Carter Lake
Carter Lake Campground is a family favorite in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This campground is located on Carter Lake, perfect for fishing, swimming, and boating. The Carter Dunes Trailhead is located within the campground, and the Pacific coast is just a short drive away.
More like this: reservable in Oregon
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 18 |
| RV, no hookups | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
21 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 04 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 05 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 06 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 07 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 08 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 09 | RV | Pull-through | 25 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 10 | RV | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 11 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 12 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
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 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Drinking water and flush toilets are available and each site has a campfire pit, picnic table, and trash. Parking aprons are paved.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May to September |
| Forest | Siuslaw National Forest |
| Booking | All Carter Lake campsites require a digital reservation and payment. |
| Fees | Camping: $22 per night for single unit, two vehicle limit Day use: $5/Day/Vehicle |
| Rules | Camping Regulations. Metal detection policy |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Florence, travel south on Highway 101 for about 10 miles. The entrance to Carter Lake Campground is on the west (right) side of Highway 101.
| Nearest town | Reedsport, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43.8567° N, 124.1461° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Campsites that are not occupied after 24 hours of arrival time will be considered as a "no show" and sites will be released for others to reserve.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | RV Dump Station ↗ | 5.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Honeyman Nursery ↗ | 6.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Florence RV & Automotive Specialist ↗ | 10.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Camping at Carter Lake on the Oregon Coast
Worth a stop
Carter Lake Campground is located near several non-motorized hiking trails, including Siltcoos Lake Trail and Threemile Creek Trail. Visitors can also use the campground as a base to explore the area's waterways, including the Pacific Ocean, Tahkenitch Lake, and Siltcoos Lake.
- 7.2 miSiuslaw Vista Day Use ↗Day use
- 14.7 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miCarter Dunes Trail0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miTaylor Dunes ↗0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miWaxmyrtle0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miSiltcoos Lake Trail2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miWaxmyrtle Trail Alternate Rte0.05 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miLagoon Trail ↗0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.2 miCarter Dunes Trailhead ↗Siuslaw National Forest · Season May to September
- 0.4 miTaylor Dunes Trailhead ↗Siuslaw National Forest
- 1.1 miSiltcoos Lake Trailhead ↗Siuslaw National Forest
- 1.3 miWaxmyrtle Trailhead ↗Siuslaw National Forest
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
Devil's Staircase Wilderness begins about 11.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.9 miDevil's Staircase Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 30,787 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Siuslaw River Bridge No. 01821Structure · Florence · 7.7 mi
- William Kyle and Sons, BuildingBuilding · Florence · 7.8 mi
- Edwin E. Benedict HouseBuilding · Florence · 9.1 mi
Natural features
Campsites are nestled among shore pine, sitka spruce, and Douglas fir, with hedges of rhododendron. Carter Lake spans 28 acres at an elevation of 100 feet. The campground is part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, known for its wind-sculpted sand dunes towering up to 500 feet above sea level.
Recreation
Hike the Carter Dune Trail, which attracts campers and locals alike. Fishing for rainbow trout is a good way to pass the time, and canoeing and kayaking are excellent on Carter Lake. The dunes region is also famous for off-road vehicle riding trails.
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Carter Lake?
Sites at Carter Lake are reservable on Recreation.gov. All Carter Lake campsites require a digital reservation and payment. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Carter Lake?
Camping: $22 per night for single unit, two vehicle limit Day use: $5/Day/Vehicle
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Carter Lake?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Carter Lake open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Carter Lake have?
21 sites, including 18 standard sites without power and 3 RV sites without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Carter Lake?
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Carter Lake?
Drinking water and flush toilets are available and each site has a campfire pit, picnic table, and trash.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Carter Lake?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Camping Regulations.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Carter Lake?
FCC coverage maps show T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Carter Lake?
Hike the Carter Dune Trail, which attracts campers and locals alike. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Carter Lake?
Reedsport, Oregon. Carter Lake Campground is located near several non-motorized hiking trails, including Siltcoos Lake Trail and Threemile Creek Trail.
Source: Getting there
What if Carter Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Waxmyrtle Campground (1.3 mi), Lagoon Campground (1.6 mi), and Siltcoos Sand Camping (1.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby