- John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
National Park
The best RV parks in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, OR
98% (69)
The best RV parks in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, OR
Haystack Ranch
1. Haystack Ranch
94%
(142)
17mi from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · 17 sites · Tents, RVs
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.
Pets
from
$35
/ night
The Enclave, OR
2. The Enclave, OR
100%
(31)
17mi from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · 1 site · Tent, RV
Escape to Twickenham, Oregon, a hidden gem in Wheeler County's vast, dark sky zone. Prepare to be amazed by unparalleled stargazing, where the celestial canvas comes alive with breathtaking clarity.
Our spacious campsite on a private 10-acre property offers unparalleled stargazing, where you can witness pristine celestial displays and perhaps even catch a glimpse of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) that frequent the area.
Wheeler County was recently highlighted in Investigation Alien, a Netflix documentary led by George Knapp. This area offers a unique opportunity to connect with the cosmos and perhaps witness something truly extraordinary.
The Enclave provides the perfect base for your celestial adventures with dramatic day views of the rimrocks, mountains, and open skies.
Explore nearby wonders like the John Day Fossil Beds, Painted Hills, and the John Day River, or simply relax under the star-studded canopy. We're conveniently located just one mile from the Twickenham Bridge, a popular access point for John Day River float trips.
The property features a 6,120 sq ft fenced garden and lavender crop – fresh produce, herbs, and lavender are available seasonally.
Electrical hookup
Pets
from
$35
/ night
Back Side of Painted Hills Camping
3. Back Side of Painted Hills Camping
97%
(112)
21mi from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · 1 site · Tent, RV
This 320 acre plot of land on which you can hike anywhere has been in our family since 1993.
Large, graveled spot for tents or two vehicles with excellent view for miles and miles and night star gazing. Primitive outhouse. Juniper forest with sage brush... basically high desert vegetation. We only allow one reservation per night. You can arrange vehicles or tents to not be in view or block any view from house way above. 320 acres to hike and roam. Mitchell is 10 miles away with well stocked grocery and feed store, restaurants, small brewery, and tire shop. We give directions fairly quickly. Road is wide, but steep at top. 4 wheel drive is recommended. Very close to the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National monument, Ochoco National Forest is seven miles. John Day River for swimming, rafting about 20 minutes. If you can book, it means you can drive on up with out contacting us. As you drive in if at night, you will see a light on the outhouse.
Pets
from
$21
/ night
Antelope Basecamp
4. Antelope Basecamp
99%
(152)
46mi from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · 8 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
We are located in the heart of Antelope, a rural (near) Ghost town that is rich in history and culture. This particular property is currently being cleaned up and revitalized. We would like to open it up to dry camping, some cabins, and RV Spaces with partial hookups at this time as we are already seeing a huge influx of cyclists and motorcycles in the area and they have no place to camp. There is a bathhouse onsite as part of the Pavilion structure. Please do not park on grass, unless you are an RV Space with partial hookups that has made arrangements with park host. Thank you for visiting and having patience while we continue to fix up the property.
Pets
Full hookups
from
$30
/ night
Justesen Ranches
5. Justesen Ranches
96%
(195)
76mi from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · 23 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Justesen Ranches is family owned working cattle, wheat and recreation ranch. Our properties are located in the Columbia River Plateau in North Central Oregon.
Enjoy wide open spaces, reservoirs for wildlife watching and clear night skies for star gazing. This is a leave no trace, pack it in, pack it out camping area.
The property is located in Tygh Valley and is only a few minutes from the general store and the stunning White River Falls State Park. The Deschutes River whitewater rafting hub of Maupin is just a 10 minute drive away. The lodge two hours from Portland and 30 min from The Dalles.
Electrical hookup
Pets
from
$67
/ night
Buzzard's Roost
6. Buzzard's Roost
85%
(41)
44mi from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · 25 sites · Tents, RVs
Just five miles east of Post Oregon on highway 380, 1/4 mile on Pine creek and Antelope res. Rd (NF 17)
Buzzard Roost Private Campground is a great getaway located in the surrounding areas of great fishing, Hunting, Biking, Hiking and just plain kicking back and enjoying Mother Nature.
This is a new campground and was only open last year for a short while while in between developing the sites .
It was chosen by a very reputable RV manufacturer and had a Television commercial shoot using Buzzards Roost Private Campground as the main site.
There are twenty five active dry camp sites and twenty two pull through spaces for RV clamping. Please enjoy your stay
Pets
from
$26
/ night
Mitchell City Park
7. Mitchell City Park
14mi from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · 9 sites
Mitchell City Park stands out as a unique camping destination in downtown Mitchell, nestled along the serene banks of Bridge Creek. This park offers a variety of tent camping options on a lush, soft grass lawn, making it an inviting spot for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
For those traveling with RVs, the park features four designated spaces equipped with electric and water hookups, ensuring a comfortable stay. The well-maintained grounds are frequently visited by bicyclists and motorcyclists passing through, adding to the park's vibrant atmosphere.
Visitors can conveniently fill their water bottles at a nearby spigot, which provides refreshing drinking water sourced from the town’s natural spring. Additionally, the park boasts a clean restroom facility adorned with beautiful artwork created by local artist June Nissinen in collaboration with Mitchell High School students, adding a touch of community spirit to the experience.
Whether you're looking to relax in nature or embark on outdoor adventures, Mitchell City Park is a delightful spot that combines comfort with the charm of the great outdoors.
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
Pets
Grant County Fairgrounds RV Park
8. Grant County Fairgrounds RV Park
48mi from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · 51 sites
The Grant County RV Park stands out for its prime location alongside the picturesque John Day River and its proximity to the vibrant Grant County Fairgrounds. This unique setting offers visitors a perfect blend of natural beauty and community events, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike.
Each RV site is designed for convenience and comfort, featuring full hook-ups, a fire ring for cozy evenings, and a picnic table for outdoor dining. Guests can enjoy the serene atmosphere created by the surrounding shade trees and well-maintained lawns, providing a peaceful retreat after a day of exploration.
In addition to the park's amenities, visitors can take advantage of nearby attractions, including swimming holes and various outdoor activities that cater to all interests. With local restaurants and shops just a short drive away, the Grant County RV Park is not only a great place to stay but also a gateway to the rich experiences that Grant County has to offer.
Pets
Full hookups
98% (69)
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Read millions of real reviews from campers like you—so you know what to expect.Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
D
Duncan
October 2025
18 ft travel trailer
This site is beautiful, very quiet and in a lovely and scenic part of Oregon near the painted hills. Dickse was friendly and helpful in providing information and welcomed us warmly. I would highly recommend this Hipcamp site.
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Shane
October 2025
Tent
The host was great, the space was great, the scenery was great and the area was great. Will definitely be staying here again.
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E
Ellie
October 2025
16 ft car
Great views! Lots of room to explore, caught it right before the snow came in late October! Thank you Bonnie!
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D
Debra
October 2025
45 ft Class C
Well for starters had the place to ourselves. We were on the RV side, its still a work in progress but all was great! We'll go again!
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J
John
October 2025
20 ft travel trailer
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.
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J
Jess
September 2025
Tent
Super beautiful and private! Picnic tables were a fun surprise. The outhouse was clever and clean!
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Leila
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Loved this private spot perched high with views of the desert hills. It helped to have a more rugged vehicle to handle the steep rough road. Sunrise was gorgeous and the stargazing at night was incredible. We saw shooting stars across the Milky Way! We could occasionally see and hear the tenants at the house further up the hill (only when they were outside on the deck), but they were far enough away that it never felt intrusive. Otherwise, camp was super quiet and it felt like we had the WHOLE place to ourselves. Loved the trails on the property. The only bummer was that there were a lot of pokies that kept getting stuck in our dogs' paws which kept us from exploring more. So if you bring dogs, you may want to put booties on them. Loved the proximity to Painted Hills. This site is a total high desert gem and we will definitely be back!
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Annie
September 2025
17 ft travel trailer
Good location. Loved the covered seating area, clean bathrooms and the fridge stocked with snacks available with a donation. We appreciated Brandie and Larry's efforts to improve the dark sky atmosphere.
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K
Kristen
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Camping at The Enclave was fabulous! The property itself is in a stunning location and close to plenty of amazing outdoor activities.
The campsite is fantastic, feels nice and tucked away and has plenty of modern amenities to make the stay quite comfortable: wi-fi, electricity, a clean bathroom space, a water hose.
D was a fantastic host, and is so kind and easy going. They have put so many thoughtful touches into the space, brought us fresh cut lavender and grapes from the garden, and let us help ourselves to the produce growing at the pergola. The solar powered lights, water fountains, hummingbird feeders, cozy chairs, flowers, and guides to the surrounding area were just a few of the stand out amenities that were really the cherry on top of a beautiful campsite.
The campsite does have straw-like grass clippings on the ground to keep the dust at bay, so be sure to bring a pair of slip on shoes to walk around outside, and a mat to catch any stray clippings outside of your tent!
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S
Shaun
September 2025
Tent
Fantastic little spot for anyone travelling but perfect for motorcycle travelling. Hosts/owners great to communicate with and the facilities are clean and modern. Highly recommend!
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Meghan
September 2025
Tent
We had such a relaxing time tent camping here. The stars were incredible! The little outhouse was very clean and everything worked great. We loved listening to the coyotes tip and howl at night, and having coffee in the morning on the little patio. A very sweet little spot.
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R
Ro
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Camping at the Enclave was amazing!! The grounds are perfect for tent camping, especially with the shaded and comfy lounge area, and the toilet and pump sink provided are incredibly clean and easy to use. The views you can see just from the campsite are incredibly pretty as well, and at night the stars are absolutely gorgeous--it was one of the main things we came out for and it was perfect!! The Enclave is also situated perfectly to go out and experience tons of other things without having to spend all day driving. It's also very dog-friendly, we had our 6 month old cavalier with us and there was plenty of room for her to run around on a line. Dickse herself is very friendly and willing to help out with whatever you need, and if you're lucky she might give you some fresh-picked lavender!! We'll definitely be back with family! 💚
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Rebecca
September 2025
16 ft car
Campsite was beautiful, clean bathroom. The stars were unreal. I was the only one there and it was amazing
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Jay
September 2025
Tent
It truly was a place to myself with a big, dark, clear sky and a cozy spot to hang. Great touches all around, and the drive in from the town of Mitchell was a bonus treat.
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K
Karl
September 2025
15 ft travel trailer
With pets
Quiet, beautiful! Light trucks (SUV’s) with small trailers can easily negotiate the road in
We did not meet Bonnie.
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S
Sean
September 2025
Tent
I really liked this place. The Lounge was great for sitting during the heat of the day. The toilet was clean and well stocked. Fresh water was readily available. The scenery was amazing and Dickse was a great host.
See moreJ
Jill
September 2025
Tent
Great private site with a beautiful view and amazing spot for stargazing in the dark sky. The trees provided nice shade in the heat. The charcoal grill was very little but worked well for two people. The bathroom and site were clean and well maintained.
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D
Dennis
September 2025
27 ft travel trailer
Our stay in Antelope was nothing short of peaceful heaven. We met Larry when we pulled in with our trailer he helped get us situated. The place is so quiet, there is a flock of wild turkeys roaming the town and we saw several deer in town on our walks. We will be back next year to see all the improvements they are making including reopening the store/ cafe. The A frame cabins are perfect for two and look quite comfortable.
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Samantha
September 2025
Tent
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.
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Dale
September 2025
25 ft Class A
Very cool place in a unique location. The hosts were great!!
See more 98%
69 ratings · 33 reviews
Recommends
· November 2025
Do not skip the Blue Basin! Incredible!
Heidi L.
3 reviews
Recommends
· November 2025
Painted Hills
The Painted Hills are stunningly beautiful, best seen in the afternoon. Definitely worth a visit, especially for photographers.
D
Duncan S.
4 reviews
Recommends
· October 2025
Take the time to go visit
J
Jason L.
2 reviews
Recommends
· October 2025
Not to be missed! One of the coolest places in Oregon!
J
Jessica D.
4 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2025
John Day Fossil area is VERY cool!! + we went to Wheeler Highschool and found some fossils on our own!
R
Renee R.
2 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
If you like geology, you'll appreciate this place. I only had time to visit the Painted Hills unit. If I had more time I'd check out the other spots, too.
Jay S.
3 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
John Day Fossil Beds and Painted Hills are absolutely stunning. Best to arrive before heat of the day! Good trails. Absolutely awe inspiring
B
Barb C.
5 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Amazing
There are no words to describe this place, but two, jaw dropping
Rebecca D.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Don't miss the Painted Hills!
Gorgeous spot—had been hearing about the Painted Hills for years and finally had the chance to visit. We look forward to going back again soon, maybe at a different time of year when the August smoke haze isn't so strong.
K
Katherine R.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Most amazing exhibit showing millions of years of history. Don't miss it.
L
Lea T.
3 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
The painted hill are beautiful
S
Sandra B.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
The monument is very big, and I wish we would have planned ahead for more time. They had a great visitor center that my kids and I really enjoyed!
C
Cassandra L.
7 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Unbelievably beautiful
S
Shelly S.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
Good to see a time or two
Great day trip from Bend, Redmond, and Environs. There is a small private campground in Dayville if you want to stay a bit closer.
N
Nicole G.
4 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
.
S
Saraju P.
2 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Each unit of the John day Fossil Beds National Monument is a must to see. The visitor center is in a class of its own. The landscape and rock formations and colors are breath taking. Several of the hikes should be on your list particularly the Carrol Rim at the Painted Hills Unit and the Island of time Blue Basin at the Sheep rock unit.
M
Michael H.
3 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
It was great, go see it!
K
Karen D.
3 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Great
J
Jyll S.
4 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Spread out
You need a whole day to see all three locations.
Tawn K.
4 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Highlight of our trip! Next time we will plan more time to explore!
N
Nikki H.
4 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
We visited the Painted Hills unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in late May. We spent the whole day there, hiking all the short trails to the different vistas. It is beautiful, not crowded. The picnic area is shaded and well maintained, a good place to take a break from the full sun.
C
Catherine V.
3 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Fun day trip
C
Corinne K.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Fun Trails & Amazing Fossil Museum
We spent time in both the Painted Hills unit and Sheep unit. The trails are so nice, offers lots of information about formation, amazing views of the hills, and I was able to hike the Painted Hill Overlook, Carol Rim Trail, and Blue Baisn Trail 8 months pregnant. The crown of it all was definitely the well layed out and curated Thomas Condon Fossil Museum.
K
Kailee P.
3 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Painted Hills are STUNNING! Highly recommend.
A
Abbey C.
4 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Beautiful area and scenic drive
J
Joseph T.
3 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Love
Carson S.
10 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
The Thomas Condon Visitor Center at John Day Fossil Beds is a gem! The fossil gallery is impressive, showcasing over 500 specimens across 40 million years, with vibrant murals bringing ancient ecosystems to life.
A
Andy S.
6 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Nice to see
A
Anne F.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Very cool monument. Visited all 3 units; all worth the drive & very interesting hikes. Excellent Visitor Center @ Sheep Rock Unit.
B
Brian B.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Definitely hit the visitor center and then enjoy the diversity of the landscape across the different park areas.
S
Shelby A.
2 reviews