Public and private campgrounds abound across Oregon; those along the coast are among the most popular. Campgrounds on lakes also stay busy. During the summer, campground reservations are almost a necessity at most state parks, especially those along the coast. For information on making campsite reservations, see the "Serious Reservations" box, above.
Various state parks also offer a variety of camping alternatives. Tops among these are yurts (circular domed tents with electricity, plywood floors, and beds), which make camping in the rain a bit easier. Yurts, which rent for $27 to $66 a night, can be found at 14 coastal parks, as well as at five inland state parks (Champoeg, Valley of the Rogue, Tumalo, LaPine, and Wallowa Lake).
Log cabins are available at a dozen state parks. Nightly rates range from $20 to $80. A couple of state parks have covered wagons for rent, and others have teepees ($27-$29 per night). On central Oregon's Lake Billy Chinook at The Cove Palisades State Park, you can even rent a houseboat for $995 to $6,995 per week. Contact Cove Palisades Marina (tel. 541/546-3521; www.covepalisadesmarina.com).
Serious Reservations--The days of spontaneous summer weekends are a thing of the past in Oregon. If you want to be assured of getting a room or a campsite at some of the busier destinations, you'll need to make your reservations months in advance, especially if you're going on a weekend.
To be sure that you get the state-park campsite, yurt (circular domed tents with electricity, plywood floors, and beds), cabin, teepee, houseboat, or covered wagon you want, you'll need to make your reservations as much as 9 months in advance (that's the earliest you can reserve) through ReserveAmerica (tel. 800/452-5687; www.reserveamerica.com).
While National Forest Service campgrounds are generally less developed and less in demand than state park campgrounds, many do stay full throughout the summer months, especially those at the beach. For reservations at forest-service campgrounds, call the National Recreation Reservation Service (tel. 877/444-6777 or 518/885-3639; www.reserveusa.com). These sites can be reserved up to 8 months in advance.
The same sort of advance planning also applies to such accommodations as Crater Lake Lodge (Crater Lake National Park does not, however, accept camping reservations), Timberline Lodge, and just about any lodging on the coast on a summer weekend. Making rooms even more difficult to come by are the many festivals scheduled around the state throughout the summer months. Be sure to check whether your schedule might coincide with some popular event.
