Best Tent Camping near Dayton, OR

We tent camped at a drive-in site (8) in October 2020 and loved our experience. The whole campground felt small and peaceful, the tent sites were well spaced and surrounded by trees. It seemed to be popular with families and there were quite a few kids riding their bikes around the loop. The walk around the lake was beautiful and quiet - we did not pass many people at all.

I think next time we’ll try the walk-in sites for the privacy and the above view of the lake.

Would recommend, absolutely.

Granted, it's been 90 degrees everyday so anything near water feels incredible. BUT nothing quite as incredible as the ice, rushing Clackamas river!!!!!

We stayed at this park for 3 days and it was such a trip. 2 adults, 2 kids and a pup had plenty of space on a tent site. The bathrooms were great and not to far of a trek, but for convenience they set up and ADA accessible portapotty near the tent camping area. The rangers were kind and helpful, as were the park hosts.

Whether you're going for a full day of floating down the river (rentals offered at one of the boat launch areas) or want to climb your way down to a secluded chunk of river bend and hitch your float to a tree or rock, there is so much this park has to offer!

If you want to camp in Oregon this is the place to go. There are several waterfalls and hiking trails. You can see wildlife and you can't beat the beauty. You can tent camp and they also have yurts.

The Dairy Creek Campground at Stub Stewart is a two loop campground. The sites are spacious, but there isn't much character.  The East loop is pretty much an open field. The west loop has a few more trees but still not much privacy or space between sites. 

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. If you're camping with kids, there's a play area here.

There are a few "walk in" sites where you don't park your car next to your tent, but rather in the parking lot next to the grassy area where the open tent sites are. If you're looking for a better tent camping experience that actually feels like it's in the woods, you're better off going to the hike in campground in the park.

The loops are big and there is parking near the bathroom. This is great if you don't want to walk a long way, but it's bad if you've got the campsite near the bathroom with all the cars coming and going.

We camped here again in July. Drive 6 miles up a paved road then 1/2 mile on a dirt road. Spent 5 days in spots RV1 and RV2. They were doing some log pickup close to our spot so during the day it was sort of noisy but after 3PM things got really quiet and peaceful. Trees were very plentiful and keep us cool during the 90* days. We went up the hill to tent site#13 where there was water, but you had to pump your own. The water was very clean and tasty. They had 2 buildings that had pit toilets and 1 port-potty by the day use area by us. We walked a trail beside the day use area that went for about 1.5 miles by on of the creeks. There were many other roads that went to other trails that were longer. All was very quiet except for the cars, trucks and Jeeps that sped down the road by our camp going to the trail to the right from 7PM until 1AM. I have no idea why they were here at all because they we not camping here and drove very fast for a gravel road. Be advised even though there are 15 camp sites only(2) RV-1 and RV-2 are actually designated for motorhomes and travel trailers under 32 feet in length. Most all other sites are up a steep road but can accommodate very small RV's but mostly tent camping area. Little to no cell service right at the base of the campground. Just a 1/2 mile back to the asphalt road there is 1 bar at the very least. This campground is 6 miles up a small paved road from Grand Ronde then a half mile on a gravel road in a heavily wooded area to the first RV camp site#1 and#2.

This was my first visit to Cape Lookout, or camping on the Oregon coast, for that matter. The RV sites are separated from the tent sites, which is nice. Most of the tent sites are fairly open, some of them have more privacy, but all of them are very green and incredibly close to the beach while still being somewhat protected from the wind coming off of the ocean.

Bathrooms were relatively clean, though you always have someone emptying all of their camp trash in the bathroom trash can (pizza boxes? Really?) so it's hard to keep up. Staff were knowledgeable and helpful. 

A truly beautiful place.

Always tent sites.

Consider choosing a campsite in the wooded areas.  The sites near the ocean are in the hot sun.  Full hookups Of course are nice, even if you are in a tent.  Restrooms have running water and we’re kept very clean by the park staff.  We camped in a tent in August, but it was still quite cold at night.  A lack of privacy bothered us, but we were gone most of the day.  Lots of folks riding bikes, flying kites, walking on the beautiful trails on Cape Lookout.  We definitely will go back again.

This is Nehalem Falls Campground, site T3. It's one of six walk-in tent sites at this campground in the Tillamook National Forest. You park the car about 50 feet away and bring your gear in. The campground also has about ten car camping sites and two group sites (the only ones that can be reserved). The tent sites are very private and right on the Nehalem River which is warm enough to swim in.

We happened to be on the Oregon Coast on a Friday night during nice spring weather. The website said there were still a few sites left so we drove there to secure one. It is best to reserve a site but we never do so you can still get a site the day of if you don’t have a reserved site and there are unclaimed sites.

Our site was 65, a tent site, in the full sun near the bathrooms. There are bushes that obscure your next door neighbors but you can see the ones across the road. We could hear the roar of the ocean but it lulled us to sleep. There are trails to the sandy beach.

We paid $21 for a tent site during the off season.

We didn't stay even 24 hours. We only stayed for a place to sleep overnight, but I'm eager to return and stay longer. I was super impressed with the size and location of the tent sites. The tent sites were also secluded and flat. (But a far walk to the bathrooms/showers). There seemed to be a lot of hiking trails. I couldn't check them out because of our schedule, but I would 100% return. We drove to the boat launch area and it was easily accessible.

Camped in tent site near beach then had to move to rv site

Beautiful area, very quiet, walk in tent sites were easy access, host was lovely.

This is Santiam State campground that is for basically tent camping. Water and Pit toilet. Some sights next to Butte Creek. The best part is that you very close to Butte creek water falls.

The campsites are spread out and private. There are tent sites, RV sites, and cabins. Quiet lake with two trails around it.

Stayed 3 nights and the host allowed us to park 2 cars on a tent site. Facilities are clean and showers are hot and free

Went tent camping. Was expecting a bit more of a campsite, but it was just a big field with everybody together. No privacy or trees even blocking other campsites. Not suitable for more than 1 tent or groups. Bathrooms okay, and water was close so thats a plus. Would only stay again if desperate.

Very crowded in summer. Pit toilet. Tent camping. Very steep final approach on dirt road. Very beautiful lake with Salomanders. If your lucky to have the lake to yourself it can be very quiet except for wildlife sounds. It is possible to kayak with easy access

I was unimpressed. Okay local if you need to camp in Portland. Not so nice bathrooms. Tent camping was in a big field with weird gravel bits that got louder in the morning. No barriers between campsites. I would pass and find a nicer place to pitch your te t

Tent area is separate from RVs and it has lots of privacy. Camp host is very sweet, he brought fire wood to my tent. Nice trails and lake, nice bathroom/shower. It is about 100 yard walk through forested trail to showers and you can't park your car in your tent camp but it is small so the parking is very close. I like how forested the area is.

Great camping if you go in groups. The tent camping area actually leaves a lot to be desired. The group camping areas have lean to that can accommodate many people in the bunks. We brought a pop up camper and was able to get it set up nicely. Water and toilets are available.

Went tent camping here in summer just for the hike out on cape Lookout. Made in with two kids and dog in about two hours and did some whale watching for about 20-30 mins. The views are spectacular from the Cape. We would definitely hike/camp here again as it was great location for some peace and adventure.

most of the tent spots have a good amount of privacy, with many of them very close to the ocean — fell asleep to the sound of the waves crashing. pretty clean showers. extremely short walk to the beautiful beach. would absolutely stay here again but probably in a tent site closer to the beach