Best Dispersed Camping near South Beach, OR

Dispersed camping near South Beach, Oregon primarily concentrates in the Siuslaw National Forest, where several forest roads provide access to primitive sites. Forest Road 51 near Beaver Creek, Forest Road 55 Pulloff, and various unmarked pullouts throughout the national forest accommodate tent and small vehicle camping. These areas typically feature no amenities but provide free overnight stays on public land, with most sites located along gravel roads or at forest intersections.

Access routes vary significantly across the dispersed sites. Forest Road 51 consists of narrow, unpaved gravel roads that may be challenging for larger vehicles, with multiple reviewers noting that RVs and trailers cannot be accommodated safely. The road becomes particularly hazardous during wet conditions, and several forest roads include steep sections with limited turnaround options. Most dispersed sites lack basic facilities—no toilets, trash service, or drinking water are available. Campers should be prepared with sufficient supplies and practice Leave No Trace principles, as reviews frequently mention encountering trash from previous visitors.

The dispersed sites provide peaceful forest settings, though camping spots are limited and can fill quickly during peak season. "There are two pull off spots here. It is off a gravel road, but it's not that busy. Pretty view and relatively secluded," one camper noted about Forest Road 51. Another camper described the Siuslaw National Forest sites as featuring "huge uncut trees, bad ass country" but warned about truly dark conditions at night. Vehicle requirements should be carefully considered, as one review cautioned, "Need AWD or 4x4" for certain areas. Sites generally accommodate 1-2 vehicles per spot, with most offering enough space for tent camping or small vans. Cell service is sporadic throughout the region, with some sites reporting limited coverage and others none at all.

Best Dispersed Sites Near South Beach, Oregon (15)

    1. Forest Road 51 near Beaver Creek

    16 Reviews
    Seal Rock, OR
    8 miles

    "There is almost nowhere to stay in the Newport/Oregon Coast areas, so this spot was a life saver! After you hit the dirt road, there are a few good but smaller pull off spots and a few bigger ones."

    "The marked coordinates are a little overgrown, but there's a good tent spot a couple hundred feet beforehand. Pretty chilly evening, but it was definitely secluded and peaceful"

    2. Suislaw National Forest Dispersed Camping

    5 Reviews
    Yachats, OR
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 750-7000

    "I drove back in a few miles and camped along the road, in some old growth forest. It was dark, and I mean truly dark in there when you shut off your lights off, and silent as a tomb."

    "Excellent spot up 2 steep inclines. Some of the most beautiful views. Good fire ring. Do not attempt if wet."

    3. Hult Pond

    20 Reviews
    Blachly, OR
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 683-6600

    "There are only a few flat spots for RVs but quite a few decent spots for tent camping next to the pond. The west side of the pond has at least 2 spots that are a good distance away from the others."

    "Nice pond to camp near, several campsites to choose from and trails to explore"

    4. Forest Road 55 Pulloff

    1 Review
    Yachats, OR
    23 miles

    "It was awesome to car camp here. I only saw two others- one camper van going further in the forest where there were several other spots."

    5. South Lake

    16 Reviews
    Beaver, OR
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 750-7000

    "South Lake is fairly small, I consider it more of a pond to be honest, but a great place for disperse camping. The quickest drive in is a bit sketchy."

    "Do not drive here if you can't drive on the edge of a cliff on gravel roads. it's bumpy and definitely not for the faint of heart. other than that, it's a great site with nice pullouts and camping for"

    6. Dispersed Camping Near Pioneer-Indian Trail in Siuslaw National Forest

    9 Reviews
    Beaver, OR
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 750-7000

    "We have been traveling/disburse camping through Montana, Washington, and now Oregon and this has been our 2nd favorite spot. The drive in wasn’t as bad as we were anticipating."

    "There’s a pretty decent sized gravel turnout… It’s the only big gravel turn out like this on this part of the road … you’ll see what looks like a logging road with a steep decline."

    7. Road Turn Out Dispersed (logging landing)

    2 Reviews
    Grand Ronde, OR
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 750-7000

    "Great views, easy drive, AWD car would have been able to make it. The road to South lake was gated off so we used this turn out, there are many along the road."

    8. Siuslaw National Forest Dispersed Camping

    5 Reviews
    Beaver, OR
    49 miles
    Website

    "This is for dispersed camping in the Siuslaw NF off Forest Road 55, off 101. Turn into 55 from 101 between Thor’s Well and Devil’s Churn."

    "If it's dry then there is even more room. There was plenty of firewood but we had to get the fire going before burning the wet stuff."

    9. Hebo Road

    2 Reviews
    Beaver, OR
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 815-1100

    "Lots of trash, long drive, and sort of busy. Multiple sites available as you go up. Pretty spot though."

    10. Derrick Road Dispersed Camping Area

    2 Reviews
    Beaver, OR
    49 miles
    Website

    "Other than that it’s a really great quite, cheap spot that has a huge sand dune right next to it."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near South Beach, OR

76 Reviews of 15 South Beach Campgrounds


  • Robert D.
    Jul. 14, 2022

    South Lake

    A rough and very narrow road to get here.

    We took a ride from Hebo up road 14 or 1400 to South Lake. The trip took over 1 hour down a partly paved road with lots of pot holes then the rest of the way down a very narrow pot hole dirt road to South Lake. Along the way we passed Hebo Lake Campground that had many tent camp sites. Once we arrived at South Lake we found the lake to be somewhat small and there were a few tent sites somewhat close together. We had been told this lake was always stocked with Trout. We suggest only using a 4x4 or a high clearance vehicle to make this trip.

  • Gerard R.
    Jul. 24, 2020

    South Lake

    Quiet Lake

    South Lake is fairly small, I consider it more of a pond to be honest, but a great place for disperse camping. The quickest drive in is a bit sketchy. I recommend taking a slight slower route to avoid scratches on your vehicle from branches. We checked out a few dispersed sites before we picked our spot. We managed to get a spot that was a 1 minute walk to the water, and about the same to the vaulted toilets. The vaulted toilet is on the NW side of the lake. It must’ve been checked often for toilet paper because we were there for 4 nights and it always had some in there.

    We caught trout every day we were there. Most are small but was fun nonetheless. There is an old boat without a motor tied up for anyone to use. Only had one ore that was half broke but it still managed to get us across the water 🤷🏻‍♂️. We found a decent amount of firewood, just have to make sure it’s try if course. It’s all hidden below the ferns/greenery. No picnic tables or metal fire rings but who needs them? Plenty of rocks for a fire pit were already set up. Plenty of shade. Only downside was precious campers leaving toilet paper near the trees when you are literally a minute or less walk to the vaulted toilet.

  • j
    Apr. 29, 2021

    Hult Pond

    The wrong sort of nostalgia

    Our weekend at Hult Pond was unforgettable. I know because I have tried.

    Disbursed camp sights sprawl along this man made log pond and nightmarish horror movie set along a footpath seamingly designed to dump its evening travelers into the muck that is Hult Pond. Jagged old logs poke out of the stagnant water as a reminder that someone used to get paid to spend the day here.

     If this doesn’t sound like the most picturesque of settings I would direct you to the strange log loading equipment rusting just on the forbidden side of a gated barbed wire fence. Upon closer inspection you see what must be tetanus’s way of luring barefoot boys and girls into a summer of drooling lockjaw.

    The access road is a still functioning rock quarry road that hosts a never ending parade of old rattling dump trucks and loaders. Nothing says ,”getting away from the hustle and bustle”  quite like a convoy barrelling down a narrow road spilling basketball sized boulders before returning bouncing back up  empty and clearly attempting to meet a quota.

    The whole thing gave me an uneasy sense of nostalgia. Reminding me of the days we would gather by the dozens with red solo cups full of Hams. We would drink ourselves into a vomiting delirium in a parking lot off some old logging road. We would wake up with profanities drawn on our faces as punishment for succumbing to alcohol poisoning sooner than at least one of our classmates. 

    In fact I believe that’s exactly what the 58 kids in the campsite right next to ours we’re doing each night of our trip.

    The girls  learned all sorts of colorful language and I believed, based on the way my ten year old son  was drooling that the tetanus had succeeded. I was not relieved to discover on our final morning, him wreaking of cheap beer and cigarettes and moaning how horrible he felt while proffering his undying love to a high school girl named Tiffany. 

    Not recommended.

  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Hult Pond

    Decent for an Overnight Stay

    We found a great spot here for an overnight stay. Such a nice view to wake up to! There is no water available here. There are bathrooms available, but we didn’t need to utilize them. No fires allowed. There are no trash cans or dumpsters… this is a pack in, pack out area, so be prepared to take your trash with you! There was quite a bit of trash around and even some needles (be careful) down in a spot we chose not to use… and I did walk around our area and pick up a bunch of trash left by others. We did hear some vehicles driving by throughout the night, and around 4:30 AM someone was walking out around our truck and camper shining a light, causing our dog to bark, which I’m assuming scared them off, because when we got up and went out, we didn’t see anyone.. not sure what that was all about, but I’m glad I wasn’t alone!

  • Ariel & John  W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 14, 2020

    Siuslaw National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Remote, wild, beautiful

    This is for dispersed camping in the Siuslaw NF off Forest Road 55, off 101. Turn into 55 from 101 between Thor’s Well and Devil’s Churn. There is a FS paid campground (Cape Perpetua Campground) right off FS 55.

    If you follow 55 about 10 miles in, there are lots of established boondocking spots at around 4000 elevation. Additionally there are unmapped logging roads which can also be explored for camping.

    Scenery is spectacular, lots of wildlife, deer, elk, coyote, and amazing old growth forests. No amenities of any kind, no cell service.

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2023

    Siuslaw National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Coordinates go to a no access area

    The directions/coordinates are for 10min outside pacific city. It is now a private entrance/driveway with no access to go through to the dispersed coordinates! And the locals said a lot of the forest is closed off due to logging in that area. Defiantly follow the rangers review about the devils churn/thors well spot. The directions from Dyrt was about an hour or so away from his instructions ! We weren’t able to find a spot and ended up leaving the area

    entirely.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2023

    Hult Pond

    Secluded Pond Great for a Quick stay

    Great spot for a quick stay. There are only a few flat spots for RVs but quite a few decent spots for tent camping next to the pond. The west side of the pond has at least 2 spots that are a good distance away from the others. At the moment, no fires or barbecues allowed but propane stoves and lanterns are fine. Look for Bandits blue squeaky disk! We lost it and never found it.

  • Anna P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2025

    Forest Road 51 near Beaver Creek

    Peaceful, limited spots

    Nice area up a narrow forest road. When you get to the top of the road it Ts with another forest road, where there was a pull off that would fit one or two cars/vans. Turn left (where the GPS coordinates indicate) and there are three more sites, two are a few minutes down this other road. Turn right and there is one more spot. A few other very small pull offs. Very quiet, lovely views of the sky at sunset. The Beaver Creek park at the bottom of the forest road has a pit toilet and picnic tables for day use.

  • michael K.
    Aug. 8, 2022

    South Lake

    Beautiful Site but..

    Do not drive here if you can't drive on the edge of a cliff on gravel roads. it's bumpy and definitely not for the faint of heart. other than that, it's a great site with nice pullouts and camping for car campers, vans, etc... I was fortunate and I have a black series off road trailer behind a 4runner, and we were fine. I would not recommend a trailer for this location. great for tents and the lake is ok, not too appealing to us, though.


Guide to South Beach

Dispersed camping near South Beach, Oregon requires careful planning and navigation through the Siuslaw National Forest's network of forest roads. The coastal forest environment ranges from sea level to elevations around 2,000-3,000 feet in surrounding mountains, creating diverse camping experiences within a 30-minute to one-hour drive from the beach. Weather can change rapidly, with nighttime temperatures dropping significantly even in summer months.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: South Lake in Siuslaw National Forest offers good trout fishing for dispersed campers. "We caught trout every day we were there. Most are small but was fun nonetheless. There is an old boat without a motor tied up for anyone to use. Only had one ore that was half broke but it still managed to get us across the water," notes Gerard R. at South Lake.

Hiking excursions: Access scenic trails directly from some dispersed camping spots. "Going up the hike about 30 minutes will bring you to the top of Mt. Hebo with beautiful open views all the way to the coast. The hike goes all the way to South Lake. We gave up before we got there but as it was, that was a 10 mile round trip hike," shares Sarah S. at Dispersed Camping Near Pioneer-Indian Trail.

Kayaking on small lakes: Several small lakes throughout the forest allow non-motorized boating. "The lake is small but very beautiful. We did bring our kayaks but didn't launch them. There is a launching area but it's pretty mucky and there are a lot of downed trees in the water," notes Tracy H. about South Lake's paddling conditions.

What campers like

Solitude and seclusion: Many spots offer peaceful surroundings away from crowds. "Headed to this spot we saw hebo lake campground and got very discouraged, but we drove on and eventually saw absolutely no-one! We didnt pass a single car the rest of the way," reports Josie M. about camping near Pioneer-Indian Trail.

Stargazing opportunities: The remote locations provide excellent night sky viewing. "The night sky is vivid and there are many little forest roads around to explore. The site is about a 20-minute drive from the beach by Pacific City. Perfect place to camp if you wanna hop in the car and go to the beach for a day as well," says Gene J. about Siuslaw National Forest Dispersed Camping.

Quick beach access: Some free camping spots provide relatively easy access to coastal areas. "There is almost nowhere to stay in the Newport/Oregon Coast areas, so this spot was a life saver! After you hit the dirt road, there are a few good but smaller pull off spots and a few bigger ones. Very quiet. So far, no one has bothered me, and I've only seen 1 car go past," mentions Natalie H. about Forest Road 51 near Beaver Creek.

What you should know

Cell service varies widely: Some areas have surprisingly good coverage while others have none. "Went during my spring break and I was lucky that it was too cold for most people to camp there. It was beautiful and quiet (other than the 9pm daily goose choir). The pond was great for kayaking and there is plenty to explore if you aren't worried about a little elevation in your hike," shares Nicki G. about Hult Pond.

Site availability fluctuates: Many dispersed sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. "Nice area up a narrow forest road. When you get to the top of the road it Ts with another forest road, where there was a pull off that would fit one or two cars/vans. Turn left (where the GPS coordinates indicate) and there are three more sites, two are a few minutes down this other road," details Anna P. about Forest Road 51.

Road conditions can be challenging: Forest roads vary significantly in quality. "We found a spot at the end of the road that opened up a little bit more than other sites. There were others around here and not a huge amount of site options, so be weary of spaces filling up. Lots of forest and greenery surrounding the area!" explains Emma T. about Forest Road 51.

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites with toilet access: Some dispersed areas offer basic facilities. "There are a few spots off the road here. One large open spot big enough for 2 vehicles and several pull offs. There is a little traffic on the road, mostly big trucks," says Michelle R. about Hult Pond.

Look for lakeside options: Several dispersed sites offer water access for kids. "This free campground is just far enough out from the coast and the city that you'll likely be alone, even on a Saturday night. Most folks coming to this area of the forest camp in the more popular (and more expensive) Hebo Lake campground," advises Chris H. about South Lake.

Consider wildlife encounters: Children may enjoy local wildlife but need proper supervision. "The area is beautiful, clean, nice rangers, and not busy at all. Get ready to dodge loads of potholes and deer as you travel up the gravel roads to get here, though," warns Sam L. about South Lake.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions matter: Many forest roads cannot accommodate larger rigs. "To leave this site you have to drive up a pretty steep, pebbly road. We made it in our Subaru towing the Cricket but it was slightly nerve-racking and I would not try that in the snow or rain. Don't think I would want to bring an RV down there either," cautions Sarah S. about Dispersed Camping Near Pioneer-Indian Trail.

Road width concerns: Some access roads are extremely narrow with limited passing areas. "The way Google took us go thus spot was terrible. Instead of keeping us on the gravel road, it had us drive through an overgrown dirt path. Thank got we didn't get stuck! If you are going, stay on the clearly marked gravel road!" advises Melissa B. about free camping in Suislaw National Forest.

Leveling challenges: Finding flat spots can be difficult on uneven forest terrain. "It's a one lane road with some turnouts. Nice and quiet, but no real level spots," notes Bruce about Forest Road 51 near Beaver Creek.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near South Beach, OR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near South Beach, OR is Forest Road 51 near Beaver Creek with a 4-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near South Beach, OR?

TheDyrt.com has all 15 dispersed camping locations near South Beach, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.