Oregon's 5 Best Beaches For A Winter Camping Getaway, According To Visitors

Out of all the things that draw visitors to the state of Oregon, it's probably best known for its rugged natural beauty. There are remote locations to satisfy the explorers, as well as varied cultural attractions and even the underrated city of McMinnville that boasts a gorgeous wine country for a romantic getaway. There is also plenty of coastline to enjoy, but did you know that many of the state's coastal gems also offer prime camping? Whether you're ready to pitch a tent or start up the RV, the unofficial Sunset State is a great place to head to, no matter the season.

If you haven't considered taking advantage of these prime spots for enjoying the great outdoors during the winter, we can confirm you're missing out on what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Swells from winter storms are a sight to see, and some activities, like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, can be enjoyed at the only national park in Oregon from October all the way through June.

Using online rankings and reviews from visitors, we narrowed down the five best waterfront camping spots in this Pacific Northwest state, including coastal locations, lakefront campgrounds, and a more luxurious glamping option that will take you to the forest and meadows surrounding the banks of a beautiful river. (Find more on our methodology following our top picks, below.)

Located in Hammond, which is just shy of 100 miles and a slightly less than two-hour drive from Portland, one of the two cleanest cities in America, Fort Stevens State Park isn't just the biggest campsite on our list — it's actually one of the biggest public campgrounds in the entire country. Equipped with over 480 sites (including 174 with full hookups and 302 electrical sites with water) along with 15 yurts and 11 deluxe cabins, there is a lot to see and enjoy at this special place. Its proximity to Coffenbury Lake and the Pacific coast provides access to activities like kayaking, and it's open to camping year-round, making it ideal for off-season adventures that will allow you to avoid the crowds.

Fort Stevens State Park earns a rating of 4.5 out of five stars on Tripadvisor from over 1,100 reviews and counting, with people raving about all there is to do. "Fort Stevens State Park isn't just a campground—it's a full-on adventure hub tucked into Oregon's northwest corner," one visitor writes. "Whether you're rolling in with your overland rig, pitching a tent, or just passing through, this place has something for every kind of explorer."

Located at the mouth of the Columbia River, this site was once a military installation that was active for over 80 years, including service during the Civil War, all the way through World War II, making it home to the only Civil War-era fort on the west coast. History buffs will enjoy the military museum and information center, while outdoor recreation abounds with amenities at Coffenbury Lake like picnic areas, swimming, restrooms, and a boat ramp – not to mention 15 miles' worth of trails for hiking and biking.

You'll find Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, Oregon, and although Tripadvisor lists a staggering 40 things to do in town, this popular campsite clocks in at an impressive No. 2 on the list. Garnering a rating of 4.6 out of five from reviewers, this year-round park boasts stunning monoliths that are not to be missed. "This is a gorgeous state park which has walking paths, hiking trails and a stunning beach with many sea stacks," one visitor shares. 

The campground itself, just steps from the coast, has 120 sites, as well as six heated yurts, and reviewers on Tripadvisor confirm the bathrooms are clean and equipped with hot showers. Some of the site loops do close for the winter, and what's remaining may be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. But with over 50 restaurants within just 3 miles and 30 other attractions within 6 miles, this place boasts fantastic proximity to additional activities — though we doubt you'll need them after immersing yourself in this place of natural beauty.

While the weather here stays mostly temperate, you'll still want clothing and gear that can withstand both rain and wind during the winter months. You may find yourself exposed to these conditions, but it will be worth it to enjoy the stretches of sand and tide pools in the off-season, away from the crowds. Don't miss the National Wildlife Sanctuary of Goat Island, as well as another great reason to visit this area in the dead of winter: whale watching. This once-in-a-lifetime activity will be best experienced from mid-December to mid-January, as this is when the gray whales pass by on their migration to Mexico.

If you're looking for both water and tall trees when it comes to where to pitch your tent, Beverly Beach State Park offers one of the state's largest campgrounds. You will find this creekside haven near Newport, both inside a forest as well as just moments away from miles of coastline where visitors delight in marine activities from exploring tide pools to whale watching. "Stayed in a tent site here recently and it was just about perfect for our little family," one reviewer writes on Tripadvisor, where the park earns a rating of 4.5 out of five stars. "It was quiet and fairly isolated, with a nice big flat spot near the fire pit for our tent," the reviewer shares, adding that there was also wildlife and gray whales near their campsite.

Offering year-round camping with 53 hookup sites, 76 electrical sites with water, and 128 tent sites, the park accepts reservations up to six months in advance. There are also 21 yurts, 10 of which are pet-friendly, and three seasonal group tent sites available. A visitor's center, hot showers, flush toilets, reservable picnic shelters, and a playground round out the campground amenities nicely.

While the park itself has plenty to offer, it's also situated just 6 miles and less than a 10-minute drive from the unique coastal city of Depoe Bay, ranked as America's top remote destination for 2026. The Oregon Coast Aquarium, as well as Newport's shops and restaurants, are other added draws for the area.

If you're looking for a luxury camping experience, look to Cedar Bloom Farm. Situated on 99 protected acres alongside the Illinois River, this haven has high-end features that most campgrounds will never see, making it perfect for the winter months, and all sites are just a short walk from their private riverside beaches. The farm is award winning, voted the No. 1 beach campground in the state on Hipcamp (as of this writing) and named one of the website's top places to camp in America in 2025, partially based on visitor reviews and ratings.

Five-star reviews are the norm here, including one Hipcamp review that boasts about specific amenities: "The sauna is wonderful and the outdoor showers with view of the river is stunning. Community kitchen is big, well-equipped and very clean. Tea house is adorable."

Cedar Bloom offers friendly check-ins, proximity to town, same-day booking, bicycle-friendly grounds, a floating river dock, hot tubs, and pet-friendly facilities, and its tea room and sauna are both open 24 hours. It's classified as "open camping" according to Hipcamp, which means you can freely choose where to pitch a tent or park your vehicle between the riverside, forest, and meadow sites, many of which are private and secluded. And if you don't want to bring your tent, rent a dome or A-frame for a true glamping experience. There are also things to see off site, like the Oregon Caves National Monument, and for winter visitors, Oregon's cheery, annual Christmas festival offers tons of winter holiday fun just over an hour's drive away.

In Southern Oregon, you'll find Crater Lake, the showpiece of the state's only national park. This stunning body of water is surrounded by cliffs of nearly 2,000 feet due to its volcanic history, and while the park doesn't offer real winter beach camping (Cleetwood Cove provides the only lakeside access and closes in October), views from the rim of the deepest lake in the country easily make this destination worthy of being named a popular Oregon tourist attraction you won't want to miss on your next trip. "I went in April to Crater lake not knowing that it would be covered in 15 to 20 feet of snow," one visitor shares on Tripadvisor, where the park earns a 4.8 rating from over 3,200 reviews. "It is super cool to see it in the winter."

Rim Drive is closed from November through May, when this 33-mile loop around the lake belongs to snowshoers and cross-country skiers who can camp there with a permit. Other restrictions include camping at least 1 mile from plowed roads and keeping a minimum of 100 feet back from the crater's edge.

While the park is open year-round, visitors should be aware of the restrictions imposed by the extreme winter weather this area endures. Crater Lake National Park sees upwards of 500 inches of snow annually, and along with blizzards, you can expect extreme cold, high winds, and, at times, low visibility from October all the way through June. Bringing proper clothing and gear is paramount, and if you ever decide to visit under more luxurious circumstances, Crater Lake National Park also boasts a beautiful hotel with glorious nature views.

Our list of Oregon's best winter beach campsites was first compiled by searching various travel sites for recommendations. We worked through articles and travel blogs to assemble a list of candidates that are open year-round, before narrowing it down to campsites that are mentioned from multiple sources, such as Hipcamp and Portland Monthly.

More importantly, we looked at what real people had to say about their visits. Review scores and write-ups from Tripadvisor, Google, and Hipcamp were taken into consideration, and every campsite on this list scored a minimum of a 4.5/5-star rating on at least one of those platforms. Other criteria that went into whether or not a campsite was worthy of a "best of" ranking included accessibility to travel hubs; the number of campsites; camping amenities such as running water, electrical hookups, RV and trailer accessibility; and quality of facilities such as restrooms and showers, when available. 

When it was time to cross everything off the list that didn't have an ocean view or beach to offer, we narrowed it down to two sites alongside lakes, two situated on the Pacific coastline, and one high-end riverside location that boasts on-site beaches. Though Crater Lake doesn't offer a proper sandy or rock-covered beach, particularly in winter when there's no lake access, we still included it, given that the rim camping available offers direct views of the water.