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Camping
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Established Camping

Shelton Wayside

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CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Shelton Wayside is located near Fossil, Oregon, and features terrain with open spaces and scattered trees. The area experiences temperatures ranging from the 30s in winter to the 80s in summer. Nearby attractions include the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and the Painted Hills, offering opportunities for exploration and learning.

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Location

Shelton Wayside is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Town, SE 13 mi on Hwy 19 (R).

Address

42853 Highway 19
Fossil, OR 97830

Coordinates

44.89599952 N
120.09199997 W

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Connectivity

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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
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    AT&T
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Drive Time

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Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

3 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 28, 2019

Middle of homewhere

It was a nice campground. Well kept. Had bundles of firewood available. Every spot has a table, a ring, and garbage cans are all over the park for convenience. The vault toilets were clean and smelled pleasant (odd I know). There was no one else in the whole park the time we were there. It is way out in the middle of nowhere but that’s what camping is about and its location is in the middle of the John day fossil bed loop.

Reviewed May. 16, 2019

Forested Wilderness in an Otherwise Barren Landscape

This campsite was easy to spot from the road, although navigation such as Google maps does not have the gravel road leading off into it. The campsite situated below the road in the valley surrounded by towering hills on either side. There are ample trees and the possibility of hammock camping if you can find the ones close enough. Each campsite has fire rings and wood or metal picnic tables. Water spigots with potable water are scattered every few sites. There are lovely vault toilets as well with air fresheners and toilet paper.

The campsite I stayed at was near the small creek offering a serene sound of water trickling while I slept. There was a bridge the crossed the creek further west of my site which is recommended as the creek is muddy and not easy to cross by foot unless you want to get your shoe stuck in the mud (I was blessed to do this while looking for firewood on the other side).

There is plenty of deadfall scattered around that can be used for the campfire rings set up in the sites. Across the creek, there were lots of bigger hunks of firewood but the fierce mud crossing claimed my shoes. Thankfully, I was able to wash them off and use the heat of the fire to slowly dry them out.

Overall, this is a nice campsite for overnighting as you continue exploring the surrounding area. If coming from Portland, it is about a 3-hour journey. I first trucked around to the John Day Fossil Beds and looped around on the 26 to the Painted Hills before heading back north on the 207. There are lots of fun activities in the vicinity that you can explore and hike in 2 days before carrying on to another area.

Site8
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Apr. 29, 2019

Roadside Overnight Rest Area

There's not much happening at Shelton Wayside, but it makes for a quiet night of camping if you're passing through Eastern Oregon. It feels more like a roadside overnight rest area than a place where you'd go as a destination for a camping adventure.

Shelton Wayside calls itself primitive camping -- mostly it's a field along a hillside with a bunch of picnic tables and fire rings cut from old metal drums. Sites seem to be designated by where there is a picnic table. There is no delineation between sites. There is a water point, pit toilets, and garbage cans.

The campground is self registration only and cash is required.$20 and $5 for an extra vehicle. It gets cheaper if you stay an extra night, but we can't really figure out why you'd want to stay here for any longer than a stop over.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Shelton Wayside by Stephanie Z., April 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Shelton Wayside by Stephanie Z., April 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Shelton Wayside by Stephanie Z., April 29, 2019
  • (11) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Shelton Wayside Park?

Shelton Wayside Park offers primitive camping with basic amenities. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. The park maintains vault toilets that are clean and well-kept. Garbage cans are conveniently placed throughout the grounds for visitor use. Firewood bundles are available on-site for campfires. There are trees scattered throughout the area that provide some shade and opportunities for hammock camping. The park has a simple layout with minimal development, making it ideal for those seeking a quiet, no-frills camping experience.

Is there a fee to camp at Shelton Wayside Park?

Shelton Wayside Park offers primitive camping, but specific fee information isn't clearly documented. Since it functions similar to a roadside rest area for overnight camping in Eastern Oregon, it may have minimal or no fees. However, it's advisable to have some cash on hand in case there is a payment system in place. Contact the managing agency before your trip to verify current fee information and payment methods accepted.

How do I get to Shelton Wayside Campground in Oregon?

Shelton Wayside Campground is visible from the main road when traveling through Eastern Oregon. Look for a gravel road that leads to the campground - note that some navigation services like Google Maps may not show this access road. The campground sits in a valley below the road level, surrounded by hills on both sides. Keep an eye out for the entrance as you drive, as it might be easy to miss. The site is situated among trees in a scenic valley setting.