Best Campgrounds near Mapleton, OR

Camping locations throughout the Siuslaw River valley near Mapleton, Oregon provide a mix of riverside and forested sites ranging from developed campgrounds to primitive options. Archie Knowles Campground, operated by Lane County Parks, features nine sites along Knowles Creek, while Whittaker Creek Recreation Site offers approximately 30 campsites where Whittaker Creek meets the Siuslaw River. The area accommodates tent camping, RVs, and in some locations, cabins and yurts. Most developed campgrounds in the region sit between the coastal mountains and the Pacific Ocean, creating easy access to both forest recreation and beach activities.

Seasonal considerations affect campground availability, with many sites open primarily from May through September. Whittaker Creek Recreation Site operates from May 22 to September 8, offering fishing access and creek swimming during warm months. Road conditions vary throughout the region, with some campgrounds accessible via paved roads while others require navigating forest service roads. Cell service remains limited or non-existent in many camping areas, particularly those in canyon bottoms or surrounded by dense forest. Highway noise impacts some locations, especially Archie Knowles Campground. A review noted, "This campground is finally reopened after being closed for a few years. It is a beautiful setting and they have been restoring the riparian zone surrounding the creek/river. Unfortunately, the road is very loud and the main route to the coast from the southern Willamette valley."

Riverfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Mapleton area, with multiple campgrounds offering direct water access. Whittaker Creek provides wading opportunities in a small dammed area suitable for children, while sites near the Siuslaw River support fishing and boating. Trail access varies between campgrounds, with some offering direct connections to hiking routes such as the Whittaker Ridge Old Growth Trail. Several reviews mention privacy differences between sites, with some campgrounds offering dense vegetation between campsites while others have more open layouts. A camper observed about Whittaker Creek, "There are tons of things to do around the campground. From swimming and catching crawdads to hiking the old growth trail there is almost something for everyone." Nearby Sweet Creek Falls trail provides additional recreation opportunities within a short drive of several camping areas.

Best Camping Sites Near Mapleton, Oregon (179)

    1. Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park Campground

    73 Reviews
    Florence, OR
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 997-3851

    $24 - $80 / night

    "We stayed here at the group site and it was great—huge field, winding paths through heavy forest to arrive at a beautiful, sunny lake."

    "Special and unique landscape right in the center of Oregon Dunes. We love it here. Located close to the quant town of Florence. Lots of nearby hikes, beach access, and of course the dunes. Enjoy!"

    2. Sutton Campground

    30 Reviews
    Florence, OR
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 997-2715

    $31 - $220 / night

    "Super pretty spot, tucked right next to a little creek. It felt private without being too far off the path — ideal if you want a bit of peace but still feel like part of the campground."

    "This place is tucked into the woods and our space is yards away from access to a hiking trail that goes to the ocean. Hosts very friendly and helpful. Bathroom very clean."

    3. Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park Campground

    32 Reviews
    Yachats, OR
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 547-3416

    $24 - $63 / night

    "1/2 mile walk to the beach. Clean, safe, and quietWell maintained campgrounds, as are all Oregon parks. Great reservation system. (California in comparison has a terrible website. What’s up CA?)"

    "This Oregon state park is one of the few Oregon state parks who don’t have reservations. It is a first come first come facility."

    4. Thousand Trails South Jetty

    25 Reviews
    Florence, OR
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Beautiful park on the Oregon coast just outside of the Oregon Dunes national park. Great people and clean well kept facilities."

    "This is one of our favorite campgrounds, very similar to Thousand Trails Pacific City."

    5. Alder Dune Campground

    22 Reviews
    Florence, OR
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 997-2526

    $31 / night

    "Alder Dune is just a little ways down from the 101 tucked next to Alder Lake. There are beautiful paths that walk around the grounds and lake."

    "Our site was directly across the bathroom, but you cross a little bridge and walk up about 10 steps to the flat tent pad."

    6. Harbor Vista Campground

    20 Reviews
    Florence, OR
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 682-2000

    $35 - $70 / night

    "I find the beach access to the ocean (not river) to be a little more difficult here than other locations. Plenty of vegetation here in the park! Trees and bushes that others have described."

    "The park sits up on a bluff overlooking the ocean but most sites are tucked into the tree that provided us with shelter from the wind."

    7. Port of Siuslaw Campground & Marina

    16 Reviews
    Florence, OR
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 997-3040

    $35 - $55 / night

    "Parks that are walking distance to shops and restaurants are such a treat.  "

    "The main draw of this campground is its proximity to the cute town of Florence. We don't tow a car, so being able to camp within walking distance of shops and restaurants is always a treat."

    8. Archie Knowles Campground

    8 Reviews
    Mapleton, OR
    3 miles
    Website

    "Host was nice, firewood was available

    About 20 min from Florence, which is on the Oregon Coast. Better spot for fuel and groceries if needed. Cp is just outside of Mapleton, a cute little town."

    "Close to highway, but, it wasn't too loud after dark."

    9. Whittaker Creek Recreation Site

    11 Reviews
    Walton, OR
    10 miles
    Website

    $20 - $40 / night

    "My site was close to the bathroom and my site was right against the creek, which was peaceful. Even though the parking area of my site was small but the rest of it was large-lots of privacy."

    "It was peaceful and located next a wonderful creek and river. The host was very nice as well. I posted up on camp site #1 next to a fish ladder."

    10. Cape Perpetua

    31 Reviews
    Yachats, OR
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 547-4580

    $34 - $190 / night

    "Definitely a popular place, but we managed to snag an amazing site next to a babbling creek, tucked down in trees and secluded from everyone else."

    "The Campground itself is tucked up into a canyon and has a nice stream running past each site.  "

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Recent Reviews near Mapleton, OR

1189 Reviews of 179 Mapleton Campgrounds


  • C
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Doolittle Butte

    Great stars

    Nice big lot. Beautiful views of stars on a clear night. Very remote. Climb an easy dirt road back a few miles. A few deep potholes but nothing too technical.

  • Garrett The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Eel Creek Campground

    Super cool place

    The campground was quiet. There weren’t a lot of people. The restrooms were working and having plumbing was a nice surprise. My kiddo loved all the bushes that made “secret tunnels” for him to go explore.

  • Marasha L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    BLM Kentucky Falls Road

    Lovely Siuslaws but Slightly Sketchy

    Birdsongs and gorgeous sunrise in the morning! Didn’t feel completely content solo due to some of the characters I drove by on the way up, but all good. Spot definitely had trash and such around, very sad—remember to pack out what you pack in. However, had a great night of sleep with lovely hiking and natural views all around.

  • A
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Siuslaw National Forest Carter Lake Campground

    Nice Campground

    This is a nice campground.  The only consideration would be that all the campsites next to the lake are not recommended for people with mobility issues.  The parking is on an upper level with the actual campsite on a lower level accessed by a trail or stairs.  We had originally reserved site 13, but discovered we had to go down a set of stairs to the campsite.  We were able to change our site without any problems to site 5, which was very nice.  The camp host told us that the campsites along the lake are all accessed by stairs or trails.  The camp host was very nice and the highway noise was minimal.

  • Ross F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Sutton Campground

    Nice campground!

    Nice campground in the woods. Friendly staff. Mix of RV and tent sites. I stayed in a tent site with my dog and we had a great hike from a trailhead in the campground all the way to the dunes and finally the beach. Stunning beach with no one on it and beautiful water.

  • a
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Bluebill Campground

    good place to sleep

    solid campground with drinking water, i usually opt for free dispersed camping so the price (30$ with reservation fee) was a bit much for me but it’s nothing crazy. it’s maybe 7 minutes off 101 which is very convenient as well.

  • Brittany B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Beachside State Recreation Site

    Pretty site but very close to 101

    Very pretty sites with trees separating each spot. If you can get a site near the beach that’s ideal. A lot of the sites are right near the road which can be a bit loud. Bathrooms and showers are in good condition.

  • Jake M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    South Beach State Park Campground

    Experience was excellent

    Very peaceful especially in the tent zone. Most tents I would not want simply becouse they aren’t secluded enough. The zones with more privacy are lower I. I was in camp site I6.

  • Jake M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Beverly Beach State Park Campground

    Very beautiful spot, very green and unique ocean view.

    Very nice state park. Most people very friendly. Just like any campground it can be noisy. Make sure you can handle dogs barking.


Guide to Mapleton

Camping options near Mapleton, Oregon span across the Siuslaw River watershed at elevations ranging from sea level to 800 feet. Most campsites in this coastal forest region receive 65-90 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush vegetation but also challenging camping conditions during the winter months. Primitive camping areas typically don't have electrical hookups, though several campgrounds offer water access points.

What to do

Creek swimming: 2 miles from Mapleton, Whittaker Creek Recreation Site offers a small dammed swimming area perfect for families. "There is a small pool, but nice for young children to swim, for adults to float, or just sun on the rocky shore," notes a camper at Whittaker Creek Recreation Site.

Sand dune access: 10-minute walk from camp, Alder Dune Campground provides trails leading directly to Oregon's famous dunes. "The spot was secluded with a trail behind it which led to a lake and a little ways to some beautiful dunes," writes one visitor to Alder Dune Campground.

Crawdad catching: Available in multiple creeks, bringing simple traps or nets can provide hours of entertainment. A camper at Whittaker Creek mentions, "There are tons of things to do around the campground. From swimming and catching crawdads to hiking the old growth trail there is almost something for everyone."

Old growth hiking: Moderate difficulty trails, with elevation gains up to 900 feet in one mile. "The trail gains 900 ft. in a mile, so not the easiest for young kids, but I'm sure some can tackle it," explains a Whittaker Creek visitor about the Whittaker Ridge Old Growth Trail.

What campers like

Private, secluded sites: Many campgrounds offer vegetation buffers between sites. At Alder Dune, "The camping spaces are spread out and isolated by vegetation, providing some privacy. Restrooms are clean and there are plenty of water spigots."

Creek-side camping: Some campsites back directly to water features. At Archie Knowles Campground, "Sites 7 & 8 are 'premium' for an extra two dollars, you have a better view of the creek and can look down stream a ways."

Walking distance to town: Some locations offer convenient access to supplies. The Port of Siuslaw Campground & Marina is particularly noted for this feature: "The main draw of this campground is its proximity to the cute town of Florence. We don't tow a car, so being able to camp within walking distance of shops and restaurants is always a treat."

Easy coastal access: Many sites provide good starting points for beach exploration. "About 20 min from Florence, which is on the Oregon Coast. Better spot for fuel and groceries if needed," reports a camper at Archie Knowles.

What you should know

Road noise impacts: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds more than others. A camper at Archie Knowles noted: "The road is a bit loud but it gets dark here. Tables and a burn pit are available. No hookups."

Seasonal closures are common: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Sutton Campground runs from "May 17 to September 2," while Whittaker Creek operates "May 22 to September 8."

Limited facilities at primitive sites: Most forest service campgrounds offer minimal amenities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Mapleton, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, Mapleton, OR offers a wide range of camping options, with 179 campgrounds and RV parks near Mapleton, OR and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Mapleton, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mapleton, OR is Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 73 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mapleton, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Mapleton, OR.

What parks are near Mapleton, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Mapleton, OR that allow camping, notably Fern Ridge Lake and Siuslaw National Forest.