Nehalem Bay State Park Campground

We came in from the north on Hwy 101, and Waze wanted us to turn at Manzanita, just north of Nehalem, to get to the state park. It was a sharp and weird angled turn, so we pressed on a couple of miles, where there was a state park sign. We followed the signs to the park and campground(CG). No one was at the check-in booth, but instructions were to proceed to the registration kiosk in the A loop. We registered and headed for back-in Site C-26; 50 amp& water. Our three-day stay was free as we have the Oregon Disabled Veteran's Pass. As we went through the B section, we had to be very careful on this Friday after Thanksgiving, as the CG looked like a summer holiday weekend with vehicles parked willy-nilly near or on the road. We noticed and were told by other campers that Oregonians love to camp this time of year in large friend and family groups. This had been the case in the last three State Parks we’ve camped in. We got to the C section, which was not quite as busy, and proceeded to back into our site. The camper across from us gladly moved his truck so we could maneuver into the asphalt pad more easily. We had pine tree branches overhead, and we did our best not to scrape, but one branch lightly scraped an air conditioner cover on our 13.5-foot 5th wheel. The pad was long enough for our 5th wheel, and we parked our F450 at a slight angle to stay off the road. The water and electric hookups were at the back of the pad, so we needed 25’ of electric cord. One side of the road(outer sites) has angled sites, and the other(inside sites) has 90-degree back-ins. Whether even or odd sites depends on how the loop sites flow into one another. For example, our site C-26(outer site) is angled. In the D loop, site 41, which is a nice site for a bigger rig, is angled versus the even sites across the road, which are 90-degree back-ins. We had a fairly clear shot for our Starlink and three bars on Verizon. There was beach access from our loop, and we enjoyed walking our dogs on the multiple trails in this state park. The reservable loops were full this Thanksgiving weekend. This time of year, the D, E, and F loops were first-come-first-serve and nowhere near full. If we had known this, we would have gone to this less crowded area.

Nehalem : The beach is gorgeous. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer). I rate based on desire for at least a moderate wilderness type experience w at least some camp site privacy. Overall Rating: 3.5 Usage during visit: Very full Site Privacy: None. Sites are very open Site Spacing: Very close . Site surface: Black top Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: People and children having fun. Electric Hookup: Yes Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Bathroom: Flush toilets. Clean Showers: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): Good reception. Setting: Park line setting with some trees Weather: Sunny skies, 70s. Bugs: None Host: Yes Rig size: Large rigs present. Note: I did not camp here. However, I spent a considerable portion of two days at the campground with friends who were camped in tents, trailers , and yurts .

Had a very nice time -campground was very clean and the bike trails were fun..

big campground, but spots had little to no privacy. shouting and music was a bit loud through the night. would probably stay again though because of the proximity to the ocean

Nehalem Bay State Park is a beautiful place. But... the sites are right on top of one another. I would not say this park is for a getaway into a nature park. It is a highly trafficked park. Nothing wrong with the park outside of the cleanliness of the showers is reflective of the massive amounts of people that use them. We were here for a week, and I never once had a clean shower. The shower heads also spray water all over, so be careful with what you don't want wet. Our picnic table was falling apart, but I know they are in the process of replacing them because several had new tops and seats on them. 

The ocean is a good hike over the dunes, but it is a beautiful, clean beach.

We had a great experience here wat bing the horseback riders at sunset on the beach.

We only stayed one night and would have loved to stay more. Beautiful older campground right on the beach. Clean restrooms and showers. Electric and water at the site with a dump station available near the campground entrance. Walking paths from the campground through the dunes and to the beach are well marked. Head out for sunset! It’s beautiful. It was cold but sunny when we visited in February.

Great beach state park! Short walk over the dune. Not terrible , but gets your blood pumping. The view of the ocean, the endless beach and the grass-covered dunes are worth the walk! We had the D loop almost to ourselves. I can imagine it feels pretty crowded in summer. The sites’ proximity to each other sees pretty standard for state parks. There is an illusion of privacy with the abundance of trees but no foliage on the trunks. We were next to our friends but didn’t feel crowded or imposed upon. The outside of the loop had angled back in sites. The inside were straight back in and shorter. Some sites are longer than others. Saw a large class A and 5th wheel comfortably backed in. We are about 48 ft with trailer and pick up and fit fine. Close to Manzanita, walking trails in the park and so many hikes nearby. Went to Short Sand Beach yesterday and it was beautiful. Granted having sunny weather helps!

It was located right next to the beach. We could hear the waves from our campsite, it was lovely. The site was clean, and had showers. We also had got a site across the street from a playground, which was great for the kiddos. It was expensive at $40/night. And staying 5 nights.. that got pricey quick! Other than the price, it was an amazing stay.

Woke up to a cup of coffee and a walk on the beach. Level sites with hook ups. Clean restroom and showers. This place is huge, I had to use my maps to get back out of the campground. It doesn't feel huge when you are at your site. 

A lot of dogs! Not usually an issue, but many people do not leash their dogs at the campground and do not have recall on their dog. As soon as I arrived two dogs ran up and jumped on me. Not ok. I'm glad my dog wasn't with me, he would have lost his mind.

This is a beautiful state park campground located with easy access to the beach and the nearby beach town of Manzanita. We were only here for a couple of nights in May, but would absolutely return to spend an entire week.

The sites are relatively close together with minimal screening between them, so camping here in a RV or trailer may be preferable over tent camping, which is effectively what we did (modified toy hauler with outside living quarters). Suggest a site along the beach side for better access and breeze. The other sites along the other rows seemed buffered by trees, which could be a plus.

The bathrooms were some of the cleanest I’ve seen at a state park…a definite plus!

The beach is gorgeous here and with limited people. The town is ~5 min drive away and offers all the quaint beach-town options you’d ever want. Great Mexican restaurant along the main strip.

This is a nice campground just over the dune from the beach. Water and electric at sites. Sites close together. Showers and bathrooms. Paved sites.

An amazing place to camp, hike, bike, or just explore. Having the ocean a short walk away, is an absolute dream. We've been a few times at different times of the year and rain or shine Nehalem Bay will always be at the top of my list.

Paved pads, nice amenities and hiking nearby. Bathrooms are a bit scant and could use some work. Showers are hot, push button operated (I hate this). Close to a small town for supplies. Sites are a bit cramped and it was extremely busy for a Sunday check-in (no holiday). Sites were clean. Inconsiderate nasty campers though. Poop-stained underwear left sitting on a shower seat, feces smeared on the women’s restroom toilet seat. Are people really this disgusting? Please, people. Keep the poop in the bowl, and clean up after your filth so no one else has to deal with it. Fire rings and picnic tables at each site.

The problem with reviewing your favorite place on Earth is that people will find out about that place and it will be crowded. So with that in mind: This place sucks. Don't come visit. The beach is too beautiful and it will ruin all other beaches. Same with the campground! It's too clean, the people are too nice, and the trails are too peaceful. You'll hate it. Oh! The town of Manzanita is only a short walk down the beach or the walking path and you'll thoroughly dislike the quant and charming town complete with Portland quality restaurants and even a whiskey bar. Don't even get me started on the weekly farmers market! 

*All joking aside, it really is the best place in Oregon, and please be respectful of how wonderful it is :) We camp there at least 4 times a year and every month is special.

Great camp sites, most are fairly private and lots of space between them. Well maintained, good beach access and very walking friendly with a walking and bike paths.

Tent camping. Made reservation for my visit as it's a popular place. Quiet, paved parking pads so look at site photos to see if enough room for your tent size. Be ready to climb the dunes for a breathtaking view

Visiting in a less busy time of year, this was so easy, quick and super convenient. If you come as a walk in, you can self register and pay by putting your form and money in the pay box. Nice and quiet, and nice little sites. Showers and bathrooms are nice to have as well!

October 2021– Our 3rd time to Nehalem Bay State Park. The entrance to the park is still very rough and bumpy until you actually reach the park entrance. The roads inside the park are very good, smooth and wide. Our spot B-37 was very nice except the fact of the rain for 2 days that created a pool next to the asphalt our trailer was setting on by the back of the trailer. We used the bathrooms and found the stalls were very tight to close the stall door. You had to stand directly beside the toilet to shut the door. But the bathrooms and showers where very clean and well kept. For that matter the whole park was clean and well kept.

We bought take out lunch 2 times at the Riverside Fish& Chips in Nehalem. The fish and fries were cooked to perfection. The outside of the fries were crispy and the inside was very soft, plus the coating on the outside of the fries were excellent. The fish was not greasy, well cooked and juicy on the inside.

Loved this state park campground.  Roomy, awesome beach just steps away.  Great AT&T cell service.  If you scan for over the air TV stations you'll find some here.  No Sewer, so you'll have to endure using the dump station, and can imagine it gets very busy trying to dump the tanks during the summer season.  Bring you bikes.  Play structures for the kids.  Will definitely stay here again.

Love this park - so much to do !! Hiking,walking,biking, fishing ,crabbing and walking on the beach!!

This campground is busy and crowded. Noise levels reflect that, but weren’t a problem for us in our van. We were parked a few spots down from a beach access point, and loved being able to walk out onto the dunes to watch the sunset. Many people had fires going and it’s the only place we’ve seen on our trip that allowed them given the fire ban. We had a nice stay and would return!

Right off the beach on the other side of the dunes. Easy beach access paths. Hot showers with great water pressure. Water and electric at each site. $35 a night. They also have firewood and ice til 9pm at the entrance. Very popular spot. Luckily there was a cancellation so we were able to get a spot for the night. Definitely peaceful with the waves in the background all night.

Lovely spot on the Oregon coast

We've stayed at Nehalem Bay State Park several times and always enjoy it.  In the past we have camped in our tent and we've also stayed in one of their cozy yurts.  This time was a first for us because we stayed in one of their primitive horse camp sites in our van, and had the opportunity to ride horses on the beach!  The campground has a ton of amenities and is located adjacent to the beach, bay and just minutes to Manzanita or Nehalem. Planning to return again soon!

We stayed a few nights midweek in July and the campsite was full. The campsites are admittedly close together, but where we were on loop C had plenty of trees and foliage at the rear and most had a one or two trees to help delineate boundaries on the sides of sites. The main attaction here is really the beach and ocean. The campsite seems to be just a place to rest and eat in between walks on the beach or other activities further out. The sites had tables and fire rings as well as water and electric hookups and a short paved driveway. There was a good mix of tents, trailers and RVs.

The beach is BEAUTIFUL. It’s also big so even with plenty of people it never felt crowded. The North side of the beach was still open to dogs (parts of the south side are closed to protect local birds seasonally … I think they are endangered) and the dry part of the beach was quite warm in the sun. The wet sand by the waves was cold. It all seemed to balance out and was a great place to relax. The walk from the campsite loops through the dunes was very sandy from the start - plenty of people took off their sneakers and flip flops and carried them. Teva style sandals and hiking boots seems fine. Before you wander too far on the beach make sure to note which big yellow numbered sign is near where your path back to the loops was so you can find your way back later on.

The bathrooms were busy but clean and located in the middle of Loop B (loops A, B and C are connected). There were showers too that plenty of people seemed to use but we didn’t use them. There was a playground/structure in a small field next to the bathrooms and some of the campsites were situated on the same field and they didn’t have any bushes or privacy. You’ll want to actually want to be near the playground if you’re in loop B, if not for easy access to the play area and bathrooms then foe the happy and audible noises of kids playing. A big trash compactor was at the entrance in loop A, there weren’t any smaller bins around the loops that we noticed. Plenty of bikes and scooters and dogs were out and about walking the loop, especially in the mornings and evenings. The overall vibe was nice and family friendly and one neighbor was especially sweet - he spent a good hour or so making giant bubbles for people passing by to pop on their evening walk. Lots of string lights and hammocks added to the atmosphere.

We didn’t notice too many bugs, but we do think we might have put a tent stake into a offshoot of an ant path since our tent had maybe a dozen ants on the outside of our tent each morning, but gently spraying them off with some water worked well and we didn’t notice any more at other times of the day.

This seems like a place people book early and for more than a few days. We’ll probably come back again - there seem to be plenty of small beach towns to explore too if we ever got tired of Nehalem bay.

This is a campground that would be perfect for families with younger kids. Big playground, lots of other kids running around. Wasn't ideal for our camping needs as a young couple with a dog that barks at people nearing the campsite (or in some cases running through it). Our particular site was also perhaps one of the worst locations as it backed the playground. I booked far in advance and took what was available but despite these negatives for us I can understand why this place is so popular. 

The Pros:

1. The beach and the dunes are beautiful! Love the Oregon coast and this spot is great.

2. Bathrooms and showers that were clean (although busy)

The Cons:

1. Too many kids and the noise that comes with it for our preferences

2. The price

Overall a great experience here. Would come back but would book even further in advance (like MONTHS) in order to get a better site… not backing the playground.

We liked the location and the access to the beaches, however it was very crowded. We have dogs, but walking them was a bit difficult. There were so many pets and people it was hard to enjoy our walks.

Stayed here twice on the same bicycle trip. Once on the way up the coast, and again on the way back down. It's not super-separated from the rest of the campground, but it's a huge area with lots of picnic tables and fire pits. Short walk to the ocean from here. Also, Manzanita is a short bike ride away. Decent Oregon beach town.

Beautiful beach within walking distance of campsites and great facilities make for a very nice camping stop!