Central Oregon is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Central Oregon and user-submitted reviews.
$20 - $100 / night
"We showed up on the 4th of July and got the last walk up site! Pros: the drinking water is amazing and is run on a solar pump!"
"Walton lake is just gorgeous. The only thing I don’t like is that some of their sites, you can’t actually park at the site, cause they’re on a hill. BUT it’s the perfect place to recharge."
$37 / night
"It's a very popular Oregon State Park and I'm sure summer requires advance planning. The weekend we were there was pretty full and our site was at the top of the B loop. "
"The swim area is marked and dogs are not allowed in that area so you don't have to worry about dog messes where your kiddos are walking barefoot and swimming."
$50 / night
"An easy 30 minute drive from Oregon's Painted Hills, the Ochoco Divide campground is a great home base for exploring the area."
"If you're staying here it's for it's location. It's right on the edge of Ochoco national Forest and is about thirty minutes from the Painted Hills."
"Tucked away in the hills and the woods, with numerous hiking trails from the campground to explore the surrounding areas."
"Came through the area planning to camp before exploring the fossil beds and painted hills nearby."
"There are trails in abundance and beautiful views to be had, in addition to lakes, mine remnants and vistas galore. Camp, trail run or just bbq at the lake. There is something for everyone here."
"We boondocked at a great site in October 2020 near Mill Creek Wilderness, dirt forest roads not too bad but we have a pretty low bar. Some great views looking west/northwest."
$10 - $25 / night
"Tiny little campsite with spots right next to each other. 10 walk up tent sites, most are right along the water. Everyone is so close together you get to know your neighbors pretty well."
"A downside is the proximity to the highway and the resulting noise."
"Came to check it out since we were camped nearby. There’s a vault toilet, some fire pits where obviously you can camp and looks like lots of snow mobile trails. There is also a pond of water too."
"Overlooking the reservoir, near the water pump & clean vault toilet, this was a perfect, off-grid, spot!! Only a few other RVers present, and far enough that we didn’t hear their generator."
ScoutGood campground in a remote part of Central Oregon. Despite being right next to OHV trails, we were the only ones there. Just me, the boys, and the flies.
ScoutEntrance is free. The sites are strung through the trees and overlook the Badlands of Central Oregon's high desert. Cool temps in summer
RangerNear the painted hills of Oregon! Not much to it, but there are restrooms with running water. Caught a ride from here to the hills for sunset.
Mitchell is a nice little town in central Oregon.
TravelerGreat secluded little USFS campground in a quiet forest. We had the place to ourselves in mid-September, other than a couple very pleasant camp hosts. Easy dirt road in. Fresh cold spring water on site. Trail access to Steins Pillar and a Twin Pillars. (We didn’t take either one, unfortunately.) We’d definitely return next time we pass through central Oregon.
TravelerThis was a great place to have a picnic, stretch our legs, and take a nap while exploring Central Oregon. It cost $8 for day use, and the picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets were exactly as expected. We picked up some trash, but there wasn't more than usual, although we found empty, unspent shotgun shells everywhere. Campers were friendly, and it seemed that everyone had a friendly dog. My toddler loved climbing up and down the river bank, throwing rocks in the river, tromping around in the tall grass, and meeting everyone's dogs. We will come back to this site with our tents!
GuideThere are a lot of trails nearby! Hiking, Bike and atv trails. There is also access to the "road" that leads to the top of Grey Butte. It's not much of a road more like a widened rough trail but we made it up in our truck! The view.up top was spectacular!! The road is only open certain time if the year-i believe March thru September. Definitely worth the drive up to top! Makes you feel on top of the world-or at least Central Oregon 😁
ScoutWe rode the Central Oregon Backcountry Explorer. Jalet made sure we had a place to stay and even helped recover one of members who got heatstroke a mile out of town. This Hostel was AMAZING! They thought of everything!
I will be using this hostel every single opportunity I get in the future!
LegendBeautiful if remote location on the banks of the John Day River in Central Oregon. Very few amenities (only vault toilets) and no set camp sites per say, however, it just means you drive up and pick a cool site on the river and enjoy the gorgeous view.
Definitely remember to bring all that you need including food, supplies, tables, and water. But still mere feet from the actual river, quiet, and great star gazing.
GuideSomething about Central Oregon. The smells, the sounds and the views are all found right here at the BLM Lone Pine campground.
We grabbed up the group site, right near the entrance. It’s only about 25 yards from the river, but other sites are closer. No deal breaker by any means. Plenty of room for everyone at this group site!
Two tables at the fire ring, and some nice shade as well. It’s quiet, and the river rolls by with a light rush. There is a loft toilet at the day use area a few yards away as well as in the main camp area.
You’ll have to bring your own firewood as collecting is prohibited.
Discover the joy of camping with your furry friends in Central Oregon, where several campgrounds welcome pets and offer a variety of amenities and activities for an unforgettable outdoor experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Central Oregon is Walton Lake with a 4.3-star rating from 8 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 57 dog-friendly camping locations near Central Oregon, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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