Searching for the best camping near John Day, OR? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Oregon camping adventure.
$26 - $34 / night
$15 / night
One of Eastern Oregons largest Forest Service campgrounds, Union Creek Campground is located 18 miles South of Baker City. Sitting along Phillips Reservoirs North shore, Union Creek Campground boasts many amenities including over 60 tent/trailer sites, some with full hookups. There is access to boating, mountain biking, hiking and more. This campground is part of the Union Creek Recreation Area, which includes a picnic and day-use area. Union Creek Campground is set on three loops with separate walk-in tent camping, and it has four group sites that can accommodate large groups up to 60 people. PLEASE NOTE: This Union Creek Campground is located in northeastern Oregon in the Wallowa Whitman National Forest. This is not the Union Creek Campground located in southwestern Oregon near Medford.
The campground is near a boat launch and a small, rocky swim beach. Activities include swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing. Anglers can fish for bass, trout and perch. There's an access point for the Phillips Lake Shoreline Trail, a scenic trail for hiking and mountain biking. This trail can be connected to make a 16 mile loop around the lake.
Phillips Reservoir is a popular destination within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest because it offers scenic views of the surrounding Elkhorn Mountains. The shoreline is forested with a mix of Ponderosa pine and various firs interspersed with small grasslands. Visitors enjoy several varieties of colorful wildflowers in the spring.
The historic gold mining town of Sumpter is about 10 miles away, West of Hwy 7. Visitors can explore the Sumpter Dredge State Heritage Park, browse the holiday weekend flea markets or take a ride on a historic steam locomotive.
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees. For full details see NRRS Reservation Policy
$40 - $46 / night
This is a great destination for berry picking, it is also a wonderful base camp for anyone wanting to hike, hunt or just explore the Malheur National Forest. The Sumpter Valley Interpretive Trail, Davis Creek Trail as well as other great recreational activities are just a short drive from the campground.
This small campground along the Scenic Middle Fork of the John Day River set back amongst beautiful ponderosa pine trees is a great spot for fishing and viewing spawning steelhead in the fall. The campground is a good starting point for hunters, hikers and those wishing to see beautiful scenery, wildlife and wildflowers. The campground sets just off of the county road allowing for easy access to all variety of vehicles and bicycles.
The Slide Horse Camp is a wonderful campground for horse enthusiasts, the campground offers sites with horse stalls and corrals. Just up the road from the campground is the Slide Connector Trail #386, this trail is a great starting point for horse riders heading into the wilderness. The campground sets amongst pondersa pines and is one mile fromStrawberry Campground and the Strawberry Basin Trailhead.
$7 - $11 / night
Deer Creek Guard Station is located approximately 31 miles from the town of John Day, in central Oregon. It is in a beautiful, quiet location, off the beaten path. From sunup to sundown, the cabin affords opportunities for adventure in exploring, viewing wildlife, or just relaxing and enjoying the wonders of nature all around. The cabin is larger than some, is furnished and offers many comforts. It can be accessed by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Big game hunting is popular in the area, as well as fishing on Deer Creek and South Fork John Day River. Anglers might watch for,Mid-Columbia River Steelhead and redband trout, among others in the area. Guests can also enjoy hiking and horseback riding on a variety of trails in the area.
The three-room cabin was built in 1956 and was originally used as a work station by fireguards. Before satellite surveillance systems, fireguards were the smoke chasers who rushed to sites of reported smoke and tried to extinguish the flames. Douglas fir and ponderosa pine trees dot the broad, flat expanse surrounding the cabin, which sits at an elevation of 5,100 feet. Deer Creek runs through the area nearby. In the spring and summer, guests enjoy abundant wildflowers and wildlife in the area, including wild horses, elk, black bears, deer and wild turkeys and other species of birds.
For facility specific information, please call (541) 575-3000.
$60 / night
Wetmore Campground is one of three Wallowa-Whitman campgrounds along Highway 26, which is part of the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway. The campground offers campsites for both tents and small trailers, and has three accessible campsites. Popular activities include; overnight camping for visitors traveling across the state, picnicking and exploring the scenic byway. There is also an accessible, barrier-free, trail to Yellow Pine Campground. The site has been used by large groups who have had picnics on the large tables by the upper spring.
Traveler
Beautiful forested campsite with clean flush toilets next to a creek.
Scout
This is always such a great place to stop when traveling between Idaho and western Oregon. It has lots of shade, lawn, and hedges that offer privacy between the large camp sites. Super clean showers and restrooms, dog friendly, and a nice trail to walk along next to the river. Yes, the sites closer to the road are noisier due to traffic, while the ones closer to the river are the buggiest in the summer, but if you want hook ups, easy access, and an RV dump and don't mind paying for all these amenities, this is the place. We stayed in site 9, which has a super long paved and level driveway giving you lots of peace and quiet.
GuideWe spent one night here in July 2024. Did not feel crowded. Showers were hot. Bathrooms were ok. Very quiet even though it was close to highway.
GuideI camped here during the summer season of 2023. When I pulled into the campground it was just me and the camp hosts. They gave me the pick of what site I wanted. I swooped on one next to the river. The campground was beautiful and sites were good distances from each other. There are bathrooms and areas to top off your water. I choose this campground due to driving the 395 as my choice of route to explore. I would 100% recommend this campsite again.
GuideWe were surprised how quiet this state park was during our visit. Very clean and beautiful green grass through campground. Enjoyed the river trail along the John Day river. Perfect to cool off in during the hot summer months. Mosquitoes definitely come out at night and we were tent camping. A little highway noise at night but not bad.
Traveler
What a beautiful site for camping. Saw several deer there when we arrived. It was very peaceful.
Traveler
We were looking for a campground to stay at on our way from eastern Oregon to the John Day wilderness area. Bates State Park was a perfect overnight spot, just far enough off Hwy 26 to be quiet and exceptionally clean and well maintained. There are no hookups, and it will be a few years before vegetation matures to offer more privacy between spaces, but the park was uncrowded and felt private nonetheless. There are very interesting signs telling about the logging history of the area as well as a playground and nature trails.
Traveler
Great camp site. Electric and water hook ups, great camp hosts, close to the water.
Traveler
This is a very nice Forest Service campground along the Middle Fork of the John Day River. The sites are nicely laid out and are a fair distance from each other. Although the campground is adjacent to a paved road, there was little traffic during our two night stay.
The river is a little difficult to access because of shrubs and small trees, but this is actually good news because so much of the Middle Fork has been damaged by mining and cattle. Continuing west on the road brings you to several very interesting locations with information boards that describe the reclamation efforts of the Warm Spring Tribe on 2,000 acres of land through which the river runs.
GuideWe’ve been here a couple of times with trailers and about 10 other families. Their groups sites are next to each other and allow big groups to stay together.
ScoutWe stopped here after a long drive from Stanley, ID enroute to Reno. Found the campground on The Dyrt app. Only 3 campers were at the site. Very quiet. Our dog swam in the river. The toilet was clean & didn’t smell. Very shaded sites.
Guide
Pretty nice park, bathrooms and showers a mile away. Did not stay here we moved on
GuideWhat a jewel, very clean nice park on the river. Clean showers and restrooms.
LegendFor us this was an overnight to have water and dump capability after nights without. It was a very pretty campground in the trees. The water level was VERY low in Sept 2020. We were able to get in some good walking. Clean campground, nice hosts, lovely area, except for the lake. We'd stay again if in the area.
Guide
We loved this hidden gem of a campground. We’ll definitely be back. Even with a weboost, cellular was poor. However, with the WeBoost, we could text and call. We don’t have a starlink system, but we did see others using it. Good view of the sky for it.
Traveler
Super beautiful and well kept. We came in the summer and ran into no issues finding an open site. Bathroom was well attended and the spaces were nice and spread out
GuideWe just stopped for the night and it worked well. I checked in late and it was a little confusing. Had a hard time getting the PIN to access the bathroom. Site had what we needed and was very quiet.
ScoutPretty campground along the John Day River. Lots of trees and fairly private sites. Hiking trail along the river, but the mosquitos cut that short.
RangerOnce Union Creek was ran by a family and had a great restaurant called Beckie’s, Union creek resort, cabins, sledding area… but now has been bought out by bigger businesses and it’s changed. It’s a good campground in one of the prettiest forests around Oregon in my opinion but it doesn’t feel the way it once did.
ScoutSites are not close together, facilities were clean and camp hosts super nice!
Traveler
This area is on your up to strawberry campground, its nice and clean and quite! Slide horse has areas for your horses. It's gorgeous and the creek is just a few feet to go get water for animals and your fire pits and to put your feet in. Looking forward to coming back soon!
TravelerLots of space between spaces. In the trees. Clean pot toilet.
LegendWe had reserved a site here and upon arrival, pulled in among all the large RVs, where our campervan was dwarfed. Spaces were all level and gravel with full hook-ups (20/30/50 amp). Large picnic table but difficult to determine which one was ours as the sites are close together with no privacy between them. The sites in the row we were in were all pull-throughs and the John Day River was just beyond the road which was nice.
The most welcoming part of the park was the sign on our site otherwise it was dismal (the overcast weather didn’t help). We later heard from someone that there had recently been some thefts at the park.
The bathhouse is accessed by walking through a grassy area and was pretty basic but clean. We chose this campground based on the reviews and I realize our opinion may be in the minority but we just didn’t get a good vibe here. If we had a large RV, we might have felt differently. We stayed for about 45 minutes debating what to do but in the end, left and found a space at the state park about eight miles away that better suited our needs.
LegendGeneral: 31 site state park that does not take reservations. There was plenty of availability at 4 pm on a Friday in April.
Site Quality: Sites are all level with paved pads, ranging in length from 37 to 84 feet. Good separation between the sites and some have foliage providing some amount of privacy. A large picnic table, fire ring, electric hookup, and wastewater drain complete each site. There are also two teepees. Sites along the river are better; road noise would obviously be louder at the sites that back up to the road.
Bathhouse: Up to many Oregon State Park standards with hot water, soap, utility shelves, and paper towels. Clean. Showers are free ($2 for non-campers) but did not use so cannot comment on their quality.
Activities: Not too much to do but there is a nice nature trail about a half-mile long that meanders along the John Day River. It forks a couple of times and if you keep to the left each time, you will eventually end up at a fence at the boundary of private property, but it is easy enough to loop around and return to the campground.
Although this campground is close to the road and you will hear road noise, it was also peaceful and quiet during our stay.
LegendWe stayed at Clyde Holliday for one night on the way to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The campground is conveniently located near the town of John Day and is adjacent to the John Day River. It had all the amenities we needed: electric hookups, water, T-mobile reception, hot showers, and a dump station. The hot showers were welcomed after our visit to wonderful (but dusty) Steens Mountain. We had the site just behind the information kiosk / pay booth, which was perfectly fine for a night, but as it was nearer the main road, I noticed the sound of traffic more than I might have had we gotten a river site. I liked the campground though, and would happily return in the future.
GuideFirst come first serve...was a little worried, especially on Labor day weekend. Arrived on Friday morning and there were several good spots to choose from. The spots are paved and level. Camp host water the spaces when they are vacant. Spaces are green and lush. Camp host were REALLY nice and helpful with information regarding things to do in the area. Went kayaking at Magone Lake and lunch in Dayville at the Cafe. There is a dump station when you leave and has easy access. Fishing available in a near by pond.
GuideNice spots, with a lot of space between sites. Camp host are very nice and friendly. Water in the lake is way down, lowest it has been in 50+ years. Water and electric price, $27.
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.
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
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near John Day, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near John Day, OR is Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site with a 4.3-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near John Day, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 glamping camping locations near John Day, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
