Anu,
May is a great time to visit the Oregon State Beach campgrounds. Kids are in school. Just a lot of empty nesters on a cruise.
May is not a good time to visit higher elevation mountain campgrounds in Oregon.
We spent the first week of June plying the OR. state campgrounds and could easily find coastal camp spots without reservation if you arrive early enough. That all depends. Do spend the time on their reservation system to see how many sites are available, but I still don't think you will need reservations. It may be cool (not cold), windy and rainy occasionally in May, but there will not be a crush of folks trying to get YOUR camp spot.
Jeanie and I just finished going through the system for reservations for July 5 thru 11 along the OR coast State Campgrounds, and there are to date very few sites left from which to choose. It's the only time our kids and G-kids can do a family trip, so I guess we swim upstream with the masses. We reserved two adjoining sites for our XTC and the kids' rental class C.
The only exception is campgrounds that are just away from the coast, in the foothills of the coastal mountains, preferably BLM types up a dirt road so you can try out all those features you ordered in quietude. There should be very little pressure on these sites, and you may even have the place to yourselves.
I'm feeling your excitement, and concur with your idea to stay close to the factory whilst trying every feature to the max; just in case, you know, just in case something goes south prematurely, doesn't work, or leaks.
One thing is for sure.
For you and yours, in a short window of your lives, every day will be brand new.
regards, as always, jefe
