Join the fun near Fossil. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Fossil is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Fossil, OR. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
For a rustic overnight stay deep in eastern Oregon, let your tires roll past the Painted Hills-one of Oregon’s Seven Wonders-and drive deep into John Day River Territory to the Priest Hole Recreation Site. Although primitive, camping here lands you in the middle of the Wild and Scenic John Day River, designated for scenery, recreation, fish, wildlife, and geologic values. Camping is allowed everywhere, including on the gravel bar northeast of Priest Hole, where you sleep to the gurgle of the river and stepping out of your tent or trailer lands your foot in the water. Know Before You Go: Open YEAR ROUND but the rough road can make access difficult in winter. ACCESSIBILITY is primitive and not easily accessible for people with disabilities. NO FEES for camping or floating the one-mile section around Priest Hole. There is one toilet; NO potable water, trash cans or campsite amenities. PETS ARE ALLOWED under owner control. Watch for rattlesnakes. HUNTING/FISHING LICENSES ARE REQUIRED. Fire restrictions run June 1 – September 30 (liquid gas or propane only). Point of Interest: Priest Hole is a local favorite for fishing and swimming. Stopping here is a natural part of a visit to the Painted Hills, Sutton Mountain Back Country Byway and eastern Oregon! Priest Hole Brochure Explore Oregon Recreation: Priest Hole ADA Access: Priest Hole Recreation Site is primitive and not easily accessible for people with disabilities.
$10 / night
Dispersed camping is allowed on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS) lands without a permit, but it is recommended that campers obtain a map that shows current property boundaries. Please contact the BLM , (541) 573-4400 or (541) 416-6700, or the USFS, (541) 575-3000 or (541) 416-6500, for more information. While camping is not allowed within the three units of the monument, there are many nearby campgrounds. Some have full service amenities, some are quiet and remote, some are in the forest, and some are right on the John Day River.
$20 / night
Wheeler County Fairgrounds, located in the heart of Fossil, hosts the Wheeler County Fair during the first week of August and several other events throughout the year. The Isobel Edwards Hall is offered for rent for meetings, reunions, parties, and other special events. Adjacent to the fairgrounds is a 12 space RV park with full hook-ups, as well as restroom and shower facilities.
Pioneer hospitality and an authentic ranch vacation await you at Wilson Ranches Retreat providing exceptional lodging in central Oregon. Immerse yourself in a peaceful ranch environment rich in history and love on a 9,000 acre working cattle and hay ranch in the beautiful Butte Creek Valley, three miles west of the small town of Fossil, Oregon.
Our historic 1910 Sears Roebuck Ranch House is the setting for our bed and breakfast, which features six pristine ranch-style guest rooms and your stay includes a delicious country breakfast every morning.
If you prefer to stay overnight in your own RV or Travel Trailer, we offer a parking site located by the side of the barn and corral or by the haystack, both in a graveled area. Your reservation includes a Ranch Picnic Breakfast for two guests each morning. We can accommodate additional guests for breakfast by request with an additional fee.
Required to be a fully self-contained RV or Travel Trailer and site rate includes:
Wilson Ranches Retreat also offers our guests a unique opportunity to go horseback riding. Immerse yourself on our authentic working cattle ranch by joining the Wilson family on a scenic horseback ride, cattle drive, pasture move, riding for strays or checking fence lines as the Wilson family done has for seven generations.
The Ochoco Divide Group Site is a convenient place to camp while traveling across scenic State Highway 26 by bicycle or car. Resting at the top of the Ochoco Divide at an elevation of 4,700 ft., the group site is set on a hill away from the road as an extension of the general campground. Summertime in the Ochoco National Forest brings pleasant temperatures; the campground is closed during winter.
The group site of the Ochoco Divide Campground is mainly used by touring cyclists. It is also a good place to take a relaxing stroll through the woods. There are opportunities for hunting, mountain biking and hiking in the national forest surrounding the facility. Several trailheads begin at the Bandit Springs rest stop about one mile from the campground on Highway 26.
The scenery surrounding the campground alternates between thick Ponderosa pine forests and grassy meadows, though shortly beyond the campground the road descends into lower-elevation, arid canyon lands. One of the most unique geologic features of the Ochoco National Forest is the 'thunder egg,' Oregon's official state rock. Thunder eggs are small, colorful, round volcanic rocks similar to geodes that have been exposed over time. The U.S. Forest Service has designated specific sites for rock hounding.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is less than an hour away. Hike amongst the Painted Hills and famed fossils, take a journey through time at the museum at Sheep Rock or picnic beneath the beautiful mountain scenery. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
$50 / night
Located just off of the sleepy John Day Highway, this campground offers 8 primitive campsites and an unimproved boat launch accessing the John Day River. The ancient river canyon weaves through the area providing spectacular views with ever-changing light and shadows in the early morning and late evening hours. A picturesque grove of ponderosa pine trees lines a section of the riverbank opposite the campground and the site itself has a large, solitary pine prominently situated. The surrounding layer cake geology is exposed in various peekaboo angles from the campground.
Open year-round Six drive-in campsites; two walk-to campsites. All campsites are available on a first come, first served basis; no reservations are available. Two wheelchair accessible vault toilets. No utility hookups or potable water are available No garbage service - please pack out your trash An annual fire closure is in effect from June 1 through October 15. Prohibited acts include building, igniting, maintaining, attending, using, tending, or being within 20 feet of a campfire, charcoal fire, or any other type of open flame; smoking, except while in non-public buildings, closed vehicles, in boats on the water, or while standing in the water.
Although located along State highway 19 the sights and sounds of the John Day River dominate over any road noise making it easy to forget the highway is even there. Bring a book as there's no cell phone coverage here.
For a rustic overnight stay deep in eastern Oregon, let your tires roll past the Painted Hills-one of Oregon’s Seven Wonders-and drive deep into John Day River Territory to the Priest Hole Recreation Site. Although primitive, camping here lands you in the middle of the Wild and Scenic John Day River, designated for scenery, recreation, fish, wildlife, and geologic values. Camping is allowed everywhere, including on the gravel bar northeast of Priest Hole, where you sleep to the gurgle of the river and stepping out of your tent or trailer lands your foot in the water. Know Before You Go: Open YEAR ROUND but the rough road can make access difficult in winter. ACCESSIBILITY is primitive and not easily accessible for people with disabilities. NO FEES for camping or floating the one-mile section around Priest Hole. There is one toilet; NO potable water, trash cans or campsite amenities. PETS ARE ALLOWED under owner control. Watch for rattlesnakes. HUNTING/FISHING LICENSES ARE REQUIRED. Fire restrictions run June 1 – September 30 (liquid gas or propane only). Point of Interest: Priest Hole is a local favorite for fishing and swimming. Stopping here is a natural part of a visit to the Painted Hills, Sutton Mountain Back Country Byway and eastern Oregon! Priest Hole Brochure Explore Oregon Recreation: Priest Hole ADA Access: Priest Hole Recreation Site is primitive and not easily accessible for people with disabilities.
$10 / night
Dispersed camping is allowed on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS) lands without a permit, but it is recommended that campers obtain a map that shows current property boundaries. Please contact the BLM , (541) 573-4400 or (541) 416-6700, or the USFS, (541) 575-3000 or (541) 416-6500, for more information. While camping is not allowed within the three units of the monument, there are many nearby campgrounds. Some have full service amenities, some are quiet and remote, some are in the forest, and some are right on the John Day River.
Wheeler County Fairgrounds, located in the heart of Fossil, hosts the Wheeler County Fair during the first week of August and several other events throughout the year. The Isobel Edwards Hall is offered for rent for meetings, reunions, parties, and other special events. Adjacent to the fairgrounds is a 12 space RV park with full hook-ups, as well as restroom and shower facilities.
Ranger
Stayed 3 nights and had a great time rafting on the river. Lots of options for RV and tent camping. Group sites are available (3). Restrooms could use an update but functional. All camp staff hosts are helpful and friendly. Will come back again. This campground is popular and books up quickly.
Guide
Arrived afternoon on Labor Day to find an empty campground. Sites are large, but not very level for an RV.
ScoutOverall experience was great…. with a caveat. It’s a small camping park, sites are small and close to each other. However the park is clean and well maintained. Our only issue is that our first night, at about 2am, I was woken up by footsteps outside our trailer window. I looked out to see we hat appeared to be a younger adult male dressed in all black who pulled the coolers and chairs out from under our trailer and pulled two booze bottles out of the cooler and had them on the picnic table getting ready to take them. I opened the door and scared him into running by yelling at him. This is my first time, in 40+ years camping that I’ve had anything like this happen. So at 2:15 this morning, I was outside hauling all of our gear into the trailer. Joke was on him though, the bottles were filled with water to freeze and use as ice. Just beware, this is a nice little park, but don’t leave your valuables out overnight.
We reported it to the office, who told us they’ve been having the issue recently, that they think it’s local teens, but their hands were being tied by local police on how to catch the thieves. I called local non emergency and reported the incident to them in hopes they might step up patrols or something.
Traveler
Loved this spot. Across the river we watched wild horses. In the river there were birds. During the day rafters come down.
No water available unless you boil river water.
The road down was STEEP! I really overheated my motorhome breaks. Plus a scary, low and narrow tunnel at the bottom.
Scout
This place is beautiful! Everything perfectly cared for@
Guide
Antelope is a strange and beautiful little place. Part ghost town, part living community, it is often a welcome oasis on the Oregon Outback cycling trail. The path north out of Prineville is a beautiful ascent-descent of the Ochoco Mountains, which is pretty exhausting. If weather is a factor (we arrived in cold, wet and punishing wind) Antelope is a much better place to camp than Shaniko which is 8 miles up on a plateau.
The RV Park is a work in progress. We arrived without a reservation and were given a very nice spot to camp behind an old diner. Some small a-frame cabins are available with more being built, and a few spots to park campers with sewer dump and 30 amp hookups.
Overall I give this campground an outstanding rating. Hospitable, well-equipped, well-situated… great spot.
ScoutThis place is a pure gem. Heaven on earth. Make sure to take the road to or from Shiniko to see the view.
Guide
In the lower deschutes area, maupin is a busy spot. Oasis is straightforward, no frills, and just a few spots. They have electronic fee machine which was convenient.
Guide
I arrived midday, so I spent the hottest part of the day in my shade tent reading and then in the evening watched the fire under the stars in my hammock. very peaceful, only saw one car drive by the whole time
Guide
Not sure what some people are complaining about. This small four site RV “Park” located in a public park in the town of Mitchell, Oregon is perfect if wanting to visit John Day National Monument. Very close to the painted hills and the road to Fossil. For only $25 with electric and water, it's a steal, especially after boon-docking for a few days. Close to a small store that carries a lot of stuff. Plus the Tiger Town Brewing—all any camper needs. Right ? Would definitely stay here again.
Guide
This is not a fancy place, but it is clean, well tended, quiet and beautiful. After 10 hours driving, I just wanted a quiet place to sleep. This was exactly that. I paid $35 for a pull through and a 30amp hookup for my teardrop. There are bathrooms which are immaculately clean. All in all, this place is a great find.
TravelerStayed here one night. Very windy and very desolate. We were the only ones here. The coordinates take you to a parking lot that does not allow overnight, but you go right past it and across a cattle grade and the campsite is on your right.
Traveler
Mostly gravel road, high clearance is not necessary but there are some pretty big holes in the road, made it in a Toyota Corolla just fine but have gone in larger vehicles and tends to be a little less risky.
Not a ton of camping spots near the water but plenty of open spaces elsewhere. Pretty spaced out if you choose the right spot.
Scout
The sites are tucked in among Ponderosa pines & some sites are spacious. There’s occasional highway noise during the day, but fairly quiet at night. Verizon was available at times with a booster.
GuideGetting to camp you drive into a “canyon”, switch backs most of the way down. The road is bumpy but does not require 4WD or high clearance. Once you get to the bottom of the canyon, the road will pass by a vaulted toilet. You continue down the road and a bunch of campsites pop up that line the river. Great space for big groups, dog friendly, all around great hang!
Guide
6 long level spots on the John Day. 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. Across the way you could see the seasonal waterfall
Guide
I would recommend a rig with lots of ground clearance. The main gravel roads have been recently maintained but the last bit has deep ruts and there are rocky areas. Our trailer had better clearance than our truck and we bumped a few rocks getting into our spot. There are a few less rocky areas, but they seem to get taken first. More people in the off-season than I expected for such a remote area. You need to use a fire pan for fires when allowed, so be sure to bring one. It was our first time using a fire pan but it was better than using the ground as they are designed to allow perfect air flow.
GuideBasic no frills campground. Right on the river. Good for fishing or rafting. Gravel parking. No shade. Pit toilets, garbage, picnic tables and fire pits.
RangerWe had a great day camping and enjoying the river. A few spots to hike. Several other camping opportunities on the Deshutes byway as well. I would return. Plenty of opportunities for fly fishing in the area as well. Lots of falls nearby.
GuideIncredible little spot. We pulled in around an hour before sunset and found a beautiful site right on the river. Doesn’t look like there are a ton of spots so make sure to get there during daylight to be safe. It was super quiet and peaceful with no noise other than the river roaring which provided a great nights sleep!
The views are also stunning both at night and in the sunlight!
We made it through all the gravel roads fine (about 7 miles total) with our van pulling a 21ft travel trailer. Just go slow and you’ll be fine!
There is one bathroom available, but we didn’t use it.
Traveler
Really good spot to get off the grid while still having most amenities. Stayed here for a few days and loved it. About 20 miles of gravel road will take you here and some small Rockwall to semi-worry about. Other than that most people you'll bump into are fisherman or overlanding.
Traveler
Pretty amazing State Park, lucked on weather. Trails on either side are both nice cruisers on bikes - green runs, but can make them more work, and the views are sublime.  The park amenities were top-notch, including a nice windbreak. Stars at night were spectacular.
Traveler
Stayed for one night, most of the sites are far enough away that it didn’t feel crowded with three other parties there, but a couple of the sites are close enough to be good for a group. Our site had a slight slant so we needed a couple of leveling blocks. Clean toilet when we were there.
Scout
It’s clean, comfortable and cozy. Like staying at a good friend or family members’ house .
Guide
This place is nice for it's location-far away from pretty much everything. It's quiet and shaded and has a few good amenities like bathrooms, showers, park, and fishing pond. A great place to relax.
Travelercampsites were super easy to find & best of all..free! it was SO quiet out there, so lovely. just a little drive even from the furthest most campsite to all of the little trails around the painted hills! super lovely place to stay the night if you’re just passing through! :)
GuideThe road into the hole is a sketchy single lane with large ruts. A high clearance vehicle is a must. We pulled a 28 ft Travel trailer down in early June. The place was not crowded at all. We probably should not have done that, We got lucky that we did not meet anyone on the road.
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.
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 camping is available near Fossil, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Fossil, OR offers a wide range of camping options, with 89 campgrounds and RV parks near Fossil, OR and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Fossil, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Fossil, OR is BLM John Day River - Priest Hole with a 4.2-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fossil, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Fossil, OR.
What parks are near Fossil, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near Fossil, OR that allow camping, notably Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland and Central Oregon.
