Join the fun near Antelope. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Antelope is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
For a rustic overnight stay deep in eastern Oregon, let your tires roll past the Painted Hills-one of Oregon’s Seven Wonders-and drive deep into John Day River Territory to the Priest Hole Recreation Site. Although primitive, camping here lands you in the middle of the Wild and Scenic John Day River, designated for scenery, recreation, fish, wildlife, and geologic values. Camping is allowed everywhere, including on the gravel bar northeast of Priest Hole, where you sleep to the gurgle of the river and stepping out of your tent or trailer lands your foot in the water. Know Before You Go: Open YEAR ROUND but the rough road can make access difficult in winter. ACCESSIBILITY is primitive and not easily accessible for people with disabilities. NO FEES for camping or floating the one-mile section around Priest Hole. There is one toilet; NO potable water, trash cans or campsite amenities. PETS ARE ALLOWED under owner control. Watch for rattlesnakes. HUNTING/FISHING LICENSES ARE REQUIRED. Fire restrictions run June 1 – September 30 (liquid gas or propane only). Point of Interest: Priest Hole is a local favorite for fishing and swimming. Stopping here is a natural part of a visit to the Painted Hills, Sutton Mountain Back Country Byway and eastern Oregon! Priest Hole Brochure Explore Oregon Recreation: Priest Hole ADA Access: Priest Hole Recreation Site is primitive and not easily accessible for people with disabilities.
As of10/5/2020 *** There is a Closure Order prohibiting dispersed camping outside of the Skull Hollow campground. View a map of the closure area here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd507382.pdf.
This closure is designed to help protect natural resources around the trailhead from overuse and to prevent conflict between campers and day users. Please observe the closure order and use the campground for camping in the vicinity of Skull Hollow trailhead. AMENITIES: NO DRINKING WATER 28 standard campsites No hook-ups or dumping facilities 1 wooden picnic table and 1 combination fire ring/grill per campsite 2 vault outhouses for the campground 1 informational signboard On-site campground host NEARBY ACTIVITIES: Horseback Riding Hiking Mountain Biking Rock climbing (Smith Rock State Park) Hunting
$10 - $20 / night
2021: Open with capacity limit due to COVID-19. If you enjoy scenic views of deep river canyons or rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park is the place for you. There are several thousand climbs in the park. More than a thousand are bolted routes. We also offer miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Along your trip through the canyon, you might see golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer, river otter and beaver. Note: Some climbing areas are closed or have limited access from about Jan. 15 to Aug. 1 to protect nesting raptors. Drones are also not allowed during this period. Check the park advisories on this page for exact dates and affected areas. Due to the uniqueness and fragile aspect of the park, park rangers enforce the animal leash law and ask all park users to stay on trails. Bivouac Camping Camping is open early spring through late fall, as weather allows. Walk-in bivouac area for tents (No reservations) Showers (overnight guests only) RV camping, sleeping in vehicles and open fires are not allowed
$8 / night
Dispersed camping is allowed on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS) lands without a permit, but it is recommended that campers obtain a map that shows current property boundaries. Please contact the BLM , (541) 573-4400 or (541) 416-6700, or the USFS, (541) 575-3000 or (541) 416-6500, for more information. While camping is not allowed within the three units of the monument, there are many nearby campgrounds. Some have full service amenities, some are quiet and remote, some are in the forest, and some are right on the John Day River.
$10 / night
We are located in the heart of City of Antelope, a rural (near) Ghost town that is rich in history and culture. This particular property is currently being cleaned up and revitalized. We would like to open it up to dry camping only at this time as we are already seeing a huge influx of cyclists in the area and they have no place to camp. This is dry camping only until the facilities are brought up to code. There is porta potty facilities a block over near the City of Antelope Community Center. We look forward to our first campers.
$25 / night
For a rustic overnight stay deep in eastern Oregon, let your tires roll past the Painted Hills-one of Oregon’s Seven Wonders-and drive deep into John Day River Territory to the Priest Hole Recreation Site. Although primitive, camping here lands you in the middle of the Wild and Scenic John Day River, designated for scenery, recreation, fish, wildlife, and geologic values. Camping is allowed everywhere, including on the gravel bar northeast of Priest Hole, where you sleep to the gurgle of the river and stepping out of your tent or trailer lands your foot in the water. Know Before You Go: Open YEAR ROUND but the rough road can make access difficult in winter. ACCESSIBILITY is primitive and not easily accessible for people with disabilities. NO FEES for camping or floating the one-mile section around Priest Hole. There is one toilet; NO potable water, trash cans or campsite amenities. PETS ARE ALLOWED under owner control. Watch for rattlesnakes. HUNTING/FISHING LICENSES ARE REQUIRED. Fire restrictions run June 1 – September 30 (liquid gas or propane only). Point of Interest: Priest Hole is a local favorite for fishing and swimming. Stopping here is a natural part of a visit to the Painted Hills, Sutton Mountain Back Country Byway and eastern Oregon! Priest Hole Brochure Explore Oregon Recreation: Priest Hole ADA Access: Priest Hole Recreation Site is primitive and not easily accessible for people with disabilities.
As of10/5/2020 *** There is a Closure Order prohibiting dispersed camping outside of the Skull Hollow campground. View a map of the closure area here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd507382.pdf.
This closure is designed to help protect natural resources around the trailhead from overuse and to prevent conflict between campers and day users. Please observe the closure order and use the campground for camping in the vicinity of Skull Hollow trailhead. AMENITIES: NO DRINKING WATER 28 standard campsites No hook-ups or dumping facilities 1 wooden picnic table and 1 combination fire ring/grill per campsite 2 vault outhouses for the campground 1 informational signboard On-site campground host NEARBY ACTIVITIES: Horseback Riding Hiking Mountain Biking Rock climbing (Smith Rock State Park) Hunting
$10 - $20 / night
2021: Open with capacity limit due to COVID-19. If you enjoy scenic views of deep river canyons or rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park is the place for you. There are several thousand climbs in the park. More than a thousand are bolted routes. We also offer miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Along your trip through the canyon, you might see golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer, river otter and beaver. Note: Some climbing areas are closed or have limited access from about Jan. 15 to Aug. 1 to protect nesting raptors. Drones are also not allowed during this period. Check the park advisories on this page for exact dates and affected areas. Due to the uniqueness and fragile aspect of the park, park rangers enforce the animal leash law and ask all park users to stay on trails. Bivouac Camping Camping is open early spring through late fall, as weather allows. Walk-in bivouac area for tents (No reservations) Showers (overnight guests only) RV camping, sleeping in vehicles and open fires are not allowed
$8 / night
Dispersed camping is allowed on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS) lands without a permit, but it is recommended that campers obtain a map that shows current property boundaries. Please contact the BLM , (541) 573-4400 or (541) 416-6700, or the USFS, (541) 575-3000 or (541) 416-6500, for more information. While camping is not allowed within the three units of the monument, there are many nearby campgrounds. Some have full service amenities, some are quiet and remote, some are in the forest, and some are right on the John Day River.
$10 / night
Traveler
Super easy to find and nobody around. Easy to jump back on the hwy in the morning.
Guide
Its a big lot area with a view of the river close to the dam. Theres a day use area and resort campground down the road which I asked the hosts there about the dispersed camping and they gave me an attitude saying that because its a state site that the sheriff may come check to ask me to leave. I told that that made no sense as its on usa owned land but they insisted not to park there. I believe they were just jealous because almost noone was at their campground. The day use area is small and watch for the tire strips. The parking area up the hill (at these coordinates) is a bit trashy but its a good spot for walk or bike.
GuideLove this dispersed campsite! So much wife open space. We were the only campers here last night. So quiet that you can hear a pin drop. Oh, the 360 views are fantastic! A little bumpy ride for regular cars as it is in a dirt road; an AWD preferred.
Traveler
I’ve stayed here three times. The site I stayed in the first two times is no longer available for RV’s. I stayed in D2 this time and had plenty of room and privacy. I will say that if the hookup was on the other side of the site I’d have had a much better view. The ‘A’ sites at the lake side are very close together. The staff are all friendly and very helpful. Good WiFi and quiet at night.
Traveler
We were only there one night. We had a pull through which was nice. Sites were gravel and there was grass in the park, also nice trees. Sites were fairly close together. Nicely stocked shop available. Pool looked nice but we didn't use it. We could smell cigarette smoke which was unpleasant so the park must not be smoke free. Part of why we only give it 3 stars. We felt like it was on the spendy side but park was easy to get to and camp staff seemed pleasant.
Ranger
Stayed 3 nights and had a great time rafting on the river. Lots of options for RV and tent camping. Group sites are available (3). Restrooms could use an update but functional. All camp staff hosts are helpful and friendly. Will come back again. This campground is popular and books up quickly.
Guide
Arrived afternoon on Labor Day to find an empty campground. Sites are large, but not very level for an RV.
ScoutOverall experience was great…. with a caveat. It’s a small camping park, sites are small and close to each other. However the park is clean and well maintained. Our only issue is that our first night, at about 2am, I was woken up by footsteps outside our trailer window. I looked out to see we hat appeared to be a younger adult male dressed in all black who pulled the coolers and chairs out from under our trailer and pulled two booze bottles out of the cooler and had them on the picnic table getting ready to take them. I opened the door and scared him into running by yelling at him. This is my first time, in 40+ years camping that I’ve had anything like this happen. So at 2:15 this morning, I was outside hauling all of our gear into the trailer. Joke was on him though, the bottles were filled with water to freeze and use as ice. Just beware, this is a nice little park, but don’t leave your valuables out overnight.
We reported it to the office, who told us they’ve been having the issue recently, that they think it’s local teens, but their hands were being tied by local police on how to catch the thieves. I called local non emergency and reported the incident to them in hopes they might step up patrols or something.
Guide
Although it's in the middle of the desert, this campground has amazingly soft parade grounds for for tons of outdoor games. The trails around the golf course and the views of the canyon and river are amazing. There is local restaurants and taphouses within a few minutes drive. There is a pool available to you for your stay that has a snack bar directly adjacent to it. If you are bringing an RV or travel trailer, I recommend bringing blocks for your stabilizers as some of the sites have a decent slope to them.
Guide
EDIT: We had a park ranger stop by and inform us that this location is closed to passenger vehicles. No passenger vehicles are allowed past the boulders. We are currently parked at the one and only camp slot that passenger vehicles are allowed, so this is a 99% dispersed camping location that you have to walk to your camp site location. The Park Ranger also reminded me that all BLM land is a 14-day stay for recreational camping only, and if you are living out of your RV, you are liable to be harassed more often then others.
Original Review: We parked in a space close to the main road. Minus the sounds from it, the place is very peaceful. There's lots of sage bushes, and trees are plenty but not clustered. There is a lot of wildlife in the area if the animal bones are anything to judge by. There are a lot of ant colonies and other burrowing creatures in the area as well. If you choose to walk off designated paths, watch your step, or you might end up in a shallow hole like I did. Some spots are more solar friendly than others, but none of the trees are overbearingly tall to completely block out the ability for it. Flies aren't too bad compared to other places, and honestly, I'm not sure if the ones we are dealing with are from here or left over from our 1 night stay at another location. The river is only a shortish walk away, and field mice do live in some of the boulders in the area.
Guide
Camp host was nice, easy access to sites. Showers/bathrooms clean but dated.
Guide
We enjoyed our stay here. We had a nice space with decent trees for shade and putting up some lights. We could easily drive in to Madras...or to the Crooked River Canyon to go bungee jumping!!!! We also took a nice drive out east in the hills. Firewood was a bit steep, at $8/bundle.
Guide
While staying here in August 2024: -Dog friendly -No hookups -2 bars on Verizon -No shade -Madras, OR only 10 minutes away. -1 acres fenced in dog park in Madras OR (15 min. drive) -Used my credit card at the automated self pay station (super convenient). -fairly clean bathroom (toilet only). -From travel trailers to Teslas, they all have made down the road and plenty of room.
Situated on the banks of the Deschutes Wild and Scenic River, Mecca Flat Campground is located just a mile and a half from Oregon State HIghway 26 near Warm Springs. The site features 13 individual campsites and one group use area. The southern terminus of the 7-mile long Trout Creek Trail can be accessed directly from the campground.
Know Before You Go:
All campsites, including the group use area are open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis; no potable water is available. The 1.6 mile Mecca Flat Road is narrow with few pullouts; use caution particularly when pulling a trailer. Access the nearby non-motorized Trout Creek Trail which fronts the Deschutes Wild and Scenic River for 7 miles where it terminates at Trout Creek Campground. Cell phone service is not available in the campground. Goathead, also known as puncturevine, is present in the area; protect your pets and bicycle tires Point of Interest:
The Deschutes Railroad ran on portions of the nearby Trout Creek trail and Mecca Flat Road for several decades, competing with the Oregon Trunk Railroad before abandonment in the early 20th century. Look for the historic, now-abandoned tunnel near Highway 26 - but stay clear of this degrading and unstable structure.
Traveler
Loved this spot. Across the river we watched wild horses. In the river there were birds. During the day rafters come down.
No water available unless you boil river water.
The road down was STEEP! I really overheated my motorhome breaks. Plus a scary, low and narrow tunnel at the bottom.
Guide
Great secluded dispersed camping. It was obviously meant for folks with horses, but I was the only one there, so there were no horses in sight. The road getting there entailed about 5 miles of bumpy, windy dirt roads. Not totally worth it for a one night stay in a van, but might be for a 4wd car.
GPS: 44.448114, -121.102884
Guide
There aren't a ton of free camping options near Redmond. This is a great option. Only 2-3 spots for vans/small RVs. The other spots are clearly for tent camping. Would definitely recommend for a few days. I will say the vault toilets are disgusting- so plan accordingly. The hike is a great combination of short and pretty :-)
GPS: 44.410140, -121.293505
Guide
Nice small quite campground. Enjoyed the miles of hiking with TH right at the campground. A very friendly deer kept visiting us during our stay. Enjoyed cooling off in the small creek that runs through the edge of campground.
Traveler
There's a handful of dispersed campsites throughout NF44 and various side roads. I had several options to choose from and never saw another person. This was on a Thursday afternoon.
Guide
The Irrigation to keep the grass and ornamental plants green is top notch. Every morning, a crew performs the landscape maintenance and weed pulling. The camp areas have fresh blacktop and gravel. The pool is 10/10. The hot tub 8/10 for needing better ventilation and better hand rail design. Overall I would recommend for amenities and HOT showers. The Baker City entertainment and distant trains will help with fond memories and experiences to bring you back to this old Gold Rush town.
Guide
The park as a whole is great. beautiful area, deep in the canyon. Great spot for water sports and activities. I'm pretty sure I was the only one camping there that didn't also have boat.
We stayed in Loop B, and campsites were good sized, but limited privacy. But some spots are better than others. We had spot 10, and that one only had neighbors on one side, and behind us was a hill side that led up to the upper loop, so couldn't see/hear anyone up there.
Campground was loud, with a one large group with lots of kids playing a game where everyone was screaming and cheering. But to everyone's credit, when quite time started at 10pm, it was quite. I was pleasantly surprised.
GuideEssentially a parking lot over a very pretty view. There was a trailer that seemed to be permanently located at one end of the lot, and a local woman stopped by to ask what I was doing there. Wouldn't have stayed for more than a night, but a gorgeous view!
GuideTook a while to discover this spot, but clearly seems well used for dispersed camping. I parked nearest the access road, as my van would have hit trees to go a little further in. For smaller vehicles (e.g. roof top tents), you can get in a little further and off the access road. There was actually someone else back there, and we can't hear nor see each other.
Guide
Antelope is a strange and beautiful little place. Part ghost town, part living community, it is often a welcome oasis on the Oregon Outback cycling trail. The path north out of Prineville is a beautiful ascent-descent of the Ochoco Mountains, which is pretty exhausting. If weather is a factor (we arrived in cold, wet and punishing wind) Antelope is a much better place to camp than Shaniko which is 8 miles up on a plateau.
The RV Park is a work in progress. We arrived without a reservation and were given a very nice spot to camp behind an old diner. Some small a-frame cabins are available with more being built, and a few spots to park campers with sewer dump and 30 amp hookups.
Overall I give this campground an outstanding rating. Hospitable, well-equipped, well-situated… great spot.
ScoutThis place is a pure gem. Heaven on earth. Make sure to take the road to or from Shiniko to see the view.
Guide
In the lower deschutes area, maupin is a busy spot. Oasis is straightforward, no frills, and just a few spots. They have electronic fee machine which was convenient.
Guide
I arrived midday, so I spent the hottest part of the day in my shade tent reading and then in the evening watched the fire under the stars in my hammock. very peaceful, only saw one car drive by the whole time
TravelerMy wife and I came here in June of 2023. Lots of spots to choose from, flat with peppering of ponderosa pines. The sites on the West side, nearest the river are "walk in" but if you're able-bodied it's a short distance to lug gear. Nothing difficult or time consuming. These sites are a stones throw from cliffs overlooking the Deschutes River canyon. When we went, fires were allowed, and there was a residence on the road in (clearly marked) selling firewood. And they took Venmo! There is no water nearby. Closest place we found was Smith Rock day use area. Pay the day use fee and fill water jugs there. You'll want to visit Smith Rock anyway. Things to consider bringing for comfort: Shade. A canopy or whatever is reasonable for your group. It also gets hot and it's dry, so assume that fire band will be in affect the minute you leave home and plan your meals accordingly. I loved this spot. Close to Smith Rock. The falls at the campground are gorgeous and the hike is short and sweet. Close drive to other things like food carts and patio bars (reward yourself for your hiking).
Camping near Antelope, Oregon, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're in an RV or pitching a tent, there's something for everyone in this beautiful region.
Camping near Antelope, Oregon, has its perks and quirks, but with the right preparation, you can have a fantastic outdoor experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Antelope, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Antelope, OR offers a wide range of camping options, with 143 campgrounds and RV parks near Antelope, OR and 20 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Antelope, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Antelope, OR is BLM John Day River - Priest Hole with a 4.2-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Antelope, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Antelope, OR.
What parks are near Antelope, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Antelope, OR that allow camping, notably Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland and Central Oregon.
