Mckay Crossing Campground

Deschutes National Forest — lakeside

Location: La Pine, OR, OR

Price: From $19 per night

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (57 reviews)

Season: May through October

McKay Crossing Campground is located off the beaten path along Paulina Creek. It provides campers with seclusion from the main road and the tranquility of hearing the creek flow. This area is good for bird watching, particularly in the wetlands located west of the campground.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Electric Hookups

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

McKay Crossing offers seclusion along Paulina Creek with opportunities for bird watching in nearby wetlands and scenic waterfall views. The campground provides a quiet, tranquil setting within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Coyote, Western Gray Squirrel, American Dipper, Great Gray Owl, Mountain Bluebird, Red-breasted Nuthatch

Insider tips for Mckay Crossing Campground: Book early as this is a federal campground with limited sites (15 total) Visit on weeknights for better availability; weekends require advance reservations The access road (FS-2010) has significant washboard conditions for 1.8 miles from pavement—use caution

Skip Mckay Crossing Campground if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available at most sites; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You visit outside May-October season—campground is closed.

Best time to visit Mckay Crossing Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

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