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Best Campgrounds near John Day, OR

222 Reviews

Several national forests surround John Day, Oregon, giving campers plenty of spots to set up tents or park RVs. MalheurKristopher-Diana P Campground sits within Malheur National Forest, with basic sites that work well for people wanting quiet. Olive Lake Campground in Umatilla National Forest has good fishing and trails that start right from the camping area. You'll likely see deer and other wildlife around John Day's camping areas, so keep your food locked up tight. Late spring and early fall typically have the best camping weather in this part of Oregon. Summer can get pretty hot, which makes camping near Olive Lake's water a good choice during those months. If you camp during winter, bring serious cold-weather gear as temperatures drop significantly. The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument makes a worthwhile day trip from any local campground. Hiking options near John Day range from flat, easy trails to steep climbs that take all day. The camping around John Day works for both beginners and people who've been camping for years.

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Best Camping Sites Near John Day, Oregon (119)

    1. Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site Campground

    27 Reviews
    Mount Vernon, OR
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 932-4453

    $26 - $34 / night

    "This is the Only State Park Near John Day!

    You CANNOT make reservations for the campsites in this park. Only the Teepees are reservable."

    "We stayed at Clyde Holliday for one night on the way to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. "

    2. Grant County RV Park

    8 Reviews
    John Day, OR
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 575-1900

    $15 / night

    "Comfortable park near the river in John Day for and overnight stop over."

    "After a full day, driving, we were having trouble finding a place to stay near John Day, Oregon. All of the very few campgrounds available we’re already full."

    3. Strawberry Campground

    6 Reviews
    Prairie City, OR
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 820-3311

    "Off the beaten path, but we'll worth it! Dropped 20 degrees from the hot valley floor. Around 8 spots, first come, but a few other spots on the way up, for dispersed."

    "Nice sites with lots of separation and easy access to a trailhead. Multiple vault toilets available as well as water taps that I don’t think are potable but good enough to rinse dishes."

    4. Magone Lake Campground

    3 Reviews
    John Day, OR
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 820-3800

    $25 - $60 / night

    "The Magone Lake campground was great! It is a nice sized lake and campground but not overwhelming or too busy."

    "Great lake for swimming, paddling and walking. Ponderosa forest, osprey hunting every evening and resident beavers."

    5. Starr

    4 Reviews
    Seneca, OR
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 575-3000

    "Nice area close to the road. Plenty of room for my small trailer. Though it was close to the road it wasn’t very noisy. I camped in site 9 so 1/4 mile away from the road. Only issue last role of TP."

    "great location. sites 1-6 are pretty close to the main road, but tidy little sites, a pit toilet. no running water."

    6. Victorian Lane Bed & Breakfast

    1 Review
    John Day, OR
    2 miles
    Website

    $159 / night

    "They are nestled in the heart of the Eastern Oregon countryside - perfectly located for a secluded getaway!"

    7. Fawn Spring Dispersed Camping

    3 Reviews
    John Day, OR
    9 miles

    "Good little tucked away site with spring water, fire pits and lots of empty space for my truck. Make sure to stop at the sign, we went about 2-3 extra miles looking before we came back lol"

    "It’s a bit of an uphill drive off 15, but it’s a pretty good gravel road. There was a fair amount of litter from what looked like a hunting group when we arrived, but we took it with us."

    8. Depot Park

    3 Reviews
    Prairie City, OR
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 820-3605

    9. Wickiup

    2 Reviews
    Seneca, OR
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 575-3000

    $6 - $9 / night

    10. John Day Industrial Park Campsites

    1 Review
    John Day, OR
    1 mile
    +1 (541) 575-0028
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Recent Camping Photos near John Day, OR

38 Photos of 119 John Day Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near John Day, OR

222 Reviews of 119 John Day Campgrounds

  • D
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Barnhouse Campground

    Great sites

    Great large sites, three other sites occupied. Ground is flat and soft enough to easily pitch a tent. AT&T cell phone coverage pretty decent. T-mobile you may receive messages but won’t load websites.

    M

    Place feels safe except for the occasional shot in the distance from hunters. Fire-ban in effect in August.

    BYO water, pack out your garbage and drop toilet is clean.

  • Lawrence M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Gold Rush RV Park

    Awesome stay, near semi goast town of Sumpter, Or.

    Full hookups. 30/50 amps power. Camp area clean. Large sites.

  • K
    Jul. 18, 2025

    Olive Lake Campground (Or) — Umatilla National Forest

    Nice

    Campgrounds nice, unfortunately a good chunk of the sites are reservation only and you don't have service up there so picking a site when you get there can be hard. The first come first serve sites are nice but some are close together, and some were left in poor condition with food all over the ground. Lake is very peaceful and still, nice to swim in! Overall nice but plan ahead well and go on an off day it was still very full on a Sunday afternoon into Monday

  • Joy M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2025

    Ukiah-Dale Forest State Park and Campground

    Beautiful hidaway

    This is easily accessible from the hwy. Easy to pull into with a trailer. There are several spots by the water (camas creek). We had everything one would need. There are water spouts nearby, the perfect trees for hammock, shade trees, and bathrooms. The onsite staff was super friendly and informative. There were crawdads, fish and even a beaver damn nearby. It was not crowded and the staff said it never gets that full so we easily got a dove without having to worry about reservations

  • Kim G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 14, 2025

    Fish House Inn and RV Campground

    Lovely grassy site near National monument

    We stayed here as we had plans to visit John Day Fossil Beds National Monument the next day. We pulled our class B onto a lovely grassy FHU site. It was right next to the bathrooms but that was ok for us. The hot showers were lovely. The camp host was super nice. We enjoyed sitting outside on a hot evening. There is even a laundry. The only reason for not giving 5 stars, is that the neighbor’s rooster woke us up at about 4:30 am. If you are not a light sleeper you’d be fine here. We’d stay again if we were passing through but may use ear plugs.

  • Les G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 5, 2025

    Grant County RV Park

    Comfortable overnight stop over

    Nice little park with full hookups! Very clean and Green

  • Les G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 5, 2025

    Grant County RV Park

    Very pleasant stop over

    Comfortable park near the river in John Day for and overnight stop over.

  • Just K.
    Jul. 1, 2025

    Ukiah-Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor

    Pretty quiet place to be

    This is a typical roadside campground.  It not only is a campground but a bathroom rest stop on Hwy 395, so there is a small amount of drive through traffic to the restrooms.

    Sites at well set with water and waste water features.  I did see a couple electrical capable sites but I am self contained.  The stream going by has a decent flow but it is mid summer and slowing down.  I did not have a mosquito problem but black jackets and hornets were present.  Found no rattlesnakes, there is a bear a cougar warning sign posted but that the normal for the Blue Mountains.

    Overall a nice little wayside.  I checked online and it said $10.00 per night for no hookup sites, but the price was $22.00 per night when I got there.  I spoke to a Ranger and was advised the $22 was being increase by $12 dollars next year and then another increase above that is being touted by the socialists in Salem. That would bring the site fee for no hookup camping to around $50 to $60 a night.  You might as well go to a motel and save the headache.  

    Overall I had planned on staying six nights, but i paid for three and that was my budget.

  • Bill B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2025

    Grant County RV Park

    SO… tired….

    After a full day, driving, we were having trouble finding a place to stay near John Day, Oregon. All of the very few campgrounds available we’re already full. Even this campground, which is part of the fairgrounds, appeared to be full and it had prior reservations on to remaining Spots. As we were about to leave, the host of the campground caught up with us and said that since we had a short motorhome(24 foot) that there was one spot remaining. The people we dealt with were very friendly and helpful. I think the host realized how tired we were and made a special effort to invite us to stay.

Guide to John Day

Camping near John Day, Oregon, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the scenic trails along the John Day River. One camper mentioned, "Enjoyed the river trail along the John Day river. Perfect to cool off in during the hot summer months," while camping at Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site.
  • Fishing: The area is great for fishing, especially at Unity Lake State Recreation Area. A visitor shared, "The fishing looked great. Another camper offered us freshly caught trout."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for deer and other wildlife. One family at Strawberry Campground noted, "We even got a visit from a few deer every night around dinner time."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A reviewer at Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site said, "Super clean showers and restrooms, dog friendly."
  • Privacy: Many sites offer a sense of seclusion. One camper at Olive Lake Campground remarked, "Most sites are simple turnouts, more suitable for tents. No ATV use so our mobility was limited."
  • Beautiful Scenery: The natural beauty of the area is a big draw. A visitor at Bates State Park mentioned, "The park was uncrowded and felt private nonetheless."

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Olive Lake Campground, do not have electric hookups or showers. A camper noted, "There are lakeside campsites. Some are reservable and others are first come first serve."
  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for mosquitoes, especially in the summer. A camper at Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site warned, "Mosquitoes definitely come out at night and we were tent camping."
  • Road Conditions: Some campgrounds are accessed via rough roads. A visitor at Strawberry Campground mentioned, "The bumpy gravel road might not work for sedan always, but worth a try."

Tips for camping with families

  • Bring Games: Since some campgrounds may not have many kids around, pack games to keep the little ones entertained. A camper at Strawberry Campground suggested, "We needed some fun stuff to do between hikes and outings."
  • Choose Sites Wisely: Look for sites that are away from steep drop-offs, especially if you have young kids. One camper advised, "Keep an eye on kiddos or pick a site farther away from the creek if you’re worried about that."
  • Pack Extra Layers: The weather can be unpredictable, so bring warm clothes. A family noted, "We didn’t realize it was still so chilly at the end of May."

Tips from RVers

  • Check for Hookups: Make sure to choose campgrounds that offer the necessary hookups for your RV. A visitor at Grant County RV Park mentioned, "Spaces were all level and gravel with full hook-ups."
  • Be Mindful of Space: Some RV sites can be close together, so pick your spot carefully. A camper shared, "Difficult to determine which one was ours as the sites are close together with no privacy between them."
  • Quiet Evenings: Many campgrounds are peaceful at night, perfect for unwinding after a day of adventure. A reviewer at Tollbridge Campground said, "The campsites are spread apart and separated by many trees, so our site felt very private."

Camping near John Day, Oregon, offers a unique blend of outdoor fun and relaxation. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds near John Day, Oregon?

For the best camping experience near John Day, consider several well-maintained options. Bates State Park Campground offers exceptionally clean facilities in a quiet location just off Highway 26, making it perfect for overnight stays while exploring the area. Though it lacks hookups, the tranquil setting compensates. Barnhouse Campground provides a free, secluded option with basic maintenance and accommodates both tents and small RVs. For riverside camping, Middle Fork Campground sits right on the Middle Fork John Day River with clean vault toilets. The campground is somewhat close to the highway but traffic is minimal. Other solid options include Magone Lake Campground near Prairie City and Strawberry Campground for those seeking more remote experiences.

What outdoor activities can you do while camping in the John Day area?

The John Day area offers diverse outdoor activities for campers. Hiking is popular along river trails, like those at Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site Campground which features a nature path along the John Day River. Fishing opportunities abound in the river, particularly at spots like Trout Farm which features a small pond. Exploring the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is a must-do activity, with its colorful landscapes and paleontological sites. Wildlife viewing, photography, and stargazing are excellent throughout the area. During summer months, swimming and wading in the river provide refreshing relief from the heat. Mountain biking, rockhounding, and visiting historic sites round out the recreational options in this scenic eastern Oregon destination.

What RV parks and facilities are available in John Day, Oregon?

Grant County RV Park offers comfortable accommodations near the river in John Day, making it an excellent overnight stop. Located at the fairgrounds, this park can fill up quickly, especially during events, so reservations are recommended. Fish House Inn and RV Campground provides another option for RV travelers in the area. For those seeking full hookups, Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site features 31 sites with electric and water connections, spacious enough for both RVs and tow vehicles. The sites accommodate larger rigs, and the campground offers clean restrooms with free individual shower rooms. Depot Park near Prairie City is also big-rig friendly with water and toilet facilities available for RV campers exploring the John Day region.

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