Lane County campgrounds near Lorane, Oregon range from forested lakeside settings to valley locations with river access. Most camping areas sit at elevations between 800-1200 feet, experiencing mild summers with average highs in the 80s and cool springs with periodic rainfall. Winter camping options remain limited, with most facilities operating seasonally from late April through September.
What to do
Creek exploration: Swimming and wildlife Many campgrounds provide water recreation access. Whittaker Creek Recreation Site features areas for children to safely enjoy the water. According to a visitor: "The creek is fun to play around in and you can walk all the way to the Siuslaw river with a small dammed up area where the day use area is." The site also has "tons of things to do around the campground. From swimming and catching crawdads to hiking the old growth trail."
Water recreation: Boating and paddling Richardson Park offers excellent access to Fern Ridge Reservoir with boat facilities. A camper notes: "Nice little campground, very family friendly with plenty of lake access. They have boats sailing in the summer." The park provides opportunities to "leave our kayaks on the shore and just hop right in and paddle if we wanted," according to another review at a nearby lake.
Outdoor games and group activities: Some campgrounds feature communal recreation areas. At Baker Bay Campgrounds & Marina, facilities include "a large play structure, horseshoes, and a sand volleyball pit." Another reviewer mentioned the campground has "a pretty big bathroom and separate shower room. We wish we could have been a little further away from the other campers."
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Morning animal encounters Early risers at Pristine Ranch appreciate the property's 46 acres with farm animals and wildlife. The campground features electric hookups, water access, and space for both tents and RVs. Nature enthusiasts can spot rabbits at Whittaker Creek Recreation Site, where one camper mentioned "little rabbits roaming around" among the amenities.
Accessibility: Quick trips from Eugene Armitage Park provides convenient camping just outside Eugene. A camper notes it's "Nice county campground outside of Eugene. Plenty of room between sites, grass and asphalt at sites along with full hookups!" Another adds it's "a 10 minute drive to downtown Eugene!" making it ideal for short getaways.
Privacy: Finding secluded spots Pine Meadows Campground features more isolated sites. "The campsites are pretty spacious which is really nice!" noted a visitor. Another camper advised: "I had a lake site and the wind howled all weekend. It's May so might play a roll," suggesting spring visitors should prepare for potential wind conditions.
What you should know
Seasonal hazards: Water quality concerns Several lake campgrounds experience algae issues. At Dorena Reservoir, "Watch for signs of Algae or Swimmers Itch as it has been present the past few years at Dorena Lake." Another camper noted: "Our camping spot had a direct path to the water but unfortunately, due to algae levels, we couldn't go in."
Facility maintenance: Varied conditions Whittaker Creek Recreation Site receives mixed reviews on upkeep. Some find it "old and not maintained...sites are small and dead," while others report "The vault toilets were about 50 feet from my site and pretty clean and must have been emptied recently." The primitive nature means some campgrounds lack showers or hookups.
Generator use: Noise considerations Power availability affects noise levels. One camper observed: "Because there is no power in the sites people were running generators for hours, even the tent campers." At Pine Meadows, staff reportedly "banged loudly on the person next to us doors at 10:05 about their generator being on."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds: Kid-friendly activity areas Schwarz Campground offers recreational space for children. A reviewer commented: "Large groups were utilizing the group areas when we stayed, lots of children having fun." Richardson Park has "a small playground area with a swing set" and "movie nights and also a little shop that has ice cream, candy, ice, etc."
Water safety: Supervised swimming locations Baker Bay provides designated swimming areas with safety measures. "We got a lakeside camp site which made it a simple walk down to the lake where we could swim and fish." For calmer water, Whittaker Creek "has a great pebble beach to play on. The water is safe for little kids, as it is dammed and slow moving."
Group camping: Family gathering spaces Many campgrounds offer shared sites for larger parties. "Baker Bay Campground and Marina is a county park outside of Cottage Grove, Oregon. It has a boat launch and boat rentals. There are several huge inflatable water structures in the bay which kids can play on for a fee."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Maneuverability concerns Deerwood RV Park receives high marks for RV accommodation but has some limitations. A camper reports: "Road is narrow and winding, larger rigs have issues with staying on path. Mostly back-in spaces, which combined with the road, makes for interesting times getting your rig settled." Another notes that "spaces are fairly short, especially on Standard sites."
Hookup availability: Power and water access Armitage Park offers full-service sites: "Electricity was solid 30 amps. ATT reception was decent. We were impressed with the spacing between sites for a county park." Many campgrounds require planning: "It's dry camping so all the RV's had generators and not the quiet Hondas."
Pad requirements: Surface protection rules Some parks have specific equipment needs. At Deerwood, "ALL spots require jack pads. Having not stayed in too many parks with asphalt, this was a surprise for us. They did not mention at checkin, but we got a polite email the next morning."
