Tent camping near Rogue River offers unique woodland and alpine settings across a 4,000-foot elevation range, from riverside locations at 1,000 feet to mountain sites above 6,000 feet. The camping season extends from April through October at lower elevations, while higher areas like Mount Ashland remain snow-covered until June. Summer temperatures range from 50°F at night to 90°F during peak daytime hours, with significant cooling at higher elevations.
What to do
Swimming and fishing: At Squaw Lakes, visitors enjoy both activities in a motor-free environment. "The water has the most beautiful silver shale sparkles, and almost always feels warm," notes Jennifer A., who recommends bringing "good bug spray, even for when you're unloading."
River access: Cedar Bloom offers two distinct water areas. "There are 2 areas with river access, a shallow area and a deep swimming hole, with the option to float down some mild (and fun!) rapids," explains Nenah B., who appreciated that "the shower water was hot and refreshing, it was so special to know the water came directly from the river."
Stargazing: Mountain locations provide exceptional night viewing opportunities. "You are at 4000 feet and you can see the milky way clearly," reports Kevin T. about Onion Mountain Lookout. For lower elevation stargazing, Cave Creek Campground offers similar experiences, with Kevin R. noting "The night sky up here is simply breathtaking."
What campers like
Free camping options: Mount Ashland Campground provides no-cost sites with basic amenities. "It is a marked campground that is FREE. Simply follow the road past the ski area and you will find it," shares Hannah H., adding "there was space to park in the turnoffs or off-road past the campground for more private camping spots."
Off-season solitude: Winter and early spring camping offers emptier campgrounds. Visiting Carberry Campground in December, Jeannea P. found "the whole place to myself and set up in one of the spots closest to the creek. There are fire pits and picnic tables at each spot." Similar experiences await at Mount Ashland, where campers report having few neighbors on weekdays.
Communal facilities: Cedar Bloom offers unique shared spaces not typical of standard campgrounds. "The communal kitchen was perfect for prepping breakfast, lunch, and dinner," notes Nenah B., while Shawn A. recommends you "start your morning with a shower over looking the river or enjoy the zen sauna."
What you should know
Weather extremes: Mountain sites experience significant temperature swings and wind. At Mount Ashland Campground, Onyx E. experienced "rainy with harsh winds and very cold the second day. Maybe I went a bit too late in the season." Abby M. confirms it is "WINDY and I mean, drops 20 degrees windy, rocks the van windy."
Vehicle considerations: Many access roads require appropriate vehicles. Laura M. notes that at Mount Ashland "RVs or trailers would have a hard time finding a spot that would fit them" and "there did not appear to be a good turn around so it is advisable to walk up the road to assess to see if your rig has a space."
Tent site limitations: Some campgrounds are exclusively designed for tent camping. At Cave Creek Campground, Kelli B. explains "Despite its close location to the Caves, it is extremely hard to take any type of RV there. The road is paved, but Extremely Narrow with limited visibility. So this one is really for tent campers only."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Squaw Lakes provides safe swimming for children with no motorized boats. "Swimming, non-motorized boating, fishing, hiking, trail cycling, you name it, this place has it," shares Jennifer A., though she cautions you may need to "hire the camp host and his four-wheeler to drop your gear off at your site. You'll have to walk in."
Beach areas: Applegate Lake features family-friendly shore access. Diana D. notes "It's got a great beach area for kids to swim and play. Full of huge trout," making it suitable for both swimming and fishing with children.
Kid-friendly river spots: Cedar Bloom offers specialized areas for families. Katie G. found it "Super pretty scenery... Great for kids with a river on site nearby" and notes "One part of the river is designated as a nudist-friendly beach but is well-marked" allowing families to choose appropriate areas.
Tips from RVers
Limited RV accessibility: The best tent camping near Rogue River, Oregon often excludes larger vehicles. At Watkins Campground, Jeannea P. notes "Awesome lake access with a few different trails leading down to the water," but the narrow access roads limit RV use.
Mountain camping challenges: Mount Ashland presents specific challenges for RVers. Onyx E. advises "This campground is really only set up for tent campers. The place to park for vehicles is far from level. Even with camper jacks I was sleeping at an angle." For those with vans or campers, she recommends "parking at one of the more level pull offs before the campground then just walking up for the view."
Site leveling issues: Many forest service campgrounds have uneven parking areas. Abby M. found Mount Ashland "Not meant for big campers or large RV's. Bumpy 1/4 to the campground and very tight turnaround spots in the pull in areas," though she notes smaller vans can manage if prepared for the conditions.
