Camping in Oregon
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Camping in Oregon
April 2008
We are looking to do a two-week camping trip in Oregon in early-mid
August and are thinking about renting a Vanagon so we can be more
mobile. We would like to visit Crater Lake and the Oregon coast for
sure. We'll have a 4 1/2 year old and a 2 m.o. baby (mom and baby
sleep in the Vanagon and dad and 4 1/2 y.o. sleep in the tent) with
us. Is this crazy? We usually go car camping several times a year
with our son but because of my due date in early June, won't have any
camping trips in before baby arrives. If not, what are some good camp
sites you would recommend or cities that we should definitely stop at?
Any cities/places/sites we should make a point of visiting in Oregon
or on the way to even if they are not listed on the itinerary? Fun
things for a 4 1/2 y.o.? Any thoughts on the Vanagon rental? Any
tips otherwise? Thanks for your advice!
Looking for Some Camping Fun
Our family of 2 adults and kids then 11 and 14 rented a VW camper 2
summers ago and drove to Yellowstone, Glacier and Waterton.
We rented from California Campers in Redwood City which seemed to be
the only local source, and they only rent Westfalias. The campers are
a wonder of efficient space use--lots of storage for sleeping bags,
functioning refrig/stove/sink, surprisingly comfortable sleeping for
4 people. Moving all your bags to make room for the double bed in the
cargo area is a bit of a pain, and one kid did manage to fall out of
the top bed one night.
Aside from cabin fever, the only real problem was the underpowered
engine that's lucky to do 40 uphill--allow extra time for driving.
When our kids were a lot younger we took the train to Portland,
rented an SUV and camped our way back across Oregon. We liked the
Oregon Dunes, Bandon, Portland, the Columbia Gorge and Mt Hood (snow
in August), although this is more ground than you'd probably cover
with an infant. The popular coastal state park campgrounds seemed
more dense and crowded than what we're used to in Calif, and you have
to have reservations.
tsujis
If you're camping in Oregon, I recommend looking into yurts. A lot of
the Oregon campsites have them, and they're quite inexpensive. When
we went a couple of years ago they were about $25 a night. If I
remember correctly, they come with four comfortable cots,
electricity, a fan and lighting. Outside is the typical campsite set
up with picnic tables and bbq. It's easier and more comfortable than
camping... and no tent to set up. We stayed in one campsite in
Grant's Pass, which was great, and another one outside Bandon, which
was a bit overcrowded.
Jean
May 2004
We are contemplating taking a family camping trip northward,
ending up in Salem Oregon, this summer. Anyone out there have
some recommendations of where we ought to camp en route, and
esp. what campgrounds in Lassen Nat'l Park we ought to stay in?
We'd like to avoid too many RVs, but at the same time, I do want
running water and am not averse to plumbing (although I can live
with composting toilets and the like). Thanks!
Wendy
Recommended:
Lassen National Park
We went to Oregon last summer. A great place to camp in
California is Lake Siskiyou near Mt Shasta-it's a nice private
campground and the lake is wonderful. In Oregon, Silver Falls
State Park is beautiful-all these different waterfalls, nice
camping, really lovely. Hope this helps.
Me
We have also camped at Patrick's Point State Park, way up in
Humboldt County. It's on the ocean, really gorgeous too, can be
cold and foggy, but the campground is really nice and low key.
Lots of hiking, walking onthe beach, seals, etc.
Then there is Humboldt Redwoods State Park, slightly more inland.
Fabulous campground (I think there are several). Very peaceful.
I thnk there is an RV area and a tent/tent trailer area.
We tent camp and I don't remember ever being bothered by lots of
RV's wherever we've gone so, though I don't remember, most
places have either had RV's separate from tents or there just
weren't a lot around. Good luck and have fun.
happy camper
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