The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway achieved recognition for its unique geological history and diverse topography. The road winds for 500 miles from Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park to California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park, along looming volcanic peaks, dense forests, and secluded campgrounds. Traveling the byway can take days, weeks, or months depending on how long you stay in each diverse region along the way.
The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway offers something for everyone, even in the winter. While some areas and parks close during winter, other areas explode with activity, like the Mount Shasta Ski Park and Coppervale Ski Area. Some campgrounds are open all year round for access to snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing trails. If you’re planning your trip for the summer, be cautious of fire season and expect crowds.
Here are some tips for keeping your journey smooth and safe:
- Some areas are more remote than others, so be prepared with fuel, food, maps, and water.
- The climate widely varies in this area. Stay alert and monitor changing weather.
- These volcanic landscapes are rocky and high in elevation, which means snow later in the spring and summer and other hazards. Pack accordingly.
- Buy a National Park Pass; you will pass through several national parks on this byway and buying a pass will save you time and money.
Once you decide on a time of year to travel the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, there will be a variety of campgrounds for you to park your RV. Here are the best RV campgrounds near the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway.
1. Diamond Lake RV Park, Crescent, Oregon
Number of Sites: 110
Pad Type: Gravel
Reservations: Yes
Diamond Lake RV Park is a family-owned campground that operates all year round near Crater Lake National Park. In the summer, it’s ideal for rainbow trout fishing, biking, and horseback riding. In the winter, the campground offers access to skiing, tubing, and snowmobiling.
Diamond Lake RV Park offers full hookups, WiFi, full-service restrooms, and laundry. It also has access to water sports rentals and hiking and biking trails, and it’s big rig friendly.
This is an ideal place to begin or end your Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway road trip.
2. Aspen Point Campground, Klamath Falls, Oregon
Number of Sites: 58
Pad Type: Dirt
Reservations: Yes
Aspen Point Campground offers access to Klamath Falls in Oregon.
“We LOVE this campground!” says a Campendium reviewer. “The sites are some of the largest we’ve seen … The lake is great for swimming, boating and fishing—not to mention it’s a beautiful place to watch the sunset.”
This is a dry camping location with a dump station and flushable toilets. Despite the few amenities, this campground has an ideal location by the water with access to a boat ramp, swimming beach, fishing, and recreational trails to explore.
3. Indian Well Campground, Tulelake, California
Number of Sites: 43
Pad Type: Asphalt
Reservations: No
In Tulelake, California, you’ll find Lava Beds National Monument and Indian Well Campground. This National Park Service campground is a perfect home base for exploring caves and intriguing volcanic features.
Indian Well Campground only offers dry camping and sites for smaller rigs. There are flushable toilets, group sites, and water available. The draw of Indian Well Campground is its proximity to destinations along the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway and its stunning vista views.
4. Friendly RV Park, Weed, California
Number of Sites: 60
Pad Type: Gravel
Reservations: Yes
Friendly RV Park offers a convenient location and views of Mount Shasta. It’s an ideal overnight stop for cleaning, maintaining, and resupplying your RV during your Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway road trip.
Friendly RV Park offers full hookups, WiFi, a dump station, laundry, and full-service restrooms. It also recognizes several discounts, including military and AAA.
5. Fowlers Camp Campground, McCloud, California
Number of Sites: 39
Pad Type: Mixed
Reservations: Yes
This campground is a refreshing escape from the other-worldly terrain of volcanoes and lava beds found along this byway. Fowlers Camp Campground is nestled along a river that leads you directly to three gushing waterfalls, the McCloud Falls.
This Forest Service stay only offers dry camping, flushable toilets, and water. From the campground you can access the McCloud River and several hiking trails.
6. Sand Flat Dispersed Camping, Mount Shasta, California
Number of Sites: 10
Pad Type: Dirt
Reservations: No
What is a road trip without boondocking? This Sand Flat dispersed camping site has none of the amenities, but all of the views.
“Absolutely beautiful spot,” according to a Campendium review. “Felt like I had the mountain all to myself. It was slow getting my Airstream 22FB up here, but I am so happy I did. Easily my favorite spot so far.”
This area of Mount Shasta is accessed from Everett Memorial Highway. Be sure to have high clearance and go slow.
7. Manzanita Lake Campground, Mineral, California
Number of Sites: 179
Pad Type: Asphalt
Reservations: Yes
Manzanita Lake Campground is in Lassen Volcanic National Park, a mile east of the Manzanita Lake Entrance.
This campground is a popular family-friendly destination even though it only offers dry camping. It offers big rig sites, group sites, and rustic cabins within proximity to swimming, hiking, kayaking, and fishing. Plus it’s located inside Lassen Volcanic, one of the main draws of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway.
8. Rocky Point Campground, Canyondam, California
Number of Sites: 131
Pad Type: Asphalt
Reservations: Yes
The perfect way to end your north-to-south journey of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway is by staying at Rocky Point Campground.
Rocky Point Campground is situated on Lake Almanor with views of Mount Lassen. These dry camping sites have access to vault toilets, a dump station, and water. There are several sites situated right on Lake Almanor’s lapping shores, while the rest of the campground still has access to the water, birding, hiking trails, and fishing.
