Pacific City, OR
Aside from the disaster that was getting to the campground, the campground itself was a hidden gem. It was an older campground but everything was very clean and well kept. It was located across the street from the ocean and there was a small trail from the campground to the beach.
Path to the Beach
I will never get used to taking a heavily forested path with elevation gain and loss then suddenly popping out at the ocean. Having grown up in Florida, it feels so opposite to the average beach experience there. The water in the Pacific Ocean is also much less inviting than the Atlantic or Gulf. The tidal range off the Oregon coast is 3-5 meters while in Florida it is 3-5 feet. The water is freezing, the waves are huge and unpredictable. The Pacific cost also has sneaker waves, which are waves that come in much taller and further than all the other waves around that timeframe. They can be just a few inches deep or multiple feet deep. No to be dramatic, but they are essentially baby tsunamis.
The ocean is amazingly powerful. Never turn your back to it. Okay, back to the campground.
The staff was very kind and accommodating. They all seemed to love working there and lived in the park full time. We got lucky and our site was a little further back in the campground and across the street from the beach. There was some road noise but at night when that quieted down you could hear the ocean.
We were both exhausted and sick for the first week of our stay. It rained the majority of the time and a gale even passed through at one point. The sun only came out for about a day and a half and the temperature probably averaged out around 50. The low one night was 39 and the high during the one sunny day was 74. When you combine those things with how small Pacific City is, there was not a lot of exploring that happened.
We did walk down to the beach after work on the day that the sun came out. Dan cooked dinner on the grill and we ended the evening with a campfire and s’mores. It was a great place to rest and recoup before the next location.
Overall Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stay Duration: 2 weeks – March 15, 2025- March 29, 2025
Weather: Mostly rainy – Temperature Range: 39-74 – Average Temp: 55
- Site D-31 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Full Hookup, 15/30/50 amp, Back-in. The site was nice and long with graded gravel. It was located towards the back of the campground with lots of trees separating the campsites so it felt private. There were a few open sites around us and for the most part it was fairly quiet. Lots of shade, picnic table, fire pit. Close to (very clean) bathrooms and bear proof dumpster.
- Campground ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Staff was great and laid back, they did not enforce the $5/package fee, love that. Everything was clean, well cared for, and in good shape. Most of the buildings had limited hours since it was still “winter” but that didn’t really impact me. Path to the beach was easy to access and well marked.
- Other People/Pets ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Everyone around us was quiet and respectful. Pets were leashed and people picked up after them. If it had not been for the sudden influx of kids towards the end of our stay due to spring break, it would be 5 stars.
- Internet Connection ⭐⭐⭐
- None of the 3 big carriers got cell service on the campground. Starlink was the only option and if you did not come with one, the closest Best Buy was in Salem, 90 min away. Starlink was workable but there were a decent amount of trees so depending on the site it may be a really spotty connection. Pole mount would be recommended for the best connection here.
- Vibes ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- This location was a bit more remote than I was expecting. If I was not working full time I do not think it would have impacted me as negatively. Starlink was the only option for internet, which is not my first choice provider for a lot of reasons but that is a post within itself. If you need to get to a pharmacy you are at least 30 min away. If you need a larger or specializer retailer you are 60+ min away. Eggs at the local grocery store were $17 a dozen. But if you are prepared for the lack of internet and being far from larger towns, the vibes within the campground make up for a lot.
Scrapbook Pages
I want to do a scrapbook entry to commemorate all of the stops we make. This is hopefully the first of many more to come.
Midlife Millennial Adventures 