Matt G.
Ranger
RangerElliott State Forest Dispersed
Decent pull off
The road up was a little bump but a few spots to choose from. Nice and secluded, with berries all around you. Cell coverage enough to text.
Camping near Mapleton, OR
179 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping near Mapleton, Oregon spans developed campgrounds and primitive sites throughout the Siuslaw River valley, with options ranging from tent camping and RV sites to cabins and yurts. 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. 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 Campgrounds near Mapleton (179)
1. Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park Campground
"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!"
from $24 - $89 / night
Check Availability2. Sutton Campground
"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."
from $35 - $250 / night
Check Availability3. Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park Campground
"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."
from $89 / night
Check Availability4. Harbor Vista Campground
"This campground is operated by Lane County (Oregon). For $30 / night, it offers electrical (30-amp) and water hookups (threaded spigots)."
"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."
from $35 - $70 / night
Check Availability5. Thousand Trails South Jetty
"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."
6. Alder Dune Campground
"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."
from $35 / night
Check Availability7. Port of Siuslaw Campground & Marina
"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."
from $35 - $55 / night
Check Availability8. Archie Knowles Campground
"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."
"Although this is right off the highway (so kinda loud) it is nestled next to a beautiful creek. The campsites and bathrooms are clean and well maintained and camp host was friendly and helpful."
9. Whittaker Creek Recreation Site
"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."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability10. Cape Perpetua
"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. "
from $39 - $220 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 48 min from Eugene, OR
- 1 hr 15 min from Corvallis, OR
- 1 hr 24 min from Albany, OR
- 1 hr 47 min from Salem, OR
Recent Camping Photos near Mapleton, OR
260 Photos of 179 Mapleton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Maple Lane RV Park & MarinaL
Whittaker Creek Recreation Site
BLM Kentucky Falls Road
Mercer Lake ResortR
Alder Dune Campground
Horse Creek Campground — Siuslaw National Forest
Port of Siuslaw Campground & Marina
Harbor Vista Campground
Baker Beach CampgroundV
Thousand Trails South Jetty
Stoney Acres FarmsteadJ
Recent Reviews near Mapleton, OR
1325 Reviews of 179 Mapleton Campgrounds
- DDante O.
TravelerShamrock Village RV And Mhp
Nice river, mid everything else
I called to reserve 2 nights & was told I would be at a full hookup site. When I arrived on a Sunday the office was closed and the papers they left had me at a site with partial hookups. When I went to resolve the issue with the office the next day they said there is no price difference between full hookup and partial hookup sites and told me to dump at a 76 ten mins away. Felt shady/scammy. No rates posted anywhere.
The electrical hookup and water hookup were about 40 feet apart. You will likely need 50 feet of hose to use the water hookup.
The riverfront site was pretty, but my neighbors left dog poop all over their stretch of lawn and neighbors on the other side also left trash all over their site. No privacy and pretty noisy throughout the night. Bathrooms were clean.
- LLeonard H.Ranger
Harbor Vista Campground
Paved Level Private Sites
Good rest rooms and showers. Dump station is working and included in fee for campers. Close to old town Florence for shopping / eating experience. Non-Oregon residents pay higher rates. Otherwise, concur with other more detailed prior reviews. Would stay again.
- LLeonard H.Ranger
South Beach State Park Campground
Level Paved Sites... Good Restrooms
Large level campground with well maintained landscaping. Asphalt paved roads and sites. Restrooms have flush toilets, hot/cold water sinks and individual showers. No tokens req'd. Nice asphalt paved walking path gets you close to beach for nice beach walks with views of iconic bridge from near jetty. Close to Oregon Aquarium which is good side trip. Sites lack privacy... and are a little close together but not bad... Quiet at night except for distant surf Would stay again.
- LLani S.
ScoutRichardson Park & Campground - A Lane County Park
It’s been good
The park is clean and quiet. Showers are great, bathroom is clean and staff is friendly and helpful. Sad it’s end of season. Will be returning In the future.
- DDenise M.
GuideSouth Beach State Park Campground
Nice beach campground
This is a very nice clean campground. They have showers and a gift shop. The spaces are nice and not to close together. They also have a cute little book exchange in the main road. The beach is a .25 mile walk away in a paved path. Wery easy to get to. They allow pets on leashes but once you get to the beach, dogs can be off leash. The only negative I feel is they charge more for out of state residents which in my opinion is unfair and overpriced. And that does not include the 10.00 booking fee. 😐
- MMATTHEW R.Ranger
South Beach State Park Campground
Nice state park with beach access
Very misty in early October but still nice.
- LLeonard H.Ranger
Richardson Park & Campground - A Lane County Park
Good Public Park
Paved almost level sites with 30A and potable water. Flush toilets with hot water sinks in restrooms. Individual showers. Easy walk to day use lake area with docks. Lots of shade. Dump station CLOSED. Free Eugene Municipal Dump Station at 410 RIVER AVENUE... NOT 410 River Road! CHEVRON STATION dump not there anymore! Wish the listed campground alternative dump info would have been correct...
- DDuane H.Guide
Armitage Park & Campground - a Lane County Park
Great stay
Second time here. Full hook ups, very good showers, laundry, all you need. Nice level paved sites that have plenty of space and a nice staff.
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?
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 12 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mapleton, OR?
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 74 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mapleton, OR?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mapleton, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Mapleton, OR.
What parks are 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.
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