Smiling River Campground

Sites & Rates

Average nightly rates

28 total sites

RV Sites

28 sites

About Smiling River Campground

Nestled in Deschutes National Forest, Smiling River Campground offers visitors some of the most stunning scenery in central Oregon and easy access to an abundance of recreational activities.

Number of accommodations: 28

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Hiking

Hiking

Year-round

Campground Amenities

Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

28 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 001, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 002, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 003, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 006, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 007, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 008, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 009, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 010, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 011, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 012, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 013, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 014, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 015, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 016, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 017, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 018, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 019, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 020, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 021, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 022, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 023, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 024, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 025, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 028, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 029, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 030, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 031, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
🚐 032, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups

Reviews (367)

What Guests Are Saying

Smiling River Campground offers a beautiful setting with clean and well-maintained facilities, attracting many campers who appreciate the quiet and peaceful atmosphere by the river. Guests have praised the helpful camp host and the enjoyable outdoor activities available, such as hiking and biking. However, some concerns have been raised about the maintenance of the bathrooms and issues with the reservation system, which could detract from the overall experience.

Review Summary

4.3
367 reviews
5
54.0%
198
4
27.8%
102
3
11.2%
41
2
4.9%
18
1
2.2%
8

Charles B

Verified

July 23, 2024 Stayed at: 011, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

3

The pit toilets at the north loop of Smiling River Campground are very old, in poor condition, and generally disgusting. This campground is very popular and, thus, it’s difficult to understand why the NFS would provide such poor sanitation. Needs a facility renovation!

Charles B

Verified

July 23, 2024 Stayed at: 011, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

3

The pit toilets at the north loop of Smiling River Campground are very old, in poor condition, and generally disgusting. This campground is very popular and, thus, it’s difficult to understand why the NFS would provide such poor sanitation. Needs a facility renovation!

Richard T

Verified

July 24, 2024 Stayed at: 024, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

2

Temperature was 105 degrees 3 days in a row followed by 5 days in mid to upper 90s. Too hot so cut our stay by 2 days. Not the camp’s fault but made our stay disappointing anyway. Camp host had sign out more days than not saying camp host not on duty. Lots of people needing assistance seemed to not have help for days. No indicator for alternate contact should immediate need arose. This needs to be fixed.Trees in campsites need dead limbs removed for safety. During windy day this year, medium sized dead tree limb blew down on trailer roof. Two years ago large dead tree limb fell on trailer awning puncturing awning in two places. Very old Ponderosas in camp have many lower dead limbs from normal aging. No sign that these hazard dead limbs are being removed over the years.

Catherine E

Verified

July 24, 2024 Stayed at: 029, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

3

We love Smiling River but this year the heat was so bad that we left 2 days early.

Richard T

Verified

July 24, 2024 Stayed at: 024, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

2

Temperature was 105 degrees 3 days in a row followed by 5 days in mid to upper 90s. Too hot so cut our stay by 2 days. Not the camp’s fault but made our stay disappointing anyway. Camp host had sign out more days than not saying camp host not on duty. Lots of people needing assistance seemed to not have help for days. No indicator for alternate contact should immediate need arose. This needs to be fixed.Trees in campsites need dead limbs removed for safety. During windy day this year, medium sized dead tree limb blew down on trailer roof. Two years ago large dead tree limb fell on trailer awning puncturing awning in two places. Very old Ponderosas in camp have many lower dead limbs from normal aging. No sign that these hazard dead limbs are being removed over the years.

Catherine E

Verified

July 24, 2024 Stayed at: 029, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

3

We love Smiling River but this year the heat was so bad that we left 2 days early.

Veronica D

Verified

August 6, 2024 Stayed at: 009, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

3

The campsite was very private and close to the river, although could not be viewed from the site.

Veronica D

Verified

August 6, 2024 Stayed at: 009, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

3

The campsite was very private and close to the river, although could not be viewed from the site.

Harriet W

Verified

August 8, 2024 Stayed at: 019, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

A favorite place to camp.

Harriet W

Verified

August 8, 2024 Stayed at: 019, Loop: SMILING RIVER CAMPGROUND

5

A favorite place to camp.

Location Smiling River Campground

Address:
Po Box 249
Sisters, OR, 97759
United States

Highway access

Smiling River Campground is located approximately 20 miles from US Highway 20, which provides access to the area.

Elevation: 897 feet

Distance to downtown

19 mi drive to downtown Sisters (about 26 min)

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: September 9, 2026

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Managed by USDA Forest Service