Discover the best desert campgrounds in Oregon with campfires

United States
—
Oregon

98% (914 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Oregon

Star Hosts in Oregon

Under $50

100%

(27)

Cascadia Farm Sanctuary

5 sites · Lodging, Tents40 acres · Pronghorn, OR

Learn more about this land: Enjoy a small working hay farm and animal sanctuary outside beautiful Bend, Oregon. We have amazing sunrises, sunsets, and star gazing on this 40-acre property. We have 11 goats and 2 Llamas, and we plan to enlarge our herd this year and take in other unwanted farm animals as needed. Note: This is an adults-only location. No children or dogs are allowed on the property. We have recently added two open-air A-Frames to the two campsites for your enjoyment. Both come with Gas firepits, lofts, and hammocks. We also have a new wood-burning sauna as an added feature and costs $20 per person for the duration of your stay.

Haystack Ranch

12 sites · RVs, Tents500 acres · Spray, OR

My family has owned the ranch since 1977. We bought it from my parents a few years ago to keep it in the family. We love living here, and although it is just the two of us working it, we are slowly getting it to what we want it to be. The house we live in is over 100 years old and used to be a stage coach stop back in the late 1800's to early 1900's, You can still see some of the old stage coach roads on the property, and we are trying to preserve those the best we can. Also in the early 1900's this ranch used to be the place to go on the fourth of July. People from all over would bring their prize horses to compete in a horse race for the name of the fastest horses around While others would bring picnic baskets to set back on the knoll in one of our fields to watch. Learn more about this land:We are a 500 Acre working ranch located in Beautiful East Central Oregon, We are Between The stunning Painted Hills, and Umatilla National Forest. Just a few miles away from the Gorgeous John Day River, where Rafting, Tubing, Fishing, Swimming is always a welcome retreat. A few miles above us is Bull Prairie Lake and the wonderful Umatilla National Forest where hiking, sight seeing and wildlife viewing is always available.

Picnik Place

2 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Bend, OR

Hi and welcome to Picnik Place! This is a 20 acre farm, so there is plenty of land to roam free and explore, as well as having your privacy from the primary residents. With this spot, you are nestled under a juniper tree with a lava rock backdrop and can watch the sun dip below the volcanos in the distance. This spot is very simple and tucked away. There is an off-grid solar power hook-up that you can use, but it will not be enough power to run the AC and toaster oven at the same time! While feeling remote and removed from the Bend tourism, it only takes 15 minutes to get downtown, where there are ample restaurants, shops, coffehouses, etc. It takes 7 minutes to get to Trader Joe's and Home Depot, and 10 minutes to get to St. Charles Hospital.

93%

(7)

Peebler Camp

1 site · RV, Tent3 acres · Echo, OR

This campsite is a pull thru road that has a sun and wind block overlooking local farm fields. Camp is two miles from freeway exit yet miles from any home other than the working homestead that was started in 1890 with huge barn built in 1906 next door. This is a great place to rest for the night or a week. - simple, safe, and private out of the way. Use the west entrance so you can easily enter, then leave on gravel drive. This is a dry camp with no water access or restrooms. This site is 12 miles west from the world-famous Pendleton Round-Up. 8 miles east of Echo Ridge Winery, Sno Road Winery, Echo historical museum, and Echo Golf Course. Simple dining can be found in Echo at H and P cafe and in nearby Stanfield at Broken Barrel Restaurant/Bar with great burgers.

95%

(112)

The Narrows, Gateway to the Steens

16 sites · Lodging, Tents20 acres · Princeton, OR

Located 26 miles south of Burns on Highway 205, The Narrows RV Park is the perfect base camp for your exploration of Harney County and Southeast Oregon. The Narrows is just steps away from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and provides easy access to other high desert attractions such as the Steens Mountain Recreation Area, The Alvord Desert, The Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge and The Diamond Craters Loop. Our quality amenities go a long way towards making guests feel comfortable, like they’ve found a home-away-from-home. Here are some of our amenities that we offer year-round: Five complete bathrooms with showersSite patios, fire pits and BBQ standsGasoline, diesel & propaneLaundry On-Site Convenience Store Handicapped-accessible facilities 30- and 50-amp electricity Free Wi-Fi connections RV dump

12 top desert campgrounds in Oregon with campfires

100%

(33)

Picnik Place

2 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Bend, OR

Hi and welcome to Picnik Place! This is a 20 acre farm, so there is plenty of land to roam free and explore, as well as having your privacy from the primary residents. With this spot, you are nestled under a juniper tree with a lava rock backdrop and can watch the sun dip below the volcanos in the distance. This spot is very simple and tucked away. There is an off-grid solar power hook-up that you can use, but it will not be enough power to run the AC and toaster oven at the same time! While feeling remote and removed from the Bend tourism, it only takes 15 minutes to get downtown, where there are ample restaurants, shops, coffehouses, etc. It takes 7 minutes to get to Trader Joe's and Home Depot, and 10 minutes to get to St. Charles Hospital.

"ART CAN" Airstream + Sauna!

1 site · Lodging1 acre · Portland, OR

Our 27' 1973 Airstream Overlander has been completely refurbished with lots of love and attention to detail. The outdoor space is a chill zone full of native plants, trees, flowers and an 8 ft. barrel sauna! This space is ideal for anyone looking for a quiet place to land while they explore the city and/or endless nature in the surrounding areas - Forest Park, Mt Hood, The Columbia Rive Gorge, and the coast! We are biking distance to several fabulous neighborhoods and restaurants along with tons of hiking opportunities in Forest Park, Columbia Slough trail, Mt Tabor and more. We have 2 bikes available for you to use during your stay!

Desert Rose Private Campground

3 sites · Lodging2 acres · Prineville, OR

Welcome to our family's Private Campground - The Desert Rose. A boondocking site for you and your family to enjoy! We have a Yurt, a cabin, 3 RV/Travel trailer pads and 2 tent sites created here and plenty of room for everyone to have their own space yet be all together. You can book the entire campground, or just one of the units. Whether it's just you, or you're bringing a crew, we know you'll love it here! Our favorite hikes in the Central Oregon area is Smith Rocks and Chimney Rock. The Prineville reservoir is roughly a 12 minute drive and the starry nights here are something to behold. Up the road is the most unique petting zoo that we recently found! Find it and you might just be able to hold a baby kangaroo! Boondocking site means there is no hook-ups or running water so you'll want to bring in your own water and heat if you're here in the colder months. Your four legged furry family members are welcomed! They must be accompanied at all times and not left on the property alone. The dog run is for you to keep closer tabs on them while relaxing, not for leaving them while going into town or enjoying the area. The dirt is very soft and it wouldn't take very long for them to dig under to get out and go looking for you. The cabin or yurt is also not a pet storage area - with no power or AC, pets are not allowed to be left alone in the dwellings.

Haystack Ranch

12 sites · RVs, Tents500 acres · Spray, OR

My family has owned the ranch since 1977. We bought it from my parents a few years ago to keep it in the family. We love living here, and although it is just the two of us working it, we are slowly getting it to what we want it to be. The house we live in is over 100 years old and used to be a stage coach stop back in the late 1800's to early 1900's, You can still see some of the old stage coach roads on the property, and we are trying to preserve those the best we can. Also in the early 1900's this ranch used to be the place to go on the fourth of July. People from all over would bring their prize horses to compete in a horse race for the name of the fastest horses around While others would bring picnic baskets to set back on the knoll in one of our fields to watch. Learn more about this land:We are a 500 Acre working ranch located in Beautiful East Central Oregon, We are Between The stunning Painted Hills, and Umatilla National Forest. Just a few miles away from the Gorgeous John Day River, where Rafting, Tubing, Fishing, Swimming is always a welcome retreat. A few miles above us is Bull Prairie Lake and the wonderful Umatilla National Forest where hiking, sight seeing and wildlife viewing is always available.

The Narrows, Gateway to the Steens

16 sites · Lodging, Tents20 acres · Princeton, OR

Located 26 miles south of Burns on Highway 205, The Narrows RV Park is the perfect base camp for your exploration of Harney County and Southeast Oregon. The Narrows is just steps away from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and provides easy access to other high desert attractions such as the Steens Mountain Recreation Area, The Alvord Desert, The Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge and The Diamond Craters Loop. Our quality amenities go a long way towards making guests feel comfortable, like they’ve found a home-away-from-home. Here are some of our amenities that we offer year-round: Five complete bathrooms with showersSite patios, fire pits and BBQ standsGasoline, diesel & propaneLaundry On-Site Convenience Store Handicapped-accessible facilities 30- and 50-amp electricity Free Wi-Fi connections RV dump

Peebler Camp

1 site · RV, Tent3 acres · Echo, OR

This campsite is a pull thru road that has a sun and wind block overlooking local farm fields. Camp is two miles from freeway exit yet miles from any home other than the working homestead that was started in 1890 with huge barn built in 1906 next door. This is a great place to rest for the night or a week. - simple, safe, and private out of the way. Use the west entrance so you can easily enter, then leave on gravel drive. This is a dry camp with no water access or restrooms. This site is 12 miles west from the world-famous Pendleton Round-Up. 8 miles east of Echo Ridge Winery, Sno Road Winery, Echo historical museum, and Echo Golf Course. Simple dining can be found in Echo at H and P cafe and in nearby Stanfield at Broken Barrel Restaurant/Bar with great burgers.

Cascadia Farm Sanctuary

5 sites · Lodging, Tents40 acres · Pronghorn, OR

Learn more about this land: Enjoy a small working hay farm and animal sanctuary outside beautiful Bend, Oregon. We have amazing sunrises, sunsets, and star gazing on this 40-acre property. We have 11 goats and 2 Llamas, and we plan to enlarge our herd this year and take in other unwanted farm animals as needed. Note: This is an adults-only location. No children or dogs are allowed on the property. We have recently added two open-air A-Frames to the two campsites for your enjoyment. Both come with Gas firepits, lofts, and hammocks. We also have a new wood-burning sauna as an added feature and costs $20 per person for the duration of your stay.

100%

(16)

Wits End RV Camp

2 sites · RVs, Tents25 acres · Redmond, OR

Welcome to our spacious RV camp spot in Redmond, OR, conveniently situated just 5 minutes from town and a mere 10 minutes from the renowned Smith Rock. Whether you prefer solitude or are joining a sizable group of RVs, our site accommodates your needs. The property has 25 acres to explore as well as an additional 80 acres of public land.

92%

(84)

Tom B.’s Land

3 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Hines, OR

100%

(16)

Horse Ranch on the Rim

2 sites · RVs, Tents110 acres · Culver, OR

Come enjoy the scenic views. They are breathtaking. Room to set up camp and go for a hike. Owners live on the property and can assist you in finding the perfect spot for your family. Horses all around. Pets welcomed on leash. Smith Rock only 10 minutes away. Cove Palisades State Park is only 9 miles away.

Ponderosa Pastures

1 site · RV, Tent21 acres · Bend, OR

Welcome to Ponderosa Pastures, a working cattle ranch. Pigs and chickens are also being raised on the property. We are located directly across from the Bend Airport and conveniently 5 miles from town. Enjoy the mountain landscape and the most incredible sunrises. Although we don’t have horses ourselves, we can accommodate horses with pasture or stalls.

96%

(12)

Twisted Juniper Ranch

2 sites · Lodging2 acres · Bend, OR

Come stay in a traditional Mongolian Yurt on this majestic 2.4 acres of land located on a butte with southern exposure facing Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, and Three Sisters Peaks. Enjoy the great views while soaking up plenty of sunshine during the days and excellent star gazing at night. Juniper dominate the landscape with an abundance of black lava, the densest lava found in Central Oregon. There are local mule deer that travel thru the ranch foraging on sagebrush and juniper berries. This campsite is located close to plenty hiking/biking trails and state parks. Whether you enjoy rock climbing, fly fishing, hiking, rock hounding, or spending the day shredding on Mt Bachelor there are activities for everyone nearby. We have a flock of 5 free range chickens that you are likely to encounter, they are very friendly. 6 miles-Tumalo State Park 20 miles-Smith Rock State Park 10 miles-Redmond Airport 32 miles-Mt. Bachelor 3 miles-Deschutes River 9 miles-downtown Bend

Available this weekend

100%

(33)

Picnik Place

2 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Bend, OR

Hi and welcome to Picnik Place! This is a 20 acre farm, so there is plenty of land to roam free and explore, as well as having your privacy from the primary residents. With this spot, you are nestled under a juniper tree with a lava rock backdrop and can watch the sun dip below the volcanos in the distance. This spot is very simple and tucked away. There is an off-grid solar power hook-up that you can use, but it will not be enough power to run the AC and toaster oven at the same time! While feeling remote and removed from the Bend tourism, it only takes 15 minutes to get downtown, where there are ample restaurants, shops, coffehouses, etc. It takes 7 minutes to get to Trader Joe's and Home Depot, and 10 minutes to get to St. Charles Hospital.

Haystack Ranch

12 sites · RVs, Tents500 acres · Spray, OR

My family has owned the ranch since 1977. We bought it from my parents a few years ago to keep it in the family. We love living here, and although it is just the two of us working it, we are slowly getting it to what we want it to be. The house we live in is over 100 years old and used to be a stage coach stop back in the late 1800's to early 1900's, You can still see some of the old stage coach roads on the property, and we are trying to preserve those the best we can. Also in the early 1900's this ranch used to be the place to go on the fourth of July. People from all over would bring their prize horses to compete in a horse race for the name of the fastest horses around While others would bring picnic baskets to set back on the knoll in one of our fields to watch. Learn more about this land:We are a 500 Acre working ranch located in Beautiful East Central Oregon, We are Between The stunning Painted Hills, and Umatilla National Forest. Just a few miles away from the Gorgeous John Day River, where Rafting, Tubing, Fishing, Swimming is always a welcome retreat. A few miles above us is Bull Prairie Lake and the wonderful Umatilla National Forest where hiking, sight seeing and wildlife viewing is always available.

Peebler Camp

1 site · RV, Tent3 acres · Echo, OR

This campsite is a pull thru road that has a sun and wind block overlooking local farm fields. Camp is two miles from freeway exit yet miles from any home other than the working homestead that was started in 1890 with huge barn built in 1906 next door. This is a great place to rest for the night or a week. - simple, safe, and private out of the way. Use the west entrance so you can easily enter, then leave on gravel drive. This is a dry camp with no water access or restrooms. This site is 12 miles west from the world-famous Pendleton Round-Up. 8 miles east of Echo Ridge Winery, Sno Road Winery, Echo historical museum, and Echo Golf Course. Simple dining can be found in Echo at H and P cafe and in nearby Stanfield at Broken Barrel Restaurant/Bar with great burgers.

The Narrows, Gateway to the Steens

16 sites · Lodging, Tents20 acres · Princeton, OR

Located 26 miles south of Burns on Highway 205, The Narrows RV Park is the perfect base camp for your exploration of Harney County and Southeast Oregon. The Narrows is just steps away from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and provides easy access to other high desert attractions such as the Steens Mountain Recreation Area, The Alvord Desert, The Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge and The Diamond Craters Loop. Our quality amenities go a long way towards making guests feel comfortable, like they’ve found a home-away-from-home. Here are some of our amenities that we offer year-round: Five complete bathrooms with showersSite patios, fire pits and BBQ standsGasoline, diesel & propaneLaundry On-Site Convenience Store Handicapped-accessible facilities 30- and 50-amp electricity Free Wi-Fi connections RV dump

Desert Rose Private Campground

3 sites · Lodging2 acres · Prineville, OR

Welcome to our family's Private Campground - The Desert Rose. A boondocking site for you and your family to enjoy! We have a Yurt, a cabin, 3 RV/Travel trailer pads and 2 tent sites created here and plenty of room for everyone to have their own space yet be all together. You can book the entire campground, or just one of the units. Whether it's just you, or you're bringing a crew, we know you'll love it here! Our favorite hikes in the Central Oregon area is Smith Rocks and Chimney Rock. The Prineville reservoir is roughly a 12 minute drive and the starry nights here are something to behold. Up the road is the most unique petting zoo that we recently found! Find it and you might just be able to hold a baby kangaroo! Boondocking site means there is no hook-ups or running water so you'll want to bring in your own water and heat if you're here in the colder months. Your four legged furry family members are welcomed! They must be accompanied at all times and not left on the property alone. The dog run is for you to keep closer tabs on them while relaxing, not for leaving them while going into town or enjoying the area. The dirt is very soft and it wouldn't take very long for them to dig under to get out and go looking for you. The cabin or yurt is also not a pet storage area - with no power or AC, pets are not allowed to be left alone in the dwellings.

Dog-friendly getaways

95%

(112)

The Narrows, Gateway to the Steens

16 sites · Lodging, Tents20 acres · Princeton, OR

Located 26 miles south of Burns on Highway 205, The Narrows RV Park is the perfect base camp for your exploration of Harney County and Southeast Oregon. The Narrows is just steps away from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and provides easy access to other high desert attractions such as the Steens Mountain Recreation Area, The Alvord Desert, The Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge and The Diamond Craters Loop. Our quality amenities go a long way towards making guests feel comfortable, like they’ve found a home-away-from-home. Here are some of our amenities that we offer year-round: Five complete bathrooms with showersSite patios, fire pits and BBQ standsGasoline, diesel & propaneLaundry On-Site Convenience Store Handicapped-accessible facilities 30- and 50-amp electricity Free Wi-Fi connections RV dump

Desert Rose Private Campground

3 sites · Lodging2 acres · Prineville, OR

Welcome to our family's Private Campground - The Desert Rose. A boondocking site for you and your family to enjoy! We have a Yurt, a cabin, 3 RV/Travel trailer pads and 2 tent sites created here and plenty of room for everyone to have their own space yet be all together. You can book the entire campground, or just one of the units. Whether it's just you, or you're bringing a crew, we know you'll love it here! Our favorite hikes in the Central Oregon area is Smith Rocks and Chimney Rock. The Prineville reservoir is roughly a 12 minute drive and the starry nights here are something to behold. Up the road is the most unique petting zoo that we recently found! Find it and you might just be able to hold a baby kangaroo! Boondocking site means there is no hook-ups or running water so you'll want to bring in your own water and heat if you're here in the colder months. Your four legged furry family members are welcomed! They must be accompanied at all times and not left on the property alone. The dog run is for you to keep closer tabs on them while relaxing, not for leaving them while going into town or enjoying the area. The dirt is very soft and it wouldn't take very long for them to dig under to get out and go looking for you. The cabin or yurt is also not a pet storage area - with no power or AC, pets are not allowed to be left alone in the dwellings.

Haystack Ranch

12 sites · RVs, Tents500 acres · Spray, OR

My family has owned the ranch since 1977. We bought it from my parents a few years ago to keep it in the family. We love living here, and although it is just the two of us working it, we are slowly getting it to what we want it to be. The house we live in is over 100 years old and used to be a stage coach stop back in the late 1800's to early 1900's, You can still see some of the old stage coach roads on the property, and we are trying to preserve those the best we can. Also in the early 1900's this ranch used to be the place to go on the fourth of July. People from all over would bring their prize horses to compete in a horse race for the name of the fastest horses around While others would bring picnic baskets to set back on the knoll in one of our fields to watch. Learn more about this land:We are a 500 Acre working ranch located in Beautiful East Central Oregon, We are Between The stunning Painted Hills, and Umatilla National Forest. Just a few miles away from the Gorgeous John Day River, where Rafting, Tubing, Fishing, Swimming is always a welcome retreat. A few miles above us is Bull Prairie Lake and the wonderful Umatilla National Forest where hiking, sight seeing and wildlife viewing is always available.

Peebler Camp

1 site · RV, Tent3 acres · Echo, OR

This campsite is a pull thru road that has a sun and wind block overlooking local farm fields. Camp is two miles from freeway exit yet miles from any home other than the working homestead that was started in 1890 with huge barn built in 1906 next door. This is a great place to rest for the night or a week. - simple, safe, and private out of the way. Use the west entrance so you can easily enter, then leave on gravel drive. This is a dry camp with no water access or restrooms. This site is 12 miles west from the world-famous Pendleton Round-Up. 8 miles east of Echo Ridge Winery, Sno Road Winery, Echo historical museum, and Echo Golf Course. Simple dining can be found in Echo at H and P cafe and in nearby Stanfield at Broken Barrel Restaurant/Bar with great burgers.

Picnik Place

2 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Bend, OR

Hi and welcome to Picnik Place! This is a 20 acre farm, so there is plenty of land to roam free and explore, as well as having your privacy from the primary residents. With this spot, you are nestled under a juniper tree with a lava rock backdrop and can watch the sun dip below the volcanos in the distance. This spot is very simple and tucked away. There is an off-grid solar power hook-up that you can use, but it will not be enough power to run the AC and toaster oven at the same time! While feeling remote and removed from the Bend tourism, it only takes 15 minutes to get downtown, where there are ample restaurants, shops, coffehouses, etc. It takes 7 minutes to get to Trader Joe's and Home Depot, and 10 minutes to get to St. Charles Hospital.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

92%

(185)

Mt. Hood National Forest

Government Camp, Oregon

94%

(25)

Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest

O'brien, Oregon

100%

(3)

Umpqua Lighthouse State Park

Winchester Bay, Oregon

67%

(9)

Ochoco National Forest

Mitchell, Oregon

Smith Rock and the Crooked River from the Top of Misery Ridge Trail

97%

(25)

Smith Rock State Park

Terrebonne, Oregon

Lake Owyhee State Park

Adrian, Oregon

100%

(1)

Succor Creek State Natural Area

Crater Lake National Park

Prospect, Oregon

Farewell Bend State Recreation Area

Huntington, Oregon

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Desert camping in Oregon with campfires guide

Overview

Oregon has long been known as an outdoor destination, with snow-capped mountains, rugged high desert, Pacific Coast beaches, and roaring rivers all within a few hours’ drive of one another. While Portland attracts visitors with its celebrated food scene and music venues, Oregon offers much more for those who’d prefer a quieter getaway out in nature. If you’ve come to camp or hike, you’ll have no shortage of options to choose from—in fact, there are 11 national forests, hundreds of state parks and recreation areas, and 2.5 million acres of protected wilderness within the state’s borders.

Where to go

The Willamette Valley

Extending from the border with Washington state down to the community of Springfield, the Willamette Valley is Oregon’s main economic and cultural hub. Although it’s home to the state’s three most populated cities (Portland, Salem, and Eugene), much of the Willamette Valley is dominated by forests and countryside, with plenty of state parks, hiking and mountain biking trails, hot springs, and rivers.

Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge

Just east of Portland on the border with Washington, the Columbia River Gorge offers easy access to miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, and great skiing and snowboarding. The adjacent Mt. Hood region has equally beautiful scenery and is as popular for winter skiing and snowboarding as it is for hiking, swimming, and camping in the summer months.

The Oregon Coast

This region is popular year-round, attracting whale-watching fans in the cooler months and campers and hikers in the summer months. Popular Oregon Coast activities include hiking, tide pool viewing, clamming, crabbing, off-road vehicle rides on the sweeping Oregon Dunes, and sampling world-famous cheese and ice cream in Tillamook. While some brave souls don wetsuits for surfing and diving, the Pacific Ocean waters rarely get warm enough for comfortable dips. Some of the area’s best camping options can be found at Harris Beach State Park, Sunset Bay State Park, and Cape Lookout State Park, all of which offer tent camping, yurt rentals, and RV sites with hookups.

Eastern and Central Oregon

Stretching from the portion of the Cascade Range south of the Columbia Gorge all the way east to the Oregon-Idaho border, central and eastern Oregon offer a dryer, sunnier alternative to the rainier parts of the state, with a mix of lush forest and craggy high desert landscapes. Highlights include Deschutes National Forest, popular for backpacking and backcountry stays, while campers in search of a more developed camping experience can head to one of the many Oregon state parks along the Deschutes River, near Bend.

Southern Oregon

Oregon’s southernmost region offers a variety of scenery, with a mix of lakes, forests, and rivers interspersed with rolling expanses of countryside (not to mention some great wineries). The region’s most famous natural attraction is Crater Lake National Park, Oregon’s only national park, set near the southeastern reaches of Umpqua National Forest.