Crater Lake
Campground located 7 miles off highway 44. Motor homes and large trailers not recommended due to rough steep road. There are 17 sites at lake, each site has a fire ring and table. Hand pumped water, vault toilets. Fly fishing, canoeing, and float tubing are favorites at Crater Lake. Fall season check out the display of colors our aspen stands contribute to the tranquility of the area. No gas motors on lake.
More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $10.00 a night. $5.00 with Interagency pass. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | June to October |
| Forest | Lassen National Forest |
| Fees | $10.00 a night. $5.00 with Interagency pass. |
| Rules | No gas motors on lake. Quiet time is 10PM - 8AM. Check in is 1PM and check out is 12PM. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 40.6270° N, 121.0621° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedPnf North Quincy Wcsl Rx
45 mi from the campground
- PrescribedPnf Rx
48 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 14.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Reliable RV ↗ | 28.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Top 3 MUST DO - Crater Lake National Park plus MAZAMA CAMPGROUND Review
Worth a stop
- 0.9 miCrater Day Use ↗Day use
- 10.2 miSilver Beach Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 1.3 miCrater Lake ↗6.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2.6 miDry Lakes Campsite0.08 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3 miWhite Horse B0.05 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3 miWhite Horse A0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3.3 miLogging Road Connector1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 5 more
- 3.5 miPine Creek Dispersed0.09 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 5 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Lassen National Forest.
- inLassen National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,488,712 acres
- 9.2 miCaribou Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 20,839 acres
- 13.5 miLassen Volcanic Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 79,061 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Crater Lake?
No. Crater Lake is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Crater Lake?
$10.00 a night. $5.00 with Interagency pass.
Source: Forest Service
Is Crater Lake open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season June to October.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Crater Lake have?
17 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Crater Lake?
Crater Lake is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Crater Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bogard Campground (4.1 mi, first-come), Rocky Knoll Campground (10.1 mi, first-come), and Silver Bowl Campground (10.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby