RV Camping Near John Day, OR, US: 12 Best RV Parks 2025

In the heart of eastern Oregon, John Day is a small community that acts as a jumping-off point for visiting the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. While you can't camp at the monument, there are tons of options for RV camping, both in and around John Day, in surrounding towns, and in the Malheur National Forest. Seasonal electrical sites are available at the Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site (from March through November) and at the Unity Lake State Recreation Site (from April through October), on a first-come, first-served basis. If you prefer to reserve a spot to park your RV ahead of time, your best bet is to opt for a privately owned Hipcamp in the area, most of which are open to RV campers. Hipcamps in this part of the state are often located on private ranches, offering great prairie views for miles.

81% (122)

Top RV parks

1. Haystack Ranch

94%

(142)

49mi from John Day · 17 sites · Tents, RVs · Spray, OR

My family has owned the ranch since 1977. We bought it from my parents a few years ago to keep it in the family. We love living here, and although it is just the two of us working it, we are slowly getting it to what we want it to be. The house we live in is over 100 years old and used to be a stage coach stop back in the late 1800's to early 1900's, You can still see some of the old stage coach roads on the property, and we are trying to preserve those the best we can. Also in the early 1900's this ranch used to be the place to go on the fourth of July. People from all over would bring their prize horses to compete in a horse race for the name of the fastest horses around While others would bring picnic baskets to set back on the knoll in one of our fields to watch. Learn more about this land:We are a 500 Acre working ranch located in Beautiful East Central Oregon, We are Between The stunning Painted Hills, and Umatilla National Forest. Just a few miles away from the Gorgeous John Day River, where Rafting, Tubing, Fishing, Swimming is always a welcome retreat. A few miles above us is Bull Prairie Lake and the wonderful Umatilla National Forest where hiking, sight seeing and wildlife viewing is always available.

2. Timbers RV Paradise

100%

(3)

19mi from John Day · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Seneca, OR

Great camping spot in the middle of Bear valley overlooking the strawberry mountains. Great hunting, hiking, snowmobiling and photography. Has bathroom and shower available.

In the heart of eastern Oregon, John Day is a small community that acts as a jumping-off point for visiting the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. While you can't camp at the monument, there are tons of options for RV camping, both in and around John Day, in surrounding towns, and in the Malheur National Forest. Seasonal electrical sites are available at the Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site (from March through November) and at the Unity Lake State Recreation Site (from April through October), on a first-come, first-served basis. If you prefer to reserve a spot to park your RV ahead of time, your best bet is to opt for a privately owned Hipcamp in the area, most of which are open to RV campers. Hipcamps in this part of the state are often located on private ranches, offering great prairie views for miles.

81% (122)

Top RV parks

1. Haystack Ranch

94%

(142)

49mi from John Day · 17 sites · Tents, RVs · Spray, OR

My family has owned the ranch since 1977. We bought it from my parents a few years ago to keep it in the family. We love living here, and although it is just the two of us working it, we are slowly getting it to what we want it to be. The house we live in is over 100 years old and used to be a stage coach stop back in the late 1800's to early 1900's, You can still see some of the old stage coach roads on the property, and we are trying to preserve those the best we can. Also in the early 1900's this ranch used to be the place to go on the fourth of July. People from all over would bring their prize horses to compete in a horse race for the name of the fastest horses around While others would bring picnic baskets to set back on the knoll in one of our fields to watch. Learn more about this land:We are a 500 Acre working ranch located in Beautiful East Central Oregon, We are Between The stunning Painted Hills, and Umatilla National Forest. Just a few miles away from the Gorgeous John Day River, where Rafting, Tubing, Fishing, Swimming is always a welcome retreat. A few miles above us is Bull Prairie Lake and the wonderful Umatilla National Forest where hiking, sight seeing and wildlife viewing is always available.

2. Timbers RV Paradise

100%

(3)

19mi from John Day · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Seneca, OR

Great camping spot in the middle of Bear valley overlooking the strawberry mountains. Great hunting, hiking, snowmobiling and photography. Has bathroom and shower available.

Public campgrounds near John Day

Stories from the community

Shane

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

The host was great, the space was great, the scenery was great and the area was great. Will definitely be staying here again.

J

John

October 2025

20 ft travel trailer

4 nights at Haystack Ranch

This was an amazing property. Big area, lots of trees. Space for an RV, but not at all the locations, mainly just one but an RV can honestly park anywhere it wants, just might not have a picnic table readily available but the hosts will get you one. There's a cool outhouse and hand wash station. The best part is its only 30 minutes from John Day Fossil Painted Hills. There's a cool bar and pizza food truck about 3 miles away and the town of Spray has the basic necessities. The hosts let you use their water hose that's at the edge of their house property on the fence next to the road so you can top off your RV when you get there and refill canisters if you run out. Overall great site, low frills, primitive location.

J

Jess

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Super beautiful and private! Picnic tables were a fun surprise. The outhouse was clever and clean!

S

Samantha

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Beautiful part of the state with wide open grass lands and interesting geological sites. The camp was quiet and comfortable. We had trees for shade and were an easy walk from the nicely maintained outhouse. A pump handwashing station was a nice touch. Plenty of camp site options with level ground for camper vans (or tents/RV's). Be prepared for lots of prickly bur buttercup, black medic, chickweed, and thistle.

B

Brock

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Timbers RV Paradise

Clean site, with power and shower. Everything I needed. The store down the road is great buddy.

Mary

August 2025

15 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

As noted the site is a bit hard to find from the south but google maps does get you to the correct spot. Just look for the secluded picnic table. Our host was fantastic and offered us some fresh picked produce. This is a beautiful area and I will stop again.

Z

Zach

August 2025

Tent

Group trip

1 night at Timbers RV Paradise

Loved camping here, owner was very kind and accommodating

E

Elena

August 2025

30 ft campervan

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Tent camping was great! Had the place to ourselves out of sight from the main house. The out house and sink were amazing to have! Super kind host and got a few bars of soap which are lovely. She even sent us off with some fresh veggies! Will definitely want to stay here again.

Cheryl

July 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Timbers RV Paradise

What a lovely, comfortable spot! There’s a pond on the property, replete with cattails, grebes and ducks. But the jewel in the crown is the exceptional hosts! When the night temperatures dropped to 46F, my host loaned me a wonderful quilt. When I was too lazy to cook breakfast, my hostess made me a delicious meatless sandwich. I have had a great time and plan to stop again on my way back from seeing the Redwoods and Sequoias. I highly recommend this place and the super hosts (Outstanding sandwich, Sandy!).

C

Callie

July 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Very relaxing place! Toilet was very clean and well taken care of. Spaces were spread far enough apart for some privacy. You get to choose the available space you want when you arrive which is nice. The house is just down the road so getting water is super convenient!

S

Saraju

July 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Great property and amazing views. Also wonderful, accommodating host. Very helpful and sweet person.

A

Allison

July 2025

22 ft campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Plenty of space, pretty quiet, and nice night sky views. Some spots in full sun and some in shade. Easy to find and get settled and bought some fresh eggs in the morning for breakfast from the host. At the time we were there (early July), there was a lot of foxtail grass all around, so FYI if you have a dog.

S

Seth

June 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

It's a nice spot to camp. Here is an additional sentence to meet the 50 character minimum.

Christopher

June 2025

20 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Haystack Ranch was a nice quiet place to camp. The views were nice and birds were singing. I loved the wild turkeys roaming about.

L

Lori

June 2025

19 ft Class B

With pets

4 nights at Haystack Ranch

My second time at Haystack Ranch. The area is so beautiful and a great base camp for exploring the area and the John Day River. The hosts are prompt in replying, and they want to make sure your experience at their ranch is welcoming and enjoyable. The best toilet and wash basin I've ever seen. Ingenious. I love it here, see you next year ❤️

B

Beverly

June 2025

20 ft Class B

4 nights at Haystack Ranch

Wow, Kelly and Andy are running an exceptional camp experience! We stayed 4 days, visited the river and great spots, and returning to our base camp. The toilet and wash station were clean, the hosts truly great folks... Thanks for a wonderful John Day River adventure, love you guys !!

J

Jyll

June 2025

Tent

2 nights at Haystack Ranch

The area was wonderful. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get to the pond due to things being overgrown. We made the best of it and had a great time being away from everything.

G

Grant

May 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Great location, friendly host and beautiful landscape! Also, the beef is delicious.

Shana

May 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Haystack Ranch

Absolutely wonderful hosts! Very off grid and quiet. Wonderful place to stargaze and just be disconnected from society for a bit. Not far away from John Day National Monument and we saw some really cool fossils. Bathroom did just have a curtain but I did feel privacy and not unsafe at all.