Best Glamping near Tillamook State Forest, OR

I honestly love camping here! All spots are great, even with our lovely OR rainy weather! lots of bike trails, they also have Yurts available to glamp in.😁 close bike ride to the beach with some awesome views and a big rusted ship!

Just off highway 6 (between Portland and Tillamook) is a series of lovely campgrounds in the Tillamook State Forest. Gales Creek is the first one you'll find on your way coming from Portland, and it's one of my favorites. The sites are surrounded by trees, and, if you're lucky, you can grab one next to the cute river than runs through the camp. Enough fun things to do like hikes or play with the water pump. The bathrooms are nothing fancy, and there's no showers, but the price is also right ($15). The main issue is that all sites are first-come/first-served, and there aren't too many sites, so hard to get something on a nice weekend or a holiday. But if you can snag a spot, you're in for a nice time.

Agreed, the secret’s out. 80% full on the last Friday (9/14) of the season. Was featured on a TV show about 3 years ago and a popular camping book gives it a scenic rating of 10/10, though I wouldn’t go quite that high. The friendly, professional camp host told me not to write a review-“don’t do that, it’s too busy already!” So I told him I’d also write reviews of some other good campgrounds in the area, so look for-Beaver Eddy (recently closed for logging, though didn’t look like a permanent close + one roadside site was open), Cook Creek (designated dispersed sites), Henry Rierson Spruce Run (larger, more open, right off both road and Nehalem River, with good hikes right there) and Morrison Eddy (my favorite). A Tillamook State Forest Recreation Guide will show you the way. But Nehalem Falls would always work because it has the right mix of fantastic tree cover, decent vegetation between spots, a walk-in campsite area, and being right off the small but self-important Nehalem Falls, set in a picturesque curvy rock valley replete with swimming holes. The whole Nehalem River valley is gorgeous, with minimal traffic noise.

[ PROS ]

• We came during offseason (November) and camped at this State Park for 3 nights. Man, it was so amazing. It was super quiet and empty so we felt like we had the entire park to ourselves.

• A family of deer visited us every single morning/night during our stay. We definitely didn't try to interact with them, but they were comfortable to roam right around our site which was a really magical experience

• Nehalem Bay is such a beautiful area and the State Park is nestled in lots of beautiful, lush greenery. There are lots of birds, plants, and other wildlife to observe. We loved hearing coyotes yapping in evenings from the campground.

• It's very peaceful and serene here. It's right by the beach and an easy walk to the coast. We also got to visit Manzanita for a little day trip and had lunch out there. Such a cute little coastal town worth checking out.

• Free hot showers and really nice restrooms. I'm starting to realize that Oregon State Parks are SOOO much superior to California State Parks. The amenities at all the Oregon campgrounds I've visited are wonderful. We definitely got spoiled by camping in Oregon that it will be hard going back home to California

• Very close to stores, restaurants, and gas stations if you need to pick up supplies.

[ CONS ]

• While it was a beautiful campground, the sites are rather small and close together. We obviously didn't experience this campground when it's crowded, but I can imagine how packed it would feel.

Mostly an RV park tucked into the Nehalem Bay peninsula, this does offer a couple dog friendly yurts and some very friendly camp hosts. A great place to tuck in on the Oregon Coast with good walks, and a short walk up to Manzanita for good bars and shops. We went in early Spring and had a lovely time. Check it out!

I camped twice at Cape Lookout this season - in June in a yurt, and in July at the campsite right behind the dune.  

In June, it was freezing, rainy and windy, and the yurt was fantastic. The most amazing feature of the yurt was the heater. It really kept the place warm, and the yurt was spacious. We were 3 adults, and could easily have slept another one or two. Each yurt has a small patio as well as a fire ring- and inside was electricity and a power outlet. Best of all, you were still just steps away from the sunset on the beach.

For camping, there are so many different kinds of sites at Cape Lookout - Sites closer to the entrance are very woodsy, the sites closest to the beach frontage (behind the dune) are very very open, and sites along the furthest perimeter are a little more spacious and some have trees (important to note if you want to hand a line or a hammock!)

We camped at the site right behind the dune where the beach access is. It was a little noisy since everyone passed our site on the way to the beach, but very lovely to be just steps away. Each of the tent sites has a fire ring and picnic table. In both June and July when I visited there was no fire ban.

Hiking is great in the area. You're also close to Pacific City, Jacobson's Salt, the tunnel at the Oceanside Beach, and Tillamook if you're staying here longer and want to take day trips outside of the State Park.

Recommend booking early for summer campsites. The yurt I booked in June was available for booking same day.

This place is a great escape but still so close to the near town of astoria. The park is huge with regular and rv sites, yurts, beach’s, fields and even a ship wreck. You can forage for mushrooms here in the fall if you know what you’re doing. Bathrooms are nice nice as are the yurts. You’ll love it.

We didn’t have a reservation for the campground the afternoon we decided to stop in July. To reserve a yurt typically requires a minimum of two nights. We were fortunate to get a yurt (number 7) for one night in July as a walk in. The ranger was shocked as they are usually sold out months in advance. There is a fire pit and picnic table outside each yurt. The flaps on the windows can be rolled up and down to adjust the airflow. The bathhouse is within walking distance but showed full quickly in the morning. This was a nice park with several things to see and do. Would stay here again if in the area.

By far, the most excellent Oregon coast campground. You really couldn't ask for more. Absolutely excellent facilities; flush toilets, hot showers, 7 miles of bicycle trails, geocaching, hiking, razor claiming, beach combing. Have both RVd and tent camped here since 2004. Zero complaints! Yurts, cabins, tent and RV sites. It's absolutely huge. The beach, a large beautiful lake stocked with trout, hiking. You really can't go wrong. Highly recommend Fort stevens.

I've camped here a few times each year but I visit the park frequently for day-use throughout the summer. I typically camp here a few days in October or November during the off-season. The rates are a little less expensive then $25/night for a partial hook-up site (water & electric). The peak season rate is $30/night. They have 27 of partial hook-up sites; 15 full-hookup sites $40 peak and $35 off-season; 27 tent sites, $20/night and 5 yurts, $40/night. Extra vehicles are $5/night and extra tents are $10/night.

During the summer reservations are highly recommended because this is a favorite place for many people in the area.  Reservations may be made up to fourteen months in advance.  And they've recently required online reservations but you an make them from the office if necessary. Also the park now has reliable internet.

Check in: 2:00 p.m.  Check out: 12 noon

Yurts*: 3:00 p.m.  Yurts* 11 a.m. * yurt check in and check out times adjusted to allow staff extra cleaning time 6 persons and one vehicle allowed per site

The park is right on the Columbia River not too far from Astoria Oregon which is a gateway for international shipping. On any given day up to 10 ships can be found at anchor in the Columbia River along the Astoria waterfront waiting for berths to open upriver. Skamokawa is upriver and those ships pass right by Vista Park. You'll get some great photographs and the kids will love seeing huge ocean liners and even cruise ships passing by during your visit.

Skamokawa is a friendly quaint little town. If you visit in August be sure to check out the Wakhaikum County Fair. You can walk to the fairgrounds from the park (the town in so small you can walk to anywhere in town from the park.)  Be sure to visit the Friends of Skamokawa/River Life Interpretive Center when you're there.

There are two excellent lighthouses, Waikiki beach, and the north jetti of the Columbia to explore. The longer distance to awesome northern Oregon beaches isn't that bad, and there's the Longbeaxh area near by to check out as well! The little shop near the ranger station has ice cream, and I hear the local pizza place will deliver to your tent for $$$. If you have never tried them before, the yurts are worth it.

But that’s also the downside - there are somewhere near 200 sites and they were all booked. It was FULL. No cell reception but water and power at the yurts and even heaters inside. We pulled a teardrop and camped it on the pad in front of the yurt.

Bring rain gear even when it’s not in the forecast and watch out for sand fleas - my legs are destroyed.

Good yurt I got to share with my dog

Fort Stevens is ,I think, the largest state campground west of the Mississippi River. I love the evergreen canopy, the wind in the branches, the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale, and the miles of protected bicycle paths. (Paved) If you get a chance, experience a night in a yurt. It is a great way to have a camping experience without the pain if sleeping on the ground. One of my favorite Oregon state campgrounds. Happy camping

Really cool atmosphere just steps away from the beach. The sounds of the waves can be heard right from your site. Nice facilities. Yurt is highly recommended and sleeps 5. Really liked that each yurt had its own deck, picnic table, and fire pit. The shrubbery around the campgrounds was really cool and offered extra privacy. They also had equestrian sites as well as tent and electric RV. Cannot wait to go back my only regret was that we couldn't stay longer!

we’ve lived in oregon forever but never visited this park. rv spots are nice and level but not much privacy between spaces. very nice setup with yurts right across the drive from rvs in loop a. nice for meeting family or friends with no vehicle.

there is a two mile bike/walking path through the woods and along the bay. the beach is only a five minute walk away.

i would imagine that this park is crowded all summer but right now in february it is very quiet.

We stayed in a yurt (my first time). It was great. It had heat and electricity! Campground was very clean!

Cape Disappointment is a great spot for campers of all kinds. There are RV hook ups, tent sites, hiker/ biker spots, cabins, and yurts. Very easy access to the water as well.

The yurts are your basic state park round dome with sleeping arrangements for up to 5 people. It has a table, chairs, and indoor heat.

Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There is a park store that has basic essentials and the ability to buy wood.

During the spring, the wind can be pretty intense so beware if you are tent camping.

We do an extended family camp every year at Cape Disappointment. We have some family that stays in a yurt and we typically get a site or two next to the yurt for our family and any extended family that join. The beach is easy to access, the campground is very bike friendly for little kids (both on the cul-du-sac like loop sand also within the woody areas behind many of the campsites. We've stayed in several different sites over the years and some are better than others but overall they are all above average.

Well maintained campground. Full restrooms and showers. Tent, RV and yurt options as well as horse camping. Short walk to the beach.Nice trails and beautiful scenery.

Every kind of camping: Yurts, Cabins, Tents, RVs, Trailers. 20 + hiking trails amongst the dunes, forests and old armory sites of Second World War.

Especially if you’re a hiker/biker this campground is incredible. The areas are clearly labeled and yurts are available. The bathrooms are clean and there ida playground for families.

This place used to be a great place to rent. The host was super friendly and nice. We were regulars who rented yurts a couple of times a year with a group of people. Not sure what has changed, but it has gone downhill. We just rented 4 yurts amongst us and all four yurts got charged a$30 cleaning fee. I don't usually look over my credit card statements and luckily my friend looked at his and told me to check mine. I was also charged twice for a one-day extra car parking and also got an extra$72.48 charge for who knows what. My friends called to dispute the$30 charge which is nowhere on their website or the reservation receipt. We've stayed here for years without such a fee. The only one who got his fee reversed was the one who threatened to get a lawyer. The remainder 3 of us had to dispute the charges with our credit card company since Bay City RV Park would not reverse the charges. If you've reserved recently, go check your bill and get for cleaning fee charge reversed. We will never reverse from this place again and hope to prevent others from being overcharged.

I LOVED this place! I was really impressed with the closeness to the beach and how secluded it was. Although that could be due to it being January. After being wind blown but having a blast on the beach it was great to walk back to our yurt and warm up. When we arrived there was already an air purifier and the heater running. It was super cozy in there. Both my husband and I slept like babies on the beds - don’t forget your own sleeping bags though of course.

I was impressed with the sweet smelling restrooms and hot (free) shower. Everyone was quiet and respectful and masks were required in the restrooms and facilities and such. One of the nicest yurts I’ve stayed at!

Third time this month stayed in yurt 61 and 71 both awesome super close to the beach. Then stayed at campsite 117 also super close to the beach no electric in that loop though.

We go every year with a large group and stay at the yurts! They have great kid's programs, playground and easy biking! You can chose the lake or the beach to spend your day or check out the battery!