Looking for the best campgrounds near Dayville, OR? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Dayville is surrounded by family-friendly activities. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Oregon camping adventure.
$25 - $150 / night
"Dayville is a delightful small town with chickens and goats and horses as neighbors to the RV park. The proprietors clearly value hospitality and are very welcoming."
"It was right next to the bathrooms but that was ok for us. The hot showers were lovely. The camp host was super nice. We enjoyed sitting outside on a hot evening. There is even a laundry."
$26 - $34 / night
"Went kayaking at Magone Lake and lunch in Dayville at the Cafe. There is a dump station when you leave and has easy access. Fishing available in a near by pond."
"This is always such a great place to stop when traveling between Idaho and western Oregon. It has lots of shade, lawn, and hedges that offer privacy between the large camp sites."
"We camped next to the lovely lil creek. Bathrooms & showers were Fabulous! Dayville is a very cute little town, with cute lil shops! Great location to stay to explore the area!"
"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."
$50 / night
"The area is beautiful but the creek is so very tiny and back behind the cabin. It has a vault toilet that was very clean but we may have been lucky since it is not cleaned between guests."
"In the spring, I imagine you can fish the creek behind the cabin.
The Wildlife
If you hike a little off trail, there's plenty of wildlife to be seen."
"There are toilets but no water (there’s a creek so boil or treat the water there), close to the road, and a good basecamp for hiking or horseback riding in the area."
"Which I will say a lot of people were not doing so I walked around and picked up a huge bag of garbage especially out of the fire pits."
"The campground is well kept and the out and back trail ( I think about 8 miles altogether ) is lovely."
GuideThis site is on the far end of the painted hills park, just outside of the gate. There is a sign that says "no turn around" but the exact spot of that is way down the road and you can turn around in this camping area.
There were a few bad ruts from people traversing in the mud but still a couple of level areas.
This is our backup spot if we strike out at Priest Hole, but haven't yet.
GuideBLM improved this area recently.
CONS -
Cant get anywhere near the river now, and walking access is sparse unless you want to hop the big guardrail and blaze the bushes.
The flow is backwards, and for the sites along the river you now are forced to face away from the painted hill and wildlife in the area.
The road to the river sites is NARROW, and we had trouble backing in with a 22' trailer while not hitting the guard rail, but the pull through sites are a lot farther from the river.
PROS -
Nice sites with table and fire ring - although even with the fire ring you still can't have fires during most of the good weather.
Some improvements on road in in case you get caught with an oncoming vehicle (I'm sure as heck not backing up a winding one lane road)
Whoever designed this upgrade had obviously never stayed at the park. It's nicer in a way, but also a bit less special than it was before. Still a good spot and is still free for the moment, but I hear they are putting in a pay station eventually.
ScoutGreat large sites, three other sites occupied. Ground is flat and soft enough to easily pitch a tent. AT&T cell phone coverage pretty decent. T-mobile you may receive messages but won’t load websites.
M
Place feels safe except for the occasional shot in the distance from hunters. Fire-ban in effect in August.
BYO water, pack out your garbage and drop toilet is clean.
LegendIf we had checked the forecast, we probably wouldn’t have camped here. However when we arrived at 6 pm and it was 100 degrees, we were far enough off the beaten path that we decided to sweat it out and spend the night. We stayed in site 12 which also had absolutely no shade and tons of bees, which didn’t help our situation.
All that aside, we are so happy we did spend the night here! The river is gorgeous and perfect for swimming. The views through the canyon are incredible at sunset and the temp dropped significantly for comfortable sleeping! The campground itself is clean and well appointed.
GuideI LOVE. This spot is awesome- it’s beautiful and just around the corner from some short hikes through the painted hills. It’s pretty remote, and there’s no service but that’s kind of the charm of it. Only saw one other person drive in while I was there.
The dirt road to the campsite is bumpy and rutted but I made it just fine with my Tacoma and off-road trailer (and it’s a really short distance once you’re off the gravel road). At least to the first spot- there’s about 3-4 other spots past that one but the road does get progressively worst.
Only stayed one night, but would’ve stayed longer had it not rained. I wouldn’t trust the road in the rain, it looks like it turns into a mud pit.
Super pretty. Highly recommend🤠
ScoutGreat camping spot along the John Day river. There’s an area in the beginning with new paved out camping spots on the river and a vault toilet. If you bypass that area and keep going along the gravel/dirt road you’ll find more pull out spots that are more secluded.
LegendWe stayed here as we had plans to visit John Day Fossil Beds National Monument the next day. We pulled our class B onto a lovely grassy FHU site. It was right next to the bathrooms but that was ok for us. The hot showers were lovely. The camp host was super nice. We enjoyed sitting outside on a hot evening. There is even a laundry. The only reason for not giving 5 stars, is that the neighbor’s rooster woke us up at about 4:30 am. If you are not a light sleeper you’d be fine here. We’d stay again if we were passing through but may use ear plugs.
RangerWe put Red Scar Knoll into our navigation and it took us to a private ranch with no trespassing signs. We couldn’t see other ways to get there. We used the coordinates named by a previous reviewer instead and found the spot and it was great. I would not recommend for vehicles larger than a van or after heavy rain as it was a bumpy ride down. We could see that other people had camped here previously as there were fire pits. There was a beautiful little creek next to the spot. There was some noise from the road but there was minimal traffic. I could get about one bar of AT&T service. It is only 11 minutes from painted hills overlook. No amenities. Great for a night among beautiful surroundings:) quite a few bugs at night. There was little to no service on the way there so make sure to save the coordinates/map
GuideNice little park with full hookups! Very clean and Green
Camping near Dayville, Oregon, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot by the river or a family-friendly campground, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping near Dayville, Oregon, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're in an RV or tent camping, there's something for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I camp in Dayville, Oregon?
The Dayville area offers several camping options for different preferences. Murderers Creek Guard Station provides a rustic cabin experience with propane heat and powered appliances, plus space for tents in the yard and a vault toilet. For those seeking a forested setting, Cottonwood Campground near Dayville offers drive-in access with free camping and toilet facilities. If you're willing to venture a bit further, Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site near John Day provides paved, level sites in a lush, green setting with great access to the Painted Hills area.
Is there an RV park in Dayville, Oregon?
Yes, Dayville has two excellent RV park options. Dayville South Fork RV Park offers a peaceful setting next to a creek with clean bathrooms and showers. It's located in the charming small town of Dayville and serves as a great base for exploring the surrounding area. Another option is Fish House Inn and RV Campground, operated by friendly hosts who maintain clean facilities and create a welcoming atmosphere. This RV park is situated within the delightful small-town setting of Dayville, with local farm animals often visible nearby.
What amenities are available at Dayville camping areas?
Camping areas around Dayville offer varying levels of amenities. Bull Prairie Campground provides a serene lake setting in the Umatilla National Forest with basic facilities in a surprisingly green oasis. For more amenities, Strawberry Campground south of Prairie City offers a quiet atmosphere with facilities suitable for exploring the Strawberry Mountain wilderness and John Day Fossil Beds. The RV parks in Dayville typically provide the most comprehensive amenities, including clean showers, bathrooms, level sites, and convenient access to the small town's services. Some camping areas also feature creekside locations, fire rings, and picnic tables, though specific amenities vary by location.
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