Little Crater Campground

Deschutes National Forest — lakeside

Location: La Pine, OR, OR

Price: From $27 per night

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (208 reviews)

Season: May through October

Situated on the edge of the beautiful Paulina Lake, Little Crater Campground is conveniently located within Newberry National Monument. Visitors to this area are taken aback by the incredible views this area has to offer, highlighting volcanic landscapes intermixed with diverse forests, typical of central Oregon. Popular for both its geological significance and multitude of recreational activities, Little Crater Campground is ideal for individual and family camping excursions.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/little-crater-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Little Crater Campground sits on the edge of Paulina Lake within Newberry National Monument, offering incredible volcanic landscapes and diverse forests typical of central Oregon. Campers consistently praise the beautiful lakeside views and the 7.8-mile hiking trail around the lake.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Pacific Marten, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Osprey, Canada Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Mountain Chickadee, and Northern Sagebrush Lizard are verified in the area.

Insider tips for Little Crater Campground: Request a lakeside site when booking—these are highly sought after and offer the best views Book early; this is a federal campground with high demand The boat ramp area can get busy, but sites near it still offer excellent lake access

Skip Little Crater Campground if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available; only self-contained RVs suitable. You require year-round camping—seasonal operations only May through October. You prefer flush toilets—only vault toilets available.

Best time to visit Little Crater Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Newberry Group Camp Site (La Pine, OR), Chief Paulina Horse Camp (La Pine, OR), Paulina Lake Campground (La Pine, OR), East Lake Campground (La Pine, OR).