Penland Lake Campground
Fall asleep to the sound of crickets and frogs chirping and croaking and wake up to Blue Gill and Rainbow Trout jumping at the bit. This campground is set on the shore of Penland Lake, which also abuts private land and land owned by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Penland is popular on summer weekends and offers access to fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities. There are seven campsites and two vault toilets on the National Forest portion of the campground, with more campsites located on the adjacent ODFW property. There is also a boat ramp, fishing dock, and benches located on the dam. Picnic tables are available for Day Use on the lakefront as well.
More like this: first-come in Oregon · free in Oregon · tent only in Oregon · accessible sites in Oregon
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | This is a fee free site. |
| Accessibility | Access to the lake may be hindered in the springtime due to muddy roads, specifically Forest Service Road 2103 (County Road 849) |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Late May |
| Forest | Umatilla National Forest |
| Booking | Not reservable. |
| Fees | This is a fee free site. |
| Rules | No gas motors on lake. Electric boat motors only. There are no garbage services or campground hosts. Hiking is limited around the lake itself. The east side of the lake and parts of the north, northwest, and south sides of the lake are private property. What is packed into this campground, will need to be packed out of this campground. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 45.1172° N, 119.3188° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMcintyre Rx
45 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Umatilla National Forest.
- inUmatilla National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,498,100 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
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Penland Lake Campground?
No. Penland Lake Campground is first-come, first-served. Not reservable. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Penland Lake Campground?
Nothing. Penland Lake Campground is listed as free. This is a fee free site.
Source: Forest Service
Is Penland Lake Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Late May.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Penland Lake Campground?
Penland Lake Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Are there accessible sites at Penland Lake Campground?
Access to the lake may be hindered in the springtime due to muddy roads, specifically Forest Service Road 2103 (County Road 849).
Source: Forest Service
What if Penland Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Coalmine Hill Campground (3.5 mi, first-come), Divide Well Campground (8.7 mi, first-come), and Willow Creek Campground (19.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby