A paved road stretches two miles into Mt. Hood National Forest, offering roughly 8-10 free pullout sites for overnight camping. The south side pullouts sit directly alongside a creek, while north side spots provide more space but lack water access. Most sites function as wide shoulders with room for RVs, though the larger, more private spots near the road's entrance fill quickly.
The Zigzag River flows behind many campsites, creating constant water sounds that mask neighboring conversations even when sites are close together. Megan W. found "plenty of trees to hang hammocks from, and minimal traffic." Several reviewers mention the area stays quite cold at night, even during summer months, with one noting temperatures dropped significantly in August.
An old fire road cuts through the camping area, providing hiking access directly from camp. The road terminates at trailheads for Zigzag Falls and Hidden Lake, generating steady day-use traffic as hikers pass through sites. One portable toilet serves the area along with scattered picnic tables, though fires and tent camping are restricted in certain spots. Cell coverage reaches two bars on T-Mobile networks.
Sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with a 14-day limit, though some long-term campers appear to exceed this timeframe. Weekend arrivals often find limited availability, particularly during warm weather. The area experiences heavy use that has prompted forest service installation of boulders to block some previously accessible pullouts. Campers seeking more developed facilities might consider Mirror Lake or explore sites in the Government Camp area for additional options.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundKiwanis Road Free Camping is located in Oregon
Coordinates
45.31177644 N
121.81893182 W
Connectivity
- T-MobilePossible CoverageVerified by 22 usersLast on 3/13/26
- VerizonPossible CoverageVerified by 17 usersLast on 3/13/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 18 usersLast on 3/13/26
Connectivity
- T-MobilePossible CoverageVerified by 22 usersLast on 3/13/26
- VerizonPossible CoverageVerified by 17 usersLast on 3/13/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 18 usersLast on 3/13/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Phone Service
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
FREE established camping
Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Kiwanis Road Free Camping needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 58 min from Portland, OR
- 1 hr 34 min from Salem, OR
- 1 hr 37 min from Longview, WA
- 1 hr 52 min from Albany, OR





























