We are heading out to Oregon coast in July. We are Thousand Trail members and looking through the selection available we are trying to decide which campgrounds are the best for accessibility, and big rig friendly for our Grand Design Solitude369RL 5th wheel. We have two weeks to spend there and are looking for maybe a combination of a couple parks. 1 week each maybe? Right now I'm looking at South Jetty and Pacific City. However, looking at the map, it looks like full hookups are pretty limited, and reading some reviews that these parks are not very "Big Rig Friendly". Looking at the corporate made videos, they seem accessible enough, and they tout full hook-up, but looking at the campground maps it appears sewer and 50 amp is non-existent in South Jetty. 50 amp sites have no sewer and only a few 30 amp sites with sewer. We considered Whalers Rest, but the video appeared to be very tight, however, the campground map seemed like there was more availability of full hookup sites. Currently I'm reserved for 4 nights (arriving July 2) at South Jetty, and 7 nights at Pacific City, but that can still all be changed. Any suggestions for those that are "in the know" on the Oregon coast is much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Accessibility and big rig friendly is very important but so is beach access and activities. WE want it all :)

We stayed at South Jetty last summer with our Redwood, also at LaConner in Washington. Those two campgrounds were our first experience with Thousand Trails and our brand new (to us) Redwood. Here's what I learned:1) I will NEVER AGAIN pull in to a TT campground without walking the site first. 2) I will always ask at check-in where I should avoid with the length of my rig. I was so angry at myself (and TT) for turning me loose in an unfamiliar campground, not knowing their system of "pick the site you want", and I have the tree branch scrapes to remind me. Please don't do that to your Solitude. South Jetty is tight but they do have spots that can accommodate big rigs.

Iceman1777 wrote:We stayed at South Jetty last summer with our Redwood, also at LaConner in Washington. Those two campgrounds were our first experience with Thousand Trails and our brand new (to us) Redwood. Here's what I learned:1) I will NEVER AGAIN pull in to a TT campground without walking the site first. 2) I will always ask at check-in where I should avoid with the length of my rig. I was so angry at myself (and TT) for turning me loose in an unfamiliar campground, not knowing their system of "pick the site you want", and I have the tree branch scrapes to remind me. Please don't do that to your Solitude.South Jetty is tight but they do have spots that can accommodate big rigs.Been there done that! Almost got stuck at Russian River with no turn around near Napa. That's why I'm here asking. There are 4 coastal parks to choose from TT in Oregon. I want to spend the most time at the nicest one. I'm a little worried with it being over the 4th of July Holiday too. When things get really tight and difficult in small campgrounds with our big rig, the wife and I really should have divorce attorneys on retainer. I'd like to avoid that.

I would pass on Whalers Rest it is mostly very tight. South Jetty is ok and at least in my opinion, on the Oregon coast you really don't need 50 amp as the need for air conditioning is almost non existent. The same can be said for Pacific City. Your biggest problem is arriving on Sunday July 2nd. By that time all the 4th of July holiday campers from both Portland and Eugene will already be there and you can be sure that the biggest and best sites will already be taken and the odds of finding a site big enough for your rig will be pretty slim. Almost everyone I know that is still working will take the Monday off and stretch this into a four day weekend. If I was coming up from California I think I would be looking to stay further South say around Bandon at Bullards Beach state park until after the holiday. You would be far enough away from Portland and Eugene to avoid the large crowds and it is a great place to stay. Good luck

bdpreece wrote:I would pass on Whalers Rest it is mostly very tight. South Jetty is ok and at least in my opinion, on the Oregon coast you really don't need 50 amp as the need for air conditioning is almost non existent. The same can be said for Pacific City. Your biggest problem is arriving on Sunday July 2nd. By that time all the 4th of July holiday campers from both Portland and Eugene will already be there and you can be sure that the biggest and best sites will already be taken and the odds of finding a site big enough for your rig will be pretty slim. Almost everyone I know that is still working will take the Monday off and stretch this into a four day weekend. If I was coming up from California I think I would be looking to stay further South say around Bandon at Bullards Beach state park until after the holiday. You would be far enough away from Portland and Eugene to avoid the large crowds and it is a great place to stay. Good luckJust checked Bullards, no availability! Right now I can only hope that some people might leave on the 2nd which is a Sunday. I really don't have much of a choice on dates. Wish I was retired and could be more flexible, but I gotta make the RV payment somehow!

If when you get there you can't find a site there is always the casino parking lot where you could boondock for a couple of nights. The casino is just out of Florence on the highway to Eugene.

Oregon Coast Thousand Trails | Good Sam Community

forte88
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
I've been hearing on another site that Seaside is actually more "big rig friendly" and considering going there first instead of South Jetty, although that adds 2 more hours of driving on July 2nd. Then I could head south during the second part, maybe skip Pacific and go to South Jetty second. But which camp to stay at longer? The original plan was to arrive on the 2nd and stay 4 nights which would pull me out on a Thursday after the Holiday, which hopefully would increase my chances of getting a better spot. I guess I could stay 7 nights first in Seaside which would pull me out on Sunday the 8th and get me to Jetty in the afternoon on the 8th, and I would stay there 4 nights and leave to go back home the following Thursday. So I guess the question is, where should I spend more time? North Oregon coast or South Oregon coast?
samsontdog
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
I forgot to mention when leaving South Jetty for Pacific City leave early in the morning as the traffic gets real bad later in the day as there are lots of people sight seeing and the little coastal towns have lot of tourists. It is just over 100 miles to PC from SJ. We always leave before 8 AM, sometime just after 7 AM
samsontdog
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
We have stayed 16 years in a row at South Jetty, Pacific City, La Conner for 7 weeks each summer. I see no reason for 50 amp sites as you seldom need AC on the Coast. I have never needed full hookups in the 36 years as a TT Member. There are sites for large RVs at each one of the above Parks. I love that we get to pick our own sites several years ago South Jetty assigned sites. Several years ago I towed my 40 ft 5th w to the above Parks in July and Aug and disconnected and drove around to find a big enough site. Worked for me. I downsized to 32 ft TT as I did have problems with branches scrapping the top of the 5th w. That is one reason I went back to TT plus the extra steps in the 5th w. That is hard on 79 yr old hips, knees etc
jarata1
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
Around New England you would have to reserve July 4th sites almost a year in advance
bdpreece
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2017
If when you get there you can't find a site there is always the casino parking lot where you could boondock for a couple of nights. The casino is just out of Florence on the highway to Eugene.
forte88
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
bdpreece wrote:
I would pass on Whalers Rest it is mostly very tight. South Jetty is ok and at least in my opinion, on the Oregon coast you really don't need 50 amp as the need for air conditioning is almost non existent. The same can be said for Pacific City. Your biggest problem is arriving on Sunday July 2nd. By that time all the 4th of July holiday campers from both Portland and Eugene will already be there and you can be sure that the biggest and best sites will already be taken and the odds of finding a site big enough for your rig will be pretty slim. Almost everyone I know that is still working will take the Monday off and stretch this into a four day weekend.

If I was coming up from California I think I would be looking to stay further South say around Bandon at Bullards Beach state park until after the holiday. You would be far enough away from Portland and Eugene to avoid the large crowds and it is a great place to stay. Good luck

Just checked Bullards, no availability! Right now I can only hope that some people might leave on the 2nd which is a Sunday. I really don't have much of a choice on dates. Wish I was retired and could be more flexible, but I gotta make the RV payment somehow!
bdpreece
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2017
I would pass on Whalers Rest it is mostly very tight. South Jetty is ok and at least in my opinion, on the Oregon coast you really don't need 50 amp as the need for air conditioning is almost non existent. The same can be said for Pacific City. Your biggest problem is arriving on Sunday July 2nd. By that time all the 4th of July holiday campers from both Portland and Eugene will already be there and you can be sure that the biggest and best sites will already be taken and the odds of finding a site big enough for your rig will be pretty slim. Almost everyone I know that is still working will take the Monday off and stretch this into a four day weekend.

If I was coming up from California I think I would be looking to stay further South say around Bandon at Bullards Beach state park until after the holiday. You would be far enough away from Portland and Eugene to avoid the large crowds and it is a great place to stay. Good luck
forte88
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
Iceman1777 wrote:
We stayed at South Jetty last summer with our Redwood, also at LaConner in Washington. Those two campgrounds were our first experience with Thousand Trails and our brand new (to us) Redwood. Here's what I learned:

1) I will NEVER AGAIN pull in to a TT campground without walking the site first.
2) I will always ask at check-in where I should avoid with the length of my rig.

I was so angry at myself (and TT) for turning me loose in an unfamiliar campground, not knowing their system of "pick the site you want", and I have the tree branch scrapes to remind me. Please don't do that to your Solitude.
South Jetty is tight but they do have spots that can accommodate big rigs.

Been there done that! Almost got stuck at Russian River with no turn around near Napa. That's why I'm here asking. There are 4 coastal parks to choose from TT in Oregon. I want to spend the most time at the nicest one. I'm a little worried with it being over the 4th of July Holiday too. When things get really tight and difficult in small campgrounds with our big rig, the wife and I really should have divorce attorneys on retainer. I'd like to avoid that.
Iceman1777
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
We stayed at South Jetty last summer with our Redwood, also at LaConner in Washington. Those two campgrounds were our first experience with Thousand Trails and our brand new (to us) Redwood. Here's what I learned:

1) I will NEVER AGAIN pull in to a TT campground without walking the site first.
2) I will always ask at check-in where I should avoid with the length of my rig.

I was so angry at myself (and TT) for turning me loose in an unfamiliar campground, not knowing their system of "pick the site you want", and I have the tree branch scrapes to remind me. Please don't do that to your Solitude.

South Jetty is tight but they do have spots that can accommodate big rigs.

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