Camping in the high desert near Redmond, Oregon offers distinct experiences across four seasons, with summer temperatures often exceeding 90°F and winter nights frequently dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 3,000-3,500 feet, creating dramatic temperature swings between day and night even in summer months. The volcanic landscape provides unique camping settings with juniper trees and sagebrush creating the characteristic Central Oregon camping environment.
What to do
Swimming at waterfalls: Steelhead Falls offers a refreshing swimming hole accessible via a half-mile trail from the Steelhead Falls Trailhead & Campground. "Only half a mile to see the steelhead waterfall" and "Half mile easy hike to the waterfall but the trail keeps going another Half-ish mile for a slightly longer walk," report campers who appreciate this short hike with big payoff.
Mountain biking access: Camping near Sisters puts you close to excellent mountain biking trails. "Walking and biking to restaurants, shops, movies, breweries, festivals, and many bike trails," notes a reviewer at Creekside Sisters City Park who enjoys the trail connections.
Rock climbing prep: Smith Rock State Park provides world-class climbing opportunities with camping options. "Smith is awesome for climbing, hiking, slacklining, and generally enjoying being outside. The bivy site has real bathrooms with running water, charging stations, showers, and a sink for dishes," shares one enthusiastic climber.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Billy Chinook offers excellent angling at Cove Palisades State Park. "Catch and release fishing at the on-site pond for trout the size of steelhead" mentions a visitor to Bend / Sisters Garden RV Resort, highlighting fishing options in the area.
What campers like
Clean shower facilities: Multiple campgrounds offer well-maintained bathroom facilities that campers frequently praise. "Fantastic showers with hot water! The campground is usually busy and it next to the highway which made it little loud during rush hour," notes a camper at Tumalo State Park Campground.
Dark night skies: The high desert location provides exceptional stargazing. "Hot and dry during the day but cooled off at night and had great view of the night sky," reports a visitor at Steelhead Falls Trailhead Campground, highlighting the astronomical benefits of camping in this area.
Convenient town access: Many campgrounds provide easy access to nearby towns. "Only a 10 minute drive from Bend, Tumalo offers a sophisticated camping experience. Heated individual showers, clean bathrooms, and quick access to firewood are a big step up from the usual camping basics," shares one camper about Tumalo State Park.
Level sites: The terrain in the Redmond area typically provides good camping surfaces. "With over a hundred concrete spaces, each with a grill, picnic table, water, sewer, and electric. But there's more! Fantastic showers, laundry and friendly staff," says a reviewer about Deschute County Expo RV Park.
What you should know
Fire restrictions: High desert conditions often lead to fire bans. A camper at Smith Rock State Park Campground notes, "No campfires because of previous forest fires. Sleep, then get out and enjoy the hike or climbing."
Extreme temperature swings: Summer days can be scorching while nights get quite cool. "It's beautiful, newly re-done, ~70 big flat open sites, gravel (but flat), not much privacy from your neighbor but it all has a very open and big feel... Very little shade, I'd imagine it's miserably hot in the summer," warns a camper at Skull Hollow Campground.
Water availability: Not all campgrounds provide drinking water. "No water nearby. Closest place we found was Smith Rock day use area. Pay the day use fee and fill water jugs there," advises one camper staying at Steelhead Falls.
Busy peak seasons: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer. "Very popular and crowded, but full of amenities. This is a very convenient, family-oriented campground. The camp hosts take 'quiet time' very seriously," reports a Tumalo State Park visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming: Look for protected swimming areas at larger lakes. "Has a shallow swimming area surrounded by wood docks to protect swimmers from the wake," mentions a visitor to Crooked River Campground at The Cove Palisades State Park.
Educational ranger programs: Several state parks offer programs for children. "They put on a power point for the kids about local animals," shares a camper at Deschutes River Campground, highlighting activities that engage younger visitors.
Recreational amenities: Some campgrounds offer specific family activities. "They have a pool (which was always crowded), and they also have a place where you can rent bikes and petal-kart rentals. My family and I did this one morning and had an absolute blast," says one visitor about the Redmond KOA.
Evening activities: Look for campgrounds with special evening programs. "This could be a really nice place for families, some of the spaces are very open. We did a couple hiking trails and drove to the lookouts," notes a Crooked River Campground visitor.
Tips from RVers
Level site availability: Concrete pads at Deschute County Expo make for stable setup. "All of the pads are paved, and each spot has a picnic table. It seems like everyone that is here has a fairly new rig and there is no evidence of long-term campers," reports one RVer.
Vehicle length considerations: Check restrictions before arrival. "There is a sign in the way in indicating 30ft length max, but there is no mention on the BLM site. They must mean trailer length since we had no issues with our 22' trailer and rig (40ft total)," advises an RVer at Steelhead Falls.
Full hookups: For complete services, select appropriate campgrounds. "Very nice, well maintained campground, pond to fish in, mini golf, pool and on site small store," mentions a camper at Bend / Sisters Garden RV Resort describing the amenities.
Propane service: Some RV parks offer convenient propane refill options. "One of my favorite perks was if you put out your propane tank in front of your spot, they'll pick it up, refill it and deliver back," shares an RVer staying at Bend / Sisters Garden RV Resort.