South Steens Campground

Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), camping costs $16 per vehicle per night; additional passenger vehicle $5 per night, and it is open from mid-May to mid-November. South Steens Campground is a BLM campground near Crane, Oregon.

First-come, first-served

BLM · Crane, Oregon

South Steens Campground is located in the heart of Steens Mountain. Visitors will find picnic tables and grills at 36 family campsites amid juniper and sage. The equestrian site, designed sp

RV campers enjoying South Steens Campground

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South Steens Campground is located in the heart of Steens Mountain. Visitors will find picnic tables and grills at 36 family campsites amid juniper and sage. The equestrian site, designed sp. Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington from Portland, America, Public domain

Managed by: BLM

South Steens Campground sits inside Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area. Its camping rule, field office, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits 0.2 miles outside the boundary of Steens Mountain Wilderness; its permit and camping rules and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Riddle Brothers Ranch: The campground is close to the Historic Riddle Brothers Ranch, several hiking trails, and the Little Blitzen and Big Indian gorges of Steens Mountain. (blm.gov)

Getting a site

Managed by: BLM
Reservations: None, first-come
Fee: $16 per vehicle per night; additional passenger vehicle $5 per night

Source: blm.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

What's there

✓ Toilets
✓ Potable water

On site: Toilets and potable water.

Rules

Stay limit: 14 Days

Sources: recreation.gov, accessed 2026-09-29; blm.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Access and cell service

Elevation: 5,321 ft

Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)

AT&T: 4G LTE
T-Mobile: No coverage mapped
Verizon: No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.2 mi away

Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, data as of December 31, 2025

Outdoor coverage each carrier reports to the FCC at this campground's map point, and the nearest mapped coverage within about half a mile. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it. These are carrier predictions, not measurements, and can be wrong either way: real service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle is often weaker. 5G speeds are the FCC's 7/1 and 35/3 Mbps tiers. This product uses the FCC Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

42.6567, -118.7285 in Harney. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

South Steens Campground is open from mid-May to mid-November , at 5,321 ft.

Sources: epqs.nationalmap.gov, accessed 2026-09-29; blm.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at South Steens Campground?

No. South Steens Campground is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.

How much does it cost to camp at South Steens Campground?

Camping at South Steens Campground costs $16 per vehicle per night; additional passenger vehicle $5 per night.

Is there drinking water at South Steens Campground?

Yes, South Steens Campground has potable water. It also has toilets.

When is South Steens Campground open?

South Steens Campground is open from mid-May to mid-November.

How long can you stay at South Steens Campground?

The stay limit at South Steens Campground is 14 Days.

Is there cell service at South Steens Campground?

Yes, outdoors: the FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows 4G LTE from AT&T at South Steens Campground. It shows none at South Steens Campground from Verizon, though Verizon shows 4G LTE about 0.2 mi away. It shows none from T-Mobile at or within about half a mile. The map is carrier-reported and modeled for outdoors, so expect weaker service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle.

Who manages South Steens Campground?

South Steens Campground is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Around South Steens Campground

Hot springs nearby

swimholesmap.com · within 30 miles

The nearest hot spring to South Steens Campground, in a straight line: Alvord Hot Springs (hot spring, 13 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.

First-come Jackman Park Campground Crane · BLM

First-come Fish Lake Campground (Steens Mountain) Frenchglen · BLM

First-come Page Springs Campground Crane · BLM

More campgrounds: camping near Crane and campgrounds in Harney.

Sources

gis.blm.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-28
recreation.gov (stayLimit), accessed 2026-09-29
epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-09-29
broadbandmap.fcc.gov (cellCoverage), accessed 2026-09-27
blm.gov (reservationSystem, toilets, water, season, fee, notableFeature, stayLimit), accessed 2026-09-29

Photo credits

Photo 1: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington from Portland, America, Public domain
Photo 2: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington from Portland, America, Public domain
Photo 3: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington from Portland, America, Public domain
Photo 4: BLM, via Recreation.gov, Public domain (US federal government work)
Photo 5: BLM, via Recreation.gov, Public domain (US federal government work)
Photo 6: BLM, via Recreation.gov, Public domain (US federal government work)

First-come, first-served $16 per vehicle per night; additional passenger vehicle $5 per night

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