Where to Stay at Crater Lake: Lodges and Hotels
Crater Lake isn't Yellowstone, with its dozens of lodges and hundreds of hotels just outside the gates. Here, the choice is straightforward, and it's worth knowing your options before you pull out your credit card: a historic lodge perched on the crater rim, around 40 cabins near the South Entrance, and, beyond that, gateway towns 37 to 62 miles away. If you can book the Crater Lake Lodge, do it without hesitation. Otherwise, Klamath Falls to the south and Medford to the west are your two best bases outside the park.
Park lodges and gateway towns (7)
- Lodge mid-May to mid-October Directions ↗
- Gateway town Medford entrance South Entrance - Annie Spring (Hwy 62) · hotels, supermarket, gas station Directions ↗
- Gateway town Klamath Falls entrance South Entrance - Annie Spring (Hwy 97 + Hwy 62) · hotels, supermarket, gas station Directions ↗
- Gateway town Fort Klamath entrance South Entrance - Annie Spring (Hwy 62) · motel, grocery store, gas station Directions ↗
- Gateway town Chemult entrance North Entrance (Hwy 97 → Hwy 138) · motel, grocery store, gas station Directions ↗
- Gateway town Diamond Lake entrance North Entrance (Hwy 138) · lodge, grocery store, gas station Directions ↗
- Gateway town Roseburg entrance North Entrance (Hwy 138) · hotels, supermarket, gas station Directions ↗
Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO ⚠ Lodge & Gateway town data is undergoing editorial review.
In the Park or Outside?
The short answer is to stay in the park if you can, as long as you're traveling during the season, from late May to mid-October. Outside that window, all in-park lodging closes. Our Where to Stay at Crater Lake guide lays out the full tradeoff for different travel styles, so check it before you decide.
Places to Stay in Crater Lake: The Lodge and Park Cabins
Crater Lake Lodge
Crater Lake Lodge sits at 6,900 feet, literally on the caldera rim. Built in 1915, it nearly faced demolition in the 1980s because of years of neglect. After a major restoration in the 1990s, it was added to the Historic Hotels of America registry. Well deserved.
The rooms have the quiet charm of historic lodges: wood floors, sturdy furniture, and sash windows. There are no TVs or air-conditioning. At 6,900 feet, with Crater Lake right outside your window, you won't miss the Wi-Fi.
Rim-side rooms look directly out over the lake, just a few feet from the edge. They're the most sought-after and, unsurprisingly, the most expensive. Forest-side rooms cost noticeably less. The difference is the view, not the comfort.
The lodge has a restaurant with a lake-view terrace. It's the park's only fine-dining option. Book dinner when you book your room. Evening reservations fill quickly, even for lodge guests.
Open season: roughly late May through mid-October, depending on that year's snowfall. Dates vary, so check the concessioner's website before booking anything.
One thing to watch: rim-side rooms regularly sell out months in advance for July and August. See the “When to Book” section below. It matters.
The Cabins at Mazama Village
About 6 miles south of the rim, near the park's South Entrance, Mazama Village offers motel-style cabins. They don't have lake views or fancy decor, but they cover the essentials: a bed, clean bathrooms, hot water, and the park right outside your door.
The cabins are basic, and that's the point. There's no kitchen, sound insulation is light, and the decor is functional. On the other hand, you'll have a grocery store, a gas station, and access to the rim just a few minutes away by car. If you want to head to the crater at dawn without driving 37 miles from Klamath Falls, it's hard to beat.
Open season: roughly mid-June through mid-September, with dates confirmed each year.
Good to know: Mazama Village also has a campground and an RV area. Our Crater Lake camping guide covers both if you're traveling with a tent or van.
Where to Stay Around Crater Lake: Gateway Towns
Klamath Falls (about 37 miles south)
Klamath Falls is the closest gateway town to the park via the South Entrance. Allow 1 to 1.25 hours by car via Highway 97 and then Highway 62. The city is modest but practical, with national hotel chains such as Best Western, Hampton Inn, and Quality Inn, a few B&Bs, and rates that are significantly lower than the lodge's.
Klamath Falls also has a regional airport with flights to Portland and San Francisco. For a short trip from the West Coast, it's the easiest place to fly into.
Practical advantage: stores stay open in the evening, unlike in Mazama Village. It's much easier to stock up before the next morning.
Medford (about 62 miles west)
Medford is the largest city near the park and the one with the best air connections. Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) gets direct flights from Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. If you're flying in from the West Coast, it's the logical gateway.
From Medford, Highway 62 runs to the park's West Entrance, which is open year-round, including winter. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on where you're starting in town.
Medford has the region's broadest range of hotels, from motels under $80 a night to boutique hotels, along with all the usual American chains. It's also the natural base if you're combining Crater Lake with Ashland, 12 miles away and known for its Shakespeare festival, or spending time along the Rogue River.
Diamond Lake and the North Entrance (about 75 miles)
The park's North Entrance, via Highway 138, can be reached from Roseburg or the Interstate 5 junction by driving through the Umpqua River forest. The route is spectacular and much less busy than the South and West Entrances. It closes in winter, generally as early as November.
Diamond Lake Resort is about 19 miles from the North Entrance. It offers cabins and rooms in a lakeside setting, with a longer operating season than the park's lodging. It's a solid middle-ground option if you're coming from Portland on Interstate 5 and would rather avoid Medford.
How Many Nights Should You Spend at Crater Lake?
One night is enough to watch the sunrise or sunset over the lake, drive Rim Drive, which covers 33 miles, and allow a good half day if you stop at the overlooks, then take a boat out on the lake if the concession is operating.
Two nights give you time to add a serious hike, such as Garfield Peak Trail, a 5-mile round-trip hike with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain and 360-degree views, or Mount Scott Trail, which leads to the park's highest point at 8,927 feet. In our view, that's the ideal length for seeing the park without rushing.
Beyond two nights, the appeal starts to fade if you're not a dedicated hiker. The park is small and centered mostly around the lake. Our day-by-day Crater Lake itinerary guide can help you tailor your stay to your Oregon plans.
When to Book and What It Costs
Crater Lake Lodge: reservations generally open at the beginning of the year for the summer season, from May through October. Rim-side rooms and July-August weekends sell out within hours of the calendar opening. Rates start at around $200-$250 a night for a forest-side room and rise significantly for rim-side rooms. Book when reservations open, not when you finalize your travel dates.
Mazama Village: availability is a little better, but the cabins also fill quickly in the middle of the season. The same rule applies: plan ahead.
Gateway towns: Klamath Falls and Medford usually have rooms available at the last minute outside peak weekends. Rates are stable and not very seasonal. Outside July and August, you can generally find a room for the next night without a problem.
Best time to go: September has all the advantages. Crowds thin out, lodge rates start to drop, and the weather remains reliable. July, August, and September are the driest months at Crater Lake. Our Crater Lake seasons guide covers month-by-month changes, including seasonal price ranges.
Our Recommendations by Travel Style
For an immersive stay: Crater Lake Lodge, with a rim-side room if your budget allows. Stay at least two nights so you can enjoy sunrise without the daytime crowds. Book as early as January.
For budget travelers: use Klamath Falls as your base and leave early for the park. We've made the drive from Klamath Falls at dawn. Seeing the lake at sunrise without the midday crowds was worth every mile of the drive.
For families: choose Mazama Village for its proximity and easy logistics, or Medford for extra comfort, with more restaurant choices, hotel pools, and stores. The drive from Medford is smooth and doesn't require anything special in summer.
For an Oregon road trip: make Medford your hub and visit Crater Lake as part of a one- or two-night loop. Our complete Crater Lake guide lists the most logical stop combinations for planning your route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I stay to visit Crater Lake?
For a visit to Crater Lake, you have two lodging options in the park, Crater Lake Lodge on the rim and the Mazama Village cabins, plus two main gateway towns outside the park: Klamath Falls, about 37 miles south, and Medford, about 62 miles west.
Can you stay overnight in Crater Lake National Park?
Yes, you can stay in the park from late May through mid-October. Crater Lake Lodge and the Mazama Village cabins both close in winter, when snow makes the rim roads inaccessible.
How long does it take to see Crater Lake?
Allow a full day for Rim Drive and the main overlooks. Plan on two days if you want to add a hike and a boat cruise on the lake.
Is May a good time to visit Crater Lake?
In May, the park's lodging is still closed and Rim Drive is often partly covered in snow. The West and South Entrances are open year-round, but conditions can be unpredictable. For a first visit, July through September is a safer bet.