Best Campgrounds near Welches, OR

Beautiful place, great location, shaded and sites are well spaced but unfortunately the camp host was terrible. On departure day we were at our site 30 minutes after check out, there was no one waiting for our site, but she felt the need to take a video of us packing up. She did not utter a word to us just started recording. The site was immaculate when we left (as it should be) but she still decided to call the police and make up lies about us vandalizing the restrooms. She should probably choose a new job if she’s so miserable.. there are more adult ways to handle situations like maybeee having a conversation? Very weird, I have never experienced anything like it. If you have a blond 40 year old woman for a host be sure to be on your tippy top best behavior. Hope your life becomes more joyful, lady.

Barton Campground has everything you need for a good trip. We stayed in site 91. We had power and water hook ups. The bathrooms in our loop were nice and clean. The kids enjoyed the playground and biking around the loop. The river access down at the day use was lovely. All the park staff were friendly.

It looks like this place used to be maintained to a higher standard. There are remnants of a ton of fun amenities like walking trails, a basketball court, and large day use picnic shelters… but all of the above a pretty overgrown. There’s a cute photo op with a giant Adirondack chair, but the R and the O in “Barton” were missing. 😆 When we went on a walk, we noticed that the only bathroom in the tent loop was out of order. Also, the hose at the dump station wasn’t working…

But if all you need is a campsite with p/w hook ups, clean public restrooms, plenty of space for the kids to play, and sweet access to a beautiful river, Barton Campground would fit the bill!

Fun fact: when we stayed in June 2025, there was a section of the playground marked off with cones and pink tape. Apparently a migratory bird was nesting on the ground so they blocked it off so people wouldn’t disturb it. It was very cool!

Kah-Nee-Ta is a great spot for the whole family. I’m giving it a 4 star review because when we stayed in June 2025, and they still had some work to do after their remodel (they just reopened after being closed for 6 years). Our RV site’s sewer wasn’t operational, our water hook up leaked, and there was a bunch of standing water in the grass around our site.

That said, we had an awesome stay. There was plenty to do for the full three days we were there - swimming, mini golf, hiking, and pickleball were our favorites. They also have basketball, volleyball, river tubing, horseback riding, ping pong, cold plunges, a spa, a restaurant, a full bar… and a lot more!

The paved campground roads are great for bike riding. We loved sitting in the hot wellness spas at night, and floating on the warm lazy river during the day. The bathrooms and showers are clean. There’s communal fire pits throughout the campground. You can stay in teepees, hotel rooms, or in your own RV.

Honestly, this place has it all - including super friendly staff. If our site’s sewer and water hookups were working properly, this would be a 5 star review.

Nice to knows: it’s the desert, so be prepared for heat, bring plenty of water, and note that there’s no individual camp fire rings. It can also get pretty windy, making outdoor cooking/eating somewhat difficult.

I didn’t really plan on staying here but it was getting late and I was passing through. The park host was very accommodating he let me pay $12 to stay in one of the parking spaces cause I was just car camping. The actual camping spots though are just basically parking lot spaces lol and a wind breaker and picnic table. But the area is clean and scenic, it is very windy though. Theres a boat launch and petroglyphs a walk away. Free showers was the highlight for me! I really needed one after dispersed camping. We also hiked horsethief butte it was easy and a chill hike scenic views of Mt. hood, the butte, the water, and overlook of the campground.

This campground has a unique history. Ask the (current) host. She's happy to tell you what's she's found out. Since the site is nearly 100 years old, its off limits for large RVs. I, personal wouldn't bring in much larger then a long van, BUT, there are a few sites that will accommodate an 18ish foot trailer and its short tow vehicle (short bed truck or SUV. (Think "tenters" from the 1950s With that said, it has clean pit toilets and a shared pump spigot. Fire rings and tables in all sites. If youre an overnight and she can find room, you'll have a spot for the night. $25 @ the time of this review