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Big River Campground in Oregon
Hard to BookNational Forest

Big River Campground

Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

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As of September 2026, Big River Campground is a campground in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon with 11 campsites. Big River Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Big River Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Big River Campground is located at 43.8183° N, 121.4986° W.
people allowed on 8 of 11 sites
6
people allowed on each of the 3 largest sites
25

Big River Campground reservations and next available dates

September 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

  • Taxes apply
  • Maximum consecutive stay: 14 consecutive days
  • Minimum stay: 1 consecutive days

Published by Recreation.gov for Big River Campground, read on September 30, 2026.

Campsites at Big River Campground

  • Standard 8
  • Group 3

What an RV fits

  • 24 ft1 site
  • 30 ft3 sites
  • 36 ft3 sites
  • 40 ft1 site

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Meadow.

Things to do: fishing, boating, hiking, wildlife, photography, horse riding.

All sites at Big River Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the BIG RIVER loop.

SiteTypeSleepsMax RV
003Standard630 ft
004Standard624 ft
005Standard630 ft
006Standard636 ft
007Standard636 ft
008Standard636 ft
009Standard630 ft
010Standard640 ft
GRP AGroup25-
GRP BGroup25-
GRP CGroup25-

About Big River Campground

Overview

Big River Campground is located along the Deschutes River south of the town of Sunriver. Large, open group sites offer a perfect setting for family reunions or group gatherings.

Recreation

Popular activities in the area include hiking, fishing and rafting in the summer months and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

Big River provides the perfect place to launch a canoe or kayak into the Deschutes River. Only non-motorized boating is permitted on the river, and the water is Class II flatwater for about 6 miles below Sunriver.

The Deschutes River is renowned for its fly fishing, and sustains populations of kokanee, rainbow, bull and brown trout. Boat fishing or drift fishing is the best way to catch fish at this part of the river.

Facilities

Big River Campground offers three group sites that accommodate both tent and RV camping and 10 single sites.

The sites are equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings with grills and vault toilets.

A boat launch is located across the road and provides access to the waterfront.

Natural Features

Nearby peaks, lava flows and Ponderosa pine stands provide visitors with a variety of landscapes, showcasing ecosystems typical of central Oregon.

The Deschutes River, a tributary of the Columbia River, is central to the campground. The river flows through areas of ponderosa and aspen, with its shoreline varying from marshy meadows to basalt bedrock. Flows fluctuate less on this part of the river because of tributaries, and the river features many deep pools, a relatively stable bank and rocky in-stream structure.

Wildlife found in the area include deer, elk, native fish and migratory birds.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors can explore wilderness areas, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument offers a glimpse into Central Oregon's rich geologic history. Travel 12 miles to Lava Lands Visitor Center to explore exhibits at the interpretive center, attend a ranger talk, take in scenic views from the top of Lava Butte and travel one-mile underground through Lava River Cave. Travel 25 miles to Newberry Caldera to visit Paulina and East Lake, Paulina Peak and Paulina Falls.

Big River Campground offers easy access to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway which weaves through multiple high lakes with views of South Sister, Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor.

Rules and notices at Big River Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 30, 2026. Check Big River Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

No drinking water or electric hookups are available at this campground

Prevent the spread of invasive species by inspecting and cleaning packs, equipment and tires before using lake or trails

Please Note : One RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground.

Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed.

During your time in Central Oregon, you can find wildfire, prescribed fire and smoke information at centraloregonfire.org .

Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests.

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

Click here for more information about Deschutes National Forest

Camping or otherwise occupying a single location (including leaving camping equipment and/or related supplies) for a period longer than 14 consecutive calendar days is prohibited. ‘Location’ means the occupied area, the occupied campsite, and the National Forest System lands in the immediate vicinity thereof. Camping or occupying any location on all National Forest lands for more than 28 calendar days total during a calendar year is prohibited.

NO generator use is allowed in campgrounds between 10:00PM and 7:00AM (36 CFR 261.10). Silent power banks or battery powered devices are allowed.

Big River Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Big River Campground?

Big River Campground is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Big River Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Big River Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Big River Campground have?

Big River Campground has 11 campsites.

More campgrounds in Deschutes National Forest

Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.

All 83 Deschutes National Forest campgrounds

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