Oregon Campground...The Top 10
We've found many American families have suffered from camping experiences simply because they didn't plan ahead. (We imagine it'd be like not planning for retirement, then when retirement comes and there's "no money"...oh oh! What a mistake.) If families know what to expect in a campground like: amenities, local attractions, etc., the family will have a fabulous experience. This is true for both young and old. Ultimately, you now benefit from the hours of camping research that goes into filtering through the Oregon Campgrounds. Before setting out on your camping experience get your Camping Checklist...Click Here, don't leave home without the essentials. Choosing the top 10 Oregon Campground locations is not an easy task. We have a set of criteria to abide by: 1. Scenic features nearby. 2. Interesting attractions nearby that stimulated learning. 3. Amenities for adults and kids. 4. Clean and well kept. 5. Easy access. 6. A peaceful environment. 7. Safe and secure. (Granted, some of the campgrounds are primitive; however, the solitude makes up for some of amenities.) * The following Oregon Campgrounds, designated as a private campground, typically requires a FEE. Number 1 Best Oregon Campground...
1. The Number One Oregon Campground has to go to the Seaside Preserve at Seaside Oregon. Not only is this a great camping spot but the location is ideal. This is a private campground with 251 full-hookups for the RV'er and 32 rental units. For those in tents, there's always a tent site. Our kids and us love the amenities: - Indoor Pool - Indoor Spa - Kids Wading Pool - Sauna - Tennis Courts - Clubhouses - Sand Volleyball Court - Basketball, Sport and Volleyball Courts - Daytime Picnic Areas - Playgrounds - Horseshoes - Laundromat - Exercise Room The grounds are spacious and well kept. If you are a people person, then this is great for you. If you want solitude, no people, this is not for you. You are minutes away from Seaside's Many Attractions and in close proximity to the Natural Wonders of the Northern Oregon Coast. Because this is a private campground, Thousand Trails, it is restricted. The runner up is Fort Stevens State Park, 7 miles west of Astoria. MSN City Editors rated Fort Stevens State Park in the Top 10 Campgrounds in the U.S. It's worth checking out! You'll have access to the Northern Oregon Coast. Fort Stevens has 3,763 acres and offers along with camping: fishing, boating, swimming, a nice beach, hiking, picnicing and a visitors center. There are over 13 miles of hiking and biking trails located throughout the park. There's 579 paved campsites, more campsites than any other Oregon Campground along the Oregon Coast. They can accomodate the hiker/biker and RV's up to 50 feet in length. There's also 15 Yurts. Our kids love hiking the trails and viewing the historical site at Fort Stevens. Fort Stevens was a strategic defensive position for the U.S. during the Civil War and World War II, protecting any invasion up the Columbia River. If you need another Runner Up, we suggest the KOA Campground in Warrenton. You're just south of Astoria and north of Seaside. Some of the amenities you'll enjoy are: - RV Spaces - Tent Sites - Indoor Pool & Spa - Group Meeting Room - Recreation Room with Cable TV Give them a call: 503-861-2606. Number 2 Best Oregon Campground...
2. The Number 2 Best Oregon Campground goes to Bend/Sunriver Preserve 13 miles south of Bend, Oregon. This is another private campground of Thousand Trails; however, the amenities and location put it in the number 2 position. The campground is spread over 283 acres with 300 power and water hook-ups for the RV-er. There are 17 rental units, 3 yurts, 4 cottages and lot's of space to accomodate your tent. We love the Amenities: - Ballfield - Basketball Court - Canoes and Kayaks - Country Store - Family Center - Frisbee Golf - Horseshoe Pits - Laundry Facilities - Mini Golf - Movie House - Pickleball Courts - Playgrounds - Spa - Swimming Pools - Tennis Courts - Volleyball Court - Wading Pool You are literally minutes away from some of Oregon's best outdoor recreation areas. The Preserve is located on the Little Deschutes River and offers the best of both worlds: warm summers and dry winters with snow. Fishing is abundant throughout the area: salmon, whitefish and rainbow trout. Bring your fishing gear to this place! Some of the other fun activities that we and our kids like are the boating and hiking. There's so much of it. We take our kayaks, inflatable boats and explore. It's non-ending. If you prefer to do a little river-run, you are in the right area. The Bend/Sun River area has some of the best river-running options available. Pick a class VI (extremely hazardous) or class I portion of the Deschutes River (virtually non-hazardous) and enjoy! The Deschutes River flows northwards from the Cascades, west of Bend, increasing in water volume and speed as it nears the Columbia River. The upper stretches near Bend and Sunriver are suitable for leasure canoeing. If you want the more serious whitewater you can pick that up between Madras and Maupin. You will need a permit to run the river here. Contact the Bureau of Land Management: 541-416-6700. You can also camp along the river BUT plan ahead. Sometimes the river is so crowded, there's little chance of getting a camp site along the river. You are also situated amongst some of the most interesting geological features like lava tubes and cinder cones. Go out and explore it all. Oh, you gotta do this...Century Drive. This is a 100 mile loop beginning in Bend and ending in Bend. It's a "Class One" scenic drive. You'll enjoy it immensely! And it's FREE ...except for the gas in your vehicle. There are many other camping locations throughout the Bend/Sunriver area. One in particular that we like, and is an option for you, is LaPine State Park. It's the Home of the "Big Tree", Oregon's largest Ponderosa Pine in excess of 500 years old standing some 162 feet. Some say it is the tallest tree in the United States...go see it and you be the judge. In addition to camping you'll find: easy access to boating and fishing. If you want some good ole Native American Culture visit the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. The Reservation is located North on 97 out of Bend then North on Hwy 26 out of Madras. The Confederated Tribes has put together a pretty good adventure program. Both Kids and Adults love it. They have over-night programs that you can participate in for various fees. Check them out...it's pretty neat. Number 3 Best Oregon Campground...
3. The number 3 Best Oregon Campground takes us back to the Oregon Coast to Jessie Honeymoon Memorial State Park, near Florence, Oregon. Spread out on over 500 acres you'll have access to 500 feet high sand-dunes and three lakes. The dunes are impressive. Some of the amenities you'll have are: - Camping - Fishing - Boating - Swimming - Hiking Camped in this scenic wonderland you'll also have access to more of the beautiful Coastal areas including: to the North the town of Florence, Heceta Head Light House, Yachats and Yaquina Bay at Newport. To the South you can venture off to enjoy the miles of Sand-Dunes at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Umpqua Light House, Cape Blanco Light House and to the California Border. Another optional camping location is a private reserve, South Jetty also apart of Thousand Trails, located one-mile south of Florence. It's spread out on 60 acres, a mere two-miles from the Pacific Ocean with easy access to Oregon's giant sand dunes. There are 40 full-hookups, 130 power and water hookups, 13 rental facilities, 2 garden homes and plenty of room to accomodate your tent. Amenities include: - Adult Lodge - Badminton - Country Store - Dry Sauna - Family Lodge - Family Pool - Horseshoe Pits - Hot Tubs - Kiddie Pool - Laundry Facilities - Nature Trails - Pingpong - Pavilion - Pool - Playground - RV Storage - Full Service RV Supply & Service Center - Sports Court - Volleyball Court - Video/game Room/Teen Center Number 4 Best Oregon Campground...
4. The Number 4 Best Oregon Campground is Mazama Campground at Crater Lake National Park. It's a rather busy campground with 198 sites including: flush toilets, potable water, showers, laundry facilities and is on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you get there early BUT if you missed out there are some 900 more camping sites spread throughout the Crater Lake area. Once nestled in you have access to Oregon's most famous tourist attraction, and rightly so, it's an awe-inspiring site. If you want to get away from the hussle & bussle at Mazama you can head North to Diamond Lake. There you will find Diamond Lake RV Park for the RV-er's (sorry no tent's) 541-793-3318. Or travel around the lake and look for other camping options. Number 5 Best Oregon Campground...
5. The Number 5 Best Oregon Campground is Mount Hood Village, Mount Hood, Oregon. You'll have access to the remote areas of Mount Hood National Forest. The campground is located along the Salmon River, 13 miles East of Sandy on Highway 26 between mileposts 38 & 39. There are 356 sites with 225 hookups, 87 with water and electric and tent locations. It's not a bad place, there's lots to do right in the campground. Some of the amenities include: - Recreation Hall - Swimming Pool - River Fishing - Playground - Horseshoes - Hiking Trails Give them a call: 800-255-3069 If you want some more rustic campground then come on over to Government Camp, Clackamas Lake Campground. There are 47 sites, no hookups, just primitive sites BUT you are in the woods...enjoy. There's lake fishing and trails nearby. Check them out: 503-666-0700. There are 86 campgrounds throughout the Mount Hood Forest, visit Mount Hood Campgrounds. Mount Hood is an active volcano, part of the chain of volcanoes strewed thoughout the cascade mountains. In 1859 and 1865 Mount Hood erupted; however, not to the extent of Mt. St. Helans in Washington that created a devastating blow in 1980. Mount Hood is home to more than seven million visitors per year bringing outdoor enthusiasts of hikers, horseback riders, mountain climbers, cyclists and those who love beauty and nature. Number 6 Best Oregon Campground...
6. The Number 6 Best Oregon Campground is Viento State Park, located six-miles west of Hood River, Oregon. The campsite is nestled in a forested area along Viento Creek. There's not a lot of perks with the campground except is proximity. You have access to the vast many unique things the Hood River area has for you: wind surfing, fishing, swimming, geological formations, wineries and orchards. This was an often over-looked area until the wind-worshippers discovered it, the natural wind tunnel. Hood River began making a spot on the map in the 80's. Since then everything has changed...forever. Number 7 Best Oregon Campground...
7. The Number 7 Best Oregon Campground goes to Joseph Stewart State Park. It is located along the shores of Lost Creek Lake off of Highway 62 North from Medford. There's over 900 acres of park offering camping, fishing, boating, swimming, a beach and hiking. You are also at the gateway to the Rogue River National Forest. There's lots to explore including a rafting trip down the Rogue River. Number 8 Best Oregon Campground...
8. The Number 8 Best Oregon Campground is Broggans Resort just outside of Wallowa on Highway 82. You are at the access to Hells Canyon, 7800 feet deep making it the world's deepest river gorge. You can see it by taking the Wallowa Mountain Loop beginning in the town of Joseph and ending in at Baker City. The resort offers many amenities: 100 sites, tenting, laundry facilities, rec. room, river swimming, canoeing, fishing, palyground, sports field, horseshoes, hiking trails and volleyball. Give them a call: 541-828-7741. There are several camping locations scattered throughout the area. If you want to camp near Baker City, one of the premier camping spots is at Anthony Lake. They are first-come, first-serve camping spots. They usually fill up in the summer months. Call them before arriving: 541-523-4476. Number 9 Best Oregon Campground...
9. The Number 9 Best Oregon Campground goes to Clyde Holliday State Park. You are camped just adjacent to the John Day River, bring your fishing gear. You also have access to some of Oregon's most interesting geological history, the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. This area is the result of volcanic activity some 5 to 50 million years ago, fascinating area. The camping is ok, not a lot of amenities but your location is excellent for day trips, including hikes. Number 10 Best Oregon Campground...
10. The Number 10 Best Oregon Campground goes to Valley of the Rogue State Park. You will camp just outside of Grants Pass and have a access to the City of Grants Pass and the Oregon Caves National Monument. It's spectular; however, if you are driving an RV and plan to visit the caves, it is recommended that you park at the Oregon Caves visitor's center. As you travel about and camp throughout Oregon, please Contact Us about your Oregon Campground experiences, your comments regarding places you've visited, activities and any other comments that may help others in their touring/camping endeavors.
We want to hear from you. As you visit the Oregon Campgrounds please feel free to make any recommendations.
Read about others favorite Oregon Camping Locations. Have Fun at your Oregon Campground. The Expert Travel Staff
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