Lauren M.
Scout
ScoutTillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping
Above the clouds
Beautiful view and plenty of pull offs along the way. Good spot between Portland and coast line
Camping near Buxton, OR
250 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The Buxton area features several established campgrounds within L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park, offering cabin, tent, and RV camping options. The park includes multiple camping areas like Dairy Creek East, Dairy Creek West, Brooke Creek Walk-In Campground, and Mountaindale Cabin Village. Just beyond Buxton, visitors can find more rustic experiences at Gales Creek Campground in Tillamook State Forest, which accommodates tent camping, RVs, and glamping. Free dispersed camping is also available throughout Tillamook State Forest for those seeking a more primitive experience without designated facilities.
Most campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, though seasonal limitations apply to some areas. Gales Creek Campground typically operates from late May through September. The forest areas receive substantial rainfall, particularly during winter months, making some dispersed sites inaccessible without high-clearance vehicles. Reservation systems apply to state park campgrounds, while dispersed camping in Tillamook State Forest operates on a first-come basis. Fire restrictions are common during summer months. Road conditions vary significantly between the well-maintained state park facilities and more remote forest service areas. As noted in one visitor review, "Elk Creek Campground is a sweet getaway from a lot of busier campgrounds and destinations in this region of Oregon."
The proximity to both forest and water features creates diverse camping experiences throughout the area. Campers at Elk Creek appreciate access to the Wilson River, which "offers numerous floating, swimming and diving opportunities." The region provides excellent access to hiking trails, with several campgrounds serving as gateways to the extensive trail networks of Tillamook State Forest. Many visitors note the wildlife viewing opportunities, with elk sightings common in less developed areas. The mix of established campgrounds and dispersed options allows campers to choose between amenity-rich experiences with electric hookups and water connections or more secluded forest camping. RV sites with full hookups are concentrated in the state park, while tent-focused options spread throughout both developed campgrounds and dispersed areas in the surrounding forest.
Best Campgrounds near Buxton (250)
1. Dairy Creek West — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
"The main attraction of this park is proximity to the Banks-Vernonia Bike trail. Although not directly accessible from the campground, it’s a short ride or drive to the trailheads."
"As we had been here before, it was an easy drive in on US-26 to the campground (CG)."
from $32 - $57 / night
Check Availability2. Gales Creek Campground
"Just off highway 6 (between Portland and Tillamook) is a series of lovely campgrounds in the Tillamook State Forest."
"The fees were $10 to drive in and $5 to walk in. We parked outside the gate and walked to a campground."
3. Dairy Creek East — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
"One of our favorite Oregon SPs. In the middle of a mountainous forest with lots of hiking, paved path & mtb biking, disc golf, horse trails and more."
"Dairy Creek is clean and well maintained, and has great access to the trails and disc golf around the park. If you're in an RV this is a good set up."
from $33 - $57 / night
Check Availability4. Healing ponds farm retreat and healing center
"The pond area is beautiful with all the statues found around it. Highly recommend and we plan to visit again :)"
from $45 / night
5. Hares Canyon Horse Camp — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
"When we came back from the shower my wife and I observed a dark shadow darting from the table around the back corner of the tent. Figured it was a raccoon or something."
"Lots to do with the Banks / Vernonia trail running through the camp that has over 15 miles of paved walking / biking trails."
from $33 - $95 / night
Check Availability6. Elk Creek Campground
"Hwy. 6 is a twisting, overmodest bounty of recreational options leading to the Oregon coast, which is entirely public."
"Off busy Highway 6 on the way to Tillamook and the Oregon coast, Elk Creek Campground is a sweet getaway from a lot of busier campgrounds and destinations in this region of Oregon (i.e., an hour from Portland"
7. Keenig Creek Campground
"First of all, it is an easy enough drive from Portland, about an hour or so."
"Nice access to water. At night you can see headlights in the distance and hear cars all day but once traffic dies down it isn’t so bad."
from $15 / night
Check Availability8. Brooke Creek Walk-In Campground — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
"We reserved a spot in the Brooke Creek walk-in tent site. It is a 1/4 mile walk to the sites starting from the visitors center."
"this was so awesome.. we used the walk-in camp sites that had been closed till the moment we asked after closing due to a tree falling in one of the bathrooms.. so me and my friend were the only ones out"
from $17 / night
Check Availability9. Mountaindale Cabin Village — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
"This is such and easy and fun getaway if you live near Portland, OR. 45 minutes and you are transported to nature. "
from $33 - $100 / night
Check Availability10. Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping
"Gorgeous spots all over that are accessible in most 4WD/off-road capable vehicles."
"Very quiet & can hear some noise in the distance from time to time, but was pleasantly surprised by the peace & quiet I got up here."
Drive Time
- 30 min from Portland, OR
- 1 hr 4 min from Longview, WA
- 1 hr 8 min from Salem, OR
- 1 hr 26 min from Albany, OR
Recent Camping Photos near Buxton, OR
378 Photos of 250 Buxton Campgrounds
Meg R.
Healing ponds farm retreat and healing center
Erik M.
Dairy Creek West — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
Erin P.
Dairy Creek East — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
Paul A.
Gales Creek Campground
Aria R.
Elk Creek Campground
Corinna B.
Cedar Creek Corridor Primitive Camping
Mark W.
Hagg Lake House
Sonja O.
Keenig Creek Campground
Al A.
Big Eddy Park
Ashley Y.
Camp Wilkerson
Ansley P.
Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping
Stacey S.
Reeder Beach RV Park & Country Store
Recent Reviews near Buxton, OR
1653 Reviews of 250 Buxton Campgrounds
- jjerry T.
TravelerKeenig Creek Campground
Oh the years we've spent here
Yes the sites are small and not many enjoy it here. However when you've been coming to this site for something more than a campsite it all makes sense. My family of friends have all grown up here from the early teenage years up till now im 50 and I still enjoy this place. Back then you coukd drive into each site and their were only 8. Remember when BG king whoppers were $1 and the best beer was a cold MGD in a bottle? Camping here was different from other places. Everyone new and seasonal were friebds and shared with everyone the log truck drivers would pull onto the bridge allowing us all yo climb otop the logs giving G us that extra 15' to jump into the crystal clear mountain snow melt. And believe me these waters do not warm.late in the summer on a 100 degree day it still takes your breath away. From ontop the bridge and looking into the crystal clear Wilson river uou might think its only a few inches to a few feet deep you can see everything as clear as if it were not under 22"+ of pure mountain snow run off. Its aww inspiring to say tg he least. In late summer the level does gey a bit lower but still the view is breathtaking. If I could urge anyone to fo one thing while here, take a quick dip into the water. You'll definitely comr out feeling alive and energized.
- WWilliam M.Scout
Cook Creek
Nice but busy
Stayed in spot #2 for three nights. There was a nice couple already in #1 which is conjoined. Trail down from #1 to the creek which is beautiful. Some small trash but not a lot. Unfortunately as seen in other reports there are a lot of folks who leave piles of toilet paper and waste just down the embankment from the sights. People suck. We were there from a Thursday until Sunday. Lots of traffic up and down the road. These two sites are directly off the road so dust was a factor. Overall we had a wonderful time here.
- Christina F.
RangerNehalem Bay State Park Campground
Great vibe!
This was our next to last stop on the way home from Beverly Beach. Two campgrounds about the same size, could not be more different! The spaces at Nehalem Bay are still close, but not as close as Beverly Beach. There were kids, but just not as many running about. The vibe was so laid back here. We lucked out with a semi-private site. We had the site that was next to the road going to the horse camp area so there were some trees on that side and behind us, though you could still see a little bit of one or two horse sites. And I could hear the horses every once in awhile, which I found very comforting. The ocean is just over the dune and there are a couple different trails to get over to it. The beach itself is lovely with soft sand and very little seaweed or anything that comes in with the tide, the only issue is that it is windy. It's not too bad at night, but during the day, it is rough. We tried to take our kiddo out to play in the sand and it just sucked. Good spot for wind surfing or paragliding though as we saw several people doing this down the beach a little ways. One thing we would have liked to do, but could not convince our kiddo, there is a 2 mile loop trail around the airstrip (oh yeah, there's an airstrip here too on the bay side of the park where people can fly in and camp) and trails down on the jetty from the day use area. There is also a horseback riding outfit down there that operates seasonally. There is a playground, but it's not a traditional type of playground with swings and slides, at least not in our group of loops. It wasn't the best for little kiddos. We did not explore loops A,B, and C so not sure if that playground was the same. Lastly, the dump station: there are two lanes here, which is great. Nobody was at the dump station when we pulled in, so no waiting. This park is also partaking in the pilot program where you scan the qr code and pay $10 to dump tanks. I had Verizon connectivity at this park so there was no issue there, but someone a scribbled across the qr code at the dump station my husband pulled into so I had to go to the other lane to scan that qr code. Not a big deal, but it's just a different type issue. Once I scanned the qr code, it took me to the site and I didn't have any problems paying.
Matthew G.TravelerBeaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight
Good stop for 1 night
Large road side pull off parking area. Plenty of space for truck and trailer length too. It was great in the van. Minimal road traffic on a week night. Sounds of a waterfall here are pleasant.
- GGreg W.Scout
East Summit Rd dispersed
Solitudinous
Came here in a Wednesday, so it was absolutely empty of souls save us. The grasshoppers and the wind kept getting in the way of the silence.
Michael F.ScoutJantzen Beach RV Resort
City Camping in Portland
Close to downtown Portland. Clean hot showers and good AC power. Good location for attending Indy Car race at Portland Speedway
- TTodTraveler
Tillamook State Forest Morrison Eddy Campground
Drive through dispersed camping
Nice spot above theNehalem River. Limited views of the river, no easy river access. Space for multiple RVs or and and a few nice tent spots.
- CCheyenne B.Traveler
Scenic Overlook Dispersed Camp near Foley Creek
Worthy view paid for in sweat and tears
My dad and I took my Highlander towing a 15ft trailer behind for the first half and then I opted to drop the trailer so we could scout the rest because the first half had my heart beating out of my chest just waiting for a tire to slip. Not for the faint on heart is correct. It’s loose gravel and there is a cliff to one side and a trench on the other leaving less than a foot on either side of us at some points going up the trail. If you’re just in a car and have off roading experience your golden and will be totally fine. Once we didn’t have something hitched to the back I completely relaxed and enjoyed the adventurous ride. The ruts and tree limbs falling in the way are common and you should plan to add 20 minutes to what ever the GPS says. The top view is STUNNING and so worth the climb. We ended up camping back down at a fork in the road where we dropped the trailer and it was peaceful and only saw a few people for the day we were there.
Warning: there are very few places to turn around with a trailer so if you are towing make sure you or someone you are with is confident in their driving skills.
Guide to Buxton
Camping opportunities near Buxton, Oregon extend throughout the Tillamook State Forest, where elevations range from 750 to 3,000 feet. The area receives approximately 100 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forest conditions with dense undergrowth of sword ferns and salal. Summer temperatures typically remain moderate, averaging 70-80°F during daytime, while winter camping requires preparation for wet conditions and occasional snow at higher elevations.
What to do
Hiking the Wilson River Trail: The trail system connected to Elk Creek Campground offers extensive hiking options. "A 6 mile trail (12 miles roundtrip) that leaves right from the campground and goes to Footbridge. We did most of it and it's nice and moderate," notes one camper who enjoyed the accessible trail network.
Swimming in natural pools: The Wilson River creates excellent swimming spots throughout the area. According to a visitor, "The river was an excellent location to play in and in some spots we were able to swim." Natural pools form where creeks join larger waterways, creating deeper swimming holes perfect for cooling off.
Mountain biking nearby trails: The forest offers both beginner and advanced mountain biking options. Dairy Creek East — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park provides "wonderful access to biking (paved or dirt)," making it ideal for families with varying skill levels.
Stargazing from higher elevations: Clear nights offer excellent viewing opportunities. The Hares Canyon Horse Camp area provides "an excellent location for Stargazing" as one visitor notes, explaining that "The top of the park shows a vast section of sky which is perfect for meteor shower watching."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer good separation between campsites. At Brooke Creek Walk-In Campground, "When we visited, there were at most 2-3 other groups in the area so we were very spread out and had lots of privacy. The atmosphere is very green and lush."
Easy access to water features: Many campers appreciate the proximity to creeks and rivers. "The tent pads are a typical woodsy mix of pine straw, leaves, and loose gravel," reports one visitor about Brooke Creek, while another enjoys that "Each campsite is well screened by trees, has its own parking, a fire pit with a grill for cooking, and a special platform for a tent."
Convenient cart systems: Walk-in campgrounds provide equipment to help transport gear. "They have carts to help you get all your stuff to your spot in one trip which is very helpful," notes a camper about Brooke Creek's hike-in camp. These carts make the short quarter-mile hike manageable even with heavy equipment.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The forest offers chances to observe local fauna. "We enjoyed seeing the baby bunnies, cows, goats, chickens, and turkeys! My partner, myself, and teen had so much fun visiting them all," reports a visitor at Healing ponds farm retreat and healing center.
What you should know
Campground selection timing: Arriving early is crucial for first-come, first-served sites. "Get there early in a nice weekend or a holiday," advises a camper about Gales Creek Campground, adding that "there aren't too many sites, so hard to get something on a nice weekend or a holiday."
Seasonal weather considerations: Rain can significantly impact camping experiences, especially in spring and fall. "My husband and I have stayed here twice and both times it has rained. Which is fine but we find it very humorous (and actually really enjoy camping in the rain)," shares one Brooke Creek visitor.
Variable road conditions: Forest roads range from well-maintained to challenging. "The road to the campsite can be bumpy and narrow, so you need to prepare carefully before coming," notes a visitor to Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping areas.
Bugs and wildlife preparation: Insect populations vary by season and location. "If there's one thing you want to pack, it's bug spray. It's not overly buggy, but the mosquitoes are there, and you don't want them to dampen your experience," advises a Brooke Creek camper.
Tips for camping with families
Dog-friendly options: Several campgrounds welcome pets with minimal restrictions. "Our dog LOVES the dog park too," mentions a visitor to Mountaindale Cabin Village, while another notes they "stayed in the Cabins here, dog friendly, cozy in the winter months, only a couple dog friendly cabins so have to book ahead of time."
Educational stops nearby: Incorporate learning opportunities into your trip. "A 7-minute drive from the awesome Tillamook Forest Center, which has really cool exhibits on the area," shares one camper about Elk Creek Campground, making it a good rainy day option.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "If you're camping with kids, there's a play area here," notes a visitor about Dairy Creek Campground, though they add that during certain periods "the kids play area was still closed due to COVID."
Water safety considerations: River and creek conditions vary seasonally. "The creek was an excellent location to play in and in some spots we were able to swim," reports an Elk Creek visitor, though water levels and current strength change throughout the year.
Tips from RVers
Site length and layout: Many sites accommodate larger RVs but with specific configurations. "Our spot was very spacious as the length was 45 feet deep on asphalt. It had a picnic table and a fire ring in a well-groomed gravel area about 30' x 30'. The back of our spot was against very high trees," describes a visitor to Dairy Creek East.
Satellite reception considerations: Tree coverage affects connectivity. One camper notes, "Our spot was on the north side of the road so when we put out our satellite unit it had lots of southern sky to find a signal from," which matters for RVers requiring consistent satellite access.
Water pressure variations: Utility quality differs between campgrounds. "The water pressure was not very good at around 35 psi," reports one RVer, suggesting bringing a water pressure regulator if equipment is sensitive.
Off-season availability: Some campgrounds maintain winter access. "We showed up in the dark & rain, no reservations in February. Lots of room at each site, very clean, nice bathrooms, quiet," notes a winter visitor, highlighting year-round options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Buxton, OR?
What camping is available near Buxton, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Buxton, OR offers a wide range of camping options, with 250 campgrounds and RV parks near Buxton, OR and 21 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Buxton, OR?
Which is the most popular campground near Buxton, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Buxton, OR is Dairy Creek West — L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park with a 4.4-star rating from 41 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Buxton, OR?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Buxton, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 free dispersed camping spots near Buxton, OR.
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