Prineville RV campers find multiple options within a 30-mile radius of this high desert town at 2,800 feet elevation. Located in Oregon's rain shadow, the area receives only 10-11 inches of precipitation annually, creating consistently dry camping conditions through summer and fall. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing, affecting water services at some facilities.
What to Do
Fishing access: directly on-site at Lake Simtustus RV Park. A recent camper notes, "Good fishing off dock and near the campground." The park offers boat slips and equipment rentals including pontoons and kayaks.
Mini golf: available at multiple parks around Prineville. According to a visitor at Bend-Sunriver Thousand Trails, "They have a nice blend of family activities but also plenty of quiet time. All the amenities make it a great place to stay for a few days." The property includes mini-golf, swimming pools, and outdoor movie screenings.
Hiking trails: accessible from campgrounds in the region. Crooked River Ranch RV Park connects to Matt's Trail along the canyon rim, rated as easy, plus the BLM Crooked River Trail that leads to water access. One visitor describes it as "a nice walking trail that takes you around the campground along the canyon edge."
What Campers Like
Level concrete pads: highly rated at several parks. A camper at Deschute County Expo RV Park mentions, "It has paved roads and concrete level pads with full hookups. Close to the town of Redmond and Bend. Clean bathrooms and showers. Big rig friendly." These flat surfaces eliminate the need for leveling blocks.
Destination chargers for EVs: available at Crook County RV Park. "Two Rivian destination chargers on site. Sites are close together with minimal shade but a great stop on the way to more remote parts of Oregon, especially strategic if towing with an EV," reports a recent visitor, highlighting an emerging amenity for electric vehicle owners.
Canyon views: particularly notable at certain sites. RVs positioned along the rim at Crooked River Ranch provide scenic overlooks. "RVs back up against the canyon rim and have a beautiful backdrop," explains one reviewer, describing the unique terrain advantage at select locations.
What You Should Know
Coin-operated showers: common at several facilities. A camper at Crooked River Ranch advises, "My only issue was the bathrooms were clean and great but you needed quarters to take a shower. I don't carry quarters and usually only use them for laundry but add the shower fee to that it was easily 6-8$ in quarters and no one would give me that. There is no quarter machine on the premises."
Substantial price variations: between standard and premium sites. At Crown Villa RV Resort, the pricing structure creates significant differences. "Unfortunately, Crown Villa bronze category was extremely disappointing. Now if you paid extra for platinum or gold, the spaces were absolutely gorgeous and well maintained. However, the bronze and copper were ridiculously neglected."
Limited shade: affects summer comfort at many parks. As one Crook County RV Park visitor observed, "Would have been 5 stars except sites not large and not enough shade trees for heat wave weather." The high desert climate regularly produces 90+ degree days from June through August.
Tips for Camping with Families
Swimming options: vary significantly between parks. Bend/Sisters Garden RV Resort provides full recreational facilities including "a store, pool, and hot tub," according to reviewers, while others have limited or no swimming facilities. Some parks maintain seasonal pool operations from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Kid-friendly fishing ponds: found at select locations. Crook County RV Park offers a unique feature as one camper notes: "Across the street is a family park with a children's fishing pond that is stocked with rainbow trout for anyone 17 and under." These dedicated youth fishing spots require no license for children.
Open play spaces: available at specific campgrounds. Families appreciate areas for outdoor activities, with one visitor to Bend-Sunriver Thousand Trails mentioning, "This campground has amazingly soft parade grounds for tons of outdoor games."
Tips from RVers
Site privacy considerations: vary dramatically by location and tier. A recent visitor to Crown Villa RV Resort noted, "This is a very peaceful campsite, with tall ponderosa pines everywhere," while another observed, "Spaces are very close together and the ones with large gravel 'lawns' between them smell strongly of animal urine." Site selection significantly impacts experience.
Wi-Fi reliability: widely inconsistent. At Lake Simtustus RV Park, a visitor praised the "good WiFi," while another campground reviewer reported, "I didn't get good WiFi. My TV couldn't connect. Although my laptop connected fine in the laundry room." Signal strength often depends on site location within each park.
Propane refill service: offered at select locations. Bend/Sisters Garden RV Resort provides a convenient amenity where "if you put out your propane tank in front of your spot, they'll pick it up, refill it and deliver back," saving RVers the hassle of disconnecting to refill tanks elsewhere.
