Tillicum Beach Campground

It's a small, very pretty campground.  Clean bathrooms. Very dog-friendly campground.  Sites are well-spaced but not intended for very large RVs. Friendly camp hosts, seen around the campground a lot during the day. Campfires are allowed when others are prohibited but check ahead.  The campground was full all the time we were there (8 days). Get your reservation six months in advance, and push that button at the right second, or you will not get the site you want. Verizon cell service is not "fair"; it is very poor, even with a booster.

General: 59-site campground nestled between Route 101 and the ocean. Some have water and electric, some are reservable, and some are first come, first available. 

Site Quality: Quality varies. Sites closest to the highway will obviously hear road noise so try and get a site on the ocean side! Some are not quite level. IMO, the best sites are 17, 18, 23, 25, 26, 30, 31, 41, and 46. All of these except #46 (which is a back-in site) are parallel to the road (they could be considered pull-through but there is no separation between them so it could be tricky if there are two adjacent large RVs. The ocean view was “blocked” by trees in our site (23) but what it lacked in view had the bonus of a private area surrounded by trees with a new large picnic table and a fire ring. There would also be room to set up a tent in this area. You definitely will HEAR the ocean from any of these sites! 

Bathhouse: Basic but mostly clean with soap and an air dryer. No hot water or showers. 

Activities: There is a beautiful beach perfect for walking or running. Not even sure how far it stretches; we walked for almost a half-mile in one direction before turning around and I could not see the end of it. This campground is a short distance from the town of Yachats with shops and restaurants. 

We were fortunate to be able to make a reservation for an ocean-front site one week in advance and with our Golden Age Pass, it was very reasonably priced! For us, it was a five-star stay but I gave it four stars due to the variability of sites.

Great campground! Some of the sites don't have the best tent pad (not level) and some don't have great privacy but it's still worth staying here. The sites that sit along the beach are fantastic. Even the sites that are not beach side on the inside loop are well wooded and have privacy with a little bit of an ocean view. The campground is far enough from the 101 that there's not any highway traffic, only the sound of the ocean. The USFS still lists this as pit toilets but they have plumbing and flush toilets now. Unfortunately, they did not install showers though. The bathrooms were clean. They did sell firewood (we did not buy any so I can not comment on quality). The sites are close enough to get ocean spray, so items do stay damp that are left out.

This campground was exceptionally well-maintained, and easily gets a 5 star review because of its combo of reservable and first come, first serve sites, making it more accessible for last minute plans, or for those of us who don't book 6 months in advance. 

Verizon coverage is definitely spotty here, as it was for much of the areas near to this campground. 

There are some first come, first serve sites with ocean views! Lots of trees that make it feel more remote than it is. Ocean noise somewhat blocks road noise. Blackberries all around!

—————INTERNET—————

Verizon via iPhone 12 with weBoost: 8.54 mbps down and 0.03 mbps up with 52 ms ping. T-Mobile via Nighthawk MR-1100 with a directional antenna: 2-8 mbps down and 0.50-1.75 mbps up with 50-80 ms ping. The campground trees block signal and our directional antenna became key for better signal.

——REASONS I STAYED HERE——

I chose this campground simply to have a place to stay between Yachats and Newport that had signal so I could work on the weekdays.

—————BASIC FAQ————— 

[Rig. Mercedes Sprinter. 22 feet]

Dump station? - No

Water fill or hookup? - No central fill station. Very few sites have water hookup but there are water spigots throughout.

Electricity? - Very few, but not mine

Clean site? - Yes

Clean bathroom? - Yes

Flush toilet? - Yes

Showers? - No

Laundry? - No

Dish washing sink? - No

ADVICE ON SHOWERS. We didn’t take full on showers while here (3 days) since our van’s water tank is small. Instead, we waited until we arrived at our next campground, South Beach Campground near Newport (only 25 minutes north of Tillicum Beach). We got there a couple hours early so we did the whole “shower, dump tank, fill water, rinse and repeat for the next person” in the parking lot near the dump station. We were headed into Newport and didn’t want to wait until we could occupy our site to take a shower.

—————PROS—————

→ You can see the ocean from most sites. The campground is right next to the beach.

→ It’s quiet.

—————CONS—————

→ $30/night plus tax for dry camping

—————OVERALL—————

4-stars - It’s basic and served its purpose well. No red flags.

This campground is right on the beach, and some primo spots have a full ocean view.  Those spots were all taken when we arrived with no reservations in early June, but we got a good spot on the beach side of the loop.  

Each site is so different in terms of layout and placement, that it would be hard to pick a good spot online in advance.  Some spots are practically on a hill, and there's no way you'd be able to get your vehicle leveled if you need that.

Some spots have water and electric hookup, and those are $39/night.  Pricey but worth it for the location.  The no-hookup sites are $31 / night.  No sewer hookups or dump station here.

There are flush toilets, no showers.  Trash service, but no recycling.

Cell service was really weak/almost unusable with verizon, but the cell booster helped.  ATT had good service.  Service on the beach was better.

Hosts are friendly and helpful and keep up with the sites well.

Some sites are reservable online, and some are FCFS only.  

Really easy access from 101, and if you get a beach side spot you don't hear the road AT ALL, and the soft whoosh of the ocean drowns out noisy neighbors as well.

We loved it here!

Although small, Tillicum offered a great spot by the ocean. Not all sites are level so choose wisely.

I enjoyed it. It’s clean, quiet (people noise) and it has an ocean view. Try to stay as close to the ocean side of the campgrounds as possible because the 101 is loud. I like tent camping I don’t care if it’s cold or rainy. It’s just my thing. I love the fact that I can pick my spot and pitch my tent. Some spots are pretty hidden some more open. Doesn’t matter overall very enjoyable I will be back.

Great little campground, some ocean front spots - check muddy camper website to see the best ones, we stayed at #17 which was good for vans, others are better for tents. Clean facilities

After looking for campgrounds from which to see whales and reading the reviews here, we decided to visit Tillicum Beach Campground for our first adventure in our new-to-us travel trailer!  Despite the wind and rain, we enjoyed a lovely peaceful time here.

We had reserved space 46 based on a good review and then realized that we are too long for that site.  30' means 30' (total, truck AND trailer)  SO, we drove around the loop and backed into site 14.  Actually really enjoyed the electricity at that site, so all worked out well.  A bit of an ocean view out the side because no one was parked along the bluff row.  Just across the road from the north path to the beach.

We didn't actually go down to the beach as the tide was in each time we went out, and the walk across the rocks in the wind and rain didn't seem too prudent.  

Park was nicely kept and bathroom was clean.  I'd recommend this small quiet spot , even in the winter!

Clean bathrooms and a beautiful view, but the campsite are very close to each other.

We were lucky enough to snag a first-come-first-serve spot across the street from the ocean.  Tillicum is a small, one-loop campground with 2 very clean flush toilet bathrooms.  We were only a few steps away from the path down to the beach and a short drive down to Yachats and the beautiful Cape Perpetua area or north to Waldport and Newport.

The spots up closer to the road are more shaded and have some road noise.  The view from the spot across from the sites on the ocean was great though direct views were obstructed by parked RVs.  

We had one night of fog and chill, the other 2 nights were temperate and pleasant.  Warmer than our camping trips on the North Oregon coast.

This campground as many first come first serve sites. This is super handy for spontaneous camping adventures. It is beautiful with sites that are close to the beach. It was so nice to sleep and be able to hear the beach.

We loved this campground! We had a reservation the first night back in the trees, but then got a bluff spot for the two following nights. Amazing views, sounds of the ocean, mist. It was truly amazing. Close to Yachats which was a super cute town, and Thor’s Well wasn’t too far either. Loved it!

This site is just off the 101 and right next to a beautiful stretch of beach. Though you can't see the ocean from most of the campsites, the ocean makes its presence known by filling your ears with its lovely crashing waves. The site has very clean bathrooms with flushing toilets. Lots of vegetation surround most of the sites as well. Some aren't as private as others, but that's to be expected. Very popular site, mostly or completely full even on weekdays.

Amazing beachfront spot - we pulled up late at night without a reservation and there were available spots for $26 a night and hook ups for $33 (from memory might be a few dollars off).

Chilly but worth it!

I stayed at this campground for 2 nonconsecutive nights on a road trip up and down the Oregon coast. 

I booked online, which is always convenient, but in late March that was unnecessary. There were plenty of vacancies and I saw multiple groups sign up as they arrived. I was car camping, but there were plenty of spots for RVs and campers as well. 

The campsites were spacious with a picnic table and fire ring. There is also very easy access to the beach, especially if you are on the side of the loop closer to the ocean (otherwise it's only a few minute walk away). I was in site 9 one night (great!) and site 12 another (honestly wouldn't recommend as much, it was muddy and a little sloped).

The bathrooms are very nice, and it was easy to find the water spigots. 

Overall a great experience!

Very nice, small camp. Bathrooms with running water/flush toilets. Everything tidy and clean! Super beach access with wide open space.

This campground has multiple beach front campsites with amazing views of a sandy, surf heavy part of the OR coast. Short driving distances to Yachats (check out Yachats Brewing for incredible food, kombucha, and fermentables of all sorts!), Cape Perpetua, multiple state parks all make this a great spot to stay. All sites have picnic tables and fire pits. Many sites that are off the beach also have full rv hookups. My favorite place to stay. Site 17 is nearly perfect! Every site is a less than 5 minute walk to the beach.

I chose this campground because it met my needs for an overnight stay on a drive home and was so surprised of how nice it was. The sites felt private with bushes and hedges separating them and the beach front sites looked wonderful! The campground has easy access to a beautiful beach that felt very empty for the beginning of a holiday weekend!

41 and 46-51 are the best in my opinion. 5 stars for 46. Tight campground. Heavy RV use. But incredibly well maintained. friendly host and nice people all around. Windy beach. But wide open without a lot of people. At least midweek. Some deep shade chilly sites and sites right next to 101 are loud during the day.

If you’re Lucky there are beachfront camp sites with their own private trail to the beach which is only 20’ away. A bunch of these sites are tucked away behind bushes for ultimate privacy. It’s popular so dont expect to find a walk-in site unless you can get there by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.

First time exploring this part of the Oregon Central Coast. Tillicum Beach CG was a great way to start our tour. I loved the setting and access to the beach. One great thing about this campground was how they have mixed in ~20 first come first serve sites in with the reserved sites allowing for spur of the moment trips. Another is how very accommodating and friendly the hosts were! We had reserved a site but moved to a FF site as it had less road noise and views of the ocean. No problem in moving sites!

Don't miss the Yachats river beach area -Whates galore!... and Amanda's Trail hike in/near Cape Perpetua as well as the many pullouts & views in the area.  Beautiful trail, history and scenery and a few early season chantrelles  and Oyster mushrooms were a nice surprise.  We did not get a chance to explore much of Yachats but can't wait to get back to try  Ona Restaurant, the  Green Salmon Coffee Company ,  Bread& Roses Bakery& Cafe and a cold brew at Yachats Brewing.

We'll be back!

I camped here 2 nights at the end of my bicycle trip down the Oregon coast (wanted to continue but had to get back to work) I had reserved the site >1 month in advance through the app (Recreation.gov) and hoped it would be a good tent site. It was pretty good but we had to get creative to find room for our 2 small tents. The campground seems more geared to mostly campers and RVs, but there are a lot of sites with good space for tents too. I highly recommend this campground and wish it was closer to my home because I want to go back again!!

Loved this campground.

You can walk right onto the beach from the campground. There are Pull-thru and tent sites. Pet are also allowed here. There are some recreation trails close by. The restrooms are always clean. They have both 30 and 50 amp hookups for the RV camper . I would recommend that you reserve a site during the high season. It is a popular campground without all the extra 'fluff'.

We absolutely love it here. Quiet, rustic, great views, great hosts. There are plenty of first come first serve and take a short walk to stairs right to the beach.

Located just south of Waldport in the slightly less crowded part of the coast. The park is located on the west side of Hwy. 101 above the ocean frontage. Several sites are parallel parking spaces facing the ocean with a green lawn and picnic table. The remaining sites are placed in a coastal forest. Some sites have electricity. Central bath/ shower/water. Most sites are paved but very few are level. Bring your blocks.  Only a few sites good for big rigs. 

Small size, great views and good beach access. Plus there are two small towns located nearby for exploration, dining or supplies. Some sites set aside for “first come.” Typical site $26, seniors with Federal pass $13.

I love this campground! It has beach access and the sites while some are different sizes are very nice. It has clean bathrooms and drive in spots.

Ranger Review: Eclipse Sun Protection at Tillicum Beach Campground

Campground Review:

The Tillicum Beach Campground in Yachats, Oregon is a part of the Siuslaw National Forest. It has amazing spots overlooking the ocean and unbeatable beach access. Some of the spots closest to the ocean even have cool tree canopy covered picnic and tent areas with openings like windows (see photo). Rates are between $23-$30 per night. The campsites along the waterfront go quickly so, I recommend booking when spots are released (rolling 6mos).

None of the waterfront sites have hookups and only a handful of the inland sites have hookups. There are restrooms and water but no showers. Each site has a fire ring and most have picnic tables. The vast beach makes it perfect for walking/running, building sand castles, fishing, and whale watching.

Top reasons I love this campground:

1. Awesome tree covered nooks overlooking the ocean.
2. Easy access to the beach.
3. Great for whale watching.
4. Fishing.
5. Nice size campground - not too large.

…………….

Product Review:

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I tested the Eclipse Equinox Hoodie Cover Up. I love the idea of having a portable and compact piece of UPF 50+ clothing that I can put in my backpack or purse instead of a having to lather up with sunscreen. The sides open for ventilation and the front pocket becomes a self-storage pouch. It’s lightweight, quick drying, soft, and the special fabric doesn’t have chemicals!!  There’s even a hidden pocket designed for your phone or keys. It features a finger loop so even the top of your hands stay protected.

The stowage carry pouch is great for traveling! It's small, lightweight, and portable. The carabiner makes it easily attach it to anything! Clip it to your backpack or put it in your purse.

My 6-year-old daughter liked wearing the kids sun poncho and I enjoyed knowing that she was protected from the sun without having to slather her body in sunscreen!

Pros:

• Unbeatable sun protection (blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays wet or dry).
• Lightweight
• No chemicals
• Quick drying
• Soft
• Portable

Cons:

• I found both the adult and youth hoods a bit short. The kids sun poncho (for kids 4-7) was too short for my 6-year-old.
• Could be a bit more stylish.

Overall, I give the sun protective clothing 4 stars and think its a fabulous alternative to chemical filled sunscreen