Openings · last 7 days
60
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 60 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-251537
When Little Crater Campground reopens
Little Crater Campground's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
95
Openings · last 90 days
95
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dNo strong weekday pattern is evident in the openings Campsite Sniper has detected: 95 openings spread across the week.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 09:00 and 11:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 30 of 95 detected openings (31.6%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Pacific Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 7 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 4–12 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| 044 | 8 | 8.4% |
| 050 | 7 | 7.4% |
| 020 | 5 | 5.3% |
| 023 | 5 | 5.3% |
| 029 | 5 | 5.3% |
Site 044 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 8. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 17, 2026 · of 47 monitored sites
Of the 1,410 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 17, 2026): 108 open for online reservation · 282 reserved · 1,020 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
92.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 108 of 1,410 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 17, 2026Not open online92.3%
Open site-nights108 / 1,410
Reserved (of online inventory)282 / 390
Weekday openings94
Weekend openings14
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 94 fall on weekdays and 14 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October shows no online availability. 0 of 799 tracked site-nights are open there — 799 on sites not offered online.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 47 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 003 | 6 |
| 007 | 6 |
| 030 | 6 |
| 040 | 6 |
| 001 | 4 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
October0 of 799 · not offered online
The next bookable night is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
108 open site-nights across 35 sites at Little Crater Campground, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 26 2-night, 21 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 21 at site 003.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 40 ft. 43 sites take 25 ft, 29 sites take 35 ft, 23 sites take 40 ft.
All 35 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 003 | 32 ft | None | 6 | 6 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26 |
| 007 | 40 ft | None | 6 | 6 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26 |
| 030 | 40 ft | None | 6 | 6 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26 |
| 040 | 24 ft | None | 6 | 6 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26 |
| 001 | 40 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 002 | 20 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 004 | 40 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 009 | 40 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 011 | 40 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 015 | 40 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26 |
| 021 | 36 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 025 | 40 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 027 | 30 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 033 | 32 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 034 | 36 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 035 | 30 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 047 | 36 ft | None | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26 |
| 031 | 40 ft | None | 3 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23 |
| 036 | 22 ft | None | 3 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23 |
| 038 | 24 ft | None | 3 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23 |
| 050 | 40 ft | None | 3 | 3 nights | Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26 |
| 019 | 36 ft | None | 2 | 2 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 023 | 40 ft | None | 2 | 2 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24 |
| 026 | 40 ft | None | 2 | 2 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22 |
| 037 | 30 ft | None | 2 | 2 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23 |
| 043 | 32 ft | None | 2 | 2 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22 |
| 044 | 30 ft | None | 2 | 1 night | Sep 21, Sep 24 |
| 012 | 32 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 24 |
| 016 | 38 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 23 |
| 024 | 40 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 24 |
| 028 | 40 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 24 |
| 029 | 40 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 24 |
| 042 | 30 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 23 |
| 045 | 30 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 24 |
| 048 | 40 ft | None | 1 | 1 night | Sep 22 |
About Little Crater Campground
Overview
Situated on the edge of the beautiful Paulina Lake, Little Crater Campground is conveniently located within Newberry National Monument. Visitors to this area are taken aback by the incredible views this area has to offer, highlighting volcanic landscapes intermixed with diverse forests, typical of central Oregon.
Popular for both its geological significance and multitude of recreational activities, Little Crater Campground is ideal for individual and family camping excursions. If you are visiting Oregon with the aim of getting the best camping experience, this might be it. Offering campsites next to Paulina Lake, activities available at this campground include hiking, bird watching, bicycling, sightseeing and access to nearby trails.
For more information about the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159
Recreation
The unique location of Little Crater Campground offers visitors opportunities to hike shoreline trails and alpine vistas.
Visitors can also take advantage of time on the lake, boating, kayaking, swimming and fishing.
For anglers, this lake offers fantastic fishing opportunities. Spanning a surface area of 1,531 acres, the lake supports rainbow trout, brown trout and Kokanee salmon.
In September, the outlet of Paulina Lake may be choked with Kokanee moving to spawn in Paulina Creek.
Facilities
There are 49 sites located on a fairly thin ledge right on the lake and all the campground sites are a very short walk to the water. The sites are ample sized and most are good for tents, trailers or RVs. Picnic areas, boating, shoreline trails, and stunning views of the lake, along with the conveniences of drinking water and vault toilets, give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while still having some of the conveniences of home.
Natural Features
Paulina Lake is located within the collapsed calder of Newberry Volcano. Nearly five miles in diameter, this caldera encircles the basins of Paulina Lake and its twin, East Lake. Neither lake receives water from an inlet or stream - instead both rely on rain, snowmelt and hot springs for water. Paulina Creek flows from the lake and has chiseled a narrow gorge through the caldera's west wall creating a remarkable twin waterfall. Thermal vents and hot springs along the lake's northeast edge help create a highly productive ecosystem. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests support a variety of wildlife, including porcupine, bighorn sheep, deer, bats native fish, migratory birds and even the occasional black bear.
Nearby Attractions
Lava Lands Visitor Center in nearby Bend, Oregon, is a great starting point for visitors to learn about the diverse landscape and history of the area through interpretive programs and exhibits.
Visitors can explore the Lava River Cave, also located in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. At 5,211 feet (1,588 m) in length, the northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon.
47 monitored sitesRVs up to 40 ftNo hookups47 shadedWaterfrontLakefrontPets OKFire pitsMax party 8
Getting there
From Bend, travel 23.5 miles south on Hwy 97, then 14.5 miles east on County Road 21( Paulina Lake Road), and 0.5 miles north on Forest Road 2100 570. From LaPine travel 6.8 miles north on Hwy 97, then 14.5 miles east on County Road 21( Paulina Lake Road), and 0.5 miles north on Forest Road 2100 570.
Camping
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-251537 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-251537 · Little Crater Campground12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Little Crater Campground?
Reservations for Little Crater Campground are made through Recreation.gov. 92.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 108 of 1,410 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 95 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 14:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Little Crater Campground?
Campsite Sniper detected 60 site-date openings at Little Crater Campground in the last 7 days, 95 over 30 days and 95 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Little Crater Campground?
21 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 21 at site 003. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Little Crater Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
29 of the 47 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 40 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Little Crater Campground?
September 2026, with 108 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 611.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Little Crater Campground?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 7 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 4-12 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Little Crater Campground?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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