Best Tent Camping near Fossil, OR

We were the only ones camping here for a night in October 2020. Sites are OK, some pull-throughs, some tent sites, too. Each site has a fire ring, picnic table. Pit toilets were dirty. Good location outside Fossil but kind of expensive at $20 for no hookups and dirty toilets, plus it’s right next to road so there’s some road noise.

The tent camp runs along a river which is nice and there is grass and each site has a table. The problem is they pack the campground like sardines and only have one facility at one end of the campground.

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.

great campsites and frIendly host. $13 a night, tent sites were super dusty but not much of the dust came with us. The sites are visually stunning with all the Pondarosa’s (we’re not used to big trees) 10/10

I was very disappointed with this camp site. The one positive note is that there are a few campsites further away from the water so you're not so crowded. The campsites near the lake are tent sites with a parking area. Unfortunately, there were rvs parked in the parking area which took up most of the parking space. The tent sites were extremely close to each other and the water so I would image, come evening the mosquitoes would be awful! If you go further into the campsites area you will find a dirt road and a few more campsites near the water. Very tight and looks difficult to get an rv in, but there was a small one parked there. There was another site that looked like it had long term residence with trash and alcohol bottles spread out around their place. We found a nice place to wade our feet in the water and play fetch with the puppers. It smelled awful and wasn't really the ideal wading water but we made it work. Unfortunately, when we got out of the water we found leeches attached to our feet. So I would say this water isn't really meant for swimming and more for fishing and boating/floating. Then while we were cleaning our selves of the leeches, someone asked if they could have our spot since we were only day visiting. Made it awkward and felt like we had to leave.

Camp ground is high up over 4700 feet so even in the summer it tends to get a little chilly at night but not bad.

This is a medium busy campground right on the maon road, but its never too noisy after dark.

The place is very clean and the vault toilets well looked after and not stinky!

The spaces are a good size and the ones for tent camping are at the back of the loop.

Not much trails but you can find something to do. 

One of my best nights camping was ip here. During the week late summer, Huge full moon, then the coyotes began to yip/howl..magnificent

First off, I had a great time staying here. Before I arrived I had some ideas of what my stay would be like and while I did have a nice stay, it was not exactly the trip I had expected. I am a female in my early twenties and was tent camping solo for the first time. I grew up camping with my family so I am experienced but this was my first time camping completely alone. When I planned my trip I assumed this was a spot where other travelers and campers would stay so I was hoping that the presence of other people would provide some comfort to counter the fact that I was camping alone. When I arrived there were people in the day use area but as I drove back to where people would normally camp there was nobody in sight. As the evening came I realized there was not going to be any other campers for miles. Needless to say I made it through the night just fine with no emergencies but I was so nervous the whole time that I had a very restless sleep with my hand practically on my bear spray all night.

I woke up the next morning, went on a beautiful hike with some amazing views and continued on my road trip. Overall the location is great, I would camp here again if I were with other people or if I were staying in a converted van or camper of some sort. But being a solo, young, female tent camper in this location without any other campers around for miles was a little too scary for my taste.

We were so glad we kept driving down this road until the very end. Along this road (Lower Deschutes Access Road- which is pretty bumpy but we did fine with our camper) you will pass several other campgrounds- Twin Springs, Jones Canyon, Beavertail Recreation Site, Rattlesnake Canyon- and then at the very end of the road, you will find Macks Canyon Recreation Site. 

It was fairly empty when we arrived and we got an awesome site along the river, site 11. The view of the river was amazing and we watched lots of fishing boats and rafting boats go by. There is also a railroad track across the river and it was fun to watch the trains go by. No AT&T phone service here. 

The only negative is that it can get super windy. At one point we were frantically trying to get our awning down from the Cricket and things were flying everywhere. The wind lasted about an hour and then things calmed down again. 

From the end of the Lower Deschutes Access Road just above the campground, you can hike along the old railway line. Again, amazing views of the Deschutes and the canyon. We did about 5 miles road trip but you could go further.

One of my new favorite places to camp in Oregon!

As other reviewers stated, this campground is free, and secluded, but maintained. We were looking for a spot around Painted Hills/John Day Fossil Beds/John Day, and this worked out as we pulled into the last spot available (6 total). There were a couple RVs and trailers and a few tents. Road to get to the campground was paved, but watch out for free roaming cows! There was a trail and creek nearby with a trough to fill up water - I’d recommend filtering before drinking. There are picnic tables and rock fire rings, and one vault toilet. Not much else to it, but like I said, FREE and relatively clean.

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.

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!

Service Creek Campground is a tiny little spot off the side of the road at a bend in the John Day River, and your tent will not be far from either the river or the highway. Just six river-side campsites with firepits and picnic tables and a reasonably new vault toilet.

Basically car camping. You've got to haul your stuff maybe 100 yards to the most distant sites, but you can always see your car. And you can always hear the highway, though you tell yourself it's the gentle sound of the river. Beautiful hills to look at and the fossil beds and painted hills are an easy drive from here. Probably a fine place to camp if you came for those things. Maybe not worth a long drive if you're just looking for riverside camping.

We had three dads and three 10 year old boys and the river provided plenty of entertainment. A few trees gave hammock options and our metal detector allowed the boys to find a lot of old junk just under the surface dirt of the campsite. Looks like there's an unimproved boat launch too (read: rocky beach).

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. Water was available if you could jockey your rig to access it. Sites also weren't level (at all) and were generally dirty. Could have used a good trash pick up. Pluses were that it was super quiet and big, private sites. Despite the price would highly recommend it.

It was a nice campground. Well kept. Had bundles of firewood available. Every spot has a table, a ring, and garbage cans are all over the park for convenience. The vault toilets were clean and smelled pleasant (odd I know). There was no one else in the whole park the time we were there. 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.

I'm on a road trip of the John Day Fossil Bed Units. I stopped in Moro, OR for a couple of days to resupply before heading to Cottonwood Canyon State Park. This is another small town, fairgrounds campground, but it's awesome. Quiet, clean with a great open, off leash area for dogs and full hookups. At the time of the writing they also have an awesome host! There aren't many supply options in town so if you need major groceries, go to The Dalles, propane go to Wasco, gas go to Biggs or the Dalles.....you get the picture. Moro also has a must see museum.

Date Stayed: July 9th& 10th 2019 Campsite:#8 needed 3 inch left side lift to level Price:$13 no electricity Dump Station: No Altitude: 4730 ft Camp Host: Caroline was attentive and very friendly. She collected and handed out free firewood that had been left behind by other campers. Or you could buy forest service wood for$6. Ease of Access: Right off hwy 26, our 28 ft travel trailer easily fit with room to spare. Easily circled campground once to find a space. Weather: Days sunny low 80's nights upper 50's Noise: Could hear occasional vehicle climbing hwy 26 grade from the rest stop. Activities: Geocaching cache three within a couple of miles. John Day Fossil Monument 30 minute drive away. Wife and I enjoyed the campground, sites were surrounded by pines.