Coastal campgrounds near Bay City, Oregon range from sheltered forest sites to oceanfront properties with direct beach access. Located on Oregon's north coast, this area receives around 90 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush surroundings for campers. Campsites typically fill quickly during summer months when temperatures remain mild, rarely exceeding 70°F even during July and August.
What to Do
Hiking trails: Cape Lookout State Park offers accessible coastal paths with minimal elevation gain. "Do the Cape Lookout peninsula hike! Gorgeous views without great effort. Lots of tree roots that will tire your feet but not a strenous hike overall: ~5 miles roundtrip," notes Kayla S.
Crabbing adventures: Netarts Bay RV Park & Marina provides equipment rentals for shellfish harvesting. "There are boats to rent for crabbing and clamming and shellfish licenses for sale," reports Pilar F. who enjoyed "walking my dogs out to see the birds, crabbers, and seals."
Horseback riding: Beach horseback riding is popular near Nehalem Bay State Park Campground, where Jamie B. observed, "Always horses riding on the beach too. Super neat experience."
Swimming holes: Several campgrounds offer river access for summer cooling. At Trask River County Park, Melissa N. found that "The water was cold yet summer had just started, This place was beautiful and nice as a weekend getaway."
What Campers Like
Riverside solitude: Nehalem Falls Campground features walk-in tent sites with river access. Spencer C. appreciated that "The tent sites are very private and right on the Nehalem River which is warm enough to swim in."
Fresh seafood availability: Jetty Fishery Marina & RV Park stands out for its seafood options. According to Derek S., "I showed up just looking for a site to put my tent up on my journey. I got here and found out you can fish for crabs, they cook for you here, the people are extremely friendly and helpful."
Winter storm watching: Coastal glamping options remain open year-round. "Super friendly beach camping sites on the Oregon Coast- cabins are safe and stormproof for great storm watching in winter/spring months," explains Vicki T. about Cape Lookout State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds host resident wildlife. At Thousand Trails Pacific City, Neil B. enjoys how the "Bunnies are great to watch."
What You Should Know
Seasonal crowding: Formerly quiet campgrounds now fill rapidly. "Five or six years ago one could easily get a campsite on Friday evening, but last year (2015) we were unable to get a campsite on a Tuesday morning!" reports Chad L. about Nehalem Falls Campground.
Site privacy variations: Cape Lookout State Park Campground offers varying levels of seclusion between loops. Nathan R. shares, "We personally prefer the A and B loops which are closest to the beach and feel like they have the most privacy...trees and bushes are substantial enough to make your site feel like you have your own sanctuary."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. Dana O. notes that at Pacific City, "No cell service, so be prepared."
Highway noise concerns: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise. G H. warns that at Misty River RV Park, "the highway noise is loud all night."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: Trask River County Park features open play areas for children. Savannah S. mentions the "Nice swing set and grassy areas for kids or pets to run around."
Beach proximity: Consider distances to shoreline when booking with children. Trina C. appreciated Cape Lookout's convenience: "It was such a short walk to the beach and you could hear the waves when you're going to sleep!"
Tide awareness: Beach accessibility varies throughout the day. Trina C. advises, "Look up the tides tho, since there's such a short beach to the water, during high tide the beach disappears."
Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds feature paved paths for children's cycling. Amy M. notes that Trask River has a "Good paved loop for kids to ride bikes."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing considerations: Tillamook Bay City RV Park has practical layouts for RVs but limited privacy. Ray & Terri F. observed, "The sites are fairly closely spaced but not right on top of each other, they are angled such that you're not looking in each others' windows."
Leveling challenges: Be prepared with leveling equipment at some parks. Josh H. found that at Pacific City "Every spot we saw was so un-level that my trailer couldn't compensate enough to have a comfortable sleep."
Winter access: Most coastal glamping in Bay City and surrounding areas remains open year-round. According to "smittie" at Nehalem Bay, "i would imagine that this park is crowded all summer but right now in february it is very quiet."
Premium waterfront positioning: At Netarts Bay RV Park, Josh H. advises, "Spots 1-27 are the tightest I have ever seen, so try to avoid them. 52-58 are right on the Bay, and pretty sizable."
