U.S. Forest Service · Malheur National Forest · John Day, OR

Dixie Campground

Dixie Campground is a short drive off of Highway US 26 near Dixie Summit. This is a great destination for berry picking, it is also a wonderful base camp for anyone wanting to hike, hunt or just explore the Malheur National Forest. There is a day use picnic area before you enter the overnight campground. The Sumpter Valley Interpretive and Davis Creek Trails as well as other great recreational activities are just a short drive from the campground. It's a short drive to Prairie City or Bates.

More like this: reservable in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
typical campsite at DixieCampsite looking towards access roadDay Use Group PicnicFee Station and Information Kiosk
Photos courtesy of USDA Forest Service, Chris Light (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups9
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

9 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
2Back-in33GravelPartialNo / No8 / 2YesStandard
3Back-in30GravelPartialNo / No8 / 2YesStandard
4Back-in35GravelPartialNo / No8 / 2YesStandard
5Back-in35GravelPartialNo / No8 / 2YesStandard
6Back-in23GravelPartialNo / No8 / 2YesStandard
7Back-in35GravelPartialNo / No8 / 2YesStandard
8Back-in30GravelPartialNo / No8 / 2YesStandard
9Back-in32GravelPartialNo / No8 / 2YesStandard
01Back-in50GravelPartialNo / No8 / 2YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$8/Night for single unit, $4/Night for extra vehicle

Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and parking for camp trailers. Accessible vault toilets are conveniently located in the campground.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
ForestMalheur National Forest
BookingAll campgrounds on the Malheur National Forest are first come first serve.
Fees$8/Night for single unit, $4/Night for extra vehicle

Malheur National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Dixie Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 2.56 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.74 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.92 inches of precipitationApril: 1.66 inches of precipitationMay: 1.84 inches of precipitationJune: 1.62 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.69 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.71 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.79 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.25 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.66 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.32 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 24.8°F averageFebruary: 29.0°F averageMarch: 34.7°F averageApril: 40.4°F averageMay: 47.9°F averageJune: 54.9°F averageJuly: 63.3°F averageAugust: 62.4°F averageSeptember: 54.1°F averageOctober: 43.3°F averageNovember: 32.1°F averageDecember: 24.8°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Austin 3 S, 5 miles from the campground at 4,213 feet, station USC00350356 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 21 inches a year.

Getting there

From the town of Prairie City, OR. travel 8 miles east on Highway 26, the campground will be on the left.

Nearest townJohn Day, Oregon
Coordinates44.5348° N, 118.5879° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Greenwood Rx

    7 mi from the campground · 38 acres

  • Wildfire
    Mccully

    25 mi from the campground · 13,604 acres · 91% contained

  • Prescribed
    Damon 2A Rx

    30 mi from the campground · 85 acres

  • Prescribed
    Jane 102 Rx

    36 mi from the campground · 3,000 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗26 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Dixie Caverns Campground Review - RV Tips and Campground Review In Salem Va.

Worth a stop

  • Middle Fork John Day River
  • Sumpter Valley Interpretative Site
  • Davis Creek Trail
  • Vinegar Hill Indian Rock Scenic Area
  • Austin House
  • Bates State Park
  • Dewitt Museum and Depot Park
  • Kam Wah Chung & Co. State Heritage Site
  • Grant County Ranch and Rodeo Museum
  • Grant County Historical Museum

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Malheur National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Recreation

Dixie Campground provides a variety of recreation opportunities throughout the summer and fall. In late July and early August, visitors can take advantage of excellent huckleberry picking in the surrounding area. A designated picnic area offers a comfortable spot for outdoor meals and gatherings. When hunting season arrives, the campground's proximity to hunting terrain makes it a favored destination for hunters.

Guidebooks for Oregon

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Dixie Campground?

Sites at Dixie Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. All campgrounds on the Malheur National Forest are first come first serve. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Dixie Campground?

$8/Night for single unit, $4/Night for extra vehicle

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Dixie Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Dixie Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Dixie Campground have?

9 sites, including 9 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Dixie Campground?

Dixie Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Dixie Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Dixie Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Dixie Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Dixie Campground?

Dixie Campground provides a variety of recreation opportunities throughout the summer and fall. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Dixie Campground?

John Day, Oregon. Middle Fork John Day River

Source: Getting there

What if Dixie Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Deerhorn Campground (6.1 mi), Middle Fork Campground (6.6 mi), and Oregon Campground (Wallowa-Whitman) (12.2 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby