Service Creek Campground

Large parking lot on the John Day, not exactly on it. It was SO hot but we had to head east to beat the smoke. We found several walk in tent spots, nothing for Van's, trailers. The river invited us down...beautiful swimming space. After cooling down and finding a spot under a tree, we decided to stay. So quiet and magical as the evening wore on. Next to the hwy, but really no traffic after it was dark. We decided that it wouldn't be a destination spot, but we would stay again for a couple days. Beautiful desert scenery...my phone is usually off when we camp so sorry no pics.

On the way to/from John Day and the Painted Hills, this is a decent spot to stop for a night if you are heading somewhere else. Only $5 a night, you basically pull off the road a few feet to the parking lot and walk-in from there. The sites are on a flat area between the river and the road. No real privacy, but the views of the river and hills are amazing, and it's only $5 a night. The river is slow moving here and thus technically swimmable, but a bit sludgy/swampy on the edges (no real beach).

Pros: Cheap. Easy to access. Great views on the river.

Cons: No privacy. Lots of trash when we were there. Right on the road/traffic.

Facilities: Vault toilet, picnic tables and fire pits.

A handful of sites on the John Day River. Georgous location, though close to freeway. Spartan vault-toilet facilities. Fire pits had quite a bit of trash. Near scenic painted hills.