Campgrounds and RV parks near Madras, OR

Madras sits in Jefferson County in Central Oregon, on a high-desert plateau north of Bend and east of the Cascades. The town is the closest service hub to Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus, two reservoirs that anchor most camping in the area, and it functions as a supply stop for RVers heading into the Cascades or south toward Bend and Redmond. Most of the developed camping sits inside The Cove Palisades State Park, which offers two campgrounds in a high-desert canyon reservoir setting. Crooked River Camp - Cove Palisades State Park sits on the rim above Lake Billy Chinook, while Deschutes Campground - Cove Palisades State Park sits closer to the water at the bottom of the canyon. Lake Simtustus RV Park covers the private full-hookup option immediately north of town. Redmond / Central Oregon KOA Holiday and Deschutes River Fly Shop and Camp expand the radius south and east, giving RVers several distinct settings within roughly an hour of Madras: canyon-rim state park sites, lakeside private resort sites, and river-adjacent fly-fishing camps.

Cove Palisades sites are booked through the Oregon State Parks reservation system on ReserveAmerica. Reservations are accepted at most state park campgrounds and can be made one day to six months in advance. New sites come online at 6 a.m. daily, so summer weekends at Deschutes Campground - Cove Palisades State Park fill quickly when the booking window opens. Same-day reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but only in person. Arrive early for the best chances of getting a spot. Cabins at Cove Palisades are handled separately by the resort operator rather than through the state portal. Lake Simtustus RV Park, Redmond / Central Oregon KOA Holiday, and Deschutes River Fly Shop and Camp book directly through each operator. Private parks generally hold inventory further out than six months and accept shorter stays midweek.