Camping near Oakland, Oregon offers access to the North Umpqua River watershed at elevations ranging from 500-800 feet. The area experiences moderate rainfall from October through May with summer temperatures frequently reaching above 90°F. Many campgrounds in this region operate seasonally with limited water availability during late summer months when river levels drop.
What to do
River recreation: At Whistlers Bend County Park, visitors can enjoy the North Umpqua River with multiple activities. "You can float the river, watch out for the white water!! Kids can swim and Dad can catch a bunch of small mouth bass," notes Barney M. about the area's fishing opportunities.
Disc golf: The championship-level disc golf course at Whistlers Bend ranks among Oregon's finest courses. "Sprawling and varried disc golf course with some spectacular long shots, and tight trees," explains Brant T., highlighting the course's technical challenges.
Drive-in movies: Hi-Way Haven RV Park offers a unique camping experience with its converted drive-in theater. "Drive in with your sweetie while camping, BBQ and drinks, dog park with some Frisby golf. Man life don't get much better then this," shares Kelly H. The park shows movies on the original drive-in screen during summer months.
What campers like
River access: At Tyee Campground, campers appreciate the direct water access. "The Umqua River has a special place in my heart and it one of my favorites to inner tube down! The river was once a blazing lava river that was taken over by deep crystal clear waters that carve out holes and pockets in the smooth rock," writes Kristina H.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards of cleanliness, particularly noticeable at BLM Tyee. "Earl, the camp host, works hard and has the cleanest pit toilets that I have used in a long time," reports Barney M., highlighting the maintenance standards at this Bureau of Land Management site.
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer good separation between camping spots. "Each site has quite a bit of privacy," notes Nick J. about BLM Tyee's layout. At Hi-Way Haven RV Park, "nice packed gravel sites with paved patio areas and wood fence dividers between sites" provide camper separation according to Andrea P.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds near Oakland require advance booking, especially during peak summer months. Kelly P. advises about Tyee Campground, "You need to make reservations in advance or use the courtesy phone to call reservation.gov and pay with a card."
River safety concerns: The Umpqua River can present hazards for swimmers and water recreationists. Kristina H. warns, "It is very slippery here so I would absolutely recommend anyone that plans on visiting to bring slip resistant water shoes."
Road noise levels: Rising River RV Resort and other campgrounds near major roads experience traffic noise. Jeff K. notes about Tyee Recreation Site, "The biggest downside is significant road noise which continues for most of the night. If that doesn't bother you it's a five star campground."
Campsite size limitations: Some campgrounds have restrictions on RV size or tent placement. At Whistlers Bend County Park, Janelle H. points out, "Maybe tough for bigger rigs as there are a lot of trees to navigate around."
Tips for camping with families
Group camping options: Whistlers Bend County Park offers dedicated group camping areas. Kat L. shares, "Camped there for a rafting association event and it was great. Bathrooms were clean, friendly staff, disc golf course and river access is a huge bonus."
Playground access: Families with children will find dedicated play areas at select campgrounds. Brant T. mentions that Whistlers Bend has a "play structure for the little ones," making it "great place to just get outdoors, without being too far from stores and humanity."
Safe swimming spots: Bar Run Golf and RV Resort offers structured water recreation options. Julie G. reports, "The pool is amazing with a lazy river and inner tubes to float on with a large 1-4ft area. Brand new and still under construction. Lifeguards are on duty."
Yurt options: For families wanting alternatives to tent camping, Whistlers Bend provides yurt accommodations. Tim W. notes, "They now have 3 hurts, one overlooks the river in the newer camp area and the other 2 overlook the old camp area."
Tips from RVers
Pull-through site availability: Hi-Way Haven RV Park offers convenient pull-through sites for easier setup. Andrea P. describes, "All sites are pull through, fenced off leash dog area, several other on leash dog areas, playground, nice little store, ice, propane on site."
Gate access information: Some RV parks implement security measures with restricted entrance times. Carrie explains about Rising River RV Resort, "The RV park is a gated community that needs a passcode from 6 pm to 8am daily."
Site surface details: Different campgrounds offer varying pad materials. At Whistlers Bend County Park, Jennifer C. notes, "Our space 41 was easy to back into & set up," while Julie G. shares that Bar Run "is new with concrete pads. Back-ins have grass, Pull throughs have a turf pad."
