RV Rental Oregon

Top Three RV Rental Locations in Oregon

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.

Oregon RV Rentals by City

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.

Best National Parks in Oregon

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.

Popular State Parks in Oregon

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.

Cape Blanco State Park

• 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

Cape Lookout State Park

• 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

Fort Stevens State Park

• 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

Harris Beach State Park

• 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

Humbug Mountain State Park

• 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

LaPine State Park

• 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

Must-See Monuments and Landmarks in Oregon

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.

Popular RV Parks and Campgrounds in Oregon

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.

RV Dump Stations in Oregon

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.

Upcoming Events in Oregon

• 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.