Traveling in an RV or Towing

All roads into and around the park are in red. Not all of the names seen on this map, specifically around the rim, have signs along the road. Some locations can accommodate large vehicles either at the sight or nearby, depending on traffic and currently parked vehicles.

NPS Map

Park Roads

Large recreational vehicles, buses, and vehicles with a tow, are permitted on all park roads (roads are in red on the map). However, they can be challenging to navigate due to the following conditons.

Rim Drive and Pinnacles Road are narrow, winding, historic road, with tight curves, severe drop-offs, abrupt changes in pavement, and no shoulders.

Fallen rocks and downed trees sometimes obstruct the road, and there are no large vehicle turn-around areas.

Many historic overlooks only accommodate a few car-sized vehicles.

All park roads have posted speed limits of 35 and 45 mph with slow traffic and congested areas at 20 mph.

Winter Closure of Park Roads

With an average snowfall of 41 ft (13.5 m), the park is covered by snow most of the year. Each winter, West and East Rim Drives and North Entrance Road close to automobiles on November 1, or with the first heavy snowfall. These roads reopen in May or June beginning with West Rim Drive, then North Entrance Road, and finally East Rim Drive in stages.

During winter closure, access the park via the West andSouth Entrances along Hwy 62. Visit the Current Conditions page or call 541-594-3100 to find out what roads and facilities are open. See maps for park boundaries, entrance stations, Rim Village and other locations.

Click for important information about winter driving safety.

Where to Unhitch or Park for a Day

• There are RV parking lanes at Rim Village but these are occupied early in the day.
• Consider unhitching before driving to the rim. From the south, there is a large parking area at Mazama Village. If this lot is full, there are several long pullouts on the drive between the entrance station and Rim Village where vehicles may be unhitched, locked, and left while visiting the park.
• Driving south on North Entrance Road, after passing the entrance station, unhitch in the Pumice Desert or PCT parking lots. Beyond the PCT, there are four long pullouts but no easy turnaround.
• Or, for convenient access and easy turnaround, drive eight miles from the entrance station along North Entrance Road, to the intersection with East Rim Drive. Turn left onto East Rim Drive and in a 1/2 mile or less there is a large spacious pullout on the left.
• There are only two large vehicle parking spaces at Steel Visitor Center in park headquarters. Unhitching is not permitted. This is a good turnaround point for large vehicles.
• Unhitching before approaching Cleetwood Cove is highly advised. There are no designated parking spaces for large vehicles and the turning radius in the parking lot is tight. There may be access for a few large vehicles to park alongside the road in advance of the trailhead.
• Unhitch outside the park near the entrance at one of the Oregon Sno-parks. Coming from the west (Medford) is Thousand Springs Sno Park, 6 miles east of Hwy 230 on Hwy 62. From the south (Klamath Falls) is Annie Creek Sno Park 5.5 miles north of Fort Klamath on Hwy 62. May through October there is no fee to leave your vehicle or camp overnight at any of the Sno-parks.

Without exception, park all wheels on pavement.

 

Camping

The only campround in the park that allows RVs and trailers is the Mazama Campground. It opens sometime in mid-June depending on snow levels. Reservations are required July through September and are available via the concessioner's website or by calling 866-292-6720. If you're unable to get a reservation or need confirmation of full-hook ups, check camping outside the park. Sleeping in your RV overnight is not allowed anywhere outside of the park campground, including around the rim, in a pullout, or a parking lot.

 

Helpful links

• Scenic Rim Drive
• Entrance Fees & Passes
• Visiting the Park With Pets
• Check the weather
• Traffic, Personal, and Wildlife Safety

Trip Planning and Safety

Beyond the information provided above, these links on the right may be useful in your trip planning efforts.