Best campgrounds on the coast?

We are planning a very long road trip this summer that will include 4-6 nights on the Oregon coast. We like to camp for more than one night in a spot and with all the choices in Oregon, am not sure where to stay. We have three kids ages 11, 9 and 7 who are well traveled. We like to hike, bike and lounge around. I prefer flush toilets and showers. And we love a good swimming pool, but at the beach that%26#39;s not necessary. Any advice you have would be great. I want to show the kids the sand dunes, and the Lewis and Clark stuff along the coast. We also have to head inland for a couple nights to see Crater Lake.

Any advice you have would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Best campgrounds on the coast?

You%26#39;ll note that the dunes are between North Bend and Florence, and the Lewis and Clark stuff is between Seaside and Long Beach, Washington--about 200 miles or so separates the two.

If your coast plans are mid-week you might still find the state parks have availability if you%26#39;re looking for a yurt or cabin. I hear the KOA in Florence is nice, but I don%26#39;t think they have a pool.

Wait. By ';camping'; do you mean with an RV of some sort?

Best campgrounds on the coast?

TENT camping. I%26#39;m used to that, done it all my life. So, we%26#39;re really more interested in state and national parks, than in KOAs. Not very many pools, I know, but I just threw that in.

Really, for summer, the best campground will be the one you can get in to, unless, as oregone stated, you are travelling midweek. Most of the state parks on the coast are booked up months in advance. Sometimes you can get lucky and get a first come, first served site.

See www.reserveamerica.com for campground reservations.

And like Oregone said, the dunes and Lewis and Clark stuff is 200 miles apart, mostly two lane road that can become quite congested in the summer, especially when traveling through places like Lincoln City.

Is Crater Lake included in the timeframe of 4-6 days?

No KOA in Florence!

So bruinred, you%26#39;ll be looking at State Parks if you like flush-T and showers.

The bad news is that there is only one SP on the Oregon coast which has campsites right on the beach, and that is Beachside just south of Waldport. But some of the campsites are right next to the busy highway, so use caution when reserving!

That would be a moderately central location to ride the dunes since it%26#39;s about 30 miles north of the dune rides in Florence. The kids might like to see a covered bridge in Yachats, the lookout at the top of Cape Perpetua, Devils Churn, all located within a few miles. And it is an easy run up to Newport with lighthouse tours, bay tours, the aquarium, etc.

Other SP%26#39;s are on the inland side of Hwy 101, or in the trees not near the beach. Keep in mind the ocean water is *not* warm here.

If you are interested in any SP%26#39;s make your bookings IMMEDIATELY. As stated above, you may already be too late.

www.oregonstateparks.org/searchpark.php

The Lewis and Clark stuff is in the north, and the big campground is Ft Stevens SP. Not near the ocean, though. Excellent Lewis %26amp; Clark center just over the border in WA at Cape Disappointment.

If you only have 4-6 days to camp, you will not have time to visit Crater Lake.

';No KOA in Florence!';

Oops. Am I thinking about the one in North Bend? The crazy one with the playground that looks like a small city?

Anyway, I was just checking out reserveamerica and there seems to be a lot of availability for midweek nights at state parks (the two state parks I looked at anyway).

We have a reservation at Fort Stevens and one at Bullard%26#39;s Beach. I planned to do two nights at each. But I think I%26#39;d rather stay a big farther south each time...maybe closer to Newport the first two nights and Reedsport the second two nights. I also just did get a reservation at the campground at Crater Lake following the previous two stays. Any recommendations given that info? We don%26#39;t have to be ON the beach. We like staying at Morro Bay State Park (off the beach) in CA and are looking forward to our reservations at Big Sur and the Redwoods for this same trip.

Thanks again if you have any more info.

For the Newport area, Beverly Beach State Park would be your best bet. The campground is east of hwy 101, set amongst the trees, with easy access under the highway to a GREAT beach. South Beach is your other option, but there is little shelter there from the COLD north winds that blow from April through August.

Even though Umpqua Lighhouse State Park is a Lovely (smallish) park with a fine lake (Lake Marie) near Reedsport, with kids, you might consider staying a bit further north at Jessie M. Honeyman. LOTS to keep the kids busy with hiking, the dunes and swiming boating on Cleawox Lake. Pedal boat, kayak and canoe rentals are offered from Memorial Day to Labor Day on Cleawox plus there is a store with all the basics needs. In addition, Honeyman has 8 buildings and 43 acres of Civilian Conservation Corps work listed on the National Register of Historic Places for your history component. Along with Silver Falls State Park, east of Salem, Honeyman is considered to be the best remaining example of CCC work remaining in Oregon!

%26gt;%26gt; But I think I%26#39;d rather stay a big farther south each time...%26lt;%26lt;

Newport and Reedsport are both NORTH of Bullard%26#39;s Beach. I don%26#39;t understand just where you want to stay?

If you don%26#39;t want to be on the beach, then any campground would work for you. Reedsport is a center for the OHV crowd and campgrounds there have ATV%26#39;s driving through and next to them all day long. The only exception is that little one up the hill on the way to the lighthouse.

Here%26#39;s the KOA in North Bend, oregone. Is that the one you mean? http://www.koa.com/where/or/37187/