Glamping and camping sites around Cottage Grove, Oregon are nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range at approximately 640 feet elevation. The area experiences mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers with temperatures typically ranging between 33°F and 86°F throughout the year. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through September when rainfall is minimal and daytime temperatures hover between 70-85°F.
What to do
Disc golf at Whistlers Bend: Located 45 minutes from Cottage Grove, this course is highly rated nationwide. "Disc golf rated number 2 in nation," notes one camper at Whistlers Bend County Park, who also mentions additional recreation options like a "child play area and free parking for campers."
Waterfalls exploration: Find multiple impressive falls within a short drive. "If you want bigger hiking payoffs, just up the road approx. 6 miles, you can find 'Pinard', 'Moon', and 'Spirit falls'. Each are around 2 easy hiking miles and worth hitting, you can easily do all three in one day," explains a visitor to Rujada Campground.
Creek and river swimming: Many campgrounds offer natural swimming options. At Whittaker Creek, "it is a small pool, but nice for young children to swim, for adults to float, or just sun on the rocky shore. If you want a bigger swimming area, there is a river access trail to the Siuslaw nearby."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Some campgrounds offer good separation between camping spots. "Each site was very private, I couldn't see the other campers unless they were passing by our site," notes a camper at Rujada Campground, highlighting the well-designed layout that creates a feeling of solitude.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural environment supports diverse animal life. At Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina, the sunrise views are particularly special: "The sun rose across the lake which was extremely beautiful," mentions one reviewer who enjoyed the early morning spectacle.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms matter to campers. At Casey's Riverside RV resort, visitors appreciate that it's "clean and well maintained" with "nice paved large riverfront views spaces" and a generally pristine environment throughout the property.
What you should know
Seasonal algae concerns: Water quality issues can arise in summer months. A camper at COE Dorena Reservoir Schwarz Campground warns: "Watch for signs of Algae or Swimmers Itch as it has been present the past few years at Dorena Lake."
Cell service limitations: Many sites have poor or no connectivity. At Hult Pond, campers report "no cell service at all" and suggest to "plan accordingly" as service disappears "about an hour before we even got there."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience more noise than others. Premier RV Resort has "a lot of road noise from I-5" while another reviewer notes "the road noise was much less annoying than we anticipated and we slept well."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible swimming spots: Look for gentle water access points. Whittaker Creek Recreation Site features "a small dammed up area" that creates "a nice little creek, and a waterfall near by and little rabbits roaming around," making it suitable for younger children.
Playground amenities: Several campgrounds offer play structures. "There was a nice playground which did surprise us that my kiddos liked," reports a family staying at Rujada Campground, noting it as an unexpected benefit for keeping children entertained.
Crawdad catching: This activity proves popular with kids at multiple locations. At Whittaker Creek, one camper mentions it's "a good place to catch some crawdads!" while another notes that "crawdads are a fun find" in the gentle creek waters.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy: RVers should research specific site numbers. At Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina, a reviewer advises: "The view was wonderful. We got a lakeside camp site which made it a simple walk down to the lake where we could swim and fish."
Size restrictions: Some campgrounds cannot accommodate larger rigs. At Whittaker Creek, a camper notes their site was "tiny area to back in-pretty tight and my SUV is small. Definitely not suitable for pop up campers or RVs (or even large SUVs or trucks)."
Hookup availability: Options range from primitive to full-service. For those seeking glamping close to Cottage Grove, Oregon with amenities, Casey's offers "full hookups and a beautiful river setting" with "nice paved sites" that are "pretty level" requiring "minimum work getting setup."
