Camping spots near Glendale, Oregon sit in hilly, forested terrain between 900-1,400 feet elevation. Temperatures typically run 5-10 degrees cooler than nearby cities like Grants Pass, creating comfortable summer camping conditions. The region features a mix of pine and oak woodlands with several creeks and ponds for recreation.
What to do
Disc golf course access: Wolf Creek Park offers a disc golf course with multiple cages scattered throughout the campground. "I like this place, especially if you have kids. They have a park in the middle of the campground, and a Baseball field," noted camper Stephen T. about Wolf Creek Park.
River activities: The Rogue River provides swimming and fishing opportunities at several campgrounds. "We drove in and did not need a reservation, but reservations are available 3 days in advance," explains a camper about Indian Mary Park, which offers river access for boating and swimming. One visitor mentioned, "Sweet place on the Rogue River to camp and play disc golf."
Casino entertainment: For those seeking evening entertainment, Seven Feathers Casino offers a complete contrast to wilderness camping. A reviewer of the nearby Seven Feathers RV Resort noted, "Get a tripe discount when reserving your spot online, with AARP card, and Player card." The resort provides shuttle service to the casino.
What campers like
Cooler temperatures: The higher elevation near Glendale creates noticeably cooler conditions compared to valley areas. One camper at Wolf Creek Park appreciated that "We had a nice time at this campground. There was a playground our toddler enjoyed, and we were very grateful it was about 20 degrees cooler than grants pass which was 100 degrees at 6pm."
Secluded pond camping: Burma Pond offers a quiet alternative to the busier established campgrounds. A camper described the experience: "Quiet spot not far from I5. No noise at all, just the wind in the trees and bullfrogs. There are defined spots with a vault toilet next door." Visitors appreciate the natural setting at Burma Pond BLM.
Free overnight options: Budget-conscious travelers appreciate the free overnight options. "Free parking lot. Five day limit," said one visitor about the dry camping area at Seven Feathers Casino. Another camper noted, "We pulled in at 10pm and couldn't find the Dry camping spot. We did find 10+ rvs parked in the rv parking lot with slides out and even awnings."
What you should know
Road conditions: The access roads to dispersed camping can be challenging. For Burma Pond, a camper warned, "Quite a few generally easily dodge-able potholes. Camp sites are very tightly packed and close together. If your vehicle isn't ready for hills or your tires aren't great I would not recommend."
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds in the area require reservations, particularly during summer. At Sunny Valley Campground, a staff member noted, "Thank you for joining us at Sunny Valley Campground. If you need any help during your stay please reach out to us via telephone."
Highway noise levels: Traffic noise from Interstate 5 affects several campgrounds. One visitor to Charles V. Stanton Park commented, "I would give this spot five stars if it wasn't right off the freeway. Our ideal spot would be more remote but my family doesn't mind the white noise."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Kids enjoy swimming areas at several campgrounds. "We were here for a quick overnight in our 24' travel trailer. The place is very nice with tent, cabin, and RV sites. Our site was partial HU but they do have full HU sites," wrote a visitor to Sunny Valley Campground, which offers a swimming pool.
Playground facilities: Several campgrounds offer playgrounds for children. A visitor to Charles V. Stanton County Park observed, "Clean, bathrooms, free showers, river access, horseshoes, playground and swings!" Another camper noted, "We had the best time in this quit little spot along the river."
Educational activities: Some parks offer ranger programs during summer months. At Valley of the Rogue State Park, visitors mention scheduled activities: "The park has a lot of nice features, including the river and hiking trails, it also has a kids program, campfire nights and the camp hosts are very helpful."
Tips from RVers
Level sites: Finding level spots matters for RV campers. At Valley of the Rogue State Park, a camper noted, "Very clean and big rig friendly. I have a 38' fifth wheel and it was no problem!" Another visitor mentioned, "Sites were big enough for our 25 ft travel trailer and Ford F-150 extended bed 4 door."
Hook-up availability: Different campgrounds offer varying levels of hookups. A visitor to Wolf Creek Park advised, "Nice flat sites would be good for small rigs, you can put your tent behind or next to the rv spot/table because the tent stakes aren't gonna go in on the main part of the pad."
Dump station access: Some campgrounds lack dump stations. About Charles V. Stanton Park, a reviewer mentioned, "There are full hook up sites ($29/night) and dry camping sites ($19/night). We were only 1 of 3 campers here." Dumping may require travel to nearby facilities.
