The best camping in Cape Lookout State Park, OR

Set on the Netarts Spit beside Netarts Bay on the Oregon Coast, Cape Lookout State Park attracts campers (and day-trippers from Portland) with its Pacific Ocean views, miles of hiking trails, and ample opportunities for beachcombing and whale-watching. The North Trail and South Trail segments of the 425-mile-long Oregon Coast Trail also run through the park and are accessible from the day-use area. For especially spectacular views, it's worth hiking the five-mile (round-trip) Cape Lookout Trail, which leads through old-growth forest all the way to the edge of the cape. The Cape Lookout Campground offers traditional tent sites and full hook-up sites for RVs, as well as yurts, deluxe cabins, picnic tables, flush toilets, and hot showers. 

1. You can reserve one of the park's 200-plus tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and yurts in advance using the Oregon State Parks' online reservation system.
2. Online reservations open six months in advance (at 6am each day) and can be made up to a day before your arrival.
3. If you aren’t finding dates that work for you, you can set up an online alert to be notified in case of cancellations.
4. Last-minute reservations are occasionally available on a walk-up basis at the state park campground.

Cape Lookout State Park is open throughout the year, though the best time to visit is in late summer, when the weather is pleasantly warm. Opt for weekday stays, if possible, to avoid crowds. The best times for whale-watching are in late March until early June and again mid-December through January, when grey whales make their annual migrations between Alaska and Mexico.

• Cape Lookout is a 10-minute drive to the community of Netarts and a 15-minute drive to the Tillamook (of Tillamook cheese fame). Both towns have restaurants and supermarkets selling food and camping supplies, while firewood is sold right at the campground.
• The campground has one ADA-accessible cabin, two accessible yurts (with ramps), and two accessible campsites.
• Leashed dogs are welcome at the campground, and three of the cabins and six of the yurts are pet-friendly. Leashes are not required at the beach just north of the campground.  
• Due to wildfire risk, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department sometimes puts temporary bans on campfires and even the use of fire rings and propane stoves, particularly in summer months.