Desert camping in Oregon with swimming
With quiet beaches, vibrant cities, and massive expanses of forest, Oregon has something for everyone.
97% (1094 reviews)
- Oregon
97% (1094 reviews)
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12 top desert campgrounds in Oregon with swimming
96%
(74)
Back Side of Painted Hills Camping
1 site · RV, Tent320 acres · Mitchell, OR
This 320 acre plot of land on which you can hike anywhere has been in our family since 1993.
Large, graveled spot for tents or two vehicles with excellent view for miles and miles and night star gazing. Primitive outhouse. Juniper forest with sage brush... basically high desert vegetation. We only allow one reservation per night, although there is lodging (reserved) at the log home almost out of sight up above you. You can arrange vehicles or tents to not be in view or block any view from house way above. 320 acres to hike and roam. Mitchell is 10 miles away with well stocked grocery and feed store, restaurants, small brewery, and tire shop. We give directions fairly quickly. Road is wide, but steep at top. 4 wheel drive is recommended. Very close to the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National monument, Ochoco National Forest is seven miles. John Day River for swimming, rafting about 20 minutes. If you can book, it means you can drive on up with out contacting us. As you drive in if at night, you will see a light on the outhouse.
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$20.50
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97%
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B:30 Desert Destination
3 sites · Tents10 acres · Prineville, OR
Enjoy Cascade Mountain views during the day and unlimited stargazing at night. Camping is situated on 10 acres and just 10 minutes from the Crooked River, Prineville Reservoir and Millican Valley OHV Trail System . A 15 minute drive will take you to a very scenic hike at Chimney Rock Trail. Bend and Prineville are both a 30 minute drive away.
The group tent site has two separate-12' x 14' flat gravel pads and will accommodate tents of all reasonable sizes. Also includes an outdoor shower/compostable toilet, BBQ with picnic area, and propane fire pit.
The other two separate tent sites are roughly 20'x20' flat gravel pads and will accomodate 2 individual tents if needed. Also includes shared compostable toilet and individual propane fire pit.
Wood fire bans are in effect year round. We do provide propane fire pits at each site as an alternative. Propane tanks are also included.
Group site outdoor shower available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
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$32
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99%
(74)
Tom's Rest Canyon Retreat Center
5 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · OR
TOM'S REST was created by Tom's wife Cheryl in an effort to carry out their plans to provide respite for those in need. Tom Edwards worked tirelessly for years to clear this wild recreation space where he planned to live while helping others. Tom suddenly and unexpectedly passed February 2, 2015 while in the process of making his move to Sisters with his High School sweetheart of 45 years. Cheryl continued his passion and their dream to make this a place for those in need as a way to honor the most giving man she ever knew. This process, while overwhelming, has brought some healing and it is our hope to continue that healing for others in need from life's many trials. We continue to use our funds to promote healing in grief and other trials of life.
We would appreciate hearing from those that have anything to contribute in way of maintenance and housekeeping, services to provide those in need such as massage or counseling, or any other contributions you are led to give. We are developing a list of volunteers to be called upon when someone in need is referred to us and will keep you informed as things develop.
Anyone having a grief, widows/widowers, caregiver, cancer, hospice or other group that would like to have their group listed should message us as well. These respite visits are short getaways to refuel and support individuals during tough times.
Those that come to enjoy Tom's Rest will be ministering to those in need through your paid visits here and hopefully, gain some needed respite of your own. We have taken every precaution for distancing and cleanliness with the ever changing Covid policies for your safety and concerns. Most feel they are pretty much 'on their own' in this retreat area with the option for seclusion OR mingling if so desired.
My deepest thanks to all who have stood alongside through this journey and continue to do so. May we collectively create TOM'S REST with Tom's intention and the passion he infused in us to carry it through to fulfillment.
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$49
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95%
(11)
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
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$115
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(81)
Golden Triangle RV Bend, Oregon
3 sites · RVs2 acres · Bend, OR
Looking for the perfect escape from reality? Rent a spot at our RV campsite, where the WI-FI is weak but the connections are strong! Enjoy the great outdoors with all the comforts of home, minus the pesky neighbor's dog barking. (JUST KIDDING!) Unplug, unwind, and find out what that sunset actually looks like! Book now because your therapist said you need it. :0)
We are located 10 minutes into downtown Bend, and about 20 minutes to either Sisters or Redmond. Don't miss out on the great lineup at Hayden Homes Amphitheater with concerts ALL summer long. The world-famous Sister Rodeo is the biggest little show in the World! (June 5th-9th)The Sisters Quilt Show July 11th-14th 2024) Or just come to beautiful Central Oregon and enjoy the great outdoors with plenty to do. Mountain bike riding, hiking, fishing, floating, food trucks, microbrews, and ciders oh my! Grab a chair and head to "The Bite" in Tumalo just a 5-minute drive away.
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$70
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99%
(94)
Harmony Farm Sanctuary
1 site · Lodging10 acres · Bend, OR
Absolutely breathtaking mountain views from the tiny house and all over the property. Located on an active farm sanctuary. You will wake up to the sights, sounds and smells of our rescued farm animal friends.
Learn more about this land:
Tiny house with stunning mountain views located on a farm animal sanctuary, Harmony Farm Sanctuary. You will wake up in the morning to the sound of roosters crowing and our crew of friendly animal residents. It can be noisy at times but we find it delightful! The tiny house has huge, direct views of the Three Sisters mountains and Broken Top and plenty of outdoor sitting space to enjoy it and a little propane fire pit to enjoy the sunsets. The tiny house offers an amazing "glamping" experience and a unique opportunity to learn more about what we do at our animal sanctuary and even take a tour!
The Space: Our hand made tiny house offers a double sized mattress (bedding included) in the upstairs area (access via an attached ladder!). Room for an additional person across from double bed also in upstairs area or put provided mat on the floor. Please note: the space is small for 3 people.
The Kitchen: Tiny house kitchen area has a small refrigerator, small counter space for meal prep, a tea kettle for hot water, water jug for fresh water, french press coffee pot and coffee/tea, hot plate for cooking, popcorn maker and popcorn, pots and pans, silverware, napkins, bottle openers, etc. We now have a new small outdoor kitchen with a two burner propane stove!
The Facilities: The tiny house offers a composting toilet for night time pee pee needs and offers a port-a-potty for all other uses please! If you want to know a secret river dipping spot or where to go to find showers please let me know!
The Location: Aside from the farm sanctuary we are conveniently located between beautiful Bend, Oregon and Sisters, Oregon. We have hiking and biking trails within .3 of a mile! We also have books to recommend 100's of other hiking, biking, nordic skiing and alpine skiing nearby! And, since we are outdoor enthusiasts ourselves, we are happy to recommend places to ski, hike, mountain bike, float or paddle!
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$115
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Justesen Ranches
19 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents350 acres · Tygh Valley, OR
Justesen Ranches is family owned working cattle, wheat and recreation ranch. Our properties are located in the Columbia River Plateau in North Central Oregon.
Enjoy wide open spaces, reservoirs for wildlife watching and clear night skies for star gazing. This is a leave no trace, pack it in, pack it out camping area.
The property is located in Tygh Valley and is only a few minutes from the general store and the stunning White River Falls State Park. The Deschutes River whitewater rafting hub of Maupin is just a 10 minute drive away. The lodge two hours from Portland and 30 min from The Dalles.
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$68
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Big Rock Ranch
2 sites · Lodging30 acres · Terrebonne, OR
Nathaniel and Raina Potter purchased this 30-acre ranch in 2016 and aptly named it "Big Rock Ranch." The modest ranch layout with the wildly immodest views of a giant rock outcropping jutting out of coyote butte was the immediate draw and continual wonder to Nathaniel, Raina, and all who visit. Big Rock Ranch runs cattle in the irrigated pastures and chickens for meat and eggs.
Stay at Big Rock Ranch...Stay in a 12x14 ft canvas tent on a working regenerative family farm in the high desert. Enjoy views of a 300+ ft Tuff rock formation, Cascade Mountains, and irrigated pasture views all from the tent. Cook your own meals in the outdoor kitchen, outfitted with propane burners and a sink. Eat meals from the tent deck or the picnic table under native junipers surrounded by sagebrush, bitterbrush, and native grasses and tuff boulders. Collect farm fresh eggs and greens seasonally with the opportunity to enjoy meat raised at the ranch.
One queen bed in a canvas tent, one folding cot, and access to a 2-person tent if needed to accommodate a family or two couples. Bedding is NOT supplied beyond the queen bed.
Recreation Activities: Limited hiking available onsite but only 8 minutes from Smith Rock State Park for hiking and climbing. Only 25 minutes from Lake Billy Chinook for water recreating. Just 15 minutes from mountain biking at Skull Hollow. A 10-minute drive to swimming in the Deschutes River at Borden Beck Wildlife Preserve. Bend and Sisters are both 30-minutes away.
Night rates are offerings to our family and ranch.
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$126
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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.
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$35
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Buzzard's Roost
25 sites · RVs, Tents25 acres · Prineville, OR
Just five miles east of Post Oregon on highway 380, 1/4 mile on Pine creek and Antelope res. Rd (NF 17)
Buzzard Roost Private Campground is a great getaway located in the surrounding areas of great fishing, Hunting, Biking, Hiking and just plain kicking back and enjoying Mother Nature.
This is a new campground and was only open last year for a short while while in between developing the sites .
It was chosen by a very reputable RV manufacturer and had a Television commercial shoot using Buzzards Roost Private Campground as the main site.
There are twenty five active dry camp sites and twenty two pull through spaces for RV clamping. Please enjoy your stay
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$25.50
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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.
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$55
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Birdwatching Oasis
1 site · RV2 acres · Bend, OR
I wanted a peaceful place to call home. I found this property after a long search with a very patient and kind realtor. I fell in love with it almost immediately. The ponds bring wonderful wildlife that I enjoy watching and listening to….birds, frogs and many other animals. I wanted a property where I could have space to have horses or other farm animals if I chose to. I have not chosen to acquire them as of yet, but I like having the option. I love sharing this spot with others. The stars are incredibly brighter than most places and there is very little noise pollution as well. I call it my Little Desert Oasis. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Learn more about this land:I offer Standard RV plug in electricity and water. Sorry no toilet facilities at all. So you must have your own self-contained bathroom set up in your rig. No tent camping is it allowed. Trailers and vans with toilet are a perfect fit. It feels like country out here with horses, sheep llamas etc. small farms all around. Yet close to town, just a mile away from Highway 97 and about 3 miles away from Highway 20 near Tumalo. I think you will find the location convenient as it is only 15 minutes from the Redmond Airport, about 20 minutes to Sisters Oregon and downtown Bend is an easy 8 mile drive.There are pretty views of ponds joined by a creek and small waterfalls. The water features attract lots of wildlife! You will likely see deer, wild ducks, quail, hawks and many other types of birds. I even had a duck build a nest next to the pond last year and hatch a clutch of ducklings. There are several small Aspen trees and old junipers near the campsite next to the ponds. If the night sky and stars don’t take your breath away, the frogs will surely serenade you to sleep! There is a little view of the mountains as well. The site is centrally located for easy access to Highway 24 Highway 97. Trader Joe’s, Food 4 Less, Target, Starbucks and a outdoor shopping malls are only 5 miles away. Numerous restaurants are also only 5 miles from the home. There are more than a half a dozen breweries within 8 miles and 45 minutes to Mount Bachelor. The quaint little town of Tumalo is only 3 miles down the road. There you will find a cool taproom (The Bite) with outdoor seating, corn hole and yummy food carts. In addition, there is a great pizza joint and Tumalo Cider Bar. Tumalo State Park is less than 5 miles away. Riley Ranch Nature Preserve is also less than 5 miles away and well worth the trip!
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$39
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Star Hosts in Oregon
Under $50
Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
Desert camping in Oregon with swimming 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.
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