Best Tent Camping near Grants Pass, OR

What a fantastic lake! Secluded in the mountain back country of the Southern Oregon area - not far from Medford / Grants Pass / Siskiyou National Forest / Crater Lake

Great boating lake for water sports, good fishing, excellent hiking and great campsites and in nearby campgrounds not listed on The Dyrt yet, you can get some really secluded sites that are just beautiful... but do not expect more than an outhouse and a spigot, a picnic table (maybe a bear box?) and fire-ring- which to me is PHENOMENAL camping. Fresh water, a bathroom and nature. Works!

The Willow Lake County Park offers more amenities though and great wilderness. Its a beautiful little gem and gets amazing weather- from warm and sunny to random rainy thunderstorms that do not last long. Truly God-sent sunsets and sunrises.

Great place to make some wonderful memories with streams, creeks, the lake, the forested areas, trails, canyons, fishing, hiking, canoeing and more.

Wile road tripping to oregon from Los Angeles, we stopped here for the night. Relatively affordable, very clean, and not busy (at least while we were there). You can walk down to the river to fish, where there were also RVs camping on the beach. Tent camping is limited to very few sites but it looked like there was plenty of rv space. We set up for the night at the tent sites where we had a nice dinner with a beautiful night sky above us. The river is a good fishing spot, according to some local fisherman we met in the morning following our stay. There were bathrooms but they were locked. We had good service though. The site we chose wasn't particularly hidden or private, so anyone driving in or out of the road to the river, whether that's someone launching a boat or a ranger checking fishing licenses, they will have a full view of your entire site, something to consider if you require privacy.

At highway 66 near Ashland this park has both RV and tent sites. The RV sites are full/partial hook up (30 amp only) and dry camping. Note though that even if you pay for partial or dry you will still need to pay $10/dump your tanks. We opted for just full hook ups here. The tent sites are near the creek.

There was some work being done that appear to be some upgrades. There is a nice pool area, a pond and the creek. The sites are level with picnic tables and fire pits. There are bathrooms, free hot showers, laundry, dog run, playground and store. Also available is propane ($3.50/gallon) book exchange and ice. Wifi was fast and free.

The road noise is noticeable but not too bad. Some of the spots can be close but for a night it wasn't bad. Pets are allowed on leash only but there were a couple of loose dogs running around so be aware. 

NOTE: Google tells you to turn on the street (Neil Creek Rd) just after the park so if you have a big rig then turning around could be difficult. Keep an eye out for the campground and turn into it directly from the main road instead.

All the office and maintenance staff were friendly and helpful and neighbors were friendly and quiet.  We didn't get the tweaker vibe mentioned in some previous reviews. This place is cute - maybe there are new owners (who changed the name from Glenyan to Ashland Creekside, maybe?) who are trying to turn things around.

Good cell service ATT, Verizon and TMobile.

This county park just outside of Grants Pass along the Rogue River is a good overnighter because it is convenient and inexpensive. 

It’s $20/night for the tent/ non-hookup sites, $25 for water and electric (30 and 50 amp), and $30 for full hookup. Group camp is $60 and there’s a $5 per add’l vehicle fee. 

There’s also a yurt but we didn’t see a cost listed for it. 

The park also has FREE hot showers (trick to turn hot water on is to turn the old coin op knob). There is a boat ramp, dog park, and kid park adjacent to camping area. Park takes cash payments at kiosk near the entrance. 

The place seems to be a local’s camp as some sites looked more like homeless camps with tarps and and array of stuff laying about. We did not feel unsafe here and everyone minded their own business, were quiet and kept to themselves. The hosts do make frequent rounds throughout the park and offer firewood for sale at $5 for 10 pieces of wood. 

We stayed in our 26ft RV in the tent area as it was cheaper and less crowded and we backed up near the river. There is a lot of road noise especially from the road across the river. The roadway within the park is paved and sites are paved or gravel with grass surrounding. All sites are fairly level and have plenty of room. More trees in the hook up areas; the tent areas had few trees and was more open. Picnic tables and fire pits also at every site. We would stay here again if traveling through and needed a place for the night. We stayed here 2 nights during a weekend while waiting for an appointment in Grants Pass. 

There are dumpsters here as well as trash bins throughout the campground, but no recycling. 

Walkup sites available for that night only, or you can make online reservations 3 days in advance. 

Good cell reception with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

Right off of Interstate 5 near the Seven Feathers Casino is this nice little campground, but you have to put up with some road noise. It is a good place to stay for a night while traveling through.

There are full hook up sites ($29/night) and dry camping sites ($19/night). We were only 1 of 3 campers here. Reservations are accepted though not necessary. The website states no first come first served but we just came and got a spot and the host came by and there was no problem.  The info board at the campground said that walk up sites are available for that night only if the spot isn't reserved.

There are free hot showers, bathroom, water spigots and fountains throughout, garbage (no recycling), and playground. It is well shaded and sites are paved and include picnic tables and fire pits. There is no wifi or firewood for sale.  Sites are paved and pretty level.

Good cell service from ATT, Verizon and TMobile.

Now branded as Smoke on the Water, the former Lake Selmac Resort is one of Oregon's first cannabis-friendly campgrounds. The tent camping area is shaded by huge, old pines and firs, keeping your tent fairly pleasant even on a hot day. There are electrical hookups and some limited RV spots, as well as picnic tables and fire rings. Along one side is a fence separating the campground from a neighboring property.

The whole campground is right across the main road from Lake Selmac. There is some traffic noise at night, but very little. This is a small town and the road isn't very busy late. You're more likely to hear the wild turkeys calling or a bullfrog down by the lake. There's a nice dock and plenty of toys to enjoy the water. You can take out a paddleboat, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, or inner tubes. You can also just sit on the shore or fish.

There's also a large lawn area at the campground that is great for larger gatherings, as is the thee sided barn on the property. While basic, the restrooms are clean and accessible with showers. There's also laundry facilities and a general store on site. The signs say no alcohol is allowed, only cannabis, but they do sell beer in the general store along with food and other basic supplies. If there's something you need that the store doesn't have, town isn't far away. Eventually the owners intend to have a dispensary on site, too, though right now you'll have to plan ahead.

Despite those private campground perks, this isn't a hazy party spot, however. Tou don't have to partake to feel welcome or have a positive experience here. Everyone seems nice and respectful, and the campground host makes the rounds and keeps up with chores like taking out the trash on the regular. In addition to the campground host, the owner is sometimes on site as well in the living area behind the general store. The hospitality is genuine and you can tell that management really cares about making Smoke on the Water as inviting, comfortable, and pleasant as possible.

------- Product Review -------

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - on this trip I got to test out the OOFOS Women's OOmg Black and Black Shoe.

This is one of OOFOS's first closed-toe offerings, providing the same support from their proprietary sole design and foam recipe as their sport slide sandals and clogs. The OOmg shoe upper is a breathable mesh sock, not unlike water shoes, but softer. The sole is thick enough that you don't feel the ground beneath you, yet somehow is also soft enough to sink into, all while feeling supported. I appreciate the way the sole encourages a heel-strike gait and takes the pressure off my toes. I have very high arches and experience frequent foot pain after walking and hiking. OOFOS felt like they were realigning my feet and I did feel a lot of relief after trying them all weekend.

While OOFOS are intended as a "recovery shoe" you slip on after you're done working out in your sneakers, I found they work really well as an all around leisure shoe. I wore them all weekend while I was camping, and they remained ultra comfortable even in very hot weather that caused my feet and legs to swell up. They were breathable, provided good traction, and stayed aligned with my feet despite plenty of moving around on my part and experiencing different temperatures throughout the day.

Since this first weekend trying OOFOS at Lake Selmac, I've worn my OOmg around town to run weekend errands, on a hike to the top of Spencer Butte in Eugene (quite the uphill slog), to ease foot pain after a day in heels, during a long day in the car without cruise control. In every setting they've remained comfortable, supportive, and don't seem to wear down even after hours of my weight pressing into the foam. They clean up easily and seem really durable. They lack some of the traction and control sneakers or hiking boots would on steep descents, but are perfectly adequate for casual tromping around.

The only downside I can find with my OOFOS OOmg is that the heel is made of a harder rubber substance than the mesh upper or foam sole. I assume this is to help give the shoe some structure and keep your foot where it needs to be. If you're like me, however, and sometimes put your shoes on in a hurry and step on the heel and sort of slip on your shoes like they're clogs, you might mash down that hard material and either wrinkle it or find it doesn't bounce back. If you smoosh it too much, it could kind of get stuck in a way that rubs uncomfortably or blisters a bit. So always be sure to tug the heel part of your OOmg up all the way and finish putting on your shoes so they stay the right shape.

Overall, I'm really happy to have a pair of OOFOS in my closet and I'm definitely bringing them on all my camping trips. They're so lightweight they go right in my pack and I don't have to worry about my feet getting tired of my one pair of hiking boots or sneakers. These are perfect for when you need to get up and poke the fire real quick and don't want to shove your feet back into a more fitted pair of lace-up shoes that you were already wearing all day.