North Bend is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. North Bend is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
"You have to drive some winding forest service roads to get to a spot then find one on or near the road but there's a couple good camp spots."
"Nice and close to Bandon. No trouble accessing in our midsize suv. It was muddy at the site, and unfortunately, those before us left a lot of trash. Did my best to clean up when was left behind."
"It's beautiful, right next to a river that is actually accessible to old farts like myself.. No hookups.. now sewer.. This is a primitive and first come first serve.."
"The camping is clean and the surroundings are gorgeous. The camp host is super friendly and nice. Best rate on firewood. By the barrel. The river is beautiful."
$10 / night
"We camp close to the sand so we can take our dirtbikes out early. Bathrooms are close, town is nearby with delicious deli food and the hosts are very nice."
$55 - $160 / night
"There is a propane, fire ring, a clothesline, a fire pit, a picnic table, comfy chairs, Perfectly placed, solar lights, and much more!"
"We're happy to welcome your host Heather to our platform. With several sites to choose from, we're sure you'll find one that suites you. Book your stay today and come back to leave them some love."
RangerIn the morning we saw a bald eagle fly in front of a rainbow over the ocean.
Not technically a campground, but you can sleep here on the beach if you tuck away into the dunes. There are no bathrooms and no showers. My partner and I rode bikes out to the South Jetty near Florence and set a tent in the hills. Can be difficult to haul loaded bikes over the steep dune to access the beach.
Leave no trace!
LegendUmpqua Lighthouse Campground is on top of a hill, which would make sense since there is a lighthouse there. If you are hiking and biking you may not want to make the effort choosing to stay at the bottom of the hill at the crappy RV/Tent camp in the wind or just keep going in either direction to a campground on more level ground, but that would be a mistake. Make it up to the top, and you'll be rewarded with an out of the way, minimally populated camp tucked into the trees just past the lighthouse, and with trails, wildlife and brand new bathrooms and showers.
The Hiker/Biker Camp is just past the entry to the camp, down the trail towards Lake Marie. It has three different areas leveled off with shared storage boxes, fire pits and picnic tables. Each little clear is open to itself but nicely private to the other clearings so if you're traveling with a small group you can take over a whole area if you choose. Unlike most of the other Oregon State Park campgrounds there were not REI branded charging stations or bike tools, but the camp hosts let us plug into their outlets as needed.
They were just finishing the building of brand new bathroom/shower facilities while I was there, but even the portable set up they had was one of the nicest ones I've seen in a campground. Deer were wandering about, and there was plenty of bird watching.
The main campground area was divided into a loop and straight line stretch. Sites varied from open with privacy trees to entirely shaded. Despite it being a weekend during the summer the camp wasn't full, and it was easy for travelers to pull in and grab a spot.
Walk down the hill to the Lake Marie Trail for a quiet trip around the small lake. A few benches were found along the lake making great opportunities for relaxed reflection or a glass of wine. Shooting off from the LMT were trails out to the Umpqua Bay and the ocean side beaches.
Amenities include:
Oregon State Park Hiker/Biker sites cost $7-8
*Pro-Tip: There is a really windy, less cool campground at the bottom of the hill near the entry to Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. Go up the hill. It will be worth it. Even if you've been hiking or riding all day. It is better.
LegendI liked how this campsite was set up, the sites along the inner hill have parking spaces down below, with a short walk into the pads and fire rings. This makes for a little more privacy and you don't hear people getting into their cars all the time. It wasn't overly populated either, so in the morning and at night, when the hwy traffic died down, it was very peaceful and you could hear just the slightest ocean sound in the distance. My main complaint was the 'nature trail' that was just off the campground, it was nice until it took you out on the dunes. The signage said there was beach access, but I never got close enough to get out on it. At one point the trail was washed out. Also the trail itself was not well marked, as I realized miles into a hunting trail that had obviously not been used a lot. I made it back to camp okay, after having to turn back. A 6 mile loop turned into a 9 mile adventure up and down the dunes. Very beautiful scenery and lots of wildlife to watch along the way though, overall a decent experience. No onsite sales of wood and no showers, but fairly clean flush toilet bathrooms.
PROS:
CONS:
GuideAwesome little campground in the thick of the forest that backs up to the Elk River. The drive there is a narrow, winding road along the Elk River, lush green ferns and trees, and over a dozen small waterfalls. The small campground is free to campers and managed by the United States Forest Service. Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire ring. There are vault toilets. The campsites are accessible by vehicle, making it perfect for truck camping or tent camping. There is no cell phone reception or nearby services.
RangerThe weekend we spent at Sunset Bay was busy with limited availability. In our group was my mother-in-law who requires ADA facilities, and a potty training toddler. All of the designated ADA sites were full. Standard sites require an extensive, uneven, walk to the restroom, a problem for those needing ADA facilities, potty trainers, and middle of the night restroom users. The only play area is across the street (there is a path that crosses under the road) it provides only horseshoe toss pits, beach volleyball nets, and a basketball hoop. We stayed in A loop which is along the road and adjacent to the ranger station/entrance. There were limited barriers resulting in loud road noise, car lights at all hours, and a lot of wind. Tent sites, yurts, motor home sites, and dedicated hiker/biker sites are available, though tent sites are not level. Included in the cost of the camping fee is entrance to the botanical gardens with your vehicle permit, guided hikes to the tide pools, and educational events, such as animal lectures, in the amphitheater.
RangerLArgentina open spaces for people who have toy haulers. Tons of noise all day and night. Come here if you have sand toys or horses!
Rest rooms but no showers. Basic fire rings and that's it.
Right next to the dunes!
LegendWe just had to escape the crazy busy Oregon Coast so we drove inland to this county park along the North Fork of the Coquille River. There are modern flush toilets and vault toilets. Our campsite was between two waterfalls including Laverne Falls. We had a view of the smaller one from our creek side site. We paid $15.23 for site 59. Picnic table, fire ring and potable water. We were there on a Monday night with just a few campers present but the locals enjoy it on the weekends for swimming and picnicking. Beautiful setting.
TravelerBluebill is a wonderful little spot to camp, hike, explore, fish, and enjoy the quiet. You can hear the dune buggies off in the distance which makes it feel close to home without being disturbing.
Wild Mare camp is next to Bluebill Campground so you may hear an occasional horse whinnying, also makes it feel close to home without being disturbing.
Bluebill Lake is a wonderful hike with a great trail to the water if you want to do some fishing.
The Pacific Ocean is less than a mile away, with a gorgeous view from the top of the trail.
My only confusion was the information board said to check in with the camp host, there isn't one there. Obviously, a volunteer position, but the park rangers should be more involved in the campground. Stayed four days, never saw a ranger.
No internet at all, spotty cell service at best. No electricity. No hook ups. No showers. Be prepared to be self contained.
It was clean, quiet, and comfortable. Other campers followed the rules.
Check out is 1pm, check in is 2pm.
Wonderful spot to camp.
RangerWayside campground just outside of Mapleton, OR. We stayed here when we made a last minute trip to Florence, OR and all other campgrounds were full. This is a Primitive campground with no hookups. There is a small restroom in the park, but no showers.
There is no playground, but its located a long a small creek that my kids loved playing in with their sand buckets.
Overall a nice place, when you need a place to stay near the coast.
North Bend, Oregon, offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for beautiful scenery and unique experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near North Bend, OR is Elliott State Forest Dispersed with a 3.8-star rating from 13 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 30 tent camping locations near North Bend, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
