Are you planning a tent camping trip to Milton-Freewater? We've got you covered. Find the best tent camping sites near Milton-Freewater. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Milton-Freewater's most popular destinations.
Located just off the historic Kendall-Skyline Road, this high-level campground offers 6 campsites to choose from that are in close proximity to several wilderness trailheads. Spend your days hiking in the beautiful and scenic Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and your nights relaxing in this tranquil and secluded campground. Mottet even offers clear, cold, and delicious drinking water, straight from a mountain spring!
Dispersed camping is a popular camping method for many visitors to the Forest. Choosing to camp along a stream or adjacent to a meadow where there are no picnic tables, toilets or firerings allows campers to enjoy a more primitive experience.
It is recommend that dispersed campers keep to traditional campsites off of established 'two-track' vehicles routes which have been used in the past. Most of these routes are less than 300 feet from a designated open road.
There are some areas on the Forest that are closed to dispersed camping. These include administrative site, special use permit area, or sensitive areas for archeology or wildlife.
Please remove all temporary structures before you leave such as meat poles, toilets, furniture, and ditches around your tents. To find out more about minimum impact camping please visit our outdoor ethics section. Some general rules of use and restrictions also apply to visitor using dispersed camping sites. These include regulations like forest-wide camping stay limits; use of camp fires, firearms, and fireworks; and controlling pets.
You can't camp many places in Oregon that the general public is not allowed. You can here. Behind a locked gate, no public access. A permanent pit toilet is onsite. Pricing includes one camping unit (tent you supply)
$29 / night
Panjab Campground offers opportunities for hunting, hiking, swimming and bicycling. Just beyond the campground is the trailhead for Rattlesnake Trail #3129 that accesses Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. This campground is located along Tucannon Springs River; which is a favorite area for mushrooming, hiking, and just relaxing listening to nature. . No camping with stock at Panjab Campground. Stock facilities are available 3 miles up Forest Service Road 4713 at Panjab Trailhead. Please Leave-No-Trace.
$8 / night
The Blue Mountain North/Grande Ronde River Basin Area is situated north of the Anthony Lakes Highway (Forest Road 73) to the Mount Emily area. It includes all of the developed recreation sites and trails in the northern Blue Mountains and those found in the Grande Ronde River Basin west of La Grande, Oregon. This area is mainly administered by the La Grande Ranger District although some of the area north of the Anthony Lakes Highway is administered by the Whitman Ranger District. Popular recreation areas include the Oregon Trail Interpretive Park at Blue Mountain Crossing, Mt. Emily, Spring Creek Recreation Area, Ladd Canyon, and Beaver Creek. Local communities that have a variety of services (i.e. fuel, lodging, stores and/or restaurants) are LaGrande, Island City, Elgin, Imbler, Cove, Richland, and Baker City . These communities are within one hour of this area.
Camping is now 'group camping' only, and requires a permit
GuideHarris park is approximately 25 minutes from Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Harris park has 14 private campsites and a large 14 spot group campsite. All spots have water and electrical hook ups. The campground was flooded by 8 feet of water in April of 2020. Several cabins and campsites were lost to the flood. The campground is being repaired currently but that comes at the cost of construction noise. The South Fork of the Walla Walla River runs along the campground but current is too strong for young children to play in. The campground was clean and the staff was friendly. I have no doubt this spot will be rebuilt and become a great destination again, someday. At $30 dollars a night it may be a nice spot for a single night stay.
Guide
We stayed here in a tent site (no hookups) on our way back to Portland from Nevada. As an overnight cut-off campground, it’s lovely: Nice-sized sites set in beautiful Oregon forest (we’d been out of state for a couple weeks and REALLY appreciated the trees); clean bathrooms and showers; long “tent” sites that allowed us to back in our 18ft trailer without uncoupling for the night.
However, it’s right on the interstate. While you kind of tune it out after a while, the road noise is constant and definitely interferes with any sense of “wilderness”.
Traveler
Easy to pull into tent camping spots. Recommend if traveling and need an easy sleep spot.
Guide
RV and tent sites along river, next to country store…food, beer, snacks…showers, laundry
RangerWe spend a night there in July on our way to Boulder Colorado. The campground is quite nice and bathrooms were clean and providing all needed functionality. Large and tall trees provided a very welcome shade during the heatwave we were going through. The only issue was that, we were tent camping and being close to the highway it was quite noisy.
RangerTerrible tent camping experience. This campground is TOO close to the highway and too noisy even with ear plugs or music. We could barely sleep nor have a conversation while sitting across each other for breakfast. I would advice to only stay here if you have an RV camper. The bathrooms were very clean, great trails and the interpretive center was very educational. No complaints there.
Guide
The campground is somewhat primitive. There are flushing toilets on the lower loop, vault toilets on the upper loop. no showers, but you can refresh in the lake. The nights get chilly, so be prepared with warm socks and a beenie, especially if you’re tent camping.
There are no power boats allowed on the lake, so it is raft, kayak paddle board friendly.
The path around the lake is an easy walk, just don’t expect to sit on a bench and enjoy the view of the lake, the trees have grown up.
Ranger
We visited this KOA for several years on 4th of July to visit a concert in Walla Walla. In the early days this KOA was nothing more than dirt tent sites. Since then, it has developed into a nice campground with mature trees for shade and grass at each site. The river is easy access for launching motor boats and it is across the bridge from Palouse Falls and Lyons Ferry park for kayaking, swimming and a good picnic spot.
ScoutA group of friends and I went and tent camped in spot 14 for a couple days and had a great time. The site was fairly trashed when we got there so we did some cleanup but besides that it’s surrounded by a beautiful forest and even on a 95 degree day the shade is perfect and the water was refreshing to swim in. I liked the spot we stayed in, it was spacious enough for 3 tents (10 person, 5 person, and 2 person tents) it was shaded and fairly spaced out from other spots. The lake was pretty busy and there were lots of people but it’s easy to find places on the water to have to yourself. There was also an awesome rope swing maybe half a mile from the camp site, super fun!
ScoutMy husband and I love this campground. It's close to the mountains without being too far away - about an hour and a half from us living in Tri-cities. There are showers and water spickets, room for horses, and great hiking trails. There is room for both tent and RV camping. We have only ever gone tent camping, and the size of the campgrounds for us has been great. There is room to set up hammocks and chairs.
The only unfortunate aspect about this campground is that it is somewhat close to the highway. After the first weekend we spent there, we got somewhat used to the sound - it can sometimes be soothing. It's also a good idea to bring something to provide added shade to either the tenting area or sitting area as it gets quite sunny in the morning.
Scout
So, I should start by saying that we didn't end up camping here, as it's a first-come, first-serve camping site. It was about a two hour drive from Walla Walla, and we didn't get there in time to find an open camp site. We did drive around the entire camp site and walk around, and it was beautiful. Suitable for both RV and tent camping. I'd just like to warn potential campers that the GPS gave us the wrong directions and took us on this very backwoods road that was pretty much not a road and the side of a mountain. There is a real road going to this campsite!
Guide
We tent camped for the weekend in mid-July. The plan was to camp at Jubilee Lake, but it was full when we arrived Friday evening. Target Meadows is just a short drive from the lake, but there were plenty of sites available. The campground is heavily wooded with beautiful evergreens. Sites are private and well spaced. This is a rustic campground, so there is no water or power. Amenities include (very clean!) pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits with cooking grates. There is a lot of dry timber on the ground, so it is easy to collect your own firewood. There is easy access to hiking, including Burnt Cabin trailhead. Most campsites are trailer friendly, including a few with drive-through access. We really enjoyed the area and will be back again!
Ranger
This park accepts Good Sam discounts. There are a few full timers but are kept clean. The park is right on the edge of town. Nestled between a river and a horse farm he will hear a rooster everyday you will hear a donkey. There are wild turkey in the area but they're quite quiet. I paid just under $150 a week. Laundry machines work well there are two washers and two dryers buck and a quarter each. They have showers. They have a tent area for tent camping. There is usually no one on duty but they do have propane I just don't know how to use it or get it. There is a Wi-Fi password and the cell phone signal is not bad. I use T-Mobile. 5 minutes away from a decent grocery store. 30 minutes away from Miller's home improvement and Walmart. And did I mention full hookups.
Legend
General: 41 RV sites with water and electric plus 11 tent sites in a grassy common area.
Site Quality: Reasonable separation between the sites. The back-in sites are wide enough to comfortably fit a TT, 5th wheel or RV and your toad or other vehicle side-by-side. The pull-through sites are very large. All sites have gravel camper pads and most appeared very level or had a level area. Our site, along with several others, had a nice view of Lake Sacajawea.
Bath/Shower house: Clean even if a little dated. Didn’t use the shower so cannot comment on that except that the hooks are located outside of the shower stalls so even though there is a swinging door to the shower area, privacy is compromised a bit by this design.
Activities: Unless you have a boat (there is a boat launch and dock), not too much to do here except relax. There is a small swimming area but no beach to speak of (grassy and pebbly area). There is a playground and horseshoe pits but no hiking trails that I could see.
To get to this campground, you drive past many miles of apple orchards and then suddenly, you see the lake and campground. There are quite a few trees for shade. Surprisingly good cell (Verizon) given the remoteness of the campground. Be aware there are train tracks nearby and you will hear an occasional loud train. It was very quiet on the Wednesday before Labor Day, but we were told it would be completely full on the weekend.
ScoutExcellent 1/2 point between home in Idaho and the Oregon Coast. Tent and full hook ups with helpful campground hosts.
Yes, you can hear the freeway from the campground - so it may not be recommended for tent campers.
Guide
Hilgard Junction is a small, Riverside day use area, travel rest-stop and campground at the junction of I-84 and Highway 244 on the Grande Ronde river at the base of Mt. Emily.
This park is near La Grande, Oregon so if you are not just resting on your trip, you can run into a cute little university town to explore the Eastern Oregon local life.
Crystal clear water runs this high in the Grande Ronde, making for fun swimming and water play. Make sure to bring your gold pan to this shallow river bed, as it has been historically found all along this river. The RV park has no connections so bring your generator and solar panels with you. This is self contained type of camp, that provides two bathrooms and firewood.
It is an ADA friendly area with paved rv spots and designated well kept tent spots. Keep in mind this park is directly off of the interstate so there are a lot of random travelers coming and going at all hours of the day and night. One minor bit of awkwardness is that there is a youth correctional facility less than a mile up the road. So your traveling children maybe curious and ask odd questions if they see it.
GuideJubilee lake is a beautiful densely forested mountain top man made lake in the Blue Mountains in Eastern Oregon. The lake water is semi murky in the muddy areas but clear and beautiful in the pebble beach areas. This body of water makes for a beautiful backdrop that glistens in the sun.
There are 53 designated campground spots with sporadic dispersed camping all over the road on the way in. The sites are non-reservable. The campground is semi primitive with some sites having basic water hookups, there are flushable and pit toilets both available.
The lake is chilly but swimmable from July - September. The camping spots are pretty spaced out and private. Some are very landscaped and fun to be in such as the dual level spots. Some spots are lake front, but most lake front is wild and picnic/day use.
This is a popular location for canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding. There is a 2.8 mile trail circling the lake with breathtaking views all along. A rope swing into the water awaits the daring, am easy 20+ ft arc with a variable drop.
2 weeks is the maximum stay, rvs and tents are both allowed inside, most spots can easily take a 32 ft trailer. Remember this is a very popular destination, so be on the look out for the spots on the way in, just in case it is full.
RangerWe camped here May 2016. This park we tried the tent only site and it was a bit of a walk to haul all of our stuff. The trees were in bloom and bugs hatching & swarming, so that was a huge hurdle. Fishing was great off of the docks. Showers were nice, although not located in the tent part of camp. Bathrooms were ok, but no lights at night. The beach would be nice when the water is higher, otherwise it's just muddy.
Guide
Good experience camping here. Really loved watching the sunset over the water while taking a stroll by the shore. Metal fire pit made perfect for dinner, and the ground was mostly even for our tent.
Guide
When you want the basics, this spot delivers. Bring water. Plenty of space for tents or RVs. Lots of shade and nearby to the Grande Ronde River.
Traveler
Lovely, mostly quiet and dark, I called about pitching my tent for a night and they said they had a grassy spot by the bathroom. Very kind folks
Scout
We just needed a quick tent soot on a monday night on the way to moab. better than expected. bit muddy. some shells. but lots of space. drove in to about 45.35967, -118.30846
Guide
This site was right next to Fort Walla Walla, with a park and dog park. Not much else here but weird animal statues and long-term RVers. Lots of hookups for RV and trailers. No tent or car camping. The bathrooms were still closed June 2021, need to use your own hookups.
Guide
Beautiful little pull off campground, single loop with 6 sites - pit toilets, fire pit, and picnic table. There is cell reception, $8/night for standard tent. Only issue is it’s close to the road so you can hear when truckers go by, otherwise perfect primitive camping spot
Scout
We stayed in one of the few tent spots on the water. The backdrop is stunning and the water is close enough falling asleep to it is relaxing. It’s a little small overall and would be cramped if the park was full.
GuideSo much history in this area. A nice little camp with full hookups, cabins and tent spots. LITERALLY right next to the freeway. Camp host was not friendly and the noise never stopped. Keep on going down the road and look for something else if you’re looking for a true outdoors experience.
GuideThis campground is great. We’ve stayed twice - once in a tent and once in a cabin and had a wonderful experience both times. We must have lucked out, because the nights we stayed traffic noise didn’t seem bad at all. Bathrooms are nice and clean. The surroundings are so pretty and walking through the campground is so peaceful!
Tent camping near Milton-Freewater, Oregon, offers a serene escape into nature, with various campgrounds providing unique amenities and activities for outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Milton-Freewater, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Milton-Freewater, OR is Mottet with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Milton-Freewater, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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