Camping at Kilchis River County Campground near Tillamook, Oregon

Looking for more fun places to explore on the North Oregon Coast?
Check out Sitka Sedge for a great easy beach hike, or climb the rocks at beautiful Winema Beach.

AMENITIES

• Flush toilets
• Drinkable water
• Coin-op hot showers (when available — during our August 2022 visit they were closed for maintenance)
• Picnic tables and fire rings at every campsite
• Large playfield and playground
• River access
• Firewood for sale
• NO electrical, water, or sewage hook-ups for RVs

ABOUT THE SITES

• Kilchis River County Campground offers 45 campsites for tents or RVs.
• The campground is open year round.
• Standard campsites cost $27 per night during the summer season, or $22 per night in the winter season. When reserving in advance, an additional $11 reservation fee is charged.
• Smaller campsites cost $22 per night during the summer season, or $16 per night in the winter season.
• Most campsites accommodate up to 10 people. A second tent can be added for an additional $8 per night and a second vehicle can be added for $10 per night.
• A few smaller sites are limited to 6 people maximum, one vehicle only, and do not allow RVs. Check the campsite status when reserving to make sure it fits your needs.
• Campsites at Kilchis River County Campground are mostly shady. Those in the middle of the campground surrounding the play yard get a little more sun.
• There is little privacy between campsites. Throughout the campground, the sites are situated close together. Some are more spacious than others, but there isn’t a huge difference in size.
• We stayed at campsite #8. Located on the east side of the loop, this site was near the trail leading down to the river and close to the restroom and one of the water spigots.
• Pets on leash are allowed at Kilchis River County Campground. There is an additional $6 per pet fee when camping.

FUN STUFF

• Swim and play in the Kilchis River. The river is big draw here, with beautiful clear water for swimming and floating. I even wrote an entire post about our experience and what to expect.
• Play outside. Kilchis River County Campground centers around a large, open field. Here you’ll find a playground, horse shoe pits, a basketball hoop, and sand pit. There’s plenty of space to kick the soccer ball or toss the Frisbee, too.

NEARBY & NOTABLE

• Tillamook is best known for its cheese, and the Tillamook Creamery is only a 10-minute drive from Kilchis River County Campground. This is the place to stop for ice cream cones! There’s more to Tillamook than cheese, however. For a taste of local history, visit the Tillamook Air Museum, housed in a World War II-era blimp hangar.
• Beaches, beaches, and more beaches! With the Oregon Coast, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches. Try Winema Beach near Pacific City, or take a short hike to the beach at Sitka Sedge State Natural Area. To the north, Short Sand Beach at Oswald West State Park is a great choice.
• The Three Capes Scenic Loop is a beautiful drive featuring numerous hikes and — you guessed it — more beaches. The hike along Cape Lookout and the beach at Cape Kiwanda are two favorite stops.
• The Tillamook Forest Center, set in the heart of the Coast Range, is set to reopen in 2023. In the meantime, there are still numerous trails and campgrounds open in the surrounding Tillamook State Forest.

THE VERDICT

Kilchis River County Campground is situated in a beautiful valley in Oregon’s Coast Range. Surrounded by forested hills and easy access to the Kilchis River, it’s a fun place to spend a lazy day or two. Its location near Tillamook makes it a great place for exploring this incredible section of the Oregon Coast, too. Campsites are generally well-kept and the restrooms were reasonably clean, although still a bit smelly. With so many people using them, smells can be hard to avoid.

The main downside, in our opinion, is that the sites are so close together. There isn’t much privacy, so you better hope for considerate neighbors. I’m happy to say that we had no issues on this front, although the camp host had to deal with some difficult patrons on the far end of the campground. This can happen anywhere, and goes to show how important it is that we always treat our fellow campers and hosts with respect.

There was one thing that bothered us, however: gunshots. Or perhaps detonations? We don’t know what caused the loud, explosive sounds that echoed across Kilchis River County Campground the evening we arrived, but it really put a damper on the mood. Thankfully, the shots stopped shortly after 8pm and we only heard a couple more the next day. I asked the camp host, but she, too, was unfamiliar with the source of the noise. I can only hope this was a singular occurrence, and that other campers won’t be subjected to such a disturbance.

Aside from the blasted noise, we had a great time. The Kilchis River is gorgeous, and we enjoyed a lovely afternoon swimming there. The sheltered valley is also a great alternative to many of the windier, more exposed coastal campgrounds. The large playfield, playground, and sand pit make it a hit with young kids, and the wide, flat campground road makes a good bike path.

One final note: campers without kids may prefer a campsite further from the playground, which can echo with the shrieks of children until quiet hours begin at 10pm. I also suggest avoiding the peak summer season if you prefer a quieter experience. But with kids or without, Kilchis River County Campground is a fun, easy getaway on the Oregon Coast.

I came across Kilchis River County Campground when planning a weekend camping trip within easy driving distance of my parents’ home in Oregon’s West Willamette Valley. While I was unfamiliar with the Kilchis River, the location sounded ideal for a relaxing family trip. All we had to do was hope for good weather so we could take advantage of the campground’s enticing swimming holes. A few months prior to our visit, I booked one of the last few available sites.

The first weekend of August arrived, and the weather couldn’t have been better. We pulled into Kilchis River County Campground on a sunny Friday afternoon, eager to set up camp and check out the river. Having done my research, I knew our campsite would be sandwiched tightly between our neighbors’ sites, but it was lovely nonetheless.

We got to work setting up camp, following a familiar routine. It wasn’t long before our fellow campers arrived. One advantage to camping in Oregon is that it makes it easier for my brother, Sam, and sister-in-law, Lindah, to join us. Lindah even brought dinner, another advantage that sometimes comes with sharing a campsite.

Before dinner, the kids and I strolled down to the Kilchis River for a quick look. The boys were so enthralled by the calm, clear water that they couldn’t wait to test it out… with their water guns! But we were about to eat, and, well, what the heck! We were camping, after all. Why not fit in a quick dip before dinner?

Back at the campsite, the six of us enjoyed a lovely dinner around the picnic table. Lovely, that is, except for one little thing. Or, more accurately, one extremely loud thing. The sound of gunshots echoed repeatedly across the valley, obliterating the otherwise peaceful evening. It was disturbing, to say the least. We never discovered the source of the noise (and frankly, we don’t even know if they were gunshots or some other sort of explosion), but were thankful when it finally stopped around 8pm.

Fortunately, the memory of the previous night’s disturbance fell by the wayside the next day. We prepared a late breakfast at camp and lingered around the picnic table. My parents arrived around noon, and we spent a lazy afternoon on the Kilchis River, swimming and floating in the emerald green water.

My family joined us for dinner, then headed for home, leaving Michael, the boys, and me to enjoy a final night at Kilchis River County Campground on our own. T made friends at the playground and discovered the sand pit, while J and Michael played games at the campsite.

The next morning we packed up quickly, preparing for the long drive home to Seattle. It was another sunny day, perfect for a hike to Short Sand Beach on our way up the coast. Despite the unexpected noise of Friday evening, our stay at Kilchis River County Campground was a good one, surrounded by family and the natural beauty of the Oregon Coast Range. For an easy weekend getaway, it was just right.