Prairie Campground
Open for the 2026 season through October 18. Currently experiencing a temporary water outage; campers must bring all drinking water. Reservations available via Recreation.gov until September 27, then first-come, first-served only until closing.
Air Quality Alert issued August 5 at 2:33PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory until further notice. For the Smoke Air Quality Advisory, wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. An Air Quality Advisory for elevated levels of ozone pollution, or smog, is in effect for Hermiston in Umatilla County. Ozone pollution is expected to reach levels that could be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, pregnant people, older adults and people with heart or respiratory conditions. DEQ expected the Air Quality Advisory to last until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ
Air Quality Alert issued August 3 at 12:05PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory until further notice. For the Smoke Air Quality Advisory, wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions may cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ
From Recreation.gov
Our facility is experiencing a temporary water outage. Please bring all the water you’ll need for your visit, including drinking water.
About
Prairie Campground is a primitive 17-site campground nestled in the Deschutes National Forest along County Road 21 (Paulina Lake Road), en route to the Newberry Caldera. The campground sits along Paulina Creek surrounded by mature forest providing ample shade. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring, with vault toilets available. No hookups are provided. The location offers excellent access to outdoor recreation. Paulina Lake and East Lake are nearby for boating and fishing, with opportunities for salmon and trout. Hikers can explore trails within Newberry National Volcanic Monument, including the Crater Rim Trail and the 8.5-mile Peter Skene Ogden National Recreation Trail that follows Paulina Creek past several waterfalls. The Lava River Cave, the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon at over 5,200 feet, is also nearby. The campground operates seasonally from early May through mid-October. Sites accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs with a maximum spur length of 30 feet. Reservations are available through Recreation.gov until late September, when the campground transitions to first-come, first-served only.
Directions
From Bend, OR: Travel about 23.5 miles south on Highway 97 then 3 miles east on County Road 21 (Paulina Lake Road) to the Prairie campground sign. From La Pine, OR: Travel about 6.8 miles north on Highway 97 then 3 miles east on County Road 21.
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | — |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $23 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 40ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 40ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (541) 383-5300 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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