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7 Yurt Camping Spots in Oregon

Great places to rent one across the state

aerial view of a yurt in Oregon
Are you rustic or deluxe? Visitors can choose between two types of yurts maintained by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department at various spots across the Beaver State.
Getty Images
By

Kimberley Lovato,

 
AARP
Published May 16, 2024

Yurts, the circular tentlike structures used by nomadic cultures for centuries, were once quickly assembled abodes, draped in animal pelts or thick fabric for protection from the elements. These days, they’re a much more permanent part of the camping experience across the U.S., especially in Oregon. Campers can find yurts along Oregon’s lakeshores, in vineyards and forests, near beaches and in many of its 255 state parks.

More comfortable than a tent and often equipped with heating, electricity and beds, yurts take the edge off roughing it while still proffering the sense of adventure that comes from waking up in nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department maintains two types of yurts: rustic and deluxe. As you probably guessed, the rustic yurts are more simple; they don’t have private restrooms, electric or propane barbecue grills, refrigerators, or microwaves.

Camping may not be for everyone, but sleeping in the great outdoors is gaining popularity among travelers who are 50 and older. According to the AARP 2024 Travel Trends report, 6 percent of travelers said a campground or RV was their preferred accommodation compared with 5 percent of travelers in 2023. For campers with mobility issues, many of the campgrounds managed by the Oregon parks department have Americans with Disabilities Act–compliant yurts, with ramps to the entrance and accessible restrooms. (Check the Accessible Features box on the reservation page to check for availability.)

If you’re ready to try camping in a yurt, here are seven options to consider around the Beaver State.

deluxe yurts at the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
The deluxe yurts at the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park are big enough to sleep up to eight people.
Courtesy Jody Morrow

Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, Winchester Bay

This is the only Oregon state park that offers deluxe yurts (six of them), each able to accommodate up to eight people on four beds (one of which is a top bunk). Guests need to bring their own bedding, but the deluxe accommodations have kitchenettes with refrigerators and microwaves, as well as private bathrooms with showers. The park and campground are set amid the giant dunes of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. You can get your steps in walking the 1-mile loop around Lake Marie, a great spot for canoeing and fishing. The Umpqua Lighthouse Museum is also close by. Rates start at $82.

an inside view of a yurt at Fort Stevens State Park
Don’t forget to BYO bedding when staying in one of the 15 yurts at Fort Stevens State Park.
Courtesy Oregon State Parks

Fort Stevens State Park, Warrenton

Boredom is out of the question at one of America’s largest public campgrounds, about 9 miles west of Astoria and 14 miles north of the family-friendly resort town of Seaside. The park was once a military installation but is now a 4,300-acre playground with camping, hiking trails, a military museum and an easy 2-mile route around Coffenbury Lake. All 15 rustic yurts have two double mattresses and one single on the top of a bunk bed (bring your own bedding), as well as electric heating and lighting. Rates start at $60.

an inside view of a kitchenette within a yurt at Bradley Vineyards
Travelers staying in the private yurt at Bradley Vineyards can enjoy a kitchenette and spacious seating area.
Courtesy Bradley Vineyards

Bradley Vineyards, Elkton

Guests can take a break from technology and pick up some sommelier skills at this private bungalow on the grounds of the family-owned Bradley Vineyards. There’s no Wi-Fi inside the yurt, but there is a private bathroom, kitchenette and turntable along with a classic vinyl collection. Drop by the tasting room during business hours or head to the tiny town of Elkton on the Umpqua River, about a mile from the vineyard, for something to eat. The yurt sleeps four with the sofa bed. Rates start at $210.

people on a boat and a float, around Crescent Lake
Campers can rent a boat to cruise around Crescent Lake.
Alamy

Crescent Lake Campground, Crescent

On the northwestern shore of Crescent Lake, this camping spot is a great home base for outdoor activities such as swimming, trout fishing and boating. Campers can find hiking trails around the pine-tree scented Deschutes National Forest. The three yurts at Crescent Lake each have a bunk bed and a futon, sleeping six people per yurt. Each yurt has a wood stove for heat, an outdoor fire ring and a picnic table. It’s rustic yurt life here, so BYO bedding, cooking utensils and lighting. A small general store and boat rental in the campground add to the ease. The yurts are open from late May to late September. Rates start at $40.

a yurt at Tumalo State Park
The yurts at Tumalo State Park have private picnic tables and other amenities for campers.
Courtesy Oregon State Parks

Tumalo State Park, Bend

The campground at Tumalo State Park is a few miles north of Bend so you can make a grocery run or have dinner out. But the yurts feel far from urban life. The park sits on the Deschutes River, popular for trout fishing as well as floating in rafts on the cool water. The seven yurts have two double beds and one single bed, along with electric heat, lights and a ceiling fan. Yurts have outdoor fire pits and picnic tables too. Rates start at $57.

people sitting outside their yurt at the Valley of the Rogue State Park
Guests can stay in a rustic yurt at the Valley of the Rogue State Park near the town of Medford.
Courtesy Oregon State Parks

Valley of the Rogue State Park, Gold Hill

For travelers who like to get out and explore, Valley of the Rogue State Park is well situated about 18 miles from the wineries and breweries of Medford, 30 miles from Ashland (home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and 12 miles from Grants Pass for dining, shopping and jet-boat adventures on the Rogue River. In the park, 13 rustic yurts can sleep eight on two doubles and a single top bunk (BYO bedding). Guests can stroll along the 1.25-mile walking trail by the river. The park features interpretive signs and picnic tables. Rates start at $58.

visitors sitting at a picnic table outside a yurt at Cape Lookout State Park campground.
Visitors can enjoy yurt life in the great outdoors at the Cape Lookout State Park campground.
Courtesy Oregon State Parks

Cape Lookout State Park, Tillamook

This year-round campground is tucked between Netarts Bay and a Pacific Ocean beach, about 11 miles from the town of Tillamook, where campers can tour the famous Tillamook creamery and taste cheese and ice cream. The 13 rustic yurts sleep eight people. Other campground amenities include hot showers and two electric vehicle charging stations. Rates start at $52.

A Sausalito, California–based freelance travel writer, Kimberley Lovato has contributed to numerous publications, including Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler and Virtuoso Life.​

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