Campgrounds along Oregon's central coast near Siuslaw National Forest range from established state parks to lakeside RV resorts. The region includes several year-round options like Eel Creek Campground in Lakeside and Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park near Florence. Many facilities accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several locations also offering cabins, yurts, and glamping options. Sunset Bay State Park and William M. Tugman State Park provide electric hookups and showers, while Eel Creek Campground offers more primitive camping with drinking water and vault toilets but no hookups.
Access to many campgrounds requires advance planning, particularly during summer months when coastal sites fill quickly. Most campgrounds in the area operate year-round, though amenities may be limited in winter. Several locations offer boat-in access in addition to drive-in sites, particularly those situated on coastal lakes like Tenmile Lake. Facilities vary considerably across the region, with state parks generally providing more amenities than forest service campgrounds. A visitor noted that "Eel Creek has been one of our favorite campgrounds over the years... the sites are amazing, the John Dellenback Dunes Trail is an absolute must, especially at Dawn or Dusk, it's an other-worldly experience."
The proximity to Oregon's dramatic dunes and coastal lakes represents a major draw for campers in this region. Waterfront access points at parks like Osprey Point RV Resort and Tenmile Lake County Campground receive consistently positive feedback. Campers report satisfaction with trails connecting campgrounds to the dunes, though hiking in sand can be challenging. Sites within Siuslaw National Forest typically offer more privacy between campsites compared to private RV parks. According to one visitor, "Eel Creek Campground was a pleasant surprise. Nestled among the giant sand dunes... sits this well-placed campground that has large, spacious and private campsites." Noise from OHV activity on the dunes can impact some campgrounds, particularly those near designated dune access points.
$29 - $141 / night
"I am a big fan of the Oregon state parks. This one stands out. The park looks like it was done by a landscape architect. Kudos to whoever designed this place."
"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"
$26 - $88 / night
"We stay at Tugman often because it’s a great Oregon State Campground and is conveniently located off Hwy 101 and close to a lot of outdoor activities the southern coast of Oregon has to offer."
"Another Oregon state park wins again. Campsites feel tucked away in the forest. It was beautiful even when it was raining. Hardly anyone here in early March."
$22 - $44 / night
"Most sites contain a drive thru entrance with tent pad sites placed within large buses for privacy. The camproudn has a new flush toilets with sink & handdryer."
"I've been aware of the Eel Creek Campground since I started hiking the John Dellenback trail a few years ago. The trailhead is in Lakeside, OR, off Hwy 101 on the Oregon coast."
$29 - $119 / night
"This park is located in the beautiful Cape Arago area of the South-Central Oregon coast."
"Oregon State Parks are genuinely the bomb. We were so impressed with them! When we arrived at Sunset Bay, a light drizzle had started, but it created the perfect ambiance."
$54 - $264 / night
"The location was great and the amenities were superb."
"Convenience stores close by plus the resort has a general store with anything you could need. Site staff very friendly while keeping a distance, giving you just the right amount of privacy."
"Walking and bike path surrounds the park. Close to the small community of Winchester Bay that has a grocery store and restaurants. Just a great park."
"Park has a nice walking path that goes around the outside along the bay."
"Staff was helpful and let us change sites when we arrived to a better location. Nicely stocked store and restaurant on site. Fishing and boating at your door."
"Set on Tenmile Lake in Lakeside, OR, this is a nice little park. Spaces are pretty close together and turns are tight. There are some big rigs here, so it can work for you big guys."
$32 - $128 / night
"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!"
$32 / night
"North bend is near by and it’s just a beautiful place in Oregon right on the coats. Loved watching the fog roll in and exploring the tide pools."
"A berm of at least 10 ft surrounds. Big part of the site. Firewood delivered to site :) Brand new hot free showers close to the site."
$22 / night
"The lake is SO cute and we walked the path around it several times which morphs from dirt to roots to packed rocks to sand."
"You can hear the dune buggies off in the distance which makes it feel close to home without being disturbing."
TravelerI camp here almost every September. Its a great location for hiking and accessing the beach.
Flush toilets are clean and many water spigots near the sites.
Nice stream behind the camp sites for relaxing sounds.
TravelerI am so grateful someone told me about this campground. It has old growth trees and 15 miles of trails. It is a campground for people with horses but two of the spots are for anyone. ( Also, you can camp in a site that has corrals.) No one will make you leave. I walked the trails every day through the gorgeous forest. Would definitely come here again. The only drawback is that the first three quarters of a mile off the highway are mostly a single Lane road. I drove slowly and honked at the two large curves. But there were plenty of people up there with horse trailers so evidently, it's not as much of a problem. Eric, the camp host, is a great guy.
TravelerQuiet. Not too busy and not too empty. Easy access to the lakes and sand dunes. Bathroom is cleaner than most other ones. Would love to visit again.
GuideDecent county fairgrounds campground...kiosk check in..first come first served....some full hook up ..others water/electric with dump station......decent price....great for an overnight road warrior. I like municipal and county campgrounds....most are ideal for economical overnight hookups
GuideDecent location....a bit dusty....decent sites. Strange sewage hookups .macerator connections requires a different setup from the normal sewage and donut type. We just held our sewage until departure then dumped into their system with the help of the owner. Decent price considering the location. Several other campgrounds nearby but these folks had an opening for my dates and were accomodating....I would camp here again...I only booked the site a day or two prior to my arrival.
GuideVery few areas large enough to set up a camp. There are pull over areas along side the road which I did the first night. Then was lucky enough to get a good sized spot someone pulled out of.
No garbage or restrooms so clean up well, after yourself! Take plenty of supplies as nothing is available without a trip to a local town. But very peaceful and beautiful
Cell service is very spotty
TravelerI camped at Bullards Beach State Park Campground in August 2026 with my daughter. We pitched our tent in site A25. I became familiar with A-Loop. I only drove through the other two loops. B-Loop looked similar with sites for tents and RVs. C-Loop looked like it is better suited for RVs.
PROS & CONS
First of all, the staff I interacted with were all wonderful. The weather was unseasonably cool, but we still enjoyed our week at the campground. The biggest draw in my opinion is that the Pacific Ocean is only a short trek away.
Camping on the outside curve of A-Loop was nice because it was relatively calm and quiet, even on the weekend. Everyone respected quiet hours at this campground, more so than at any other campground I’ve stayed at. The sites have electric hookups and a water spigot, as well as a picnic table and fire ring. Firewood is sold at the entrance to the campground for $7 per bundle. Payment is card-only. Firewood bundles can also be purchased at McKay's in Bandon. Another option is a place named Frontier Unlimited just south of Bandon on the west side of highway 101. The firewood at Frontier Unlimited is in a gravel parking lot right before the Ocean Spray Cranberries facility. Unfortunately, they were sold out when we were there in late August.
There aren’t many trees in the Bullards Beach campground, but most of the sites in A-Loop at least had bushes surrounding them. I brought a hammock, but I couldn’t use it because there was only one tree in our campsite. I couldn't even find a good s'mores stick. As I walked around A-Loop, I didn’t see any sites that had more than one sturdy tree. There may be some sites in B-Loop with more trees. C-Loop has sparse vegetation, which is why it looked better suited for RVs.
The A-Loop restroom was kept cleaner than most public restrooms I’ve ever used. Besides the outstanding cleanliness, the restrooms are typical of Oregon state park campgrounds. The main drawback of the restroom is that there are no paper towels, only inadequate hand dryers. And the faucets just had cold water, although I found one faucet that could produce lukewarm water if I was patient. Another shortcoming is that the two stalls in the men’s bathroom are cramped. The campground is huge so I expected the bathrooms to have more than two small stalls. Also, there are no hooks in the men’s bathroom. At least there is a bench and there are metal trays above the three sinks. There is however a private, spacious handicap bathroom with a large counter, sink, bench, toilet and shower. I took a shower in there and man the water was hot! It was actually a bit too hot to bear.
BEACHES
From the campground entrance, the walk to Bullards Beach is about 1.25 miles down a mostly paved path. Along the way there is a string of parking lots with picnic tables and barbeques for day use. There is even a horseshoe pit near the middle of the day use area. It costs $10 a day to park in the lots. At the end of the parking lots there is a small sand dune, and beyond that is Bullards Beach. When we crested the dune, we found that the beach was mostly deserted. That could have been due to the foggy, windy weather, but it seemed like most of the tourists congregate at Bandon Beach. Regardless of the weather, I recommend visiting the historic Coquille River Lighthouse at the south end of Bullards Beach. I saw that the B-Loop has its own path to Bullards Beach called Pearl’s Trail. I didn’t notice it until we were leaving, so I don't know what it's like.
Besides Bullards Beach and Bandon Beach, which is a short drive south, we explored Seven Devils State Recreation Site 7 miles to the north. Also, at the south end of Bandon we checked out Tish-A-Tang Beach, which is 5.5 miles from the campground. One day we drove 30 miles south to Port Orford to see the desolate Cape Blanco Lighthouse and the little beaches below it. The lighthouse is cool but the weather wasn't conducive to hanging out at the beach down below, so we skipped that. I had been out there before, but I forgot that there are no public restrooms at Cape Blanco Lighthouse. I suggest making a pitstop in Port Orford before heading out to the second-most westerly point in the contiguous United States.
SUMMARY
Bullards Beach Campground is a peaceful, clean and comfortable place to “glamp” on the rugged southern Oregon Coast. The campground is home to a few wild turkeys and an abundance of lively birds. As for mammalian wildlife, the chipmunks were ever-present, we caught glimpses of rabbits, one evening a small bat flitted by, and we encountered a family of thieving raccoons. (I learned to store our food very securely). The Pacific weather can be capricious, but on the other hand there are very few insects. There were no mosquitoes, but I saw an occasional butterfly, moth, and flying termite. I just wish there were more trees in the campground so I could relax in my hammock. What I remember about the Cape Blanco State Park Campground (31 miles to the south) is that it's in a forest of Sitka spruce trees. But I would rather camp at Bullards Beach because it’s more sheltered from the stormy weather coming off the Pacific and there are more wide-open stretches of beach close by. I look forward to staying there again.
Travelersome tent sites right next to parking pad some a bit of a hike away which means hauling gear to the fire ring. not ideal if you just want to stay in your van and you have bad knees......IYKYK most sites are very close to each other? flush toilets, no other amenities
GuideEasy to park and dry camp or there are hookup spots that go quick during the summer. Great place to walk around and see the life and wildlife if you are not there to participate.
The central Oregon coast offers diverse camping experiences within and near Siuslaw National Forest. Sites range from lake-adjacent campgrounds to coastal parks with dune access. Winter temperatures typically stay between 40-55°F with frequent rain, while summer brings 65-75°F days with morning fog that often burns off by afternoon.
Hike the dunes: Access the John Dellenback Dunes Trail from Eel Creek Campground for a unique hiking experience. "The hike out of the campground is strenuous but the dunes are absolutely breathtaking," notes one visitor. The trail offers varying difficulty levels and is best experienced at dawn or dusk.
Fishing opportunities: Osprey Point RV Resort provides direct access to Tenmile Lake for fishing enthusiasts. "Great water access for boating, canoeing, kayaking," reports a camper. The resort offers boat rentals and includes a fish cleaning station for processing your catch.
Beach exploration: Multiple access points allow for different coastal experiences. "Bastendorff beach. North bend is near by and it's just a beautiful place in Oregon right on the coats. Loved watching the fog roll in and exploring the tide pools," writes one reviewer about their experience at the beach near Coos Bay.
Privacy between sites: Bluebill Campground offers secluded camping spaces. "All the sites have large bushes for privacy. The sites are a little tight for a trailer but very private," notes a camper. The campground provides a quieter alternative to ATV-focused areas while still being near the dunes.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained amenities across campgrounds. A visitor at William M. Tugman State Park commented, "The bathrooms were cleaned very frequently, which I found comforting given there's a pandemic." Many parks provide hot showers and regularly serviced restrooms.
Lake access: Several campgrounds feature lakes for recreation. "We loved this small campground. At bluebill you dont have the ATV traffic but you are close to it. It has a beautiful lake, trails, fishing, beach access, crabbing close by," explains a regular visitor who camps there multiple times annually.
Reservation timing: Oregon coastal campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. For Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park, one visitor advises: "I would highly recommend that if you know you're going to book as soon as possible, 6 months out if possible. We got the last yurt available for the time period we were out there."
Weather expectations: Coastal fog and wind affect camping experiences. A camper at Bay Point Landing noted: "We were here for 3 nights. It was howling 30 mph with fog when we checked in and lasted through the night. One sunny breezy day during our stay. This point must be susceptible to wind and fog."
ATV noise: Campgrounds near designated dune areas experience vehicle noise. "The sound of ATVs lasted well into the night and started SUPER early," reports a camper at Bluebill. Consider campground location relative to OHV areas if seeking quiet.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "It has a nice small loop with a hill that the kids loved to ride their bikes around and zoom by our site," writes a visitor about Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, noting the minimal through-traffic made biking safer for children.
Yurt options: For families wanting more comfort, yurts provide a middle ground between tenting and cabins. "For a small campground the deluxe yurts were huge. Much larger than the rustic yurts available in other Oregon State parks, the deluxe yurt had acres of space," explains a winter visitor to Umpqua Lighthouse State Park.
Swimming areas: Lake access provides safer swimming than ocean beaches. "Eel lake was a lot of fun!! Good fishing from the dock as well as from our kayaks and SUP boards," reports a Tugman State Park visitor, mentioning the family-friendly water activities.
Site levelness: Several reviewers mention challenges with uneven sites. "Notice the asphalt spaces were not very level. Most RV/Campers had to use blocks to level out," advises a camper about William M. Tugman State Park. Bringing leveling blocks is recommended.
Campground navigation: Older campgrounds weren't designed for modern RV sizes. "This is an older park and wasn't designed for today's RVs. The driveways are narrow and so are the sites leaving little room for maneuvering and for the slide outs," cautions a visitor to Sunset Bay State Park.
Hookup variations: Services vary significantly between campgrounds. Winchester Bay RV Resort offers full hookups and a dump station, while others provide electric and water only. "Large well kept and maintained park. Convenient to restaurants, shops and markets in and near harbor. All within walking distance," notes a satisfied RV camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What scenic attractions and photo opportunities can I find in Siuslaw National Forest?
Siuslaw National Forest offers diverse photo opportunities throughout its stunning coastal and forest landscapes. Cape Perpetua provides access to some of the most scenic parts of the Oregon Coast within 10-20 minutes of the campground. The area features dramatic coastal vistas, tide pools, and dense forest hiking trails. Bullards Beach State Park offers lighthouse views (about 3 miles away), beautiful beach scenes, and the picturesque Coquille River. Throughout the forest, you'll find sandy dunes nestled among trees, babbling creeks, rolling hills, and lush forests. Dawn and dusk present particularly magical lighting conditions for photographers seeking to capture the misty coastal forests.
Where are the designated campgrounds in Siuslaw National Forest?
Siuslaw National Forest offers several designated campgrounds spread throughout the region. Sutton Campground is tucked next to a creek and provides a peaceful setting, especially nice in mid-May though mosquitoes can be present. Alder Dune Campground is located just off Highway 101 next to Alder Lake with walking paths around the grounds and lake. Other notable options include Waxmyrtle Campground, Cape Perpetua, and Near Fawn Creek for dispersed camping opportunities. The forest also features camping at Loon Lake about 40 minutes outside Reedsport and several state park options along the coast that provide access to forest areas.
What amenities are available at Siuslaw National Forest campgrounds?
Amenities vary across Siuslaw National Forest campgrounds. Waxmyrtle Campground offers reservable sites with reservation tags on posts, allowing visitors to find available spots. Loon Lake provides lake access, day-use areas, and sites with plant foliage enclosures for privacy. Most forest campgrounds feature picnic tables, fire pits, and restrooms. Some locations like Cape Perpetua have drinking fountains and creeks running through the campground. For those seeking more amenities, nearby state parks such as Sunset Bay and Umpqua Lighthouse offer water and electrical hookups. Campground facilities are generally well-maintained, with options ranging from primitive sites to those with more developed infrastructure.
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