Campsites at Mazama Campground (2026 Guide)

Introduction

Mazama Campground opens each year only when the snow melts enough to clear the sites - usually June, sometimes later. In 2025, it closed on September 25. In 2026, expect a similar window, but the exact dates depend entirely on conditions at 6,000 feet. The campground fills 214 sites, all managed by the concessioner ExplorCraterLake, and reservations are required. Most first-time visitors to Crater Lake assume they can roll in and find a spot. They cannot.

This is the only full-service drive-up campground inside the park. That makes it the logical base for anyone exploring the rim, the trails, or the lake itself - but only if you plan ahead. This guide covers what you need to know to book a site, what to expect when you arrive, and what the official website doesn't always make obvious.

Booking and Fees: What You Will Pay

Reservations open on a rolling basis through recreation.gov. You cannot book directly with the campground office. For a complete visitor guide to staying at Crater Lake, including other lodging options and day-use tips, see our hub article.

Site Types and Costs (as of 2026)

• Tent Site - $35 per night. 121 sites are tent-only. Each comes with a picnic table, fire ring, and bear-resistant food locker.
• RV No-hookups - $35 per night. 75 sites fit RVs but offer no electric or water hookups.
• RV Electricity Only - $48 per night. Sites with 30-amp electric service.
• RV Full Hookups - $57 per night. Includes electric, water, and sewer.
• PCT Hikers and Bicyclist Walk-In Camp - $5 per person. This area is reserved for visitors arriving on foot or by bike with no vehicle. Registration fee is per person.

Prices are per night and include the site fee only. The park entrance fee of $35 per vehicle (valid for seven days) is separate. If you have an America the Beautiful pass, that covers the entrance fee.

What the Reservation System Does Not Tell You

The website lists site details, but it does not flag that not all loops open at the same time. Early in the season (June through early July), some loops may remain closed due to lingering snow. The concessioner decides when each loop is ready. If you book a site in Loop A but Loop B is the only one open, you might be reassigned. Call ahead if you have a strong preference.

Check-in is after 4 pm. Check-out is before 11 am. Generators are allowed between 8 am and 8 pm. Quiet hours run from 10 pm to 7 am. These times are enforced, and the camp hosts are on-site.

Site Layout and Amenities

The campground sits in an old-growth forest of mountain hemlock and Shasta red fir. Sites are set among the trees, giving decent privacy between neighbors compared to many national park campgrounds. The elevation - 1,829 meters (6,000 feet) - means nights are cool even in August. Bring a warm sleeping bag.

Bear Lockers

Every site has a bear-resistant food locker. Use it for all food, trash, scented items, and cooking gear. Rangers will tell you that bears and raccoons are common visitors here. Do not leave anything in your tent or vehicle overnight. The lockers are large enough for a standard cooler and a couple of duffel bags.

Water and Restrooms

The campground has potable water spigots throughout, but they are turned off during winter and after the campground closes. Flush toilets are available in the restroom buildings. No showers. The closest showers are at the Mazama Village store area, about half a mile away, but those may be closed early and late in the season - check the concessioner's hours.

Dump Station

A dump station is located near the campground entrance. It is open during the campground operating season. There is no additional fee for registered campers.

Seasonal Operations and Current Conditions

Mazama Campground is strictly summer-only. The typical window: opens mid-to-late June, closes late September. In 2025, it closed September 25. In 2026, the opening date is uncertain - the park service will decide based on snowmelt, safety, and site readiness.

What Is Closed Right Now (as of May 2026)

According to current NPS alerts, several features in the park are unavailable:

• Cleetwood Cove Trail - Closed for rehabilitation. This is the only legal trail to the lake shore. If you were planning to hike down to the water or take a boat tour, that is not possible in 2026. The trail and marina are being fully rebuilt.
• North Entrance Road and Rim Drive - Closed for the season. They will not reopen until mid-to-late June or July 2026. This means you must enter through the South or West Entrance (Highway 62) and approach the campground from the south.
• Gas station at Mazama Village - Closed for the season. No gasoline is available anywhere in the park. Running out of gas will require calling a tow truck. Plan accordingly.
• Roads may be icy - Even when the sun is shining, open roads can have icy patches in the morning and evening. Drive cautiously.

All of this affects your camping experience. Without the Cleetwood Cove Trail, you cannot reach the lake shore. The Rim Drive closure means you cannot drive the full loop. Many viewpoints on the north side are inaccessible. The campground itself is open, but the available activities are reduced.

Getting There and Parking

The easiest way to reach Mazama Campground is via Highway 62 through either the West or South Entrance. Both roads meet and turn toward Crater Lake and the Annie Spring Entrance Station. From the entrance station, it is about 7 miles to the Mazama Village junction. The campground entrance is just past the village store.

Parking at your site: each site has space for one vehicle. Additional vehicles can park in designated overflow lots near the entrance. Do not park on the road or in pullouts.

Cell service drops out at the entrance station and remains unreliable throughout the campground. Verizon and AT&T have spotty coverage; T-Mobile has almost none. Download maps and directions before you arrive.

What the Park Website Does Not Mention

A few things the official page glosses over:

• The campground is popular with RVs, but the loops are narrow. If you have a large rig (over 30 feet), check the site dimensions on recreation.gov. Many sites are tight.
• The PCT hiker/biker walk-in camp is first-come, first-served and separate from the main campground. If you are hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and need a place to sleep, that is the option. Register at the camp host station.
• The food lockers are bear-resistant, not raccoon-proof. Keep food sealed inside a hard cooler within the locker. Raccoons have learned to open unsecured containers.
• The elevation means hydration matters more than you think. The air is dry, and you lose fluids faster than at lower elevations. Drink water, even if you do not feel thirsty.

Practical Takeaways

• Reservations are required. Book at recreation.gov as early as possible. The campground fills most summer weekends.
• Arrive with a full gas tank. No fuel available in the park. Fill up in Medford, Klamath Falls, or the last town on Highway 62.
• Bring cash for firewood. The camp store may sell bundles, but supply can run out. Collecting firewood is prohibited.
• Pack for cold nights. Even in July, temperatures can drop to 40°F (4°C) at night. A sleeping bag rated to 30°F is comfortable.
• Check NPS alerts before you leave. The park conditions change rapidly with snow and weather. The current alerts (Cleetwood Cove closed, North Entrance closed, no gas, icy roads) are active as of May 2026.
• You cannot reach the lake shore in 2026. Plan your trip around hiking the rim trails (where open) and visiting the many viewpoints accessible from the south and west side of Rim Drive.
• If you are exploring all campgrounds in the park, note that Mazama is the only drive-up option. The other campgrounds are backcountry or boat-in.

Final Thoughts

Mazama Campground is a solid base for exploring Crater Lake, but only if you know what you are signing up for. The forest setting is quiet and dark at night - far from the noise of a highway. The trade-off is the high elevation, the short season, and the need to carry everything you need inside.

The closures in 2026 mean you cannot do the classic lake-access activities. That is a real limitation. But the rim views remain, the trails that are open offer solitude, and the campground itself holds its own appeal as a place to rest under old-growth trees after a day of hiking.

Book your site early. Check the alerts. Fill your tank. And expect snow at the campground until the park says otherwise. If you do that, you will be fine.

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