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Due to its notoriously rainy weather, one of the most underrated parts of the country for camping is the Pacific Northwest–especially the stunning Oregon coast. However, did you know that during the summer months, it actually has more sunny days than rainy ones?!
That makes the Oregon coast an excellent place to visit during the summer. Better yet, the coastline is littered with beautiful campgrounds, three of which we’ll explore in this article. Additionally, we’ll share some easy ways to improve your Oregon coast camping experience.
Now, without further ado, let’s dive in and discover our top three Oregon coast camping sites that you have to see to believe!
Check out the video above by Eat See RV to find out how to plan the perfect Oregon coast road trip itinerary.
Table of Contents
- Oregon Coast Camping Sites: Cape Lookout State Park Campground
- Oregon Coast Camping Sites: Fort Steven State Park Campground
- Oregon Coast Camping Sites: Nehalem Bay State Park Campground
- How to Make Your Oregon Coast Camping Site Even Better
- More Oregon Coast Camping Sites
Oregon Coast Camping Sites: Cape Lookout State Park Campground
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Without a doubt, one of the most breathtaking Oregon coast camping sites is Cape Lookout State Park Campground. It’s nestled between Netarts Bay and the ocean and has impressive views as far as the eye can see. There are miles of hiking trails located within the park, including the popular “Cape Trail” and two sections of the “Oregon Coast Trail.”
The Campground is open year-round and has various camping options: full-hookup sites, tent sites, yurts, cabins, and more! So, regardless of how you like to camp, you can do it here! In addition, the park is next door to the famous town of Tillamook, where you 100% must visit the Tillamook Creamery to try some freshly made cheese or ice cream.
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Oregon Coast Camping Sites: Fort Steven State Park Campground
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If you are camping as a family or trying to combine the Oregon and Washington coasts into one itinerary, you can’t skip Fort Stevens State Park Campground. It’s located at the northwestern tip of the Oregon coast (at the mouth of the Columbia River), and you can see the state of Washington across the water.
It’s one of the largest campgrounds in the USA and is a great place to enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and more. On top of that, it’s home to the only Civil War fort on the west coast, a maze of underground tunnels, a military museum, and a historic shipwreck.
Learn More:
- Teardrop Trailer Hacks for Simplifying Your Camping Experience in 2024
- The Value of Buying American-Made Products for Overlanding and Camping Enthusiasts
Oregon Coast Camping Sites: Nehalem Bay State Park Campground
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Located less than two hours from Portland, Nehalem Bay State Park Campground is the perfect place for Portland residents to escape the city and enjoy a camping adventure. It boasts over four miles of gorgeous, uninterrupted coastline and is home to various local wildlife (elk, birds, sea animals, etc.).
Even though it has more than 300 campsites, making a reservation as early as possible (dates open six months in advance) is key due to its prime location. Popular activities include windsurfing, kayaking, fishing, and crabbing. This means you won’t want to leave your grill and kitchen utensils at home!
How to Make Your Oregon Coast Camping Site Even Better
Now that you know the best places to go camping on the Oregon coast, let’s discuss how to improve your campsites further. Three ways to instantly make a campsite better are by making it more comfortable, convenient, and versatile. But how exactly do you do that? Let’s find out!
While we love tent camping, we’ll be the first to admit that it’s not the most comfortable way to sleep under the stars. So, if comfort in the backcountry is one of your top priorities, you should consider investing in a cozy teardrop trailer like the Freedom Lineup of Trailers by Second Wind trailers.
Freedom Trailers are portable yet spacious teardrop trailers that make an ideal home away from home while on the road. They are simultaneously small enough to be towed by just about any vehicle but big enough to sleep two adults (and a dog!) comfortably. Moreover, they are durable, stylish, and have off-roading capabilities.
What’s more, these trailers are lovingly made in the USA using American-made products. The result is a beautifully designed, impeccably built trailer for your Oregon Coast adventures (and adventures in other locations, too!). To learn more about Second Wind’s newest model, the Freedom Stealth, see our review.
Next, we understand that you want your campsite to be convenient. And since many campgrounds don’t have electrical hookups or provide access to outlets, an easy way to make your Oregon coast camping site more convenient is by bringing a portable power station, like the Inergy Flex 1500.
The Inergy Flex 1500 is a lightweight, compact, modular power station. It comprises a power console, a rechargeable battery, and available options like an MPPT supercharger and solar panels that make it an even more functional option for your camping needs. In fact, this combo makes it the fastest-charging solar-powered portable power station today, and it can power everything from a laptop to a fridge.
At 14″ x 8″ x 8.9″ and 29 pounds, the FLEX 1500 is small enough to transport easily from one camping spot to the next. The base FLEX 1500 setup with one battery offers 1,000 watt-hours of power, though adding additional batteries expands that power – two batteries gets you 2,000 watt-hours, three batteries gets you 3,000 watt-hours, and so forth. You can add up to 96 batteries for one heck of a power plant!
The unit has a 1,500-watt pure sine wave AC inverter with 3,000 watts of surge power. That power is available through six 110-120V AC outlets, two 60-watt USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, two 5.5mm x 2.5mm DC outputs, and two 15-amp cigarette lighter ports.
This system is completely plug-and-play, so there’s no long, laborious process to set it up and get power flowing to your devices. Instead, in just a few minutes, you can have clean, reliable, quiet power at your campsite!
Lastly, having flexible and versatile camping equipment is a must. It makes your lives easier whether camping on the Oregon coast, on the peaks of the Rockies, or in the Arizona deserts. That said, we never leave home without packing our Tailgater Tire Table.
It’s a one-of-a-kind table that quickly and easily attaches directly to your vehicle’s tire. It is stable, requires no tools to set up or break down, and allows you to enjoy a delicious meal anywhere. The Tailgater Tire Table comes in aluminum or steel and two different sizes, so you can choose the best one to match the size and style of your camping vehicle.
Regardless of which model you choose, you’ll get a table that is built to last. So, not only is the Tailgater Tire Table ultra-portable, but the investment you make when purchasing it will pay you dividends over a long period of time.
This table is also the height of multifunctionality. You can use it as meal prep space, a spot to eat dinner after a day of adventuring, or an area to play games while you enjoy the campfire. It’s one of my all-time favorite camping tools – and my guess is it will be one of your favorites, too!
More Oregon Coast Camping Sites
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You’d be a fool to think those are the only amazing places to go camping on the Oregon coast, though. Here’s a list of more popular Oregon coast camping sites to check out on your next road trip.
- Harris Beach State Park
- Sunset Bay State Park
- Tillicum Beach Campground
- Devils Lake State Recreation Area
- Loon Lake Campground
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