Searching for a tent camping spot near Kimberly? The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Kimberly. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
Located just off of the sleepy John Day Highway, this campground offers 8 primitive campsites and an unimproved boat launch accessing the John Day River. The ancient river canyon weaves through the area providing spectacular views with ever-changing light and shadows in the early morning and late evening hours. A picturesque grove of ponderosa pine trees lines a section of the riverbank opposite the campground and the site itself has a large, solitary pine prominently situated. The surrounding layer cake geology is exposed in various peekaboo angles from the campground.
Open year-round Six drive-in campsites; two walk-to campsites. All campsites are available on a first come, first served basis; no reservations are available. Two wheelchair accessible vault toilets. No utility hookups or potable water are available No garbage service - please pack out your trash An annual fire closure is in effect from June 1 through October 15. Prohibited acts include building, igniting, maintaining, attending, using, tending, or being within 20 feet of a campfire, charcoal fire, or any other type of open flame; smoking, except while in non-public buildings, closed vehicles, in boats on the water, or while standing in the water.
Although located along State highway 19 the sights and sounds of the John Day River dominate over any road noise making it easy to forget the highway is even there. Bring a book as there's no cell phone coverage here.
This campground has 7 established campsites, each which can accommodate tent camping and most which can also support RV camping.
The majority of the campsites in this facility can accommodate larger recreational vehicles; however, this campground does not offer hook-ups of any kind, so RV campers should be self-contained.
Fall asleep to the sound of crickets and frogs chirping and croaking and wake up to Blue Gill and Rainbow Trout jumping at the bit. This campground is set on the shore of Penland Lake, which also abuts private land and land owned by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Penland is popular on summer weekends and offers access to fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities. There are seven campsites and two vault toilets on the National Forest portion of the campground, with more campsites located on the adjacent ODFW property. There is also a boat ramp, fishing dock, and benches located on the dam. Picnic tables are available for Day Use on the lakefront as well. There is no potable water or garbage service; please pack out all garbage and dispose of it at home.
Adjacent to Murderer's Creek, this little campground is a great base camp for hunters. The campground is a nice area for those wishing to horse camp, a buck and pole corral is located adjacent to the campground. Visitors to the campground can enjoy bird watching, hunting and fishing in near by creeks. Hikers have options in the Cedar Grove Botanical area and Fields Peak trail. Visitors may get the opportunity to see one of the beautiful wild horses that reside in the area.
Fairview Camp is drive-through loop off State Highway 207 offering five campsites and an accessible vault toilet. Two campsites directly across from the toilet are fully accessible. A free-flowing water fountain provides potable water from May to October. Remnants from a wildfire in the late 1980s can be seen along the egdes of this small campground. There is no garbage service, so please pack out all garbage and dispose of it at home. The campground is used primarily for hunting and OHV riding--its trailhead accesses 80 miles of OHV roads and trails on the Heppner Ranger District. Also, Morrow County OHV Park is only 6 miles north on State Highway 207 and offers over 200 miles of OHV marked and groomed trails. The main season of use is from late fall to early winter during big game hunting season. It also serves as an overflow camping site when Bull Prairie Lake Campground is at full capacity.
The Ochoco National Forest is located in Central Oregon, north and east of the City of Prineville. It encompasses 850,000 acres of rimrock, canyons, geologic oddities, dense pine forests, and high desert terrain as well as the North Fork of the Crooked River. At 155,000 acres, Crooked River Grasslands is one of the largest tracks of preserved grassland in the U.S. Visitors can find a variety of evidence of a ‘failed’ homestead attempts on the Grasslands: stone shelters, tools, cans, log cabins, barns and water troughs still remain. Please note that these items are protected by the Antiquities Act and must not be removed to preserve the historic integrity of the area.
Ranger
This 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.
Scout
great campsites and frIendly host. $13 a night, tent sites were super dusty but not much of the dust came with us. The sites are visually stunning with all the Pondarosa’s (we’re not used to big trees) 10/10
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.
GuideThis is where we start our camping season...on Mother's Day weekend! This is a small campground. Has a vault toilet but no potable water so bring your own. Each site does have a fire ring. Site 1 can hold about 2 RV's or 4 tents and possible 10 people. Site 2 is good for 1 RV or tent, Site 3 is closest to the river, tight fit for a RV but a small pull behind fits nice - could fit 2 tents. Site 4 and 5 is small. Site 6 can fit 4 to 5 tents or 1 RV/trailer. Taking a "Sunday drive" up and around is amazing! Great area if you have OHV's!
Ranger
We were the only ones camping here for a night in October 2020. Sites are OK, some pull-throughs, some tent sites, too. Each site has a fire ring, picnic table. Pit toilets were dirty. Good location outside Fossil but kind of expensive at $20 for no hookups and dirty toilets, plus it’s right next to road so there’s some road noise.
GuideBetween the John Day River and the highway outside of John Day, this campground is beautifully maintained. The lawns are green, the bathrooms spotless. There are full hookup rv/trailer sites, tent sites, and hiker/biker sites. The restrooms include free individual shower rooms. There is some traffic noise but it isn't too bad. This is a first-come campground so no reservations are available. Get there early during the summer months.
Guide
I was very disappointed with this camp site. The one positive note is that there are a few campsites further away from the water so you're not so crowded. The campsites near the lake are tent sites with a parking area. Unfortunately, there were rvs parked in the parking area which took up most of the parking space. The tent sites were extremely close to each other and the water so I would image, come evening the mosquitoes would be awful! If you go further into the campsites area you will find a dirt road and a few more campsites near the water. Very tight and looks difficult to get an rv in, but there was a small one parked there. There was another site that looked like it had long term residence with trash and alcohol bottles spread out around their place. We found a nice place to wade our feet in the water and play fetch with the puppers. It smelled awful and wasn't really the ideal wading water but we made it work. Unfortunately, when we got out of the water we found leeches attached to our feet. So I would say this water isn't really meant for swimming and more for fishing and boating/floating. Then while we were cleaning our selves of the leeches, someone asked if they could have our spot since we were only day visiting. Made it awkward and felt like we had to leave.
Guide
Camp ground is high up over 4700 feet so even in the summer it tends to get a little chilly at night but not bad.
This is a medium busy campground right on the maon road, but its never too noisy after dark.
The place is very clean and the vault toilets well looked after and not stinky!
The spaces are a good size and the ones for tent camping are at the back of the loop.
Not much trails but you can find something to do.
One of my best nights camping was ip here. During the week late summer, Huge full moon, then the coyotes began to yip/howl..magnificent
Guide
Let's start with the positive folks. This site as an amazing parking area that is large enough for rvs and horse trailers to be able to turn around without any issues. There's a wooden pin to be able to keep horses safe and secure over night. Almost all campsites are shaded. There is a trail for either a long hike or a short one. With two littles, we did the short on which around trip was under 3 miles. It looks like if we would have kept going there is definitely an uphill climb to continue the treck, but I'm sure the few is gorgeous on top! Now is time for the negatives that really just makes this place not that great. The campsites are very close together. The ground isn't very level, so tent camping would be bumpy and on an incline. There's also little tree trunk scattered out through out the whole place so it is kinda dangerous for kids to ran around a play. Mosquitos can be murdereres so lots of bug spray! Last thing, it is rather close to the main highway so lots of noise from the traffic.
Traveler
First off, I had a great time staying here. Before I arrived I had some ideas of what my stay would be like and while I did have a nice stay, it was not exactly the trip I had expected. I am a female in my early twenties and was tent camping solo for the first time. I grew up camping with my family so I am experienced but this was my first time camping completely alone. When I planned my trip I assumed this was a spot where other travelers and campers would stay so I was hoping that the presence of other people would provide some comfort to counter the fact that I was camping alone. When I arrived there were people in the day use area but as I drove back to where people would normally camp there was nobody in sight. As the evening came I realized there was not going to be any other campers for miles. Needless to say I made it through the night just fine with no emergencies but I was so nervous the whole time that I had a very restless sleep with my hand practically on my bear spray all night.
I woke up the next morning, went on a beautiful hike with some amazing views and continued on my road trip. Overall the location is great, I would camp here again if I were with other people or if I were staying in a converted van or camper of some sort. But being a solo, young, female tent camper in this location without any other campers around for miles was a little too scary for my taste.
Guide
On the banks of the North Fork John Day river. Five sites with picnic table & fire ring. River was high with the spring mountain runoff mid May. Nice respite for 2 days and close enough to explore and hike around the area.
Large open gravel area when you drive in with sites along the river edge with some shade trees.
Nice visit down the road by Kimberly of Apricot Apiaries and picked up some of their honey. Trail above the campground and across Rt402 up the mountain right above.
Clean campground & pit toilet.
It's right below Rt402 which has low traffic and none at night. Low traffic noise with the roaring river and roadway high above site.
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.
LegendThis place was okay. Near Fossil, Oregon and on the way to the Painted Hills. Lots of trees and a slope/hill to run around on for the kids. Sites were a decent size. But overall the whole place seemed overgrown and full of weeds. If it was free, I would have rated it higher. But at $25 for any camping including tents, it was way overpriced.
Legend
Flush toilets (across the street), water, swing sets and plushy grass for your tent, all for $10. They even have an RV area (more of a parking lot) with water and electric hookups. If you're in the John Day area and all the other campgrounds and booked, this is a decent place to spend a few hours and sleep. There's absolutely no privacy since you're right on the road, but at least it's a bit of a drop down to the grass. You can tell the town is trying, and there's some funky/fun play structures scattered about, though you feel kind of like you're camping in someone's front yard. Mitchell Oregon has some restaurants and antique stores that looked fun but they were all closed by the time we got there. At a minimum, this is a good place to stop, stretch your legs, use the restroom and play a bit, and okay if you need a place to sleep before heading somewhere else and the state park up the road is booked.
Pros: Cheap ($10), decent facilities (watered grass, covered eating area).
Cons: Bathroom across the dusty road. Right in the middle of town/wide open area.
TravelerWe hadn’t planned to stop here but with the day quickly disappearing on us we pulled in to the Clyde Holliday SP campground and had a very good night. Beautifully maintained grounds with nicely spaced sites. Easy to pull in and set up the tent. Mostly RVs but a handful on tent campers too. Clean, and free, showers which we really needed. It is right on Hwy 26 so the traffic noise is an issue, but otherwise a quality spot.
TravelerWe visited this campground over a weekend that was going to be rainy in the Willamette Valley. Sarvice is listed on the Painted Hills park map with plenty of amenities- toilets and showers, mainly.
The owners live across the street, a note on the main cabin said to leave the money ($10 for tents) in a lockbox by the bathroom. There was one other couple each night of the weekend, so it was incredibly quiet and peaceful.
There are perhaps 15 RV pads. They tend to be clustered with 2-3 next to each other, but generally the campground is spread across a hillside.
Amenities- there are a handful of cabins, the RV pads all have power and water (but not sewer). I think the RV pads are where tents are supposed to be- it's basically the only flat ground- but the large rocks mean you'll want a good tent footprint and thick sleeping pad or air mattress). There's a kitchen area with stoves and fridges. I didn't use it.
Obviously this is a "corral", so there are horse facilities. That's all I know about that. I was on a bicycle, not a horse.
Guide
Away from it all, had place to ourselves, very impressive scenery but some trash around, either very dusty or rocky and barely ok for our tents. Next time I’d rather go “dispersed”.
Guide
6 long level spots on the John Day. A few walk in tents spots too. 2 vault toilets No trash so pack in/pack out $5/night, self registration. Great spot in center of John Day Fossil Beds national monument. Across the way you could see the seasonal waterfall
RangerNear the painted hills of Oregon! Not much to it, but there are restrooms with running water. Caught a ride from here to the hills for sunset.
Mitchell is a nice little town in central Oregon.
GuideI arrived midday, so I spent the hottest part of the day in my shade tent reading and then in the evening watched the fire under the stars in my hammock. very peaceful, only saw one car drive by the whole time
Guidefor tents or walk in. Very dry, dusty area adjacent to John Day River. Not close to river and access was a raft ramp at one end of campground. No where for a teardrop. Again, my phone is off when camping so no pics. I wouldn't chose this as a destination, but someone else may love the rawness of the area. Especially rafters or someone wanting to float the lovely river.
GuideSearching for a spot on Saturday during Memorial Day weekend was probably not the best idea, but we were able to land a decent space in this BLM rec area.
Priest Hole has a few kinds of spots, some at the banks of the John Day River, some in the hills and some in the open. The riverside areas are really rocky and would be hard pressed to ground tent there, but trailer mounted and RV’s would do fine (assuming you can get them there).
We stayed on the bluff overlooking the River and hills. No shade, so we had to make our own, as it was pretty hot. This created another problem when the wind howled down the canyon, kicking up dust and rolling tents and anything not staked down!
The River is a few hundred yards away, and the single vault toilet was close by.
After exploring the area we did discover many more areas for dispersed camping, and will be back to try some of those!
Campfires may or may not be prohibited, or may have modified rules, so be sure to check the board for updates.
GuideWe chose this place when our first choice was overbooked. As other reviewers have mentioned, getting to it is its own adventure. Be careful on the narrow mountain road coming in from the east. We got one of the last sites overlooking the River, but it was smallish, not level, so orienting our small tent trailer was a bit of a struggle. But the views were completely worth it.
Traveler
This was a spontaneous campground visit. The campground circles the lake with many spots to choose from. Our site had a pull in just enough for one SUV and a motorcycle. The site itself had a fire ring with grill and easy access to the scenic lake. The downside the site was on a obvious slope and it could only hold one tent.
GuideAmong the pines and all alone in this rustic spot. A number of sites to park your tent or rv and stay awhile. Listen to the wind in the pine tops.
Pit toilet and a couple picnic tables and lots of space to be on your own.
No water or trash so come prepared.
Actually came in a 22' rv and had no problems finding a spot.
LegendBear Hollow County Park is a decent little campground to spend a night if you're passing through Eastern Oregon for the fossil beds, painted hills or the just the dark skies. We stopped here on our way into Spray as we were running out of daylight hours and didn't know the roads well. It gets dark out here!
If you're looking for a destination campground you can do much better in Oregon - but Bear Hollow is adequate for a drive in!
There is an ADA accessible site. Water didn't appear to be potable and there isn't really anything nearby so you'll need your own supplies. 20$ a night - cash only.
Guidethis is probably the nicest state park that we have ever camped in. we will definitely be coming back. it has large rv/tent spaces with grass and trees everywhere. next to a small stream with biking and nature hiking all around. the showers are huge, everything is clean and tidy and the hosts were very friendly
be aware that this park is first come, first served. we were in september but i would expect that it fills up early in the summer.
Tent camping near Kimberly, Oregon offers a variety of scenic locations and unique experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several options to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Kimberly, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kimberly, OR is Service Creek Campground with a 3.2-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Kimberly, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 36 tent camping locations near Kimberly, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
