The best camping near Prineville Reservoir State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Prineville Reservoir State Park adventure.

100% (4 reviews)
100% (4 reviews)

Swim by day and stargaze by night at a sprawling high desert reservoir.  

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Community favorites near Prineville Reservoir State Park

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Top-rated campgrounds near Prineville Reservoir State Park

99%
(904)

Experience Heaven

11 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents157 acres · La Pine, OR
8 campsites and 2 original Mongolian Gers. The season for the camp sites is from June 1st to end of Sept and the Gers are all 12 months. weather permitting. Pets allowed, toilets on site, campfires permitted when burn ban is not in place. Now up until this year I have provided Free Firewood. I have quit doing that for a variety of reasons, the least being the cost and the work for me. I am encouraging everyone to purchase a Propane Fire Pit if you don't have one by now. I am not to the point yet of saying no big dogs. Talk to me if you think your "big dog" might not fit in. I don't like running thru other campers sites, so just be respectful. Take them for walks along the lake, not having them run thru everyone else's camp sites. No Yappers, no barking dogs, no yapper's, no pain in the butts. Why would you drive by 46 grocery stores and forget to bring ice? No loud music. I have changed quiet time to 9:00 PM. You need to listen to the chaos/stressful music I suggest you start a band or become a DJ. What I want folks to get out of being here, whether they are camping or staying in the Gers is just to “take a break”. Relax, appreciate, assess and just listen. I hope what you hear is the sound of life and of course all the Angels that make up this special piece of Heaven. Then there is the silence. The best part of “Heaven”.
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from 
$50
 / night
95%
(10)

The Camp Campground

28 sites · RVs13 acres · Bend, OR
Welcome to The Camp, Bend's premier RV park where adventure meets comfort in the heart of Oregon. Situated less than a mile from downtown Bend and just off Highway 97, we offer fully renovated sites with stunning mountain views, modern amenities, and easy access to the city's top attractions. Join us for a unique camp-cation experience that promises relaxation and adventure for the whole family, pets included. At The Camp, we cater to all adventurers with a variety of back-in RV sites tailored for everything from vans to larger RVs, offering dimensions to suit every need. Each site boasts full hookups, gravel pads with concrete and artificial grass lounging areas, and access to top-tier amenities, ensuring a comfortable and convenient stay amidst Bend's natural beauty. The Camp offers an array of amenities to enhance your experience, including a spacious community area with a fire pit and BBQ grills, clean restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. We prioritize your comfort with WiFi access, family-friendly spaces, and a dedicated onsite dog area, ensuring a welcoming environment for all our guests. Bend, Oregon, uniquely merges urban appeal with the thrill of the outdoors, boasting a vibrant mix of cultural sites, like the Deschutes Historical Museum, and top-notch dining, including the acclaimed Ariana Restaurant. Adventurers can scale Smith Rock, kayak the Deschutes River, or explore the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, offering endless exploration opportunities. The culinary scene is equally diverse, from the innovative dishes of Ariana Restaurant to the craft brews of Deschutes Brewery, highlighting Bend's dedication to quality, creativity, and local tastes, appealing to both food lovers and casual diners.
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$94
 / night
98%
(108)

Big Rock Ranch

2 sites · Lodging30 acres · Terrebonne, OR
Nathaniel and Raina Potter purchased this 30-acre ranch in 2016 and aptly named it "Big Rock Ranch." The modest ranch layout with the wildly immodest views of a giant rock outcropping jutting out of coyote butte was the immediate draw and continual wonder to Nathaniel, Raina, and all who visit. Big Rock Ranch runs cattle in the irrigated pastures and chickens for meat and eggs. Stay at Big Rock Ranch...Stay in a 12x14 ft canvas tent on a working regenerative family farm in the high desert. Enjoy views of a 300+ ft Tuff rock formation, Cascade Mountains, and irrigated pasture views all from the tent. Cook your own meals in the outdoor kitchen, outfitted with propane burners and a sink. Eat meals from the tent deck or the picnic table under native junipers surrounded by sagebrush, bitterbrush, and native grasses and tuff boulders. Collect farm fresh eggs and greens seasonally with the opportunity to enjoy meat raised at the ranch. One queen bed in a canvas tent, one folding cot, and access to a 2-person tent if needed to accommodate a family or two couples. Bedding is NOT supplied beyond the queen bed. Recreation Activities: Limited hiking available onsite but only 8 minutes from Smith Rock State Park for hiking and climbing. Only 25 minutes from Lake Billy Chinook for water recreating. Just 15 minutes from mountain biking at Skull Hollow. A 10-minute drive to swimming in the Deschutes River at Borden Beck Wildlife Preserve. Bend and Sisters are both 30-minutes away. Night rates are offerings to our family and ranch.
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$126
 / night
96%
(81)

Back Side of Painted Hills Camping

1 site · RV, Tent320 acres · Mitchell, OR
This 320 acre plot of land on which you can hike anywhere has been in our family since 1993. Large, graveled spot for tents or two vehicles with excellent view for miles and miles and night star gazing. Primitive outhouse. Juniper forest with sage brush... basically high desert vegetation. We only allow one reservation per night, although there is lodging (reserved) at the log home almost out of sight up above you. You can arrange vehicles or tents to not be in view or block any view from house way above. 320 acres to hike and roam. Mitchell is 10 miles away with well stocked grocery and feed store, restaurants, small brewery, and tire shop. We give directions fairly quickly. Road is wide, but steep at top. 4 wheel drive is recommended. Very close to the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National monument, Ochoco National Forest is seven miles. John Day River for swimming, rafting about 20 minutes. If you can book, it means you can drive on up with out contacting us.  As you drive in if at night, you will see a light on the outhouse.
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$20.50
 / night

The best camping near Prineville Reservoir State Park guide

Overview

About

Surrounding a 3,000-acre canyon reservoir in the arid high desert of Central Oregon, Prineville Reservoir State Park offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, and other water sports, with multiple boat ramps and moorages for visitor use. Although the water is the main draw, the park also attracts those who prefer to keep dry, with a couple of moderate hiking trails and chances to spot birds and other wildlife, particularly once you get away from the popular day-use area. The International Dark Sky Park’s stargazing alone makes it worth staying the night at Prineville Campground, home to tent sites and full-hookup sites, plus a handful of log cabins.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Reservations for the main campground open six months in advance, at 6am each day on the Oregon State Parks online system.
  2. If you're unable to get a spot at the main campground, head to Jasper Point for its first-come, first-served campsites.
  3. Quite a few primitive, drive-in, and boat-in campsites can be found along the reservoir. Check directly with park rangers for availability.
  4. Other people’s cancellations can work in your favor. Check in with the park directly to see if any last-minute spots have opened up (openings under a day away are not bookable online).

When to go

Prineville Reservoir State Park is open year-round, but it’s at its most popular in the hot summer months. Due to its dark sky status, the park is particularly popular during the annual Perseid meteor shower in mid-August. If you want to beat the crowds and still take advantage of warm days, consider visiting in late spring or early autumn, when school is in session. While Oregon tends to be rainy this time of year, Prineville’s location east of the Cascade Mountains keeps things dry.

Know before you go

  • The high desert location means that while summer days can be quite hot, temperatures drop dramatically at night. Bring layers.
  • The campground has two accessible campsites and two accessible log cabins.
  • You can buy food and supplies in the nearby city of Prineville, about a 20-minute drive from the park.

 

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