Pacific Northwest - Oregon coast campground ideas...

Looking for recommendations on some campgrounds on the coast, something good for the kids, closer to the beach the better, bike trails a plus.
Thanks.

I recommend Fort Stevens State Park: http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_179.php , just south of Astoria, Oregon. It has 9 miles of bike paths in the park, plus the local riding outside the park is not challenging by any stretch. There are always kids riding on the trails in the park, plus they can explore the remnants of the shore defense guns and military post, and there's the last bits of the wreck of the Peter Iredale. If you go all the way out along the South Jetty, there's viewing platforms to see wildlife and ship traffic- whatever floats your boat.

If you want to camp in the park make your reservations early. There's a KOA across the road from the park (easy access) and motels and B&B's close by.

We love Cape Lookout State Park, which is south of Cannon Beach, but north of Lincoln City - near Tillamook. It's right on the water on the Three Capes Scenic Route, and just gorgeous scenery. No designated bike paths that I'm aware of, but you could probably ride the Three Capes Scenic Route (or parts of it). Here's more info - http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/lookout_full.pdf

I think one of the nicest state parks on the coast for families is Honeyman State Park near Florence. The campground is nice, with full services for all kinds of camping, yurts are available for rent (don't delay on yurt reservations), and playgrounds for kids. One of the best features is the clean swimming lake in the park, clean and warm water, sand dunes serve as long beach and kayak or canoe rentals. There are sandy dune trails to the ocean beach, or a short drive from the park to several beach access parks. The park is a couple miles south of Florence where there are dining and movies, etc. For family camping and fun, this one is a real gem. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_134.php

Totally agree...Honeyman was a nice place to stay.

Nehalem bay state park is also good. You can bike to the bay from the campground, bike into town (Manzanita, OR), and it's near Cannon beach and the small town of Nehalem. Fort Stevens & Honeyman probably have the most bike trails.

My wife and I stayed at Honeyman last fall. The lake there is great (we have a canoe) but there were some significant downsides to the campgrounds:

- like many central coast campgrounds, it is right next to the highway, so there is a good deal of highway noise.

- the Oregon Dunes are adjacent, so lots of ATV noise. Lots and lots.

- theft is notorious there, apparently a favorite sport of local teens.

- overall, about the noisiest campground I've ever stayed in (and this was off season). It was more like staying in an urban or suburban backyard.


Here's a writeup I did for another forum on mid-coast campgrounds:

http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32939

Nehalem bay state park is also good. You can bike to the bay from the campground, bike into town (Manzanita, OR), and it's near Cannon beach and the small town of Nehalem. Fort Stevens & Honeyman probably have the most bike trails.

and there are some nice, rather low-traffic roads, headed inland from Manzanita

Any of the State Park campgrounds on the coast will be exceptional. Many with hiker/biker sites, too.

If you want to go the KOA route, the KOA's on the coast are nice, though some of them are on the spendy side depending on the time of year. They are very family/kid/bike friendly. My wife did a solo trip last year and felt very at ease at KOA's.

If you plan on doing this in the summer you need to make early reservation no matter where you camp. I've taken two vacations in the summer going from Mt Saint Helens then down hwy 101 to northern California. The first time we just winged it and that was a mistake. The camp grounds fill up to capacity fast and a couple of nights we had to make alternate plans. AKA spendy hotels. The second trip we made early reservations at all the places we stayed and it made for a much enjoyable trip.

Beverly beach is a great one I have already done a few weekends there.m Loved it