Eel Creek Campground

Location

Oregon Dunes Visitor Center
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Policies

Check-in

2:00 PM

Check-out

1:00 PM

Max stay

14 nights

Campfires

Allowed (per listing)

About

Eel Creek Campground sits at the edge of the sand dunes within the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area of the Siuslaw National Forest, roughly 10 miles south of Reedsport along Highway 101 at about milepost 222. The looped campground is divided into north and south loops and offers 48 reservable campsites: 46 sites configured to accommodate both RVs and tents and 2 tent-only sites. Most sites feel private, tucked into coastal shrubbery such as rhododendron and salal, while sites 7, 8, 42 and 43 are planted directly on dune sand for immediate access and wide-open views. Facilities are straightforward and serviceable for coastal camping: flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables and fire rings at each site, an on-site campground host, and an amphitheater located between the two loops that provides a common gathering space. For recreation, the campground is a good base for hikers and birders. The John Dellenback Dunes Trail begins in a conifer stand and runs 2.7 miles one way across tall, wind-sculpted dunes to the Pacific Ocean; the soft sand and steep inclines make it a challenging but rewarding trek, and the dunes here reach heights up to about 500 feet. Wildlife viewing is strong around the campground's shrub thickets and dune edges, and nearby Tenmile Lake and Eel Lake offer boating and fishing opportunities; Umpqua Lighthouse State Park with its historic lighthouse and trails around Lake Marie is also a short drive away. Campsites are reservable and are released as "no shows" if not occupied within 24 hours of the posted arrival time, so campers who expect to arrive late should call the ranger station at (541) 271-6000 to notify staff; that same number can answer facility-specific questions.