Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site Campground houses luxury yurts and teepees near the John Day River, offering a distinctive glamping experience just minutes from Mount Vernon. The teepees provide a unique alternative to standard camping, with concrete floors, sleeping mats, and small space heaters for cooler nights. Glamping accommodations at this state park blend outdoor immersion with essential comforts while maintaining proximity to nature. The park's teepees sit in a somewhat secluded area separate from the main campground, providing a more exclusive experience. Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin adds another upscale option in the region, offering a historic forest service cabin converted into a glamping retreat. Both locations provide access to toilets and showers, with Clyde Holliday featuring free hot showers that many guests appreciate. According to one camper, "This is probably the nicest state park that we have ever camped in. We will definitely be coming back."
The short nature trail meandering along the John Day River creates perfect opportunities for wildlife viewing and peaceful morning walks from glamping accommodations. At Clyde Holliday, the riverside location allows for cooling off during hot summer months, though one visitor noted, "Mosquitoes definitely come out at night." The park maintains beautifully landscaped grounds with green lawns and shade trees that enhance the glamping experience. Seasonal operation runs from March through November, with peak summer months often filling quickly since most sites cannot be reserved in advance. The teepees, however, are reservable and provide a distinctive glamping option. The area serves as an ideal base for exploring the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, located approximately 30 minutes away. One reviewer highlighted that the park offers "a nice trail to walk along next to the river" where children can play in the shallow water during summer months, making it suitable for family glamping adventures.
$19 - $88 / night
"If you ride ATVs, dirt bikes or side by sides there are over 300 miles of trails over 9,000 acres here. Water and sewer hook ups as well."
$24 - $26 / night
"We stayed at Clyde Holliday for one night on the way to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. "
"A large picnic table, fire ring, electric hookup, and wastewater drain complete each site. There are also two teepees."
$15 / night
"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."
"Stream running next to the sites. Close to town. It is next to the fairgrounds, but very quit when no events. Good place to spend the night while traveling through"
"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."
"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."
$60 / night
"Clean, well maintained, cooking supplies provided, heated house with fridge. Outhouse was clean."
TravelerClean, well maintained, cooking supplies provided, heated house with fridge. Outhouse was clean. Recommended bring you own light, the lanterns did not provide a lot of light and your own blanket for the beds.
RangerThis really is an RV spot. Yes, you can tent camp here but it's expensive ($24 for Oregon residents, $34 for out of staters) and it's right next to the road. It's loud. Really loud. Wake you up when you're sleeping loud.
That said, it does have all amenities: good Verizon service, firewood for sale, hot showers, tables, fire pits with grills, etc. And it's close to town. So for that it could be the right fit for people needing all that.
For me, I'd skip it, especially if you're in a tent.
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.
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.
LegendIn general, Oregon State Parks are great. This is another nice one with plenty of tent and RV sites available. Bathrooms and showers on-site. The park sits nestled in a picturesque treed area, near the Painted Hills. Great location if you are wanting to get to the Painted Hills area of central Oregon.
GuideWell maintained, clean, beautiful spot close to the river. Large campsites with clean table and fire pits. Nice showers. Very green and full of birds. Short river walk. It is close to the highway and can be loud at time. Right now, same rate for residents/non-residents ($26), it doesn't take reservations and will accommodate overflow. Not sure if that's permanent.
TravelerI drove in mid-afternoon and was able to find a spot so easy. the place was mostly filled by retired folks with their RV and generators going. really it was only one that was a loud Generator... and not too close to me. it had a nice walking path next to a creek that some children were playing in. this is a very well maintained site in terms of the landscaping and the bathrooms and showers. nice that the showers were not in the same room as the bathroom- which is more appealing that way instead of hearing people use the bathroom while getting clean. plus since it was a single room for the shower and could lock it was no worries of who would walk in- good feature for a family or couple.
The staff were very friendly as well.
I felt comfortable with leaving my tent set up and some basic items there when I went for dinner
GuideFabulous free hot showers!
Nice campground. Sites have paved parking, tables and fire pits. There is also a hiker biker camp area.
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.
The John Day River area offers camping and glamping options close to Kimberly, Oregon, situated at approximately 2,600 feet elevation in the high desert region. The area features dramatic temperature variations, with summer days often exceeding 90°F while dropping to the 50s at night. Camping sites range from established state parks to rustic forest service cabins.
River activities: At Ukiah-Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor, campers can enjoy Camas Creek which is "currently damned by a local beaver and therefore good for a dip." The creek offers cooling relief during hot summer months.
Off-road adventures: Morrow County OHV Park provides extensive terrain for motorized recreation with "over 300 miles of trails over 9,000 acres." This destination caters specifically to those with ATVs, dirt bikes and side-by-sides.
Nature walks: Several campgrounds offer walking paths along waterways. One visitor at Ukiah-Dale noted the campground was "beautiful forested" while lacking formal hiking trails: "Only bummer for me (having dogs) is that there aren't any trails."
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained bathrooms at the area campgrounds. At Ukiah-Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor, visitors note "the bathroom has automatic lights and electric outlets and is kept very clean."
Creek access: Water features rank highly among camper preferences. One reviewer at Ukiah-Dale highlighted the "beautiful forested campsite with clean flush toilets next to a creek," making it "a great overnight stop" for travelers passing through.
Spacious sites: Campers value room to spread out. One visitor to Grant County RV Park described "shaded pull through and easy back in sites" noting it was a "good value" with a "stream running next to the sites."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the area operate on different reservation systems. Some operate first-come, first-served while others require advance booking. As one camper noted at Grant County RV Park, "I checked in late and it was a little confusing. Had a hard time getting the PIN to access the bathroom."
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds have limited operating seasons. Ukiah-Dale operates "mid April to mid October," while Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site Campground runs "March 1 to November 30."
Campsite selection strategies: Location within campgrounds can significantly impact your experience. At Ukiah-Dale, one visitor advised "The sites by the road are actually best IMHO because they are biggest and offer the best shade."
Water play options: Shallow river areas provide natural entertainment for children. At Penland Lake, one visitor noted "We found a nice place to wade our feet in the water and play fetch with the puppers," though they cautioned about potential leeches in some areas.
Playground access: Families appreciate campgrounds with built-in recreation. Morrow County OHV Park offers a "huge playground and lots of different types of camping available" making it "great for families."
Wildlife watching considerations: While wildlife viewing can be exciting, parents should be aware of potential encounters. Ukiah-Dale has posted "a bear a cougar warning sign" which one camper noted is "the normal for the Blue Mountains."
Hookup availability: RV hookup options vary significantly between campgrounds. Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin offers limited hookups but does have a sanitary dump, while Grant County RV Park provides "full hook ups" with "30$ a night" pricing.
Site dimensions: RV travelers should verify site sizes before arrival. One camper at Grant County RV Park mentioned there are "pull throughs and back in sites" that accommodate various RV sizes.
Road noise considerations: Highway proximity can impact sleep quality. As one reviewer warned about certain campgrounds, "Spaces were all level and gravel with full hook-ups (20/30/50 amp)" but the campground was "next to the road" which can be noticeable especially for light sleepers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Kimberly, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Kimberly, OR is Morrow County OHV Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Kimberly, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 glamping camping locations near Kimberly, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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