Oriental Campground
The managing agency’s description mentions a closure. Read it below and confirm before you drive out.
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Oriental Campground
This fairly secluded campground is near the end of Forest Road 5506 along the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River . It features 8 campsites and 2 accessible toilets. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home. Large vehicles, trailers, and low clearance vehicles are not recommended due to poor access road and limited turnaround capability. This campground offers fishing, swimming, non-motorized boating, hiking, OHV riding, horseback riding, sight-seeing, and photography. Water levels are low in mid to late summer, which can impede use of boats. The campground also provides good access for big game hunting. Near Oriental Creek is the start of the River Trail #3043 , an OHV trail accessing the southern end of 100 miles of trail. Three miles down the closed portion of Road 5506 is entry to the North Fork John Day Wilderness with access to the North Fork John Day River Trail #3022 , Big Creek Trail #3151 and Corral Creek Trail #3009 . March 23, 2021 : Inaccessible by vehicle at this time do to snow. Skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers that can may utilize the area.
Before you go
Season
late May – November
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Single site: $8/night (extra $5 fee per vehicle exceeding the two-vehicle-per-site allowance.) • Group site: Site 8 is $25/night (no extra vehicle charge).
Hours
The campground is closed only by snow. However, it is only maintained seasonally from Memorial Day until mid-November. Since this is at a low elevation, it is one of the earliest (and latest) areas clear of snow.
Restrictions
Wilderness restrictions apply within North Fork John Day Wilderness.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.