Carter Lake
Siuslaw National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: REEDSPORT, OR, OR
Price: From $22 per night
Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (88 reviews)
Season: May through October
Carter Lake Campground is a family favorite in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This campground is located on Carter Lake, perfect for fishing, swimming, and boating. The Carter Dunes Trailhead is located within the campground, and the Pacific coast is just a short drive away.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/carter-lake to be notified when sites open up.
Carter Lake Campground is a family favorite in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area offering fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking with the Carter Dunes Trailhead located within the campground and the Pacific coast a short drive away.
Wildlife alert: Mountain lions and American black bears present in the area; also common raccoons and various snake species (Northwestern Garter Snake, Northwestern Ringneck Snake).
Insider tips for Carter Lake: Book early as this is a popular federal campground. Rainbow trout fishing is available on Carter Lake. Canoeing and kayaking are excellent activities on the lake.
Skip Carter Lake if: You need RV hookups—this campground has no hookups and is only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You plan to visit November through April when the campground is closed..
Best time to visit Carter Lake: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..
Nearby campgrounds: Waxmyrtle Campground (Reedsport, OR), Siltcoos Sand Camping (Reedsport, OR), Tyee Campground - Oregon Dunes (Reedsport, OR), Tahkenitch Landing (Reedsport, OR).
Cell Phone Coverage at Carter Lake
Cell signal at Carter Lake (REEDSPORT, OR): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Carter Lake Campground is a family favorite in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This campground is located on Carter Lake, perfect for fishing, swimming, and boating. The Carter Dunes Trailhead is located within the campground, and the Pacific coast is just a short drive away.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a popular federal campground.
Rainbow trout fishing is available on Carter Lake.
Canoeing and kayaking are excellent activities on the lake.
Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Florence, travel south on Highway 101 for about 10 miles. The entrance to Carter Lake Campground is on the west (right) side of Highway 101.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Siuslaw National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Siuslaw National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Carter Lake cost per night?+
What season is Carter Lake open?+
Does Carter Lake have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Carter Lake?+
How do I make reservations at Carter Lake?+
What is the cell service like at Carter Lake?+
What season is Carter Lake open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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