Accessible by a rough dirt road that requires careful navigation in the final mile, Palisades Campground provides first-come, first-served camping along the Crooked River. The Bureau of Land Management maintains this open-terrain site with pull-through spaces that accommodate RVs up to 32 feet, though smaller rigs handle the access road more easily. Sites stretch between the river and road, offering direct water access for fishing and floating.
Each of the numbered sites includes a picnic table and fire pit, with most facing the river just feet from the water's edge. The campground features two pit toilets that receive daily service, and trash collection is provided. No water, electricity, or dump stations are available on-site, requiring campers to bring all necessary supplies. David found the "cleanest vault toilets I've ever seen" during his visit.
Cell service remains limited, particularly for Verizon users, though some campers report success with satellite internet. The rocky river bottom supports fly fishing, while wildlife sightings include beavers, martens, and various waterfowl. Wind typically picks up during afternoon and evening hours. Glass and debris occasionally appear at sites, requiring some cleanup upon arrival.
For water and dump services, campers drive 15 minutes north to facilities in the area with campgrounds around Prineville. Arrive by Thursday evening or early Friday afternoon for the best site selection during peak season.
Description
Unlike most of the other campgrounds along the Crooked River, this 14.5-acre campground is set back some from the Lower Crooked Back Country Byway, providing some isolation. Campground facilities include fourteen mostly broad, spacious campsites, vault toilets and an accessible fishing pier. All but one of the campsites are at river level and accessed by a single-lane road.
Know Before You Go:
Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted. Potable water is available year-round at the upriver Chimney Rock Campground, 0.8 miles north on State HIghway 27. Cell phone service is not available in the campground. Watch for bicyclists: the section of State Highway 27 between Prineville and Bowman Dam is designated as the Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway.
Point of Interest:
The site takes its name from nearby rock outcrops composed of basaltic lava which form the steep, formidable cliff faces across the river from the campground. ADA Access: Accessible fishing pier and trail.
Fee Info
$8 per night; $2 per extra vehicle (tow vehicles excluded) with a maximum of two vehicles allowed per site.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsPalisades Campground is located in Oregon near Prineville
Directions
From Prineville, Oregon: Drive 15.3 miles south on State Highway 27; the campground will be on your right.
Address
Prineville District Office
3050 NE 3rd Street
Prineville, OR 97754
Coordinates
44.131359 N
120.823479 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GGood CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 6/18/26
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 6/18/26
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GGood CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 6/18/26
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 6/18/26
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Toilets
- Alcohol
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 44 min from Bend, OR
- 2 hrs 55 min from Albany, OR
- 2 hrs 57 min from Salem, OR
- 2 hrs 57 min from Eugene, OR

























