Best Glamping near Fern Ridge Lake

Stayed in Yurt #2 in the Yurt village on Fathers Day weekend. There was also a fishing tournament this weekend, so the park was completely full. The Yurt Village stayed very quite. Most noise was the Trucks/Boat coming and leaving the boat ramp which is about 400yds away. 

Yurt #2 & 3 are deluxe yurts. All this means is you get a larger deck and propane firepit. To use the firepit you need to bring your own propane, large 20lb style. The Yurts have solar lights inside and out, not sure how long they run, but they lasted us a weekend with conservative use. There is 2 pit style bathrooms in the yurt village. Bathrooms are located at the parking lot.

The yurt village is a ways from the RV/Tent sites. Not a quick or easy walk. 

Parking at the yurt village is a little walk from #2 and #3. Best to bring a wagon or such to help transport. Its about 100yd walk each way. 

There are 3 beds, one full side bottom with a twin bunk on top and one full size futon. There is a dining table and 4 chairs. There is no running water, bring your own water. I saw a fountain near the parking lot, but did not test it. 

While it says no pets, one other yurt had two well behaved dogs. The park knew and didnt stop them, so make your own decision with your pets but dont ruin it for others please.

Weather was pretty good for us. No mosquitoes, though lots of nats but able to sit outside all day without being bothered too much.

I had a great experience here The campground was clean, the leave no trace policy is followed here. Quiet hours are 10pm - 6am, it was quiet even during the non-quit hours. Very private. There are running water spigots strategically placed throughout the camp, each water station has a waste water dump, and trash can. There are flush toilets with running, a sink and trash can. The garbage was picked up daily. Each site was a tent pad, fire pit and large table. Each site was very private, I couldn't see the other campers unless they were passing by our site. There is no internet, no electricity, and no showers, bring your own. The only negative was the mosquitos - easily resolved with a netted day tent or pop-up with mesh. Laying Creek sounds heavenly all throughout the camp, the trails are great to walk, and you will eventually wander to a swimming hole. Beautiful campground, with a great history going back to 1933. Highly recommend!

Mallard Creek Golf and RV Resort is located about 3 miles from Waterloo (or 8 miles from Lebanon, Oregon and 11 miles from Sweet Home, Oregon). It is off the beat and design for those serious golfers. The RV resort is design for trailers of any size with 30 to 50 amps electric, also includes, water, sewage hook ups, cable, and a cement table. The Club House has showers, bathrooms, and laundry facility. The club house has a wonderful party space with TV, gas fireplace (no fires at sites), tables for games and social gatherings. Free WIFI, your cel phone and data plans work wonderful in this area. Dogs are allowed, but no pet area to run loose. Kids are welcome but not gear up for things to do unless they love to golf too.

Mallard Creek is gear up for the serious golfers so the summer has special packages for the RV site with golfing from Memorial day weekend to the end of September. For non-golfers the RV resort is available between October 1 to the Thursday before Memorial day.

The website was not kidding about not following the directions through Google Maps. The last 9 miles to the resort was really trying - the roads were narrow, twisty and winding. If you are probe to car-sickness, go slow. I took extra precaution and dabbed essential oils on myself and my children.

Our pull-through site was in the Upper Marina, #22. If you have an extra canopy for camping, I'd suggest you bring it. It got really HOT when we were there. The good news is once the sun sets behind the trees, around 6pm, it makes eating dinner at the picnic table so comfortable and cooling.

My husband and children perused the bathroom/shower facilities which was just across from our campsite. He said it was spacious - a shower + private bathroom + sink setup and wide enough for a family.

Access to the swimming beach/boat launch is just a short 3 minutes walk. You just have to exercise caution because you will be crossing a main road (cars and big logging trucks rumble along often enough during the week).

The swimming (sandy) beach is cosy (read: tiny). There are no lifeguards on duty but enough trees offering shade for parents/families to sit back and keep watch.

You would have to drive back 5 minutes down the road to visit the Lodge for supplies or ice. The Lodge also provides some light refreshments* (deli sandwiches and ice-cream).

Our site offered full hook-ups including cable (limited channels). WIFI* was a disappointment though - we had to create an account for a complimentary hour of WIFI usage every day. Together with the zero cell reception, it renders us completely off the grid. It's great really to totally relax your mind and body but it is worrisome for that what-if's scenarios.

*Ice-cream was very pricey for the single not-generous scoop in a plastic cup that we bought for each of us. Because of the steep prices and WIFI availability (you have to pay if you want to get connected), I could only give a rating of 3.5/5 stars.

Otherwise, we had a great time at the RV resort. The sites are appealing for huge family reunion (we witnessed such a reunion during our trip). We will be back! 😊

We are a family of 4 (2 young boys with no pets). We traveled with a travel trailer.

-Close to lots of hiking in the area -Working with camp hosts was easy. Money drop box or can use card with host (just call ahead) -Tent spots have room for car next to your area. Extra cars are an extra fee. Sites have a fire pit with grate and a picnic table. -Trash / recycling on site. -Close to town-campground sells firewood -It is what you would expect from a county park camping ground in terms of layout. You will feel safe here, shower/bathroom amenities, and kind hosts. Short walk to the bay and about mile down road / or walk along the bay to the open ocean !

I camped here twice this year. Once in June in the Hiker/Biker area, and again in July in a regular site. The experiences couldn't have been more different.

Hiker/Biker is fairly segregated from the rest of camp. The access point is actually before the entry to the main campground itself. My first visit left me surprised at the beauty of the camp. It feels like it is in the wilderness despite being less than a few miles from Florence's cool Old Towne.

The trees here are big, and the ground cover lush with ferns. The trails are canopied by Rhododendrons. Nature paths lead off to Cleawox and Woahink lakes. Sand dunes abut the west side of camp. They seem endless, and otherworldly. At Cleawox Lake day use area there are paddleboats, boards and water toys for rent by the day or hour. Sand boards are available from a temporary space set up in the day use parking area. 

On my first visit the entry Ranger station was closed but the Welcome Yurt was open. Maps, advice, firewood, a lending library was available. 

Honeyman Camp is huge. When I was there in early June it made for a lovely exploration, and seemingly great spaces between campers. In late July the vibe had completely changed. Each of the several hundred spaces was occupied by a seemingly large family with 5 kids to every adult, or 25 belligerently drunk RV campers who felt the need to blast Fleetwood Mac. 

That second visit, in the main campground, made it very clear that your experience here will depend on the quality of people choosing to stay in the same park. All the amenities were the same, but despite it's size, a campsite with stereo speakers set to full boar are hard to ignore even when you're on the other side of camp. Now multiply that by several campsites per loop.

One thing of note: Each campsite is issued a set of rules, including "Quiet Hours". Unlike some other sites in which hosts ignored those rules in an attempt to avoid confrontation the hosts here were on top of it. For as obnoxious as the camp was at 9:45pm, by 10:15 it was silent, and we were able to enjoy the remains of a campfire and view of the stars in the slight clearing between trees.

Amenities include: 

• Flush Toilets

• Hot Showers (free and some without having to keep pushing a button!)

• Picnic tables & Fire pits

• Welcome yurt

• Kids playground

• Access to lakes and dunes (Bear sitings on the path to Woahink Lake in July)

• Nature Trail

*Pro-Tip: Stop in Old Towne Florence and buy some fresh fish or get a coffee at the local roaster.

One option when looking for a campground last minute during the summer close to Eugene, Oregon. This one is not usually very busy during peak season in my opinion.

This is a primitive campground so no hook ups for your rv. Bring the generator if your needing a power source during the day.

There are restrooms/ showers on site along with drinking water, a playground, and an rv dump station. Picnic tables and fire pits at each site. Trails are nearby along with a beach/ swimming area at Dorena Lake. Watch for signs of Algae or Swimmers Itch as it has been present the past few years at Dorena Lake.

Overall its a great last minute campground not far from town ( Cottage Grove- Eugene), but doesn't make my list of top 5 if I can make reservations a head of time.

This campground is always a safe bet any time of the year. Pets, children and groups are very welcome at this campground with nearby lakes, sand and ocean access. Rent kayaks and canoes at the lake. Visit the rustic and historic log cabin store with a southern exposure and bask in the afternoon sun. Kids can swim in a shallow roped off area out in front of the store with ample outdoor seating. Located near the ocean, this campground is protected from the heavy winds often experienced in other coastal campgrounds. Honeyman has access and a wonderful walking trail to Cleawox lake, where the dunes literally slope right into the lake. Sandboarding is popular on the hillside of the dunes adjacent to the lake. Fishing, non-motorized boating and protection from winds are the plusses at this nearby lake to the campground. Back at the campground, there are many loops for different kids of campers. Those with ATV's, Yurt camping, RV camping and tent camping. The hiker/biker campground is very quiet and private.

The quaint town of Florence is just a few miles north with historic downtown shopping located on riverfront. Locally owned coffee shop, Siuslaw Coffee Roasters offers comfy fireside seating with a view of the river and the historic and recently restored Siuslaw Bridge, designed and engineered by the famous Conde M. McCullough. Downtown Florence offers many specialty gift shops, eateries and fine dining as well as family pizza and locally owned BJ's Ice Cream Parlor with a huge variety of salt water taffy.

Across Highway 101 from Honeyman is Wohink Lake, where motorized boats are often seen pulling water-skiers. A great place to spend the day if you have a large group or have your own motor boat. Lots of sun, swimming areas and parking make this a convenient place to spend a day.

I have found this campground to be completely reserved 6 months in advance. They always seem to have sites available if you arrive early enough. I've never been turned away if I've arrived early.

Right across the highway from the beach is the Washburne State Park campground. It’s a short walk to the beach from the day use area of the park. There are two loops for RV’s and those who want electric sites. The seven tent sites are all walk in, set back in the trees and very private from each other as well as set apart from the RV sites. The campground provides a cart for you to haul any gear to your campsite. I had tent site 77, which was mostly level, with a picnic table and fire pit and I had hookup site 11 the next night.  Firewood was available for sale by the campground host near the entrance. I loved how quiet the campground was at all times and that I could hear the ocean at night from both of my sites. The bathhouse was new, clean, and had great water pressure! The only downside was that the nearest bathhouse was a long walk into the RV loop and the small toilet and sink only bathroom in the tent area was locked while I was there. A creek ran through the campground, but was downhill from the tents, so you really don’t know that it is there.