Searching for the best camping near Merlin, OR? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Oregon camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Merlin, OR. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
$31 - $77 / night
"Other amenities include flush toilets, hot showers, a volleyball court, day use area, riverside trail, and green-way paved trail through the park.
My overall impression of the Park was great!"
"Our GPS wanted to take us up to Exit 48 on I-5N, but we followed the website instructions and the State Park signs off I-5 and took Exit 45B."
$40 - $105 / night
"The place is very nice with tent, cabin, and RV sites. Our site was partial HU but they do have full HU sites. Bathrooms and showers were clean."
"The staff was super helpful and friendly. They helped me find a new campsite to make sure my hammocks would hang properly. They also have a really fun Halloween setup during that season."
$20 - $55 / night
"The camp host on site was really helpful and friendly.
Showers were still available and free.
Good cell reception. Good place to stay if you have business in Grants Pass."
"Easy access to the rogue river for floating. Staff were really helpful."
"Close to the highway, without the highway noise.
Very well maintained, clean and professional
Several off leash dog areas.
Wifi only available in a few locations."
"The staff are incredibly friendly. Our family has claimed this as our favorite KOA over all we have stayed at across the nation."
$30 - $55 / night
"Sell firewood on site.
Beautiful riverfront park area.
Very clean park.""Easy to get to off the 5 so even though you feel like you're out there, it's actually extremely close to a cute little downtown with everything you might need."
$20 - $55 / night
"We have fun everytime we come here from one end to the other from heat to massive Rain.. No internet no phone service!!! NONE.. we fish, gold pan, swim Relax."
"This is a popular put-in for the wilderness section of the Rogue River, http://www.allaboutrivers.com/rivers-in-oregon/wilderness-run-RUN194.html. I've camped here many times."
"It is close to Hwy 5 so a lot of road noise. But most in this area are. Sites are tight like most KOAs. We chose an end spot and did alright. Plus it was quiet part of year."
"Nice staff, nice bathrooms, clean park. We're in the area for work and this is a nice place to stay."
$20 - $35 / night
"we love coming to lake selmac to use the yurts for winter camping. theyre heated and cozy. weve probably camped here a half dozen times or so over the past couple years, including standard tent sites."
"We were down in Southern Oregon for the Caves.
We stayed in the Heron loop which was the smallest and most primitive, It was wonderful and we had the whole south of the lake to ourselves."
GuideThis review is for the open camping.
I arrived and after looking around for a long while for someone, I was given a quick pointing out of where everything generally was. A map or better signage is sorely needed.
The grounds were peaceful. There are open-air showers, a community kitchen, sauna and swimming hole. The mini A-frames and dome look very cool, even from a distance.
I tried out the sauna. It didn’t seem to be working for over 40 minutes. No one was around to troubleshoot. It just started working eventually on its own and was nice, relaxing.
ScoutWe were here for a quick overnight in our 24' travel trailer. The place is very nice with tent, cabin, and RV sites. Our site was partial HU but they do have full HU sites. Bathrooms and showers were clean. It's close to I-5 bit the road noise was not bad and a chorus of frogs throughout the evening distracts from it. We were in spot 67 which was spacious and offered a great deal of privacy. Picnic table and fire pit on site. The nearby covered bridge is neat to see.
ScoutPlan to keep your pets at home if you want to stay in the domes or bell tent. As another reviewer noted, the grounds have seen better days. I guess that's how they keep camping prices so low. 3 stars because of the hot springs---better as a day trip and not a place to stay
TravelerI’m camping here in my car basically in a gravel parking lot next to a meadow for tent campers. There’s very little privacy however! The amenities and addition opportunities make up for it. There are free showers, a bathroom with running water, potable water, and for $10 extra you get 1.5 hours soaking in a mineral pool, one hot one cold, and there’s also a sauna. In addition the showers inside the spa are much nicer!! I feel completely rejuvenated, and definitely recommend for anyone looking to have a relaxing evening :)
TravelerI've never been to land more beautiful than this place - as soon as I arrived, I felt a sense of arriving home. A place to completely relax. There are 2 areas with river access, a shallow area and a deep swimming hole, with the option to float down some mild (and fun!) rapids. The children running around were so happy here - it feels like a safe place to be, tucked away in a private area of Cave Junction. During my stay, there were beautiful fresh flowers that decorated all the main areas. There are 2 shower houses, one which has an incredible view of the river. The shower water was hot and refreshing, it was so special to know the water came directly from the river. It felt so healing. The communal kitchen was perfect for prepping breakfast, lunch, and dinner - and the staff was sanitizing all the commonly touched areas. The composting toilets were a cool touch knowing that our 'waste' would soon become a gardening resource again one day. The tea house was a perfect place to catch some shade on hot sunny days. The women's gathering they host here is also so inspiring! I imagine many women pass through this place feeling grounded and nourished afterward. Highly recommend!
TravelerSweet front desk Laurie welcomed us from an office stocked with anything we would need/want. She was surprised when we only bought 1 local IPA and graham crackers. I’m glad we ran over to the beach on the evening we drove in because soon after the rain soaked our campfire and sent us to bed. This is a lovely , spacious campground with beautiful landscaping and privacy between sites.
RangerWe were there over the 4th of July weekend and there were probably 100 campers there. Once the weekend is over there were only a few. The staff is very friendly the grounds are kept very clean. There's good showers and there's water sources close by and there's fire pits. We went to the camping area so we didn't have electricity but they do have electrical hookups..
RangerNow branded as Smoke on the Water, the former Lake Selmac Resort is one of Oregon's first cannabis-friendly campgrounds. The tent camping area is shaded by huge, old pines and firs, keeping your tent fairly pleasant even on a hot day. There are electrical hookups and some limited RV spots, as well as picnic tables and fire rings. Along one side is a fence separating the campground from a neighboring property.
The whole campground is right across the main road from Lake Selmac. There is some traffic noise at night, but very little. This is a small town and the road isn't very busy late. You're more likely to hear the wild turkeys calling or a bullfrog down by the lake. There's a nice dock and plenty of toys to enjoy the water. You can take out a paddleboat, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, or inner tubes. You can also just sit on the shore or fish.
There's also a large lawn area at the campground that is great for larger gatherings, as is the thee sided barn on the property. While basic, the restrooms are clean and accessible with showers. There's also laundry facilities and a general store on site. The signs say no alcohol is allowed, only cannabis, but they do sell beer in the general store along with food and other basic supplies. If there's something you need that the store doesn't have, town isn't far away. Eventually the owners intend to have a dispensary on site, too, though right now you'll have to plan ahead.
Despite those private campground perks, this isn't a hazy party spot, however. Tou don't have to partake to feel welcome or have a positive experience here. Everyone seems nice and respectful, and the campground host makes the rounds and keeps up with chores like taking out the trash on the regular. In addition to the campground host, the owner is sometimes on site as well in the living area behind the general store. The hospitality is genuine and you can tell that management really cares about making Smoke on the Water as inviting, comfortable, and pleasant as possible.
------- Product Review -------
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - on this trip I got to test out the OOFOS Women's OOmg Black and Black Shoe.
This is one of OOFOS's first closed-toe offerings, providing the same support from their proprietary sole design and foam recipe as their sport slide sandals and clogs. The OOmg shoe upper is a breathable mesh sock, not unlike water shoes, but softer. The sole is thick enough that you don't feel the ground beneath you, yet somehow is also soft enough to sink into, all while feeling supported. I appreciate the way the sole encourages a heel-strike gait and takes the pressure off my toes. I have very high arches and experience frequent foot pain after walking and hiking. OOFOS felt like they were realigning my feet and I did feel a lot of relief after trying them all weekend.
While OOFOS are intended as a "recovery shoe" you slip on after you're done working out in your sneakers, I found they work really well as an all around leisure shoe. I wore them all weekend while I was camping, and they remained ultra comfortable even in very hot weather that caused my feet and legs to swell up. They were breathable, provided good traction, and stayed aligned with my feet despite plenty of moving around on my part and experiencing different temperatures throughout the day.
Since this first weekend trying OOFOS at Lake Selmac, I've worn my OOmg around town to run weekend errands, on a hike to the top of Spencer Butte in Eugene (quite the uphill slog), to ease foot pain after a day in heels, during a long day in the car without cruise control. In every setting they've remained comfortable, supportive, and don't seem to wear down even after hours of my weight pressing into the foam. They clean up easily and seem really durable. They lack some of the traction and control sneakers or hiking boots would on steep descents, but are perfectly adequate for casual tromping around.
The only downside I can find with my OOFOS OOmg is that the heel is made of a harder rubber substance than the mesh upper or foam sole. I assume this is to help give the shoe some structure and keep your foot where it needs to be. If you're like me, however, and sometimes put your shoes on in a hurry and step on the heel and sort of slip on your shoes like they're clogs, you might mash down that hard material and either wrinkle it or find it doesn't bounce back. If you smoosh it too much, it could kind of get stuck in a way that rubs uncomfortably or blisters a bit. So always be sure to tug the heel part of your OOmg up all the way and finish putting on your shoes so they stay the right shape.
Overall, I'm really happy to have a pair of OOFOS in my closet and I'm definitely bringing them on all my camping trips. They're so lightweight they go right in my pack and I don't have to worry about my feet getting tired of my one pair of hiking boots or sneakers. These are perfect for when you need to get up and poke the fire real quick and don't want to shove your feet back into a more fitted pair of lace-up shoes that you were already wearing all day.
TravelerAll the campsites along 101 for miles were taken and we saw the sign to this place...
Wow! We were surprised that they had a single tent camping site left. They were surprised too in fact. Anyway, the place is a legit resort. Its some 50 acres and the tent campsites reside away from the RV area a little ways. Enough to seem secluded. They situated the place perfectly. My words cannot describe the elegance. Its a great natural setting. They set you up with a map. $25 a night but well worth it. Your closest neighbor is like 50-75 yards away at least. Soft grass ground, picnic table, fire pit. We got a site placed right behind two large ponds huge meadows. It was great. Very clean. Staff are mostly there to run the main store and RV area and are very accommodating if you need assistance. Again, the buildings and RVs are a little walk (out of sight) of the tent camping area. Showers if you need them. Beach is a short 1/4 mile walk across 101. Water available. If you’re looking for deep forest rough camping this isnt it. If you’re looking for easy going camping and beauty, this is just the place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Merlin, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Merlin, OR is Valley of the Rogue State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 50 reviews.
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