195 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Orleans, California provides access to a range of camping environments within Klamath National Forest and along the Klamath River. The area includes several established campgrounds like Pearch Creek Campground and Oak Bottom Campground, alongside dispersed options such as Lacks Creek BLM land. Tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and even cabin accommodations can be found throughout the region. Klamath Riverside RV Park offers full hookups for recreational vehicles, while Fish Lake Campground maintains more primitive tent sites among its mixed-use facilities. The proximity to rivers and forest lands creates diverse camping experiences within a relatively compact area.
The camping season in this region generally runs from late May through early October, with most developed campgrounds closing during winter months. Pearch Creek Campground typically operates from May 24 to October 11, while Fish Lake Campground maintains a similar schedule from June to September. Road conditions can vary significantly, especially on forest service roads leading to more remote sites. Many campgrounds feature basic amenities including drinking water and vault toilets, though hookups are limited to specific RV-oriented facilities. Cell service is unreliable in many areas, particularly in the deeper forest locations. A camper noted, "The camp hosts were so amazingly nice. Even gave me wood for a fire to keep the mosquitos at bay. Great place to cool off with the river near the sites and plenty of pools to splash in."
Riverside camping represents a significant draw for visitors to the Orleans area, with multiple sites offering direct water access. The Klamath River provides both scenic views and recreational opportunities, while several campgrounds feature riverside sites with varying levels of privacy. Campers frequently mention wildlife viewing possibilities, including deer and birds common throughout the forested areas. Mosquitoes can be prevalent during summer months, particularly near water sources. Mixed-use campgrounds balance the needs of tent campers and RV travelers, though some locations maintain separate designated areas for each. While developed campgrounds provide more amenities and established facilities, dispersed camping on public lands offers greater solitude and flexibility for self-sufficient travelers willing to forgo conveniences like running water and maintained restrooms.
"This was my favorite campground in our northern california tour. Campimg among the redwoods, so quiet and shady we slept in late each morning."
"There are also INCREDIBLE day trips into California’s interior, Indian history, little known parks and trails everywhere."
from $35 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Nice site that are a little too close together, but that seems the norm in California. The camp hosts were so amazingly nice. Even gave me wood for a fire to keep the mosquitos at bay."
"The creek runs next to the campground which provides wonderful water sounds all night. Swimming in the nearby Salmon River is a great way to spend a hot July day."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"The lakeside sites are off the road and a short walk from the parking area. Be sure to get a cart from the camp host or you'll have to hand carry everything in. Cell coverage was excellent here."
"Whiskytown Lake is a great recreation lake, from boating, swimming to fishing. Oak Bottom is shores are surrounded by pines and manzanita. It has a pretty large campground with tent and dry RV sites."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"One of the best campsites in California. You should start at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and hike out to this campground."
"Redwoods State Park is beautiful with campgrounds that are basically next to the trails, secluded and surrounded by trees. There is nothing not to like about this place. Worth the drive."
"The park had a little bit of everything… river views, wooded trails, huge fire pits, full hookups, etc."
"It's free, it has the Klamath nearby, it's got a sunny location, it's away from the coastal climate. It get cool - cold. A nice combination of weather."
"But it still has camp sites and a little further in there is dispersed very close to the river. It was secluded and great."
"Camped here for one night mid September, slept in a car, great view and found the 3 spacious camping spots with a picnic table, fire pit (with a grill rack), and an unsmelly bathroom a short walk away."
"When you get to the area where apple maps says park and walk, just take the pine ridge or whatever trail a couple more miles up."
"Great trail around the lake. Then drove to nearby Blue Lake, and walked around it. (No camping @ Blue Lake). Pit toilets were clean!! Mosquitoes can be a bit thick...don’t forget the OFF!"
from $10 / night
Check Availability
GuideThis campground is amazing! It was quiet and peaceful, and our campsite felt very secluded even though there were other campsites nearby. Bathrooms were well-maintained.
Other items of note: It's a fairly short drive to/from Crescent City (about 15 minutes) and there's no cell service in the campground. Pets are allowed on the paved areas.
GuideSmall spots and not many but very pretty and I love the little stream nearby
ScoutWe got here pretty late at night, there were a bunch of campsites available. Our host, Dude was super nice and helpful. The bathrooms were kept clean. Didn’t really see any bugs, but we did encounter a couple skunks and raccoons. They left us alone and scurried off. Even though there isn’t any swimming at the beach, it was still nice to walk along the shore. Would definitely stay here again.
ScoutWe stayed in site #11 which happens to be right next to the bathrooms/showers which I thought would be annoying but wasn't at all. The restrooms weren't visible from the site as there was a giant hedge barrier between the little building and our site. The bathrooms themselves were spic and span and had no odor. Probably the only annoying thing was people who would slam the doors to the restrooms - but I blame the lame human beings who give no thought about the amount of noise they create, not the setup. The site was set back off of the small lane that was Penn campground. Penn is the smallest of the 3 or 4 campgrounds at Sue-Meg and I think the nicest. Also, RV's are not allowed so we didn't have to listen to generators running in the evenings/mornings.
Back to the restrooms...in the end it was nice being so close to the restrooms/showers as other campsites had to make quite a trek to use the facilities. AND, like I said, they were some of the cleanest restrooms and shower rooms I have ever been to at a campground.
The ranger staff were all super friendly and knowledgeable. Birds aplenty and they will wake you before first light. Will definitely camp here again. I made reservations back in February for a mid-June weekend, and many of the sites were already reserved - FYI.
My only complaint is the wood we purchased from the host was wet and our first fire was unsatisfactory and smokey.
ScoutNice parking lot with a limited ocean view and it’s only $20 for up to 3 days stay. On top of that the casino gives you a $10 free play, for us, times 2 people. Then you get another $10 the next day for a total of $20 free play each. We won $16.25 making our stay less than $4 lol. Oh and bonus, they have a few water spigots.
GuideThis is by far my most favorite campground and state park. Sites are spacious and most are very private, easy to walk down to the gorgeous Smith River and numerous hiking trails through the park and to nearby Hiouchi (you can walk to breakfast or lunch and a great little cafe there!). Just magical here.
GuideWe spent two weeks at E-Ne-Nuck at site 10 which was the best option for our solar and star-link which was extremely limited at the campground from all the trees. No cell service at all. Pit toilets, trash & recycling offered. No water. Local dogs would roam and come say hi frequently which was the majority of the traffic for our visit. We saw three other campers our whole stay the end of May & early June. The fireplace was a different experience than a campfire but a few sites have actual fire rings.
GuideThere are some easy to navigate for big rigs up by office. While others may be a little difficult further back. Cabins and tent areas ok. Ck in with friendly staff. Showers restrooms clean and hot water. WiFi was pretty much not there at site 503 (small 30 amp w/water hookup). Nice division in our site. But it's the smallest site for 24 or under feet. Cell phone service for our Att and Verizon was a one to two bar(not great).
GuideThe owner is up and above friendly. Very scenic area that offers one of the most beautiful views of the red woods and the scenic drive down the Newton B Drury Scenic PKWY that is just a few miles south of the park. There is a casino a few miles away. The park has WIFI that has been reported as spotty. We were on site 13 and had a WiFi repeater about three feet from camper. So we had good enough signal.
Dispersed camping sites near Orleans, California exist throughout Six Rivers National Forest and nearby public lands. The area sits at the confluence of the Klamath and Salmon Rivers with elevations ranging from 400-4,000 feet across the region. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-95°F, while winter temperatures drop to 30-50°F with frequent rainfall between November and April.
River swimming access: Pearch Creek Campground offers convenient river access with "plenty of pools to splash in," according to reviewer Geoff P. The creek runs beside the campground providing "wonderful water sounds all night" as noted by Josh W., who adds that "swimming in the nearby Salmon River is a great way to spend a hot July day."
Redwood trail exploration: Elk Prairie Campground features hiking trails directly accessible from the camping area. Nina M. describes it as having "hiking trail beginning super close to the site," while Patrick M. notes that "trails from the campground lead through spectacular redwoods."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Campers at Gold Bluffs Beach Campground regularly observe Roosevelt Elk. One reviewer simply stated "Great beach camping, Roosevelt elk wandering around. Giant redwoods," while another mentioned "Lots of wildlife, especially elk" as a highlight of their stay.
Riverside camping: Kamp Klamath RV Park offers access to where "the Klamath River meets the Pacific Ocean and plenty to see around there" according to Mike M., who appreciated how "quiet it was here, lots of foliage creates a very secluded feel."
Secluded forest settings: Lacks Creek BLM provides free dispersed camping with impressive views. Leah H. describes it as "wildly peaceful" with "an insane view of the trees" and notes that "the sunset was absolutely incredible." Derrick H. adds that "campsites have picnic tables and fire rings."
Shaded campsites: Pearch Creek Campground features "large Fir trees that provide shade during the day" according to Josh W. Another camper, Paul H., described it as "well shaded and next to a very clear and cold creek," noting that during his visits it has been "deserted save for the occasional host. Nice and quiet."
Road conditions vary: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating unpaved roads. Ana from Pearch Creek Campground noted "the road to get to redwoods national park is pretty remote, with a ~5 mile unpaved stretch with lots of potholes," while adding it's "perfect if you're trying to find an inexpensive place to stay away from the hustle of 101."
Service limitations: Cell coverage is spotty throughout the region. Greg B. from Fish Lake Campground reported "no cell or wifi, so 3 days & 2 nights of glorious peace" during their stay.
Mosquito preparedness: Insects can be prevalent near water. Greg B. warns that "mosquitoes can be a bit thick...don't forget the OFF!" at Fish Lake Campground. At Pearch Creek, Geoff P. mentioned the camp hosts "gave me wood for a fire to keep the mosquitos at bay."
Swimming spots for kids: Pearch Creek Campground has been described as "a great place to cool off with the river near the sites and plenty of pools to splash in" by Geoff P. For coastal options, Kamp Klamath is within walking distance of beaches with additional activities. Tammy H. notes there's "good fishing, beach combing, kite flying etc." nearby.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park offers reliable animal sightings. Gisselle reported "we saw so many animals: elk, a bear, scrub jays, chipmunks, tadpoles, rabbits, deer, etc." adding they "were able to hike a bunch on the campground (very accessible)."
Clean facilities: Oak Bottom Campground maintains well-serviced bathrooms. Ashley N. noted that "toilets are well maintained flush" and the "store has the necessities you may forget." Jennifer M. adds that "the lakeside sites are off the road and a short walk from the parking area."
River proximity with hookups: Klamath Riverside RV Park provides full hookups near water access. Tony C. described it as "a little slice of heaven" with "river views, wooded trails, huge fire pits, full hookups" and added that it has "large grounds for them to run and play."
RV size considerations: Many forest campgrounds have limited space for larger vehicles. Jules S. attempted Lacks Creek with a 20ft travel trailer but "turned around before I even made it to the gravel road" explaining that the "road is narrow and steep with low hanging trees." They advised "tow and RV here at your own risk."
Low clearance warnings: Access roads to some campgrounds require higher clearance vehicles. Pat J. described Kamp Klamath as "very rustic, clean, very basic, and quiet" noting it's "centrally located within the Redwood region" making it convenient for exploring despite the basic facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Orleans, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Orleans, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 195 campgrounds and RV parks near Orleans, CA and 14 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Orleans, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Orleans, CA is Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 75 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Orleans, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near Orleans, CA.
What parks are near Orleans, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Orleans, CA that allow camping, notably Six Rivers National Forest and Redwood National Park.
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