Oregon RV & Camping: Time, Dates & Rules (With Examples)

Oregon has a surprisingly diverse landscape such as the beautiful pacific beaches, awe-inspiring barren desserts, wild rushing rivers, dense forests, and gorgeous mountains.

There are more than 500 diverse wineries, and there are hundreds of mom-and-pop establishments and quaint shops to occupy your time.

This Oregon RV and camping article will look at a few of the best places to camp and some of the crucial information you need to know:

2 Oregon Campgrounds With Times, Dates, And Rules

There are some true campground gems located in Oregon, but they can be hard to find.

Fortunately, after some research, we came across two exemplary campgrounds that could be the perfect destination for you and your traveling companions.

To give you a somewhat rudimentary idea of what to expect at each of these campgrounds, we have provided below a brief description of each of them, along with the facilities and activities they offer.

We have also provided the times, dates, and rules you need to know to ensure you have a genuinely memorable experience for the right reasons:

1. Boardman Marina And RV Park

Arguably, one of the best-kept secret campgrounds in Oregon is the Boardman Marina and RV Park.

If you seek a camping trip filled with water activities and site seeing, this could be the ideal destination for you. The Boardman Marina and RV Park have 63 paved Rv campsites, some of which are located along the Columbus River.

Every site at the park is equipped with freshwater, 30 and 50 amp electrical connections, a barbeque grill, picnic table, and sewer connection. Out of the 63 campsites, four designated grassy tent sites have water and picnic tables.

Additionally, campers will enjoy free complimentary WiFi, a children’s playground, free showers, and laundry facilities throughout the park.

Moreover, the Boardman Marina and RV Park have a three-mile walking trail, an 18 hole golf course, a boat harbor, a 43,000 square foot recreation center, and doggie rest stations for those with pets.

There are two basketball courts in the recreation center, a swimming pool, an aerobics room, a weight room, and a rock-climbing wall. This campground truly has everything needed for those who don’t want to journey too far.

Yet, those with an adventurous spirit will be pleased to learn that this campground is near the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge and the busy city of Hermiston.

Times:

On the day of departure, guests need to check out by 12:00 noon.

Dates:

The Boardman Marina and RV park are open for the summer and winter seasons.

Rules:

• At each campsite, only two tents are allowed with a maximum of two vehicles.
• There is an extra fee for tents that are hitched on an RV site.
• All ATVs, dirt bikes, and side-by-side bikes are prohibited.
• No guest is allowed to drive or park on the lawn throughout the RV park.
• Tents are only allowed to be hitched on gravel pads and not on grass or lawns within the park.
• Campers are not allowed to drop foreign objects into the sewer.

2. Crater Lake RV Park

If you are looking for a campground near the beautiful Crater Lake National Park, look no further than the Crater Lake RV Park.

The Crater Lake RV Park is surrounded by nature, and it offers visitors many must-see attractions. There are approximately 57 full hookup RV sites, and daily fees start from as little as $20, making it an affordable destination for many.

Although the main attraction is undoubtedly the nearby Crater Lake National Park, Crater lake RV Park has much to offer campers. Those visiting Crater lake RV Park can look forward to various music festivals, the Timber Carnival, Prospect Fly-In, and a free fishing day depending on the time of year.

The park also has internet access, television access, a horseshoe pit, numerous park forest trails, and barbeque and fire pits.

Besides the amazing facilities and activities on offer, this park is also close to some truly spectacular sights. Visitors can look forward to visiting Prospect Park Scenic Viewpoint, Cascade Gorge, the Joseph Stewart Recreation Area, Mill Creek Falls, and Red Rock Canyon.

Each of these beautiful places is within walking distance of the park.

Times:

The park can be contacted between 9 am and 7 pm pacific time to find out check-in and check-out information.

Dates:

The Crater Lake RV Park is open throughout the year.

Rules:

• At Crater Lake RV Park, the speed limit is 5 miles per hour.
• Quiet time at this park is between 10 pm and 8 am.
• No loaded firearms are permitted.
• Guests are not allowed to place hot items on picnic tables.
• Campers must park on gravel or asphalt only.
• All fires and barbeques require a parking permit. The permits are free to obtain from the office.

Can You Go RVing In Oregon Outside These Dates?

Above, we discussed two campgrounds that are open throughout the year in Oregon.

Yet, we need to bring to your attention that not all campgrounds in this wonderful American state will be open year-round. State and National Parks, alongside private campgrounds and RV parks and resorts, can stipulate their own seasonal dates and dates of operation.

That’s why it’s crucial to ensure you research the campground you want to visit to determine if it will indeed be open when you plan on visiting. However, a great way to bypass much of the hassle you will face when planning a camping trip to Oregon is to book a stay at a campground open throughout the year.

Below we have listed some of the year-round campgrounds that are excellent choices:

• Wallowa Lake State Park.
• Belknap Hot Springs Campground.
• Page Springs Campground.
• Chimney Rock Campground.

In Oregon Where Can You Camp For Free?

If you want to explore Oregon, camping is certainly the most affordable way to do so, especially if you take advantage of one of the free campgrounds located throughout the state.

A 2018 report stated that approximately 2.9 million people went camping in Oregon, which was an all-time high for the state at the time.

If you don’t mind giving up creature comforts such as working bathroom facilities, hot showers, and readily available drinking water and electricity, you should consider a free campground in Oregon.

Should you already have a tent or RV, you are halfway towards saving a lot of money on a campground by capitalizing on one of the free Oregon campgrounds when next you choose to travel. So really, what are you waiting for?

Below you will see a few of the best free Oregon campgrounds that you could visit with either your tent or your motorhome. However, before embarking on your next camping journey, you should take the time to read up on the best free camping practices.

Have a look at the “leave no trace” guidelines, and if you have an RV look into how you can go boondocking with your rig.

Here are a few places you can go to dispersed camp in Oregon:

• Rufus Landing Recreation Area near Columbia River Gorge.
• Mineral Camp Campground is located within Umpqua National Forest.
• Alder Springs Campground is located within Willamette National Forest.
• Sand Island Marine Park near Portland, Oregon.
• Owyhee Canyonlands near Nyssa, Oregon.
• Bonny Meadow Campground within Mount Hood National Forest.

In Oregon, Can You Camp On Public Hunting Land?

Surprisingly, unlike a few other American states, campers can camp on public hunting land in Oregon.

This is because the BLM manages the public lands in Oregon, and the BLM offers visitors many action-packed recreational activities such as hiking, hunting, camping, fishing, and swimming.

Visitors can also participate in boating activities with friends, picnics with the family, and scenic tours of the remote wildlands, coastal headlands, ranches, archaeological sites, lava flows, and rugged river canyons.

It’s safe to state that Oregon BLM public lands offer unparalleled opportunities for hunting, recreational activities, and camping which visitors will be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Oregon Camping And RV Rules For Local State Parks And National Parks

At Oregon State and National Parks, there are three different types of camping opportunities available to campers.

Campers can choose to visit either a dispersed campsite, a developed campground, or one of the designated campsites outside regular campgrounds.

Yet, with each of these campground options, general rules apply to every State and National Park in Oregon.

We have provided a few of the crucial rules you need to know so that you don’t run into any trouble when you decide to visit Oregon for your next camping adventure:

• No camper is allowed to camp within 25 feet of a stream or river.
• Guests are not allowed to deposit human waste within 100 feet of any campsite regardless of its location. Human waste must also be deposited more than 100 feet away from a trail or body of water.
• Campers are not allowed to clear their own campsites or disrupt the natural environment.
• There is a limit of 8 people and 2 vehicles per campsite unless a camper stays at a designated group campsite.
• All animals need to be on a 6-foot leash in all Oregon State and National Parks at all times.
• Guests are prohibited from releasing fireworks.

Citations:

Free Campgrounds In Oregon