.  You can't be a great business without great staff, and the staff at The Camp Bend is really top notch.  They are a great resource about fun things to do in the area, and are always friendly.  10/10 would recommend.

Pelton park was clean and well taken care of during our visit. The park is very family-friendly, with easy physical access to restrooms, the docks and playground equipment. Pet-friendly too, stocked poo bags, poles by restrooms to hold leashes and a small fenced-in area to let the dogs run and play. Docks were clean and safe. Rental boats were well-maintained. The yomes are small, 6 people and 2 dogs is tight and gear had to stay outside with that many people, but we all fit. The lake itself is beautiful, good fishing, and appreciate the 10mph speed limit throughout the majority of the lake.

Generations of campers have stayed here, and if you have little ones, no doubt they'll want to continue the tradition. The park has experienced many improvements since the landslide transformed and closed it many years ago. Available to rent now are yomes (yurt domes) with bunkbeds and inexpensive lake view cabins with AC and heat. A swimming hole, playground and amphitheatre delight little campers, and a store/restaurant/rental business delight adults who run out of ice, beer, fishing tackle, or other necessities. Kayaks, paddle boards and other water sport equipment is available for rent. The lake is long and deep with Kokanee, Rainbow Trout and Bull Trout, but you'll need to make sure you purchase an Indian permit (available at the store) if you want to fish for them. Take a trolling boat up the narrows to the back of Round Butte Dam in the morning and rev up the engine for a mile of skiing area near Pelton Dam to cool off in the afternoon. This is a PGE park with on-site camp hosts and regular visits from the local law enforcement. You'll feel safe camping here solo or with your children. Quiet time is politely enforced. There is a community kitchen available for cooking or washing dishes and clean flush toilets and shower facilities are on site. Electrical hookups abound, even if you are tenting, you can bring an extension cord to recharge, light, or cool off your campsite.

Antelope is a strange and beautiful little place. Part ghost town, part living community, it is often a welcome oasis on the Oregon Outback cycling trail. The path north out of Prineville is a beautiful ascent-descent of the Ochoco Mountains, which is pretty exhausting. If weather is a factor (we arrived in cold, wet and punishing wind) Antelope is a much better place to camp than Shaniko which is 8 miles up on a plateau.

The RV Park is a work in progress. We arrived without a reservation and were given a very nice spot to camp behind an old diner. Some small a-frame cabins are available with more being built, and a few spots to park campers with sewer dump and 30 amp hookups.

Overall I give this campground an outstanding rating. Hospitable, well-equipped, well-situated… great spot.