The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Campgrounds near Fossil, OR

254 Reviews

Camping options around Fossil, Oregon range from established campgrounds to dispersed sites on public lands. Wheeler County Fairgrounds RV Park provides full hookups within Fossil city limits, while Bear Hollow County Park offers tent and RV sites approximately 3 miles south. Priest Hole Recreation Area along the John Day River provides primitive camping with vault toilets but no drinking water. Shelton Wayside County Park features tent and RV sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and potable water spigots between April and October.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many campgrounds accessible via paved highways while dispersed areas may require high-clearance vehicles. Summer temperatures typically range from 80-90°F during the day, dropping to the 50s at night, making spring and fall ideal camping seasons. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most camping locations, particularly at Priest Hole and Painted Hills Dispersed areas. Visitors should bring adequate water supplies as many sites lack potable water. A visitor commented, "There aren't a lot of reserve-able campsites in this area, so I was happy to find the group site a few weeks before our trip to the Fossil Beds."

Proximity to John Day Fossil Beds National Monument represents a primary draw for campers in the region. Several campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring the monument's three units: Painted Hills, Clarno, and Sheep Rock. Campers frequently mention the stark beauty of the landscape, with its colorful hills and geological formations. Reviews indicate that while some campgrounds like Wheeler County Fairgrounds receive praise for cleanliness and amenities, others like Bear Hollow County Park draw criticism for being overpriced relative to their facilities. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, visitors appreciate the region's dark night skies and relative solitude, though summer weekends can bring increased traffic to established campgrounds.

Map showing campgrounds near Fossil, OregonExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Fossil, Oregon (90)

    1. BLM John Day River - Priest Hole

    22 Reviews
    Mitchell, OR
    18 miles
    +1 (541) 416-6700

    "Beautiful if remote location on the banks of the John Day River in Central Oregon."

    "Easy access to lots of different river spots to play and swim in the warmest water ever. Beautiful views, really amazing and peaceful."

    2. Bear Hollow County Park

    7 Reviews
    Fossil, OR
    6 miles
    Website

    "Stayed here on a tour of the John Day Fossil Beds. Found a great site, but like the last reviewer felt it was overpriced for dry camping."

    3. Wheeler County Fairgrounds RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Fossil, OR
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 763-4560

    "Fossil is an awesome little town near the Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds. The Wheeler County Fairgrounds RV Park is super clean, with full hookups and decent size sites."

    "Location at fairgrounds in Fossil sounded a little iffy, but we agree with the previous review. Nice enough for a stopover, although it could feel sardine-ish if super busy."

    4. Shelton Wayside

    3 Reviews
    Fossil, OR
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 763-2010

    $20 / night

    "The campsite situated below the road in the valley surrounded by towering hills on either side. There are ample trees and the possibility of hammock camping if you can find the ones close enough."

    "It is way out in the middle of nowhere but that’s what camping is about and its location is in the middle of the John day fossil bed loop."

    5. Wilson Ranches Retreat

    1 Review
    Fossil, OR
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 763-2227

    "We really enjoyed our two night stay at Wilson Ranches Retreat in Fossil and hope to visit again. "

    6. Priest Hole Recreation Area

    7 Reviews
    Mitchell, OR
    18 miles

    "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."

    "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. "

    7. Painted Hills Dispersed

    17 Reviews
    Mitchell, OR
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 573-4400

    "Super nice dry camping just 5 miles from the John Day Fossil Beds Painted Hills, and conveniently right off the main road. Also a small creek nearby to cool off in!"

    "Plenty of trails for any hiking/walking level.

    Great spot for photography, meditation, exploring solo or with company."

    8. Service Creek Campground

    5 Reviews
    Mitchell, OR
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 416-6700

    "We found several walk in tent spots, nothing for Van's, trailers. The river invited us down...beautiful swimming space. After cooling down and finding a spot under a tree, we decided to stay."

    9. Muleshoe Campground

    3 Reviews
    Kimberly, OR
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 416-6700

    "A few walk in tents spots too. 2 vault toilets No trash so pack in/pack out $5/night, self registration. Great spot in center of John Day Fossil Beds national monument."

    "Only downfall is being wide open and really close to other sites. We had an RV to our right and no one to our left , so we didn’t have people directly by us."

    10. BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River

    1 Review
    Mitchell, OR
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 416-6700

    $5 / night

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 90 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Fossil Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Camping Photos near Fossil, OR

91 Photos of 90 Fossil Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Fossil, OR

254 Reviews of 90 Fossil Campgrounds

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Painted Hills South Camp

    Good Backup Spot

    This 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.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Priest Hole Recreation Area

    Mixed bag after improvements

    BLM 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.

  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Sherman County RV Park

    Good

    Clean ,comfortable, safe, quiet nice stay would/will stay again

  • D
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Barnhouse Campground

    Great sites

    Great 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.

  • Isabelle K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Priest Hole Recreation Area

    Burning sun and bees

    If 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.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Painted Hills Dispersed

    Favorite so far

    I 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🤠

  • Jason S.
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert RV Park

    Pretty good campground for RVs.

    Writing a review because our site was backwards. The utilities were on the passenger side.  Couldn't hookup to water or sewer with my TT because I would have had to pull in forward and park the truck on the grass at the back of the site.  Multiple sites were this way, but most were not.  I backed up, so we opened our trailer door to the electrical/water/sewer hookups the whole time.

  • Callie S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Priest Hole Recreation Area

    Priest Hole Oasis

    Great 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.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Imperial River Co.

    Beautiful

    This place is so beautiful. Right on the river, clean and cell service is great. WiFi works great. Full hook up’s and showers. Great fishing and star gazing and a cute little town a walk away. I will be back.

Guide to Fossil

Camping near Fossil, Oregon, offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or simply relax under the stars, this area has something for everyone.

What to do

  • Hiking and Biking: Explore the scenic trails around Lone Tree Campground — Cottonwood Canyon State Park. Reviewers mention, "Trails on either side are both nice cruisers on bikes - green runs, but can make them more work, and the views are sublime."
  • Fishing: The John Day River is a great spot for fishing. One camper noted, "The river was beautiful and flush full of fish and crayfish!" at BLM John Day River - Priest Hole.
  • Stargazing: With minimal light pollution, the night sky is breathtaking. A visitor at Cottonwood Canyon State Park said, "Stars at night were spectacular."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained sites. One reviewer at Ochoco Divide Group Site mentioned, "The grounds and facilities are well kept with vault toilets and spigots with running water."
  • Spacious Campsites: Many campgrounds offer large, private sites. A camper at Barnhouse Campground noted, "Each site had a basic fire ring as well as a picnic table."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many campers enjoy the peaceful surroundings. A visitor at Service Creek Campground said, "It was beautiful, serene, great for fishing."

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Painted Hills Dispersed, have no drinking water or toilets. A reviewer mentioned, "No amenities here, please pack out your trash and human and dog waste."
  • Windy Conditions: Campers at Cottonwood Canyon State Park warned about the wind, stating, "The only downside is how windy this canyon can get."
  • Road Conditions: Some access roads can be rough. A camper at Priest Hole Recreation Site advised, "I would recommend a rig with lots of ground clearance."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for sites with amenities like picnic tables and fire pits. A parent at Maupin City Park said, "The tent camp runs along a river which is nice and there is grass and each site has a table."
  • Plan for Activities: Bring bikes or hiking gear to keep kids entertained. A camper at Walton Lake mentioned, "There are walking trails and you can even take the big loop."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make family outings smoother. A visitor at Sherman County RV Park noted, "The surrounding landscapes are stunning and the peace and quiet, absolute."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the campground's site dimensions. A reviewer at Bull Prairie Campground said, "A lot of the campsites are isolated by trees so you actually have some privacy."
  • Be Prepared for Limited Hookups: Some campgrounds may not have electric hookups. A camper at Beavertail Campground mentioned, "It's dry camping so no dump on site, no electricity."
  • Bring Cash for Payment: Many campgrounds require cash for fees. A visitor at Service Creek Campground advised, "Bring cash for payment."

Camping near Fossil, Oregon, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors, with plenty of activities and beautiful scenery. Just remember to plan ahead and be prepared for the unique conditions of each campground!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds near John Day Fossil Beds National Monument?

For exploring John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, several excellent options exist. Muleshoe Campground offers six level spots right on the John Day River for just $5/night with vault toilets and seasonal waterfall views, making it centrally located to the monument. Painted Hills Dispersed provides free dry camping just 5 miles from the Painted Hills unit with creek access nearby. Other good options include Mitchell City Park for RVers wanting electric and water hookups, Barnhouse Campground for a secluded experience, and Fish House Inn for full hookups and hot showers. Each location offers unique advantages depending on which unit of the monument you plan to visit.

What is the best time of year to camp in Fossil, Oregon?

The best time to camp in Fossil, Oregon is late spring through early fall (May to October), when temperatures are most comfortable and facilities are fully operational. Based on camping patterns at Barnhouse Campground, summer weekdays offer a good balance of pleasant weather and minimal crowds. October can provide a peaceful experience with fewer campers, though nights get cooler. The area around Ochoco Divide Group Site shows that making reservations is particularly important during summer months. Winter camping is possible but challenging due to cold temperatures and potential snow. The region's high desert climate means summer days can be hot while nights cool significantly, so pack accordingly regardless of season.

Where can I find camping near Fossil, Oregon?

Fossil offers several nearby camping options to suit different preferences. Wheeler County Fairgrounds RV Park provides full hookups with clean facilities right in town, making it convenient for RV travelers. For a more natural setting, Bear Hollow County Park is located just outside Fossil with both pull-through and tent sites, each featuring a fire ring and picnic table. The $20-25 fee includes basic amenities like pit toilets. If you're willing to venture a bit farther, there are additional options along the John Day River and near the Painted Hills. Most campgrounds in this area are relatively small, so arriving early during peak season is recommended.

Keep Exploring