As the 33rd state to have joined the union on Valentine's Day in 1859, Oregon is located in the beautiful American Pacific Northwest and its capital is Salem. Long a favored vacation destination for RV travelers, Oregon is economically active in the agriculture, tourism, scientific instrument and forestry industries. These jobs, as well as pleasure vacations, bring RV travelers to the state to visit bustling metro areas such as Portland or Eugene, Mt Hood's active volcano, 1,410 miles of lake, river and ocean shoreline and the only rain forest climate environment within the continental United States of America.
Oregon is known for its temperate climate due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its rain forest ecoregion located to the western side of its Coast Mountains range. But regional differences are distinguishable and marked especially in the winter and summer extremes between the Western portion of the state and the arid Eastern portion. Mild temperatures with heavy precipitation are found in the Western coastal portion, while more pronounced temperature extremes but lesser precipitation are found farther East.
Oregon attracts many seasonal RV campers who come to stay for an entire season or seasons because of its endless geographical attractions. Hosting the Coast, Cascade and Klamath mountain ranges and well known destinations such as active volcano Mt Hood, Crater Lake, the Columbia River Plateau and the Willamette and Rogue River Valley regions, the state is a popular recreation area for climbers, hikers, bikers and campers alike. The Oregon Outback is a high desert level region located on an active fault line in the Eastern portion of the state offering fossil beds, Native American historical sites and wildlife such as mule deer and wild mustangs.
RV camping is available year round in Oregon, especially in the Western coastal regions of the state. Highest camping tourist volume still remains from late spring through late fall. River side camping is popular in many Oregon locations and RV travelers need to be aware that the highest probability of flash flooding from mountain snow melt run off and thunderstorm activity from warm moist Pacific air is during the late spring early summer. Therefore, caution and awareness is advised when choosing a campsite directly on the banks of a river or stream during that period.
In 2010 the daily RV campsite rate for any of the 113 state and national park campground offerings within Oregon's state boundaries range from $17 up to $29 double occupancy dependent upon the individual park and chosen site services. Privately owned campgrounds are abundant throughout all regions within the state with smaller more remote ones found more easily the farther East an RV traveler ventures. Daily double occupancy site rates range from $20 to $61 dependent upon individual park amenities and location. Many parks offer private shoreline boat launches, golf, stables, hiking/climbing excursions, clubhouse activities and swimming and fitness facilities as well as cable and Internet service for the extended stay.
