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Camping

Free Camping Collection

Dispersed Camping

Painted Hills Dispersed

13 Reviews

About

National Park Service

Dispersed camping is allowed on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS) lands without a permit, but it is recommended that campers obtain a map that shows current property boundaries. Please contact the BLM , (541) 573-4400 or (541) 416-6700, or the USFS, (541) 575-3000 or (541) 416-6500, for more information.

While camping is not allowed within the three units of the monument, there are many nearby campgrounds. Some have full service amenities, some are quiet and remote, some are in the forest, and some are right on the John Day River.

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Access

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

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

13 Reviews

BThe Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Sep. 9, 2023

quiet & secluded!

campsites were super easy to find & best of all..free! it was SO quiet out there, so lovely. just a little drive even from the furthest most campsite to all of the little trails around the painted hills! super lovely place to stay the night if you’re just passing through! :)

Sitevery last campsite
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Painted Hills Dispersed by Brooklyn P., September 9, 2023
  • Review photo of Painted Hills Dispersed by Brooklyn P., September 9, 2023
  • (4) View All
Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jul. 27, 2023

Good For An Overnight

We stayed at 44.612620,-120.211000 - it seems like that's not the location posted here but I don't know if that's a good site as well so I won't edit the record.

We stayed here one night when we were visiting the Painted Hills. This is a great spot if you’re visiting the area. It’s easy to get to and plenty of room, and an easy drive to the Painted Hills. There were 4 of us camping here the night we stayed (3 other RVs and one van), and everyone cleared out in the morning. 

It’s not really a place I’d stay at for more than a night. There is a bunch of dumped garbage and an abandoned car at the end of the loop, but there were plenty of spots and room before you get to that spot. There's some rutted parts of the road when you get off the paved road, just watch for that, especially after rains.

The area is nice and quiet, you hear the creek and lots of birds. You’re near the road so you do hear cars but it wasn’t bothersome. You hear the creek but really you can’t get to it, it’s very marshy and overgrown and no real path to the water. Verizon had zero cell reception (weboost didn’t help) and ATT had one bar LTE. 

No amenities here, please pack out your trash and human and dog waste.

Site44.612620, -120.211000
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Painted Hills Dispersed by Laura M., July 27, 2023
  • Review photo of Painted Hills Dispersed by Laura M., July 27, 2023
  • Review photo of Painted Hills Dispersed by Laura M., July 27, 2023
  • (12) View All
AThe Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jul. 4, 2023

Amazing campsite, coordinates NOT correct

We spent a weekend in June celebrating our anniversary in this stunning location. The Painted Hills are so beautiful. The hikes and trails are so well thought out and maintained. The camp spot that’s described in other reviews is the best we found. The coordinates however are not accurate. Pass the last parking area (Red Scar Knoll trail) on the main road, cross a cattle gate, and it’s on your right. If you have higher ground clearance you can go through the main camping area and take a dirt road just a bit further to a single spot that’s flat and shaded. We rented an off-road teardrop so this was super easy. Here are the correct coordinates to that single spot: 44.637881 -120.296011

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Painted Hills Dispersed by Aaron D., July 4, 2023
  • Review photo of Painted Hills Dispersed by Aaron D., July 4, 2023
  • Review photo of Painted Hills Dispersed by Aaron D., July 4, 2023
  • (17) View All

Location

Painted Hills Dispersed is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

44.630964449352426 N
120.29188134121597 W

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