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family standing inside a redwood tree

The OREGON COAST and the CALIFORNIA REDWOODS: 6 Awesome Camping Spots

Tropical green foliage, breathtaking ocean views, windswept lighthouse bluffs, and massive redwood trees–the Oregon Coast surprised and entranced me with it’s beauty and variety.

July 19, 2019 //  by Kim//  2 Comments

Before this adventure, I had no idea how beautiful Oregon was. But during our trip I almost felt like I was in Hawaii because of the lush green terrain and the salty ocean breeze. And the experience of staying in yurts, tents, and cabins along the Oregon coast and in the California Redwoods was so much fun for my family with young kids.

We started our 8-night camping trip at a family reunion in Astoria, Oregon. Then my husband and I took our kids on a road trip down the Oregon coast to Prairie Creek Redwood National Park in California before heading home to Idaho. We camped in cabins, a yurt, and tents along the way.

map with 6 stops shown along the Oregon Coast

If you are interested in a trip like this, remember that yurts and cabins fill up quickly, so you’ll want to book them as soon as the booking window opens, which is usually 9 months in advance of your trip. We reserved all of our accommodations with Reserve America.

Table of Contents

  • 2 Nights in a Cabin at the Astoria/Warrenton/Seaside KOA
  • 1 Night in a Yurt at Nehalem Bay State Park
  • 1 Night in a Tent at Cape Perpetua
  • 1 Night in a Cabin at Cape Blanco State Park
  • 1 Night in a Tent at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
  • 2 Nights in a Tent at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
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2 Nights in a Cabin at the Astoria/Warrenton/Seaside KOA

We started the trip with lots of extended family staying in cabins and tents at the Astoria/Warrenton/Seaside KOA. It was my first experience at a KOA and we were very impressed with all of the amenities.

There was a great gathering area with a fire pit for our family, and we had access to a basic kitchen area for food prep. The activities available included a jumping pillow, pedal go carts, a swimming pool, and mini golf. We also loved the free pancake breakfast every morning and the nearby beach.

DeLaura Beach
Riding the pedal carts at the Astoria KOA
jumping on the jumping pillow at the Astoria KOA Campground

1 Night in a Yurt at Nehalem Bay State Park

After our family reunion we took a short drive to our yurt at Nehalem Bay State Park. We stopped at Ecola Point for a picnic and enjoyed the beautiful views.

picnic overlooking the ocean at Ecola Point
Crescent Beach view from Ecola Point

When we got to Nehalem Bay we had lots of time to enjoy the beach. And we loved our yurt. It was very comfortable and a fun and unique experience for our kids. 

outside of yurt at Nehalem Bay State Park
Inside of the yurt at Nehalem Bay State Park
Wide sandy beach along the Oregon Coast
sandy beach at sunset

1 Night in a Tent at Cape Perpetua

On the way to Cape Perpetua Campground we stopped at the Tillamook Creamery and enjoyed a tour and samples of their cheese.

Outside the Tillamook Cheese Factory
Inside the Tillamook Cheese Factory

Then it was on to the campground to set up our tent for the night. We absolutely loved this campground. It was peaceful and gorgeous. There was a hiking trail from the campground to the ocean that we really enjoyed. This trail totally surprised me; it was so tropical and very different from what I thought Oregon would be like. Our kids loved finding leaves almost as big as them and watching giant slugs slide across the trail.

Tent camping at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Lush green foliage at Nehalem Bay State Park
leafs almost as big as my daughter!
Hiking at Nehalem Bay State Park

1 Night in a Cabin at Cape Blanco State Park

Cape Blanco was windy and very different from Cape Perpetua. The tropical scenery was replaced with beautiful grassy hills and rocky cliffs. We walked from our campground to the lighthouse and enjoyed the tour.

Outside of cabin at Cape Blanco State Park
Inside the cabin at Cape Blanco State Park
family on the walk to the Cape Blanco Lighthouse
Cape Blanco Lighthouse
At the top of the lighthouse
Spiral stairs inside the Cape Blanco Lighthouse

1 Night in a Tent at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

We felt like we were in a fairy world in the Redwoods. Lush foliage was shaded by towering trees, some so big that we could fit inside! It was so fun to explore the trails in the park.

tall trees and green ferns

2 Nights in a Tent at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

We met up with some family at this park and enjoyed hiking in Fern Canyon and on other trails throughout the park from our campground. 

family standing inside a redwood tree
Father and daughter inside a redwood tree
kids looking for minnows in the stream

If you are looking for a fun road trip with your kids, I highly recommend the Oregon Coast and the Redwoods. Or if you live on the other side of the country, check out our East Coast road trip!


What are some of your favorite road trips in the United States, or in other places in the world?

We took this trip in July 2013.

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Category: Travel in the USA, Trip Reports

About Kim

I am a wife and mom of three kids. I am also a traveler and a writer. Our family has been traveling together since my husband and I were newlyweds. On our first trip to Hawaii when our oldest daughter was 6 months old we tried to soak it all in because we thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But with some learning, ingenuity, and flexibility we have made family travel part of our lifestyle.

Previous Post: «Man with suitcase Trip Planning: 3 Ways to Think Outside the Box
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gail Jewell

    July 20, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    I love your site! I think we will follow in your footsteps.

    Reply
    • tripreporter

      July 26, 2019 at 9:09 pm

      Thanks Gail! Happy travels!

      Reply

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