Featured amenities
Pet Friendly
Available sites
21 total sites
RV Sites
About Carter Lake
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
Rates, Sites & Availability
21 Sites Available
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Site Details
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21 Sites Available
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Reviews (213)
What Guests Are Saying
Carter Lake campground offers a clean, quiet, and well-managed environment with helpful hosts, making it a popular choice for families and experienced campers. Many enjoy the beautiful, private sites near the lake, great fishing opportunities, and well-maintained facilities, including bathrooms. However, some guests have reported issues with noise from neighboring campers and the need for better litter management, but overall, visitors appreciate the serene atmosphere and natural beauty of the area.
What Guests Are Saying
Carter Lake campground offers a clean, quiet, and well-managed environment with helpful hosts, making it a popular choice for families and experienced campers. Many enjoy the beautiful, private sites near the lake, great fishing opportunities, and well-maintained facilities, including bathrooms. However, some guests have reported issues with noise from neighboring campers and the need for better litter management, but overall, visitors appreciate the serene atmosphere and natural beauty of the area.
Review Summary
Evelyn L
VerifiedDecember 27, 2025 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
This is an amazing campground, and #13 is my favorite site. It's very private and large enough for my 4-person tent and a 10x10 canopy shelter with no crowding. The only downside is the steep-sloped and winding steps you have to navigate -- with all your stuff -- to get down and back up to where your vehicle is parked. (A porta-potty is handy for inside the tent at nighttime since the only bathroom facility is a bit of a walk.)
I actually appreciate the fact that there's no cell service; you need to travel into Florence for that, about a 10-minute drive north. Florence makes a good day trip with its Old Town area, commercial & private fishing boats, numerous restaurants, grocery stores, gift shops, a casino, and lots of additional recreational choices in the area.
Evelyn L
VerifiedDecember 27, 2025 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
This is an amazing campground, and #13 is my favorite site. It's very private and large enough for my 4-person tent and a 10x10 canopy shelter with no crowding. The only downside is the steep-sloped and winding steps you have to navigate -- with all your stuff -- to get down and back up to where your vehicle is parked. (A porta-potty is handy for inside the tent at nighttime since the only bathroom facility is a bit of a walk.)
I actually appreciate the fact that there's no cell service; you need to travel into Florence for that, about a 10-minute drive north. Florence makes a good day trip with its Old Town area, commercial & private fishing boats, numerous restaurants, grocery stores, gift shops, a casino, and lots of additional recreational choices in the area.
Claire V
VerifiedDecember 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
One of our favorite places to camp. Host and forest service are doing a great job.
Claire V
VerifiedDecember 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
One of our favorite places to camp. Host and forest service are doing a great job.
Paul W
VerifiedOctober 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 09, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
Great campsite for smaller rigs. Bathrooms very clean. Host very helpful. Great trail through forest, over dunes leading to the ocean. Had a great 2 day stay. No cell coverage but that’s part of a great camping experience.
Paul W
VerifiedOctober 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 09, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
Great campsite for smaller rigs. Bathrooms very clean. Host very helpful. Great trail through forest, over dunes leading to the ocean. Had a great 2 day stay. No cell coverage but that’s part of a great camping experience.
Laurel B
VerifiedSeptember 27, 2025 • Stayed at: 21, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
We originally booked site 20, but switched to 21. 20 is beautiful, but a little cramped and SO windy (late September). 21 is more spacious, protected from wind, and a lovely spot. The camp host was great and the bathrooms were well stocked. I recommend!
Laurel B
VerifiedSeptember 27, 2025 • Stayed at: 21, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
We originally booked site 20, but switched to 21. 20 is beautiful, but a little cramped and SO windy (late September). 21 is more spacious, protected from wind, and a lovely spot. The camp host was great and the bathrooms were well stocked. I recommend!
Ann E
VerifiedSeptember 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
Decent campground, camp host was friendly. Only problem was that we had originally reserved site 13, when we got there found out that the parking is on upper level and actual campsite is on a lower level accessed by stairs. We have mobility issues so had to change sites. Camp host said that all sites along the lake side are like this. So people with mobility issues should not reserve lakeside sites. We moved to site 5 and it was very nice. Traffic noise was minimal and cell service was non existent.
Ann E
VerifiedSeptember 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: AREA CARTER LAKE
Decent campground, camp host was friendly. Only problem was that we had originally reserved site 13, when we got there found out that the parking is on upper level and actual campsite is on a lower level accessed by stairs. We have mobility issues so had to change sites. Camp host said that all sites along the lake side are like this. So people with mobility issues should not reserve lakeside sites. We moved to site 5 and it was very nice. Traffic noise was minimal and cell service was non existent.
Location & Directions for Carter Lake
Oregon Dunes Visitor Center, Reedsport, OR 97467 United States
Elevation: 16 ft
Getting There
From Florence, travel south on Highway 101 for about 10 mi. The entrance to Carter Lake Campground is on the west (right) side of Highway 101.
Highway access
Carter Lake Campground is accessible from Highway 101, which runs approximately 10 miles north from Florence. The campground entrance is located on the west side of Highway 101.
Policies & Rules
General
- Guidelines for a safe visit to the Siuslaw National Forest The Siuslaw’s campgrounds, day use areas, and trails continue to be open for public enjoyment. While you are visiting the Forest, please adhere to the following guidelines. These guidelines will help ensure a safe and healthy visit for you and your family, our employees and volunteers, and other visitors: Please keep in mind that restrooms are generally cleaned and disinfected at least once daily at the more popular campgrounds and day use sites, and once to three times a week at other sites. Be prepared to provide your own soap, sanitizer, or disinfectant. If no trash receptacle is provided, please protect your public lands by packing out your waste and trash. For more information on COVID-19 in Oregon, please visit: https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19
- There is a 14-day in 30 rolling days camping limit on the Siuslaw National Forest. The 14 days does not have to be consecutive. The 14-day limit covers the entire Siuslaw National Forest and not just this campground as shown in the Rules Section. This means you cannot go to other campgrounds on the Siuslaw National Forest after reaching the 14-day limit.
- Forest Service-operated campsites on the Siuslaw National Forest are currently available by online reservation only.Visitors can make reservations online through this website (preferred), or via phone by calling the recreation.gov phone line at 877-444-6777. If you call this number, please be prepared for longer-than-usual wait times. Please note that the Siuslaw National Forest does not have any control over the recreation.gov phone line, so we ask you to please prepare by making reservations well in advance.
- Sites must occupied within first 24 hours of arrival time. Otherwise unoccupied sites will be considered a "no-show" and will be released.
- No off-road vehicle use allowed in campground
- For more information on Siuslaw National Forest, click here
- Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
- Two vehicle maximum per site.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: October 20, 2026
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Explore Reedsport, OR
Population: 4,317
Nearby city: Eugene, OR
Approx. 54 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 33 ft
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