The Best First-Come-First-Served Campsites in Oregon
No reservation, no problem—Timothy Lake has 40 dispersed campsites, plus a seven-site campground on the northern peninsula known as Meditation Point, that are up for grabs.
In a Perfect World, you would have booked all your summer campsites last winter, back when reservations opened up. This world, however, is a decidedly imperfect one—but we have first come, first served campsites for that. These walk-up sites in state parks and national forests allow you to pitch a tent and enjoy a night under the stars without too much pre-planning. All but a couple will cost you under $20 per night. Pro tip, though: For a first-come-first-served site, you need to get there, well, first. And you’re probably not the only one who failed in the advance planning.
Timothy Lake
7 sites | 1 hour 45 minutes from portland
While nine developed campgrounds on Mount Hood’s manmade Timothy Lake take reservations, 40 dispersed campsites, plus the seven-site campground on the northern peninsula known as Meditation Point, are up for grabs. All are reached by foot, bike, or boat from various entry points around the lake. (Timothy Lake is managed by Portland General Electric, in partnership with the US Forest Service; find a map for more details.) Meditation Point sites have picnic tables and fire rings, while dispersed sites have little more than a place to pitch a tent, so pack a trowel and be prepared to filter your own water. In exchange for the minimal frills, you’ll get lakeside serenity far from the bustling south shore. The nonreservable campsites are free, but bring cash for the $10-per-day parking fee, or use a NW Forest Pass.
Lost Lake
24 sites | 2 hours from portland
Despite the mysterious name, Lost Lake has been found by many over the years to be an excellent spot for family-friendly camping, kayaking, and swimming. (Sweet views of Mount Hood, too.) Most of the campsites at the lake’s resort are reservable, but the lakeside F Loop is the sweet spot for the spontaneous. And for the speedy: Get there early, as these 24 spots go fast. At $49 per night, they’re also more expensive than most spots on our list. Other accommodation options include cabins, yurts, and A-frames, and the resort also has a café, general store, and a small armada of handsomely refurbished rowboats.
Cascadia County Park
13 sites | 2 hours from Portland
Near the city of Sweet Home, 50 miles east of Corvallis, Cascadia County Park is lush and fern-filled. All that foliage helps create relative privacy for the 23 campsites, 13 of which are first come, first served. (There are also two reservable group tent areas, plus two reservable group picnic areas.) Two hiking trails start near the campground: A three-quarter-mile trail leads to Lower Soda Creek Falls, while another follows the Doug-fir lined shores of the South Santiam River, which is also a good spot for swimming and fishing.
Fall Creek State Recreation Area
39 sites | 2 hours 30 minutes from Portland
This tree-rimmed reservoir near Eugene has 39 first-come-first-served sites at its Cascara Campground. Spots are tucked among the Doug firs, many with water views. While the campground has a swim area, the party can be found at Winberry day-use area, with its two-lane boat ramp, massive parking area, swim beach and dock, and picnic areas with barbecue grills and fire rings.
Seal Rock Campground
41 sites | 3 hours from Portland
Washington’s Hood Canal is not a canal. It’s a 68-mile-long fjord in Puget Sound shaped by ancient glaciers, with glorious water and mountain vistas. It’s also home to one of few national forest campgrounds situated on salt water with oyster beds available for public harvest. (If you plan to avail yourself, buy a shellfish license online ahead of time.) All 41 sites ($18 per night, no hookups) have tables and firepits, and you’ll find flush toilets and potable water. It’s a scenic drive along this narrow waterway, but get an early start—it’s a popular spot, and Seattleites are only two hours away.
Minam State Recreation Area
22 sites | 4 hours 30 minutes from Portland
Along the banks of northeastern Oregon’s Wallowa River, Minam State Recreation Area includes a boat launch just off OR 82 and a quiet campground two miles downriver. Wildlife is abundant here: Watch for deer, elk, black bears, and the occasional cougar or bighorn sheep. Pack waterproof bags, and perhaps your fishing rod, and take an easy float from the boat launch (a store nearby offers raft rentals) to the campground.
Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site
10 sites | 4 hours 30 minutes from portland
At the headwaters of the Wood River, about 40 miles north of Klamath Falls, a forest of lodgepole pines meets open meadow and quaking aspens. The small campground, with 10 primitive sites—vault toilets, no potable water, no hookups, $14 per night—lies in a secluded spot by a spring-fed lagoon. (Two additional sites are reserved for those with horses or other pack animals.) Follow a walking trail to where the spring bubbles from the hillside, or do some paddling or trout fishing. Swim if you dare—the water is crystal-clear but very cold. Mosquitoes can abound, but psst: Crater Lake National Park’s south entrance is a mere 10 minutes away.
Ukiah-Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor
27 sites | 5 hours from Portland
This state scenic corridor winds along the North Fork of the John Day River and Camas Creek, about 50 miles south of Pendleton. The creekside campground sits amid old-growth pines and larch. It’s a good spot for foragers hunting for mushrooms and berries, and for fishers angling for trout, salmon, and steelhead.
Bates State Park
28 sites | 5 hours 30 minutes from Portland
In a lovely, verdant valley in northeastern Oregon’s Blue Mountains sits one of the state’s newer parks. Established in 2008, Bates occupies the site of a former lumber mill and company town. In addition to 28 first-come-first-served sites, there are more than three miles of hiking trails that guide visitors past interpretive panels detailing life in Bates during its heyday. And a bonus for those on two feet or two wheels: There’s also a hiker-biker camp, with six sites and plug-ins for recharging electronics.
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