Camping

Lava Flow Campground

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

Lava Flow Campground

As unique as its name, campsites are surrounded by a young lava flow. The campground is located near the visitor center and popular trails.

Availability

The road and campground closures are weather dependent. Please check the Current Conditions page for updates. The Lava Flow campground generally closes for vehicle access when the Loop Road closes in late November. It reopens to vehicles in April or May when the Loop Road opens. You may still hike into the Lava Flow campground and snow camp during the winter months.

Details

The 42 sites are available on a first come-first served basis; no reservations are accepted.

Cost

$15 per site during the summer season and $8 during the winter season. The cost is half-price with Senior or Access passes only.

Pay with a credit card at any time on the automated fee machine located near the campground entrance. No fee is charged when the Loop Road is closed.

Facilities

• water is seasonal and is turned off in the winter season due to freezing temperatures

• restrooms (flush toilets available seasonally, vault toilets open year-round)

• charcoal grills

• picnic tables

• Site #34 contains an electrical outlet for use by those with medical needs.

• There are no hookups, showers, or wastewater dump stations. Large RVs and trailers can be accommodated in a limited number of sites.

Regulations

• To claim a campsite, please leave an item in your desired campsite and register for your site at the automated fee machine as soon as possible. Place receipt in box on campsite post.

• Pay with a credit card (no cash or checks are accepted.)

• No wood fires are permitted. Charcoal fires are permitted in the grills.

• Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (no generators running, loud music, etc.)

• Please help decrease the amount of waste that we send to our local landfill by utilizing the recycling center located in the campground.

• Our water supply is inadequate for filling water tanks. You are welcome to fill jugs but please fill RV tanks elsewhere.

• Campsites are limited to a maximum of 8 people, 2 tents, and 2 vehicles (unless otherwise posted)

• All vehicles must always remain on paved roads.

 

Group Camping Area

Group Campground

The group campground is located about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) up a gravel road on the north side of U.S. Highway 20/26/93 at the base of Sunset Cone, a 12,000-year-old cinder cone. A grove of Douglas fir trees grows on the shady north side of the volcano surrounding the group campground. This secluded camping area is the perfect spot for organized groups. It is available by reservation only for groups of up to 30 people for tent camping.

2021 Group Campground Season

May 26 to September 28

Details

Camping area for larger groups (maximum 30 people). Available by reservations only. Tent camping only, no RVs.

Cost

$30 per group and credit card only

Facilities

• picnic tables

• drinking water

• vault restroom

• campfire ring and charcoal grill. Campfires are currently banned due to high fire danger.

• The campground has an accessible picnic table and vault toilet, but paths to these are not fully accessible for people with mobility impairments.

Regulations

• Available by reservation only through Recreation.gov.

• Check in at visitor center during business hours in order to gain access to this gated area.

• No wood gathering is permitted.
• Tent camping only, no RVs. Set up tents on bare soil, not on vegetation.

• Obtain a day-use permit to hike or bike beyond the group campground. No access is permitted beyond the Group Campground during hunting and pronghorn migration periods: February 25th-April 7th and September 25th-November 15th.

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Wilderness and Backcountry Camping

Camping is also permitted in the Craters of the Moon Wilderness and the NPS Preserve and BLM Monument for those who are properly outfitted. Obtain a free backcountry permit from the visitor center.

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Additional Camping Near Craters

Many more campgrounds and RV parks are located on the way to or from Craters.

Explore the link for additional information: Camping Near Craters of the Moon