Campgrounds in the Grants Pass area extend from Gold Hill to Merlin, spanning elevations from 837 to 1,050 feet along the Rogue River corridor. Most sites remain accessible year-round despite seasonal temperature variations from winter lows near 30°F to summer highs exceeding 90°F. Several campgrounds offer direct river access points suitable for rafting, fishing, and swimming.
What to do
Hiking trails: Valley of the Rogue State Park Campground provides access to riverside paths and a greenway trail system. "Each day we either hiked or biked the local trails. The bike trail goes on for many miles and is quite enjoyable. You can bike into the nearby towns while staying on a safe trail," notes Charlotte L.
Swimming holes: Grants Pass KOA features a natural swimming area with waterfall. "Hiked down to creek with deep pools and swam," shares one camper, while another mentions it has "a really nice swimming hole" that makes it stand out from other KOAs.
Disc golf course: Indian Mary Park offers a disc golf course along with other outdoor activities. "Sweet place on the Rogue River to camp and play disc golf. Large grassy area with volleyball court, too," reports Sue M. The park provides disc golf equipment available for checkout at no additional cost.
What campers like
Riverside sites: Many campsites at Riverpark RV Resort offer direct river frontage. "About 1/3 of the campsites are adjacent to the Rogue river and all of the others have a view of the river," explains Jeff M. Another camper notes, "If you can get a site right on the river, it feels like you have much more room."
Clean facilities: Griffin Park maintains well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. "Showers are super nice and clean, good pressure and hot. Campground is clean and well maintained," notes Laura M. Another reviewer adds, "Very clean park" with "roomy spots."
Quiet atmosphere: Some parks offer peaceful settings despite proximity to town. "We stayed here for a night in May and had a quiet and pleasant time. The layout of this campground is nice, with 2 RV loops and a tent/dry camping area by the water," according to a visitor at Griffin Park.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Sunny Valley Campground operates only from March through October. The campground offers 51 sites that accommodate tents, RVs and cabins, but closes during winter months.
Highway noise: Valley of the Rogue State Park experiences some traffic noise due to its location. "The only reason I'm giving it four stars is because it's near the interstate and you can hear the vehicles going by at night," explains Diesel K. Another camper notes, "The river noise somewhat drowned out the traffic noise."
Cash payment: Several county parks require cash payment for site fees. Indian Mary Park, Griffin Park, and Whitehorse County Park all use self-pay kiosks that don't accept credit cards. As one camper notes, "Payment is cash only."
Tips for camping with families
Dog parks: Several pet-friendly options provide dedicated off-leash areas. "Fenced off leash dog park, bike trails, fishing, clean bathrooms and showers, tent and yurt camping and more!" explains Kelly N. about Valley of the Rogue State Park Campground.
Playground access: Whitehorse County Park provides facilities for children. One camper describes it as a "Great family park, river access for boating and fishing," while another specifically mentions it's a "Clean and friendly awesome place for kids."
Water activities: Many campgrounds offer safe swimming areas for families with children. "The water was flowing fairly quickly due to the high snowfall this year, but there was a great rocked-off area just down from our campsite where you could get into the water and wade around without the fear of your dog or child getting swept away," notes a camper at Valley of the Rogue State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Check site conditions before setting up. At Whitehorse County Park, "Sites are so unlevel that I don't think our leveling blocks would have made a dent," warns one RVer. Consider requesting specific sites when making reservations.
Big rig access: Some parks accommodate larger vehicles despite tight layouts. "Very clean and big rig friendly. I have a 38' fifth wheel and it was no problem!" shares Mike G. about Valley of the Rogue State Park Campground.
Sewer connections: Position matters for easy hookups. At Indian Mary Park, "The sewer hole is the smallest we've seen... Also the hole is set back pretty far, and we had to back up the RV in order to reach it," explains an RVer who stayed in mid-May.
