In addition to the scenic coastline and rugged mountains, Oregon has over 30 million acres of forested land. The three main cities that serve as jumping-off places are all along the Interstate 5 corridor: Portland, Salem, and Eugene. You can find every type of RV you might want, ranging from teardrop trailers and camper vans to massive trailers and Class A vehicles that can accommodate 10 people. The most popular type of rental is the mid-size Type C motor home or travel trailer, which are typically 20 to 30 feet long. Once you leave the interstate, most of the roads in Oregon are curvy, many following rivers or featuring sharp drop-offs. If you plan on navigating a lot of these windy roads, shorter vehicles make sense. Small trailers rent for as low as $75/night while luxury motor homes can cost more than $900/night.
Portland is the largest city in Oregon. From Portland, it's about an hour and a half east to get to the Timberline Lodge on the top of Mt. Hood. You can also find RV rentals in Gresham, which is about a half-hour east of Portland. If you go about an hour and a half west, you'll find the rugged, scenic coastline. This includes Astoria, OR, which is where the 1980s movie "Goonies" was filmed. Portland also offers access to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the Mt. Hood National Forest.
Salem, the state capital, is about an hour south of Portland on I-5. This city has some must-see parks with cool amenities, such as the 30-acre dog park at Minto-Brown Island Park. Going east from Salem, you'll find Santiam State Forest. Silver Falls State Park is only about a half-hour from Salem and features spectacular waterfalls and hiking trails. An hour to the west, you'll come to Roads End State Recreational Site on the coast.
If you want to head to Crater Lake National Park, consider renting an RV out of Eugene in west-central Oregon. The University of Oregon is in the heart of this city as well. Eugene provides access to Siuslaw National Forest on the coast and Willamette National Forest to the east. You'll also find tons of outdoor recreation opportunities along the McKenzie River.
Oregon has one national park, Crater Lake National Park, but it's a beauty. The pristine lake is the deepest in the U.S. The breathtaking 33-mile drive around the rim takes two hours. Beyond Rim Village, you'll only find vault toilets, picnic areas, and viewpoints so be sure to plan ahead. In winter, the north entrance and Rim Drive close due to deep snow. Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are popular winter activities.
The only legal way to hike down to the lake is via the Cleetwood Cove Trail. While only 1.1-miles long, the crushed pumice path is strenuous as it plunges 700 feet through sharp switchbacks. The walk back up has almost no shade, so be sure you're up to that challenge before you go.
Oregon has hundreds of state parks and state recreational areas that allow RV camping. While most are on the coast, we included parks in the various ecosystems and terrains found in Oregon.
50 electric sites, max length = 65 feet
Year-round camping
Pet friendly
8 miles hiking trails
7 miles horse trails
Black sand beach
Historic lighthouse
Fishing
Scenic views
Beach access
38 full hookup sites, max length = 60 feet
Year-round camping
Dump station (closed November through April)
Pet friendly
5.5 miles of beach
7 miles hiking trails
Whale watching (winter)
Fishing
Scenic views
Beach access
Interpretive information
Deschutes River State Recreation Area
34 electric sites, max length = 50 feet
Year-round camping
Oregon Trail exhibit
8 miles hiking trails
7 miles horse trails
22-mile round-trip horse trail (March-June by reservation only)
17-mile one-way bike trail
Fishing
Boat ramp
Paddling
170 full hookup sites, max length = 69 feet
Year-round camping
Dump station
WWII military fort
Part of Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Park
Peter Iredale shipwreck
6 miles hiking trails
9 miles biking trails
Scenic views
Beach access
Playground
Swimming
Boat ramp
Paddling
34 full hookup sites, 54 electric sites, max length = 50 feet
Year-round camping
Dump station
Views of Bird Island: wildlife sanctuary and puffin breeding ground
Interpretive information
Tide pooling and beachcombing
2 miles hiking trails
Half-mile biking/walking path
Fishing
Scenic views
Playground
34 electric sites, max length = 96 feet
Year-round camping
Dump station
2.5-mi. section of the Oregon Coast Trail
5.5-mi. loop trail to Humbug Mountain summit
Windsurfing
Fishing
Scenic views
Playground
74 full hookup sites, 45 electric sites, max length = 90 feet
Year-round camping
Dump station
Subalpine forest near mountain lakes
Fall River Falls
Oregon's largest Ponderosa Pine (162 feet)
12 miles multi-use trails
Trout fishing
Boat ramp
Scenic views
If you're looking for the top campgrounds in Oregon, we've got you covered. One word of caution about some of Oregon's campgrounds: be sure to check if they accommodate RVs of your size. Smaller campgrounds may offer few or no hookups, and some are simply not accessible with an RV. On the positive side, it's not unusual to find budget sites with water and electric hook-ups in the $10-$20/night range, like at Clackamette RV Park. You'll also find luxury RV resorts, such as Bend/Sisters Garden RV Resort with its on-site stocked fishing pond, miniature golf course, and heated pool and spa. That campground has peak season rates of $78/night.
If you want to stay in locations that don't offer full hookups, no problem. You'll find dump stations throughout the state at fairgrounds, truck stops, travel plazas, larger gas stations, and even some rest areas. Some are open 24/7, but most will close overnight. Of course, many RV campgrounds have dump stations that are free for their guests, and the city of Eugene offers a free RV dump station.
Oregon Brewers Festival (Portland) – Celebrate craft beers along the Willamette River in Portland. The event takes place in summer with beer tasting, exhibits, food, games, a parade, and other activities.
Waterfront Blues Festival (Portland) – This music festival is held around the 4th of July and began as a fundraiser to support the homeless population. The first event in 1987 featured legends such as John Lee Hooker, the Paul deLay Band, and Curtis Salgado. Since then, it has raised more than $10 million and over 1,000 tons of food.
Ashland Independent Film Festival (Ashland) – This nationally acclaimed film festival is usually held for five days in April. It features over 100 independent documentary, narrative, animation, and short films. The festival also includes a student film competition in several age ranges, from kindergarten through college undergraduates.
Bandon Cranberry Festival (Bandon) – For 75 years, this family-friendly event has celebrated cranberry farming with live music and performing arts, classic cars and farm equipment, the annual cranberry eating contest, and more. Oregon is the 4th-largest cranberry producer in the U.S., and most of Oregon's cranberries come from this small coastal town.
McMenamins Hotel UFO Festival (McMinnville) – For some unusual entertainment, visit this multi-day festival honoring all things extraterrestrial. The festival, usually held in May, includes speakers, live music, vendors, and a parade.
Oregon has a variety of natural and historic monuments and landmarks. West of Portland, you'll find the Flavel House Museum in Astoria. This 11,600-square-foot home was built in 1885 and was featured in the movie "Goonies."
There are many places to visit heading east from Portland. First is Multnomah Falls. You may have seen photos of this 620-foot waterfall - it's quite popular! A photo-op is a short walk from the parking lot, or you can take more vigorous hikes up to the falls. Continuing east, you'll come to the Bonneville Dam Historic District. This hydroelectric dam was built in the 1930s and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many cityscapes of Portland include Mount Hood looming in the background. Its peak is at 11,250 feet. This active volcano features hiking trails in all manner of length and intensity. In winter, you can play at one of three ski resorts on the mountain. You can visit the Timberline Lodge any time of year, and the Timberline ski area is open year-round.
On average expect to pay $164 per night in Oregon.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Oregon?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Oregon from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Oregon?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
Do you need a special license to drive an RV in Oregon?No. You don’t need a special license or CDL to drive an RV in Oregon.
