It’s time to pack the cooler, load up the camping gear and hit the road with the kids. Oregon has so many great places for family adventures that it’s sometimes hard to know where to pitch your tent. Get started with these cool trip ideas.
Camp in Oregon Parks From Wallowa Lake to Crater Lake
Surrounded by a glacial lake and the peaks of the Wallowa Mountains, Wallowa Lake State Park has it all in Eastern Oregon. Wilderness and water-sports lovers can make their base camp here at any of the 209 sites for tent campers and RVs, plus two yurts (book early) and three group tent areas. It’s open year-round, but summertime is in top demand, so also consider a shoulder-season trip. Hike into the spectacular Eagle Cap Wilderness from the Wallowa Lake Trailhead; soak up the stunning views from the Wallowa Lake Tramway; and feel like a kid again with go-karts, arcade games and ping pong at Wallowa Lake Karts nearby. Drive the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway and take a wild jet-boat or rafting trip they won’t forget through an outfitter such as Hells Canyon Adventures.
Tucked along the Deschutes River, 30 minutes south of Bend, LaPine State Park lets you experience the wilderness without straying far from the city. Oregon’s largest ponderosa pine, Big Red, lives here. At 162 feet tall, 29 feet around and a good 500 or so years old, it’s an impressive sight. Ten log cabins — some pet-friendly — are open year-round, but be sure to book ahead for summertime. RV and tent campers have 129 sites to choose from; amenities include hot showers and restroom facilities, as well as an off-leash area for dogs. Go on a family hike or bike ride, or try your hand at fly-fishing on-site; the river is a legendary spot for trout. Save time to see the geologic and historic wonders of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Fort Rock State Natural Area and Fort Rock Cave (only open to the public via guided tours; make sure to book in advance).
Camp 7 miles from the rim of Crater Lake at Mazama Campground, where RVs and tent campers have access to showers, laundry and ranger-led evening programs in the amphitheater, as well as a metal food locker to keep food away from bears. Make this your year to fully explore Crater Lake National Park with several family-friendly hikes or a guided trolley tour around the rim. Tour Crater Lake Lodge and sign the kids up to be junior rangers. Visit midweek and earlier in the day for fewer crowds. Note: There can be snow on the roads longer than expected, so check conditions before you go.
Riverside Camping Near Portland and Corvallis
Just 25 miles east of Portland in Gresham, Oxbow Regional Park is a water lover’s dream. Family campers can set up a short walk away from the banks of the Wild and Scenic Sandy River, which becomes a gathering spot for people in tubes, kayaks and other flotation devices in the summertime. The woodsy setting is also a haven for wildlife — deer, foxes, osprey and elk make their home here, and salmon return to spawn in the undammed river. Twelve miles of trails are ripe for trekking, and covered picnic shelters make it easy for group dining. Sorry, no dogs are allowed here. Reserve any of the 74 drive-up campsites to secure a spot in the summer.
Southwest of Corvallis, the south fork of the Alsea River flows through the Alsea Falls Recreation Site to form the lovely 30-foot Alsea Falls. With 21 campsites and two dozen picnic areas, this quiet spot is a great place to escape the crowds and cool off in the river. Mountain bikers will enjoy 6 miles of flowing trail.
Home Base for Family Fun on the Oregon Coast and Near Mt. Hood
Cape Lookout State Park, just north of Pacific City, is nestled on a sandy spit between Netarts Bay and the ocean. The campground has 170 tent sites, 38 RV spots, and several yurts and cabins (some are pet-friendly). More than 8 miles of hiking and walking trails wind through the forest around the campground. It’s the perfect base camp for exploring the Three Capes Scenic Loop: Climb the sand dunes at Cape Kiwanda, visit the lighthouse or watch birds at Cape Meares, and watch for paragliders from the cliffs above.
On the shores of the lake for which it is named, Trillium Lake Campground is a favorite family camping spot near Government Camp on Mt. Hood. The pristine waters of the glacier-fed lake are perfect for fishing, swimming, picnicking and paddling. An easy 1.9-mile trail loops through the campground, which has nearly 60 sites. Young adventurers will happily find Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Skibowl just down the road.
Closer to Hood River, and also on Mt. Hood, Lost Lake Resort & Campground is great for kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing and fishing, and the resort offers gear rental. Overnighters can stay in the lodge, cabins, yurts or campsites under the snowy gaze of Mt. Hood.
