Best Tent Camping: Oregon. Becky Ohlsen
Park Campground
Beauty
You can walk to the beach from your tent site through a tunnel under the highway, allowing for front-row seats to watch the sunset.
KEY INFORMATION
CONTACT: 541-265-9278, 800-452-5687, oregonstateparks.org
OPEN: Year-round
SITES: 128 tent, 76 electric, 53 full hookup, 21 yurts, 3 group
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Restrooms; sites F10, F11, and F34; yurts A06, A08, A25, A26, F27, and F36
EACH SITE HAS: Picnic table, fire ring
ASSIGNMENT: First come, first served, or by reservation at 800-452-5687 or reserveamerica.com
REGISTRATION: At campground entrance
AMENITIES: Flush toilets, hot showers
PARKING: At campsites only; 1 vehicle/site; $7/additional vehicle
FEE: Tent $21, electric $31, full hookup $34, yurts $47; $8 reservation fee
ELEVATION: Sea level
RESTRICTIONS:
PETS: On leash only
QUIET HOURS: 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
FIRES: In fire rings only
ALCOHOL: Permitted
OTHER: 14-day stay limit
While you may think of the Pacific Coast as a summer destination, Oregon steps to the beat of a different drummer. Many people flock to the rugged Oregon coast to watch the winter storms and look out for whales. In fact, the prime whale watching months are late December–mid-March, when volunteers set up camp specifically to help you spot the spouts at prime locations along the coast. (If you’re not sure where to start your whale watching efforts, head to the town of Depoe Bay, where Oregon State Parks runs the Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center, a facility devoted to giving visitors the best chance of spotting whales, as well as answering questions and sharing information.)
Located 7 miles north of Newport, Beverly Beach is a must-stay campground if you’re in the area. While many of the surrounding campgrounds can get overloaded with RVs and consequently feel a little cramped, this campground manages to host everyone and still make you feel like you’ve gotten away from it all (and from your neighbor). The sites are spacious and wooded, and a nature trail winds its way through the campground, so you can start your day with a little exercise.
A nature trail winds its way through Beverly Beach State Park Campground.
The most scenic part of the nature trail follows Spencer Creek, which borders the campground to the south. (Access the trail from the C Loop near site C3.) After crossing Spencer Creek, the trail splits. Walking to the right takes you to the hiker/biker camp. Head left to walk along the creek. The trail follows the creek to a bridge crossing located in the G Loop. Note that in spring and fall, the trail may be a bit of a muddy mess.
If you like to bicycle, park roads are open to bikes (helmets required). And in case you didn’t bring your own wheels, you can rent a fat-tire bicycle from the Spencer Creek Welcome Center (at the campground entrance) for $20 a day.
Divided into eight loops, the campground is large, with 128 tent sites—trailers of any kind are wisely forbidden in the tent-camping areas. There are also three group tent-camping areas.
One attraction of this campground is that you can walk to the beach from your tent site through a tunnel under the highway, allowing for front-row seats to watch the sunset. While some sites are closer to the beach, they tend to get bombarded with visitors, so don’t be fooled into thinking those are the best spots. Generally, the farther you are from the beach, the more likely you are to have some solitude. If you like to surf, the north beach is recommended. If you want to look for fossils, walk south along the beach.
With a general store nearby, firewood available at the campground, and a campground entrance station where staff will fill you in on the recreation hot spots—not to mention flush toilets and hot showers—Beverly Beach is a prime spot for tent-camping luxury with some elbow room.
Hiking is a popular activity here, with plenty of lighthouses (in particular, the Yaquina Head lighthouse is just south of the campground) and viewpoints to explore right off famous US 101. Of course, simply driving is a sightseeing adventure in itself, and the sweeping cliffside views of waves crashing below will tempt you to get out of your car and take advantage of the many viewpoints along US 101. Just north of Cape Foulweather, visit Depoe Bay and its remarkable spouting horn. When ocean waves surge into rocky tunnels along the shore, the spout erupts à la Old Faithful. Depoe Bay is also a great place to watch for whales.
In Newport, just south of Beverly Beach, you can get a fix of coastal city charm plus local seafood and microbrews along the historic waterfront. Established in 1882, Newport sits on the Yaquina Bay waterfront and has a few boat-charter companies, if you want to get out on the water; it’s also home to the excellent Oregon Coast Aquarium.
In fact, there’s so much to do in the surrounding area, it’s a good thing Beverly Beach is open year-round, so you can pick your pleasure.
GETTING THERE
From I-5 take Exit 233 in Albany. Head west on US 20, and go 2 miles. Use the right lane to take the US 20 ramp to Corvallis, and go 10.8 miles to Corvallis. Turn right onto NW Harrison Boulevard, and drive just 0.1 mile; turn left onto NW Fourth Street and drive 0.7 mile. Then keep right to continue onto US 20 W and drive 48.2 miles to Newport. Turn right onto US 101 N and drive 6.3 miles. Turn right (east) into the park.
GPS COORDINATES: N44º 43.715' W124º 03.345'
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Cape Lookout State Park Campground
Beauty
Despite the number of campsites, there is a spaciousness and openness about the place.
KEY INFORMATION
CONTACT: 503-842-4981, 800-551-6949, oregonstateparks.org
OPEN: Year-round
SITES: 173 tent, 38 full hookup, 1 electric, 13 yurts, 1 group, 6 cabins, 1 hiker/biker camp
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Restrooms, showers; sites C35 and