Oregon, Book Your Summer Campsites Now

Summer is…OK, not exactly nigh, but it’s coming. And winter is the time to get your camping plans in order, because while Oregon has plenty of first-come-first-served camping options (and we’ve got some recommendations on that front), six months in advance is when reservations open for campgrounds on both state and federal land. Cabins, yurts, and ever-coveted fire lookout towers also book six months out.

Can the process be cumbersome? Yes. But it’s worth it for avoiding the summer scramble. So let’s get to it—here’s what you can lock down right now.

Oregon State Parks campsites, cabins, and yurts

Most campsites—and all cabins and yurts—at Oregon State Parks require reservations, which open six months in advance at 6am (In 2024, the system added same-day booking; previously, you had to reserve at least 24 hours out.) But with 66 options, how do you choose? Some of our favorites include Cottonwood Canyon (located along the John Day River, where monumental basalt cliffs burst with color during the day and block out light noise at night, offering sublime stargazing), Cape Lookout (we’re partial to the A loop’s beach-hugging tent sites, despite their lack of shade), and Cove Palisades (party barge on Lake Billy Chinook, anyone?).

State forest campsites (some)

Most campgrounds in Oregon State Forests operate on a first-come-first-served basis. The few outliers are the three group sites in the Tillamook State Forest and the two equestrian-specific campgrounds in the Clatsop and Santiam State Forests, which can be reserved six months in advance through reserveamerica.com. So if you wanna make s’mores with your crew—group sites accommodate up to 24 people—or hang with your horses, chop chop.

National forest land campsites, cabins, and fire lookouts

In addition to loads of campgrounds across the state, the forest service rents historic cabins and fire lookouts that’ll give you a taste of life as a ranger. These, unsurprisingly, are very popular, especially on weekends, but the experience is unparalleled. Two we recommend setting your 7am alarm for: Fall Mountain Lookout Tower in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, which is accessible by vehicle and offers the rare amenity of electricity; and Fremont Point Cabin, which was rebuilt in 2015 and perches 3,000 feet above the eerily shallow, alkali Summer Lake in the scrubby Oregon Outback (stargazers, take note).

BLM land campsites (some)

Most Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are first come, first served, though a dozen or so in Oregon accept reservations. Like forest service campsites, they’re reservable through recreation.gov. A few to consider: Alsea Falls, 40 minutes southwest of Corvallis, with its scenic swim spots and excellent mountain biking trails; Loon Lake, in the Coast Range near Reedsport, much loved by families for its sandy beach and recreation opportunities, including boating, fishing, and paddleboarding; and, closer to Portland, Three Bears and Cedar Grove, both nestled on a picturesque stretch of the Molalla River.