Map showing campground location near Fossil, Oregon

Camper submitted image from Shelton Wayside

Shelton Wayside

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Exploring the John Day Fossil Beds area gives campers a practical reason to consider Shelton Wayside, a county-run campground along a gravel road outside Fossil that functions more as an overnight stop than a destination. The layout is open and informal, with sites defined by picnic tables and metal drum fire rings scattered across a hillside field. Water spigots with potable water are placed every few sites, vault toilets are kept clean, and a small creek runs through the property. Cell service is available. Sites can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet, and self-registration with cash is required at $20 per night. If you're routing through eastern Oregon between the Painted Hills and John Day country, this is a low-key place to stop.

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Map & DirectionsShelton Wayside is located in Oregon near Fossil

Public 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

Presented by

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T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 8/14/26
AT&T
No Coverage

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 8/14/26
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

Contact

General Info

Reservations

+15417632010

Drive Time

2 hrs 4 min from Bend, OR
2 hrs 15 min from Kennewick, WA
2 hrs 48 min from Walla Walla, WA
2 hrs 53 min from Yakima, WA

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Reviews3 Camper Reviews - Shelton Wayside

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.5

out of 5

3 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the clean facilities and peaceful setting for overnight stays. Numerous guests pointed out the primitive, field-like camping setup and convenient location for exploring John Day Fossil Beds area.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Shannon B.

Traveler

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.

Calvin H.

Scout

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

Stephanie Z.

Legend

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

(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.

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