There is plenty of dispersed camping near Crater Lake National Park because its almost entirely surrounded by Fremont Winema National Forest and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. These forests allow dispersed camping up to 14 days.
Dispersed Camping Near Crater Lake National Park
The following campsites were selected based on our own experiences camping there and based on popularity with other boondockers…
Forest Road 960
(GPS 43.0892, -122.0705) – 17.7 miles to Rim Village Visitor Center – Also known as “Summit Rock” and “Rock Quarry”, Forest Road 960 is north of Crater Lake National Park, right off of State Highway 138. There are several previously-used clearings along NF-960 that can accommodate larger RVs and trailers. However the road up to the peak of Summit Rock requires 4WD and is rocky and bumpy enough that only cars, trucks, and SUVs should attempt. Mosquitoes get pretty bad here during the Summer. (Read reviews of Forest Road 960 on FreeRoam)
Forest Road 961
(GPS 43.0955, -122.0825) – 18.6 miles to Rim Village Visitor Center – Forest Road 961 branches off of Forest Road 960 (see above) but runs for about four miles total, with dozens of previously-used campsites. It lies north of Crater Lake National Park. Some of these sites are large enough for 40+ foot long rigs. The road itself is well-traveled and is suitable for 2WD vehicles. Mosquitoes run rampant here during the Summer. (Read reviews of Forest Road 961 on FreeRoam).
Forest Road 940
(GPS 43.0882, -122.0050) – 21.0 miles to Rim Village Visitor Center – Located north of Crater Lake National Park, right off of State Highway 138, Forest Road 940 runs for about 1 mile north from the highway. There are a few sites that can accommodate large RVs, but the rest are for small rigs. The road is narrow and bumpy, but 4WD is not required. However, if all of the larger sites are taken, it will be difficult for large RVs to get turned around. (Read reviews of Forest Road 940 on FreeRoam).
Forest Road 70
(GPS 43.0857, -121.9517) – 23.7 miles to Rim Village Visitor Center – Also located north of Crater Lake National Park, right off of State Highway 138, Forest Road 70 is a well-traveled road, with several smaller forest roads branching off. Dispersed camping is permitted throughout this area. There are dozens of sites large enough for 40+ foot rigs, and 4WD is not required in most places. (Read more about Forest Road 70 on Campendium).
Thousand Springs Sno-Park
(GPS 42.9129, -122.3246) – 17.1 miles to Rim Village Visitor Center – This is a parking lot where trucks can off-load sno-mobiles during the snow season. It’s part of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Between November 1 and April 30 a parking permit is required, but outside of that it’s totally free. There are no limitations on how long you can remain parked, and it’s also common to see people leave their trailers here unhitched. (Read more about Thousand Springs Sno-Park on Campendium).
Annie Creek Sno-Park
(GPS 42.7613, -122.0589) – 17. 3 miles to Rim Village Visitor Center – This is a parking lot where trucks can off-load sno-mobiles during the snow season. It’s part of the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Between November 1 and April 30 a parking permit is required, but outside of that it’s totally free. There are no limitations on how long you can remain parked, and it’s common to see people leave their trailers here unhitched. (Read more about Annie Creek Sno-Park on Campendium).