Oregon Coast - Waldport etc... Parking? Tips?

[mkguitar]

We are escaping the desert heat and heading for the Oregon Coast to get some cool, clear, fresh air.

Have used the Waldport KOA previously- wondering if anyone has a tip on a great ( or cheap) spot to park for a week or 10 days- anywhere coastal, doesn;t have to be Waldport area.

We need power and water available- do not need dump at site - we can hold it in our tanks. Shower and restrooms. Picnic table and quietude.
Close to beach ( within 20 minute walking)
2 of us and a dog

we need an airbnb for rv spots!

Tips appreciated, we see rolling on Monday and being up there about the 14th or 15th for 7 to 10 days.

The KOA was fine- but pricey for the summer weekends - part of what they offer ( like kid activities) has no value to us--- what is your fave spot?

Thanks, Mike

[Mike]

Don't know if this (really) old thread has any clues in it, from the venerable campskunk himself. I know he's done that section of the PCH a few times (annually?) since they started full timing a few years back. There's a mention of some 3rd party reference materials, that he's used to scout out locations for overnighting.
http://www.classbforum.com/forums/f5...-van-2360.html
Alternately, you could contact him directly and ask about favorite low cost sites. I think they boondock mostly, but he may be aware of some places with the hookups you desire out that way.

Enjoy.

[gregmchugh]

If you google "roadtreking Oregon coast" you will find several articles by Joe Campbell (the former Campskunk) describing boondocking spots on the coast...

[mkguitar]

Thanks- some fun reading

Later....Thanks again- this will fill my Saturday !


Mike

[jvyap]

There are numerous Oregon State Parks along the coast. Most of them offer camping and reasonable prices with incredible scenery!

http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cf...age&parkId=155

[jvyap]

Devil's Lake State Recreation Area - Oregon State Parks and Recreation

[Davydd]

We will be in Oregon this coming September in time for the Advanced Fest West that will be held on private property.

[jvyap]

Hi Davydd - we are back in the B Business! Hope to see you guys on the road again some day! Julie and Chino - now moved to WI.

[Davydd]

Originally Posted by jvyap

Hi Davydd - we are back in the B Business! Hope to see you guys on the road again some day! Julie and Chino - now moved to WI.

Oshgosh bigosh? If you come back to the Twin Cities give us a notice. We have space to stop and plug in. But only this year. We too are giving thoughts to moving, but not far, but an HOA area where we will have to store our B elsewhere. I thought I would never do that but with as much as we travel we need a maintenance free exterior and preferably a one level home. We think we may have found one in Victoria, MN.

I see our old Great West Van Legend is still for sale at Lake Regions RV. That surprises me. It is a rarity and in great shape. I was going to sell it myself but they approached me to buy it. I felt I might have left something on the table selling it to them at the time. Not so much anymore. The demise of Great West Van didn't help them. I don't think the B market or the RV market in general is as robust as people think. I thought maybe you would have bought it.

[mkguitar]

Back home after 3 weeks in Oregon- up early this morning with coffee- some thoughts.

Mostly State parks- Oregon keeps a high percentage of their sites out of the reservation system for "walk ins"- even if you see a Full sign, stop and ask- this worked for us over and over.
The reservations systems are updated about 10 am and the Rangers get cancellation updates by 11 am may release campsites. They will also release campsites after 7 PM- including ACA sites- which most campgrounds have- if you are ACA, make that clear to them.
costs were about $30 for full hook ups

As on the Roadtreking link, Oregon allows parking at roadside turn outs* for 12 hours at a time- make it look like you are "parking" not "camping". ( * outside of SP's or towns)

Highlights were:
Harris SP at Brookings OR.
we had 1 night under the trees and 4 nights on the bluffs with full ocean view. supermarket and town center 1.5 mile walk. interpretive walks and talks almost every night. beaches, and tide pools.
Dump station -free- camping or not, donation requested

Washburne SP North of Florence- a large day use area and parking lot ( dump station- free) is a great place to spend the day and if you want or the CG is full, overnights can be done at Three Rivers Casino in Florence - 30 minutes.
Casino offers coffee, fast internet, patrolled parking area with other RV's. They allow 4 nights out of 14, with another 4 for players club members. A nice Courtesy.
Or pulls outs such as Cooks Chasm is a spot to boondock.

The Washburne SP campground is East of the 101- and is a walkin only, first come- we spent a week here with full hook ups- no tv, phone or etc unless you have satellite.
Campground is sheltered from the wind and has both sunny and shaded sites- trails through the woods and easy 1/2 mile to beaches.
Most campers seem to leave closer to 9am than the 1 pm check out and Saturdays have high turn over- you can get a great spot in peak season!
We will be going back.

Florence is South, Yachats and Waldport are North- each of these towns offers all you could want- great food and farmers markets.
Florence has Country Roads RV dealer who not only stock alot of parts but are priced very fairly with free advise on your fixes ( replaced valve on thetford this trip).
In the "loop" area of town watch for height parking restrictions- because of this we missed a dropping a load of cash at the self-famous chowder place and had Los Compadres instead ( and went back 2 more times!)

in general many towns have parking restrictions put in place at behest of RV park owners- ok, we took our money elsewhere.
This was made clear at the Fred Meyer in Tillamook where the manager told us he figured he lost sales after the town no longer allowed them to host RV's.
We spent that night at the Rest Stop 7 miles South of Tillamook- which was clean and quiet.

Great trip, lot of fun, got away from the heat and left some of our money with some of the right people in the right places.

one great benefit realized from SP's vs boondocking is the people you meet, whether rangers, hosts or campers- or neighbor at Harris had a large number of dungeness crab and gave us 7 large ones- cooked!



Mike

[Boxster1971]

Thanks Mike - I'm planning a trip along the Oregon coast next year.


- - Mike
2013 Airstream Interstate from 2012 Sprinter 3500 tall & long

[mkguitar]

You will love it!

and best of all almost no bugs!

didn;t even deploy our screens once


mike

[Mike]

Originally Posted by mkguitar

Back home after 3 weeks in Oregon- up early this morning with coffee- some thoughts.

Mostly State parks- Oregon keeps a high percentage of their sites out of the reservation system for "walk ins"- even if you see a Full sign, stop and ask- this worked for us over and over.
The reservations systems are updated about 10 am and the Rangers get cancellation updates by 11 am may release campsites. They will also release campsites after 7 PM- including ACA sites- which most campgrounds have- if you are ACA, make that clear to them.
costs were about $30 for full hook ups

As on the Roadtreking link, Oregon allows parking at roadside turn outs* for 12 hours at a time- make it look like you are "parking" not "camping". ( * outside of SP's or towns)

Highlights were:
Harris SP at Brookings OR.
we had 1 night under the trees and 4 nights on the bluffs with full ocean view. supermarket and town center 1.5 mile walk. interpretive walks and talks almost every night. beaches, and tide pools.
Dump station -free- camping or not, donation requested

Washburne SP North of Florence- a large day use area and parking lot ( dump station- free) is a great place to spend the day and if you want or the CG is full, overnights can be done at Three Rivers Casino in Florence - 30 minutes.
Casino offers coffee, fast internet, patrolled parking area with other RV's. They allow 4 nights out of 14, with another 4 for players club members. A nice Courtesy.
Or pulls outs such as Cooks Chasm is a spot to boondock.

The Washburne SP campground is East of the 101- and is a walkin only, first come- we spent a week here with full hook ups- no tv, phone or etc unless you have satellite.
Campground is sheltered from the wind and has both sunny and shaded sites- trails through the woods and easy 1/2 mile to beaches.
Most campers seem to leave closer to 9am than the 1 pm check out and Saturdays have high turn over- you can get a great spot in peak season!
We will be going back.

Florence is South, Yachats and Waldport are North- each of these towns offers all you could want- great food and farmers markets.
Florence has Country Roads RV dealer who not only stock alot of parts but are priced very fairly with free advise on your fixes ( replaced valve on thetford this trip).
In the "loop" area of town watch for height parking restrictions- because of this we missed a dropping a load of cash at the self-famous chowder place and had Los Compadres instead ( and went back 2 more times!)

in general many towns have parking restrictions put in place at behest of RV park owners- ok, we took our money elsewhere.
This was made clear at the Fred Meyer in Tillamook where the manager told us he figured he lost sales after the town no longer allowed them to host RV's.
We spent that night at the Rest Stop 7 miles South of Tillamook- which was clean and quiet.

Great trip, lot of fun, got away from the heat and left some of our money with some of the right people in the right places.

one great benefit realized from SP's vs boondocking is the people you meet, whether rangers, hosts or campers- or neighbor at Harris had a large number of dungeness crab and gave us 7 large ones- cooked!



Mike

Great trip report, Mike. Thanks.

[mkguitar]

Originally Posted by Mike

Great trip report, Mike. Thanks.

From Sarnia- 2 fave spots for us are in MI; Bruin Lake SP NW of Ann Arbor & Bear Lake which has a small town owned park in the center of town on the lake....about $15
Bear Lake is West- Rt31 South of Beulah ( Cherry Hut! )

Although I travel the world for a living, planes and hotels are not alot of fun- We've been having a great time driving North America

Mike

[Mike]

Originally Posted by mkguitar

From Sarnia- 2 fave spots for us are in MI; Bruin Lake SP NW of Ann Arbor & Bear Lake which has a small town owned park in the center of town on the lake....about $15
Bear Lake is West- Rt31 South of Beulah ( Cherry Hut! )

Although I travel the world for a living, planes and hotels are not alot of fun- We've been having a great time driving North America

Mike

Funny, we don't usually stop in Michigan except a couple of years ago, on our way through. We did Sleeping Bear Dunes NL, in the Platte River CG, and the Pictured Rocks NL but stayed nearby in the Bay Furnace CG. Both were rustic but nice. We like those options.