Oregon is a year‑round truck camping playground—snow‑packed mountain passes in winter, wildflower‑studded meadows in fall, and jaw‑dropping coastlines any time you roll through. If you have a truck camping bucket list, Oregon belongs on it!
Above image courtesy of Ben Watts—Ford F-250 and Four Wheel Camper Hawk
We are currently camped in Tillamook, Oregon after making our way up the Oregon coast on Highway 101. From the Highway 101 drive, two significant things stand out.
First, it’s easily one of the twistiest, don’t sneeze, don’t read your phone, ‘focus, Daniel-san’ drives we’ve ever done. It’s not the turns and non-existent shoulders leading to cliffs of certain death that get you. It’s the non-stop sharp turns, rises, and falls that make you start to question whether you’re on a road or a roller coaster.
Second, Oregon’s coastal views will absolutely upend all expectations. The enormous rocks jutting out and into the Pacific are as stunning as they are distracting as you approach another turn from the cliffs of insanity. This is a drive everyone should have on their truck camping bucket list. Just keep your hands at ten and two. We can’t lose any readership.
What follows are highly recommended drives, locations, and campsites throughout the incredibly diverse and rewarding state of Oregon. Get out your bucket list and Google Map and prepare to drop some pins.
Bob and Sue Frazier
2012 Ford F-350
2001 Bigfoot 10-6
Truck camping in Oregon? Just about my whole life. Mom and Dad had a truck camper, and Grandad and Grandma did too. Oregon seems to have more truck campers on the roads and at the best campsites than just about anywhere else.
Above: Camping at Davis Lake, Oregon
Trouble is, Oregon has so many different geographies and climates that one description could never fit all places. And elevation, truth is, makes all the difference.
Beginning in winter, Oregon opens snow parks at every mountain pass. And there’s parking at ski resorts for campers who downhill ski, snowboard, snowshoe, or ice climb, too. When the lakes freeze, the snow machines and cross-country skiers find even more places and ways to explore the Oregon outdoors. Towables make campers able to go!
Early spring can be a mixed bag. Catch the occasional bell weather day at the coast, windsurf the Columbia Gorge, or head for southeastern Oregon—land of the Alvord Desert, hot springs, and wide open vistas. You’ll see campers sporting off-road motorcycles and side-by-side off-road vehicles headed in every direction.
Late spring, though? Oh, wow. Up come the fields of flowers, like the tulip fields of the Willamette Valley. The waterfalls are practically everywhere, and the onset of salmon fishing in most rivers. Campers with drift boats or jet sleds make use of boat launch facilities up and down rivers all over the state.
The Hood River’s fruit orchards fill with blooms around every scenic turn. Wild rhododendron floods every river canyon, pouring vivid pink blossoms out of the Cascades. Green comes in a thousand shades everywhere one turns. Tow sturdy rafts or kayaks upstream behind your camper and thrill with spring runoff down many a wild river.
Beginning in early summer, the high country of the Ochoco, Steens, Wallowas, and the Blue Mountains bursts with alpine fields of wildflowers, too. Not millions. Billions!
The winds die down, making every camp spot comfortable, along with cheery campfires in the evening. Warm, lengthening days make all kinds of hikes and explorations exceptional. You just can’t go wrong in Oregon’s early summer. The choices are endless.
Above: Sue looking out at Crater Lake
Late summer in Oregon is the time to head to the high country and beat the heat. Places like Diamond Lake in the southern Cascades offer mile-high elevations. Proximity to Crater Lake National Park makes it a favorite. High country lake fishing abounds in places like Century Drive, a hundred-mile loop in Central Oregon. The water sport scene blossoms, too. Want to make me jealous? Just tow two jet skis behind your camper.
Wallowa Lake in Northeastern Oregon is another great choice to cool off at, but there are hundreds of lakes and reservoirs to choose from.
Campers tow horse trailers to trail heads for epic adventures deep in our many national forests and wilderness areas, such as the Pacific Crest Trail.
The coast fills, of course, but it can actually be bitter when the north winds blow off the 58-degree Pacific Ocean every afternoon. Choose a place slightly upriver, like Quosatana County Park on the Rouge, to have truly incredible weather and a clear stream to dip your toes into.
Above: Upper Klamath Wildlife Refuge
As fall rolls into Oregon, the Willamette Valley and the vast Columbia Plateau gather their harvests. Apples in Hood River, and pears in the Rogue Valley, are harvest favorites. And blackberries? Well, they are just about everywhere and free for the picking! Dozens of wineries and tasting rooms bustle, and dozens more Harvest Hosts locations become focal points for campers to visit, relax, and enjoy the bounty.
Hunters head their campers to the thousands upon thousands of backwoods in search of trophies.
Fall is also the very best time to visit the Oregon coast. Really? Yes, really! The crowds are gone, the winds have died, the kids are back in school, and the weather will usually be near perfect—until the onshore rains come the last week or so in October. If I have one single piece of advice, it’s to come to the coast in the fall.
I suppose all of these seasons and ways to enjoy your own custom Oregon truck camper adventure are why we love ’em. It’s anywhere, anytime, and go. And wow, do we ever!
Bruce and Pam Gordon
2004 GMC Canyon
2010 DIY
We really enjoyed Route 101 in Oregon. We traveled from Olympic National Park in Washington to Redwood National Forest in California. The scenery, hiking, and history along this road are fabulous!
Above: The offshore rock looked like a cartoon whale from the beach
The Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) runs almost continuously along the coast for 344 miles. There are countless places to stop for a hike and/or just take in some scenic views. This was one of the best occasions of many we’ve encountered when taking the road less traveled instead of an Interstate. Don’t miss this drive if you’re in Oregon!
Above: The standalone triangular rock was absolutely huge
Cape Blanco State Park is a great stop along the way. Cape Blanco is the most western point in Oregon. Cliffs, beaches, and unusual rock formations both on and offshore are all there. The park has great hiking trails, and the oldest continuously working lighthouse in Oregon—built in 1870—plus historical information about the area.
Above: Cape Blanco State Park
We camped at Cape Blanco State Park, which was very comfortable. Campground amenities include showers, flush toilets, and electric and water at most sites. The sites were nicely separated.
Doug Braddock
2021 Ford F-350
2019 Cirrus 820
We live near Bend, so we have used our truck camper all over the state.
A favorite area is southeastern Oregon, especially the Steens Mountain area. Rather than having one central peak, Steens is a massive ridge up to 9,800 feet in height.
Above: Fish Lake Campground, Steens Mountain
There’s a loop road that essentially runs to the top. Then there’s a short walk to the actual summit. There are a number of basic campgrounds on the loop road. Of particular note is South Steens Campground, which is also the trailhead for (I think) the best hike in Steens—the Big Indian Gorge. This stunning trail takes you out and back up the gorge to a massive headwall.
Another great and strenuous hike to Wildhorse Lake begins from the loop road near the top of the ridge. Both of these hikes are recommended.
Near South Steens Campground, Riddle Ranch is a cool historical site that’s worth a visit. After visiting Steens, head south on Oregon 205 to the town of Fields, which consists mainly of a general store. The store serves the best milkshakes in Oregon!
From Fields, head north on the East Steens Road past Borax Hot Springs. To get to the Springs, head east along a power line (Guzzler Road). No swimming is allowed as the water is too hot and too full of heavy metals, but it’s an interesting area to see.
Continue north on the East Steens Road past the alkali pans of the Alvord Desert and Alvord Hot Springs. There’s a trailhead for a nice hike up Pike Creek with great views of the Steens Ridge.
There are plenty of places to boondock along this road, and there’s also Mann Lake Campground (BLM) to the north of the Alvord Desert. Continue on the East Steens Road to its intersection with Oregon 78. Fuel and resupply can be had in the towns of Frenchglen or Fields.
Keep in mind that this is a very remote area, and cell service is weak or nonexistent. And it is hot in July and August. September and October may be the best months to visit.
If you have the time after visiting Steens, check out the nearby Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. It feels even more remote than Steens, with some great gravel roads and antelope.
On the Steens Loop Road, there’s Fish Lake Campground and South Steens Campground. All are free. South Steens Campground has potable water in a central location. On the East Steens Road, there’s Mann Lake Campground, free BLM dry camping. There are numerous boondocking possibilities in the area. For a good map, click here.
Anna Rodriguez
2000 Ford F-250
1993 Western Wilderness Alpine SK-11
Oregon is where I was born and raised, so it has always been a home base for me. When I finally got a truck and camper, I was able to visit my favorite RV inaccessible locations once again. Trust me when I say that if you truly want to see (and bring your house to) the amazing nature available in Oregon, you need a truck with good tires!
One of my favorite destinations is Cougar Hot Springs in the Willamette National Forest, east of Eugene. When you get to the trailhead, it’s only a 20 or so minute hike to the springs. The springs include four tiered hot pools with an icy spring that runs down the side. If you bring a bucket, you can use the spring to control the temperature of your chosen pool.
If you continue driving past the trailhead and keep to the left—following the shore of the lake—you’ll find many dispersed camping sites that have access to the lake. If you bring a raft, you can float across the lake to get to the hot springs from your camp. The same dirt road continues around the lake, over a dam, and back to the trailhead or road back to the highway. Please be careful with your fires!
Another great hot spring location with a bit more of a hike is Umpqua Hot Springs. Locally, it’s referred to as Tokatee. It is also in the Willamette National Forest; however, this one is east of Roseburg. Be sure to check out the amazing rock formations that can be found on the drive up from the highway! Just past the parking lot, you can find a natural cold spring that provides delicious drinking water.
Above: Tokatee Falls, Douglas County, Oregon
If you are looking for an experience with hookups and showers, stick to the coastline. There are many great state-owned campgrounds, including Fort Stevens State Park, near Astoria.
However, there are many amazing places to camp in the wilderness of the mountains, as long as you boondock responsibly.
One area where you can find cleared dispersed camping sites is around the Blue River Reservoir, within the McKenzie River Ranger District. In fact, most of the lakes that are along the McKenzie River are surrounded by secluded and forested campsites.
Being within a national forest, you can stay up to 14 days before moving campsites. Just be sure to check your clearance when driving to these sites. The low-hanging branches of the evergreens can be thicker than they appear.
I must mention, as an Oregon-born lover of the outdoors, please pack out what you bring in and leave every campsite better than you found it.
Mary and Craig Carder
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
2013 CampLite TC8.6
Crater Lake is amazing. It’s the deepest lake in the country and ninth in the world at over 1,900 feet. It’s an unreal shade of deep blue and has incredible clarity.
Above: From a Crater Lake overlook
The lake partly fills a deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. No rivers flow into or out of the lake.
The Pinnacles are also something to see! They were caused by the ejection of gas-charged matter through vents in fractures around the mountain. This weakened and ultimately caused upper Mount Mazama to collapse after its final eruption.
We rode our bikes on Grayback Road to access Pinnacles Road. It’s the only road in the park that allows bicycles, but not motor vehicles. I use the term road loosely. It was a lot of thick, soft volcanic sand and gravel, and included a challenging climb.
Above: Some of the pinnacles along Pinnacle Trail
We enjoyed a nine-mile hike along the rim of the crater from Watchman Peak to Rim Village and back. This was less than a third of the entire rim trail, but all that we wanted for one day. It’s also possible to take a boat tour to Wizard Island if you don’t mind the one-mile, very steep Cleetwood Cove hike down to the boat dock and back.
The island is a 763-foot cinder cone created when Crater Lake first filled with water. You can explore, fish, hike the summit, and even swim if you’re willing to brave the 57-degree water surface temperature.
Above: Bridal Veil Falls in the Columbia River Gorge
We both were excited to ride the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Trail after enjoying a Peloton scenic ride filmed on it. We camped at Wyeth Campground on the Columbia River Gorge for access to the trail for bike riding. Smoke from distant forest fires was very thick the first two days, inhibiting our ability to enjoy the great scenery. I am so glad we stayed three nights instead of two, or we would not have seen all the incredible beauty of the gorge once it cleared.
We decided to do the waterfall corridor on our Honda Africa Twin motorcycle instead of bicycles because of all the dire warnings about crowded roads with no shoulder. It was a good call because we were able to take walks along all the waterfall trails without carrying hiking shoes and worrying about securing the bikes, etc. We saw Horsetail Falls, Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Shepperds Dell Falls, and Latourell Falls.
The most impressive was the Vista House—aptly named and incredible history there! The Vista House was built in 1917 on one of the most beautiful points on the Historic Columbia River Highway. It was constructed to provide travelers with a place to rest and refresh themselves. There’s a gift shop carrying regional artwork and a cafe providing refreshments.
Cascade Locks is the nearest town and offers access to the Pacific Coast Trail, as well as the gorge bike path, and a downtown that looks fun. We passed through Eagle Creek recreation area, which has the country‘s first ever USFS campground established way back in 1916. We also rode through a salmon and trout hatchery and passed a huge lock and dam. There were barges, a cruise boat, and a paddle wheel going down the river.
We only camped at two locations while in Oregon. The first was Wyeth Campground on Wyeth Road in Cascade Locks, Oregon. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, and picnic tables. There were no hook-ups. At that time, the well was out of service, so we had no available drinking water, but it has since been restored. Tree cover was very heavy, and we found this to be the only site on our entire trip where we couldn’t get a Starlink signal. The recommended maximum trailer length is 30 feet due to tight turns. There are also many low-hanging limbs. We chose Wyeth due to access to hiking trails, and especially the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Trail. We paid $20 per night.
In the past, this site was a seed kiln, guard station, church camp, Civilian Conservation Corps camp, and Conscientious Objector camp during World War II.
The second campsite was at Broken Arrow Campground in Umpqua National Forest near Chemult, Oregon. There’s a bike path right outside the entrance of the campground that connects to other nearby campgrounds, circles Diamond Lake, and includes great views of Mount Thielson. There were also many gravel forest service roads around us for riding.
Amenities included drinking water, flush toilets, showers, garbage disposal, and a dump station. We were there on a weekday, and usage was very light. We paid $15 a night. A double site is $20 per night. It is only 5.2 miles to the Crater Lake entrance.
Garry Morgan
2022 Ford F-350
2022 Northern Lite 8-11
Newberry National Volcanic Monument is about 45 minutes southeast of Bend in central Oregon. It offers stunning scenery, interesting geology, great hiking, plus boating, kayaking, fishing, and swimming in the two lakes within the caldera.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument is also part of the Deschutes National Forest. There are four campgrounds, plus group and horse camps inside the caldera.
Little Crater campground on Paulina Lake and East Lake campground on East Lake are the smallest and quietest, but usually fill up quickly. Reservations are recommended.
Above: Paulina Falls below the Caldera Rim
At the far end of East Lake, Cinder Hill campground is larger and generally has some open sites available—at least on weekdays. Like most USFS campgrounds, there are no hookups. A dump station and potable water fill are available near the visitor center.
In addition to outdoor recreation, don’t miss the burgers at East Lake Lodge. Their mixed berry cobbler is enough for two people! If you eat outside on the patio, be sure to step inside to see the old photos and posters from the lodge’s early days.
East Lake campground sits in a beautiful setting along the shore of East Lake. With the Federal Lands Senior Pass, camping was $11 per night. Reservations are recommended for the best lakefront sites. Some of the lakefront campsites at East Lake are pull-through sites. Many of the others are smaller and have awkward angles for backing in, making them ideal for truck campers.
Although popular and crowded, Crater Lake National Park is worth the effort. The view of the lake from the rim is one of the most awe-inspiring anywhere in the United States.
Above: Along the Columbia River in Oregon
Oregon also has arguably the most spectacular road-accessible coastline in the entire United States. There are numerous state parks along the coast with great campgrounds. If you make the drive down US Highway 101, travel north to south so that the many scenic pullouts are on your side of the highway and you can get back on the road without left-hand turns. The highway does have a bit of traffic during the summer months.
Steve Tucker
2005 Silverado 2500HD
2020 Adventurer 80RB
John Day Fossil Beds was very nice. We stayed one night in Dayville at a lovely little park and spent a day exploring. We could have spent two more days there. The drive up the John Day River was lovely.
Crane Hot Springs was very nice. It is clean, comfortable, and well-run. We enjoyed our night there and would recommend it to anyone with an RV.
Above: Dayville, Oregon
In Dayville, Fish House RV Park was very nice. Crane Hot Springs in Burns, Oregon, was excellent. Wallowa River RV Park in Wallowa, Oregon, is a beautiful park in a beautiful town.
We didn’t go to Joseph on this particular trip, but we love Joseph and Wallowa Lake State Park and highly recommend it.
Charles Coushaine
2001 Ford F-350
Chalet DS116RB
We traveled to Oregon to visit the Chalet RV factory in Albany, Oregon (no longer producing truck campers), and found many great places to visit along the way.
Our favorite places to visit or camp in Oregon were Mount Angel, Silver Falls State Park, Multnomah Falls, Silver Spur RV Park, and Albany-Corvallis KOA.
Mount Angel is a Bavarian town with German architecture, beer halls, and a glockenspiel. We spent two half days wandering the streets, enjoying the scenery and food.
While visiting Mount Angel, we made some friends and they insisted we visit Silver Falls State Park. It was fantastic! We hiked several short hikes through the woods along a river and were treated to several spectacular waterfalls—one of which you could walk under.
As we were heading north out of Oregon to Washington, we stopped along the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Much to our surprise, this area was spectacular! We thought we were going to see a quick waterfall along the side of the scenic drive, but that quickly became about four hours of hiking.
We also visited the Wahkeena Falls, Multnomah Falls and the Horsetail Falls. Each was a different level of hike, with a completely different waterfall. What a splendid way to end our visit of Oregon!
While visiting Mount Angel and Silver Springs State Park, we stayed at Silver Spur RV Park. It was extremely nice, had a very modern office and facilities, and is close to all the local attractions to make it the perfect destination while sightseeing in this area.
We also stayed at a beautiful KOA in Albany/Corvallis, Oregon, for a few days. They have a very nice heated pool, a nine-hole miniature golf course, as well as many log cabin rentals.
Eric Romero
2010 Chevy Silverado 1500
1990s FWC Blazer model modified
I recommend going to the John Day River area. It was totally empty and the perfect spot for the eclipse. Classic rivers and creeks run through empty forest lands.
Above: John Day area
I also enjoyed the Oregon coast. The whole thing is gorgeous.
Allen Jedlicki
2012 GMC 2500HD
2014 Wolf Creek 850
The Oregon coast is not to be missed! The entire length of the coast has meticulously maintained state park campgrounds. We have camped at Harris Beach State Park near Brookings, Oregon, Umpqua Lighthouse State Park near Winchester Bay, Oregon, and Nehalem Bay State Park near Manzanita, Oregon.
Above: Umpqua Lighthouse State Park near Winchester Bay, Oregon
Any disabled veteran can get a State Park Pass for Oregon and stay for up to ten days per year for free, even if you are not an Oregon resident!
The small and beautiful Marine Park Campground is on the Columbia River in Cascade Locks. The small town is within walking distance of the campground.
The campground is operated by the Port of Cascade Locks and offers full hookups and clean showers, and restrooms. Reviews complain about the occasional train that goes by, but it wasn’t an issue for us during our two-night stay. The Gorges Beer Company brewhouse had excellent food, and the Eastwind Drive-Inn provided ice cream cones for our walk back to camp.
We left home in Mountain Home, Idaho, drove to the Oregon coast, and returned. We stayed at Cook County Campground in Prineville, Oregon, Lavelle Vineyard near Elmira, Oregon, Tri-City RV Park, Harris Beach State Park near Brookings, Umpqua Lighthouse State Park near Winchester Bay, Nehalem Bay State Park near Manzanita, and Marine Park Campground in Cascade Locks, Oregon.
Above: Harris Beach State Park, Campsite 1
All of the state park campgrounds had electric hookups and dump stations. The rest of the campgrounds were full hookup. There was no boondocking on this two-week trip.
Andrew McLaren
2004 Dodge Ram 3500
2004 Northern Lite 10-2
I recommend the Seal Rock coastal area. We camped across the street at Seal Rock RV campground, and there was a short set of steps to get down to the beach here.
We also like La Pine State Park. After stopping in Bend for lunch, my wife and I went for an afternoon hike at La Pine, where the Deschutes River passes through.
Elliot Groeneveld
2022 Ram 3500
2018 Arctic Fox 1150
In the last few months, we’ve camped near Bend, in La Pine, and dry camped in Central Oregon. My favorite camping is along the entire Oregon coast. Starting in Astoria, you can drive the whole route in like eight hours. The best thing to do is take four to six days. Go to every viewpoint, park, town, and beach. It could take over a week. The more you hike, the better it is.
Above: Cabin Lake area, Central Oregon
Another favorite is to take several days in the gorge and end up in Troy, Oregon. Stay in Memaloose for the first night, then wander around Sumpter and Baker City for a day or three. Then, hit Joseph, Enterprise, and Elgin. This can be a week to two week long trip.
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