Best Dispersed Camping near Port Orford, OR

Searching for a dispersed campsite near Port Orford? Find the best information on dispersed campgrounds near Port Orford, including photos, reviews, and tips. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Port Orford's most popular destinations.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Port Orford, OR (11)

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Recent Dispersed Reviews in Port Orford

21 Reviews of 11 Port Orford Campgrounds


  • Isaac H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 8, 2024

    Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping

    PNW road trip 🏕️

    Great area with lots of room to separate you from others ! The road in is paved till you drop into the actual camp site which is rocky but easy for a suv to do. The views are amazing and the privacy is even better!

  • bThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping
    Aug. 10, 2024

    Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping

    Dispersed camping!

    Elk dispersed camping starts 8 miles up elk river rd. Everything past the fish hatchery is fair game. We found a great pull off that led under a bridge. Beautiful spot and no bothersome traffic

  • Ciara W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping
    Aug. 8, 2024

    Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping

    Not great for starlink

    Full time van lifers who work remote. Very dense in a valley spot, starlink would not work great for a work day. So many bugs when we arrived at night.

    Wouldn’t dare try going down the steep rough dirt road knowing internet wouldn’t be great.

  • Ciara W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping
    Aug. 6, 2024

    Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping

    Careful with maps

    Great spot by a river. Refreshing water not too cold, deep enough to float.

    Starlink internet is spotty here but you should be good if you park further away from the river.

    Be careful with maps! This listing has the wrong pin on the map. If you use coordinates and google maps it will get you to the right side. If you come across a road with a dead end sign, you’re on the wrong side of the river.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Rocky Riffle
    Jun. 21, 2024

    Rocky Riffle

    Area closed

    It looked like a decent place to camp with river access. I was disappointed the camp was closed due to fire. I saw a couple campers but I didn't stay.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping
    Aug. 12, 2023

    Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping

    Refreshing creek and easy access

    We were looking for a last minute place to camp when our last site didn’t work out. This place was perfect! They have dammed up a bit of the creek to make a perfect deep area to take a bath. It’s nice a secluded behind trees to shield you from the other campers.

    We went on a Friday night and there were three other groups but plenty of space for a another couple of people. The road to access this is paved and very accessible BUT there is a steep gravel hill to get down into the campground. It is pitted and difficult to get up/down but we managed in an AWD Subaru crosstrek. Someone else brought down an entire trailer. I have no idea how but I guess it’s possible.

    The entrance is marked with a large rock painted red. You can’t miss it. Just put in the coordinates and you’ll take you right to it.

    Perfect secluded little campground. Highly recommend!!

  • Mandi W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping
    Jul. 2, 2023

    Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping

    Don’t use Apple Maps to get there

    We tried to get to these coordinates with Apple Maps on an iPhone, and it took us somewhere completely different in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal or people for miles. The road it had us go down was very steep, couldn’t get back up and had to make camp there and hike for help the next morning. I gave a second star because on our hike we had to cross this river a few times and it is absolutely beautiful. Crystal clear, cool, perfect for swimming.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping
    Jan. 24, 2023

    Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping

    In a burn area

    This was an ok site. We visited middle of January and we were the only campers here. It was nice being by the river but this area recently had a fire go through it and there was a lot of down trees/erosion.

    Also, the amount of trash here was rather disappointing and we were concerned our dog would step on something sharp. We tried to pick up as much as possible but there were a lot of small bits and it appeared to be from a long term camp for whoever was piling up a lot of trash over a long period of time.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Argo Bar
    Oct. 5, 2022

    Argo Bar

    Good and Free

    I'll add another review since we did go back there this summer and stay there for a night. But I'd check on the effects of the Rum Fire if you're planning to go to this area. Not sure what the river area looks like now. :(

    We couldn't really find a flat place to park, and so ended up parking just along the bathroom, which was rhe flattest spot here. It was a nice and peaceful stay, quiet, watching boaters and rafting companies coming and going all day. Nobody else was there at night.

    The area is beautiful but there's not much to do unless you have a boat or a car. No nearby hikes within walking distance.

    Still zero cell service. 14 day stay limit. Garbage bins and recycling and bathrooms on site. Free!

  • C
    Camper-submitted photo from Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 5, 2021

    Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping

    It is what it is….

    We live in Brookings and go up the Chetco to this river bar or to Nook or Miller Bar all summer long. No, there’s no spaces and no hookups and no cell service for miles. It’s just a gravel bar on the river where you pull your camper wherever feels good and unhitch and camp. You might have some USDA Forest Service employee drop off a pay envelope at your site but , there’s no place to leave it and they may or may not come back to get it. It sometimes gets crowded during holidays and weekends and the good places, not next to rapids and close enough to good swimming holes, become rare. So you might have to settle for something less than ideal. And, the porta potties might get full. There’s no one enforcing quiet hours or leash laws and no form of law enforcement anywhere nearby. There is a Forest Service LEO assigned to the area but in 18 years, I’ve never seen him on the bar. Despite all this, incidents involving injuries or violence or crime are exceptionally rare. It’s a great kayaking and swimming place and there’s nearby rocks for jumping off. Remember! It’s a river not a lake so kids ought to have life jackets. Please note….as the summer progresses, the water level drops, the temperature rises and the algae grows. As such, we prefer June camping.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Argo Bar
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Argo Bar

    Wide Open, Right On the River, and Free

    We checked this spot out and ended up moving on to keep looking, but would come back here if ever in the area.  

    This is a recreation site / boat ramp, and it's wide open for camping as well.  When you pull in, you first see a large area that looks like a parking lot.  It wasn't until we left the spot and looked back on it from the higher road that we saw that the camp area extended a bit past the bathrooms into more camp friendly spots, with some shade and greenery.

    No cell service in this whole area.

    There is a pit toilet, and trash and recycling bins.  No fires at this time!

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Rocky Riffle
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Rocky Riffle

    Hot, Dusty and Nice (and Free!)

    This BLM area is a quick turn off the main road.  Take a right or left to start the loop and you’ll find various spots for dispersed camping. The road is mostly ok with some areas of high rocks but we made it in our 26ft Class C with only one ding on the steps. Larger vehicles might have problems along the lower half of the loop, but the upper half was doable.  There are some spots close to the river and others up above it more with nice views as well as shade.

    There are a few “long term residents" here.  One was right on the water with a big mirror and a homemade sign warning of “thieves among us." The sheriff and ranger came by the next day and left citation on his camp. Nothing scary nor anything that made us feel unsafe at all. 

    This is a dry camp with no amenities. Tent/car campers welcome but must have port-a-potties. You must pack out your waste and trash. We found several trash piles which we cleaned up. There are NO fires allowed at this time. Also be aware that there is a lot of poison oak around. 

    Also there were unleashed dogs, one in particular that wandered into our camp site every morning. A lot of rafters and kayakers, especially on weekends, but they stay mostly on the water but can become quite loud at times. River access in this area is available in a only few spots that you have to walk to. There is no real shoreline to hang out in unless someone is not camped right in those areas. 

    Zero cell reception from ATT, verizon and TMobile in this whole area.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping
    Jun. 25, 2021

    Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping

    Dive right in!

    Sooooo, apparently dispersed is no longer free in some places. This campground was$10 a night. But for that$10 you get camping on the gravel bar right next to the river with semi-clean porta potties. The best reason to camp here is that you are in the“banana belt” of southern Oregon where it gets really warm. I was able to dive right into the river from my site(I was camped next to a really deep part of the river). There are lots of fire rings set up all over the gravel bar, you just have to pick who you want to camp next to. There were the usual rowdy groups as well as hige family gatherings and the line campers as well.

  • Quinn Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 29, 2020

    Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping

    Wonderful and free dispersed camping right on the river.

    I stumbled on this site accidentally back in early August when en-route to some of the official campgrounds on the Elk River that were just a bit further down the road. Wasn't too impressed with those, so on the way back toward Port Orford I decided to pull off at this spot to see what might be found as you can find dispersed camping spots up and down the river. So glad I did.

    The area is a large stony beach, hence the name I made up when I created this listing. It's good for cars and smaller campers / RVs. I'm not sure big RVs would be good for this setting. The dirt path from the main road down to the beach is very short but a bit steep and with some big dips when I was there so very low-clearance vehicles might have an issue getting in and out. For tents, the beach would likely be uncomfortable given its rockiness, but that's OK because there are a few places just off the beach that have dirt and tree-cover and are perfect for tent camping. I found a great spot with good shade, a well-made stone firepit, and an easy place to hang my hammock. Loved it so much I decided to hunker down for four days and just settle in.

    The river is crystal clear and was refreshing in August. It gets deep on the left side of the beach area so you can properly swim if you want to (see my silly "let's test out my new GoPro" video to see what I mean). That area is popular with locals for day-use so you'll often see more people during the day then at night. Only had a few other campers staying the nights, and we had enough space between us. Privacy wasn't an issue. No toilets though, so you'll need to get creative with that.

    For camp fires, make sure to check the local regulations. When I was there they had a burn ban and the forestry guys came through somewhat regularly to check. They will ticket you if you break the rules. $250 fine I believe.

    The drive to Port Orford, the closest town, is about 30 minutes each way. Not too bad, but if you want to settle in and not move for a while, you'll want to stock up. No cell phone reception either, at least for me on Verizon, but I got to the point where I really appreciated that. This is a damn fine spot to really unplug. That said, there are some great hikes around Port Orford (check out Humbug Mountain if you want a proper workout) so there are more reasons than just supply runs to go out and return.

    All in all a phenomenal free dispersed camp site that I would 100% recommend and return to.

  • Rissa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Rogue River Dispersed Campsites
    Jul. 18, 2018

    Rogue River Dispersed Campsites

    Rocky Point Dry Camping

    We have been camping here for years. We just spent 6 days on the roads rafting and camping. We love this place. There is no shade and no hookups. Very nice and peaceful area. We love the Galice area and will return year after year.

  • Kay C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping
    Apr. 18, 2018

    Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping

    FREE is always good.....

    When we need a free place to stay over on the southern Oregon coast, Redwood bar works. It can sometimes be a party place, especially on weekends but go during the week and you might have the place all to yourselves. Be care diving out on the gravel bar, have seen some big rigs get stuck. The water in the river is amazing and as clean as you can get.

  • Daniel S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping
    Oct. 14, 2017

    Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping

    It wonderful and quiet and perfect here!

    We once stumbled upon this pace by accident. Had an amazing first day of adventuring so spent a second night. Its dispersed camping in the Siskiyou National Forrest. So find a place that you like and stay there. Only want to light fires in existing fire pits. Everything was so moist from recent rein we found it difficult to get a fire going. Once we did the wahoo.

    Theres mostly hiking/meanderring here. If your not satisfied with that beat it! The Redwoods here were fantastic. Not as grandiose as the California red woods but more quiet, less people. In 2 days we only saw one other group.

    Cheers!

  • Jessica C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Rogue River Dispersed Campsites
    Sep. 14, 2017

    Rogue River Dispersed Campsites

    Rogue River

    We stopped for the night on our way through during a work trip. We stayed in our van wick makes everything nice and easy. To our surprise we fished in the evening and in the morning without seeing anyone else. Nice quiet spots along the river. Most have camp fire rings. The Rogue River is beautiful we will be back!



Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Port Orford, OR?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Port Orford, OR is Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Port Orford, OR?

    TheDyrt.com has all 11 dispersed camping locations near Port Orford, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.