Devil's Lake State Recreation Area — Attraction in Lincoln City

Came here to camp for 2 days over Father's Day weekend - Sunday thru Tuesday actually. Not a pleasant experience. Where the staff was great, nice, and helpful, there were what sounded like m40 fireworks or shotgun blasts(?)someone did 6 in a row starting at 11pm, then the homeless on bicycles w/trailers full of stuff riding around all night between about 2-4am shining small flashlights looking in people's campsites for stuff to steal. On a walk to the main road thru town at dusk, there was a homeless bum hiding in the darkness between 2 tree trunks and the edge of the fence for the "community center"(?), who shouted some choice f- words at me while I walked past in silence. Where are Lincoln City Police? Someone innocent is going to get hurt, these homeless were acting crazy.

At the wood shack there was a couple living out of their dilapidated van full of garbage, that had tied tarps to the wood shack vertically to their car to make some sort of make shift bum walls/quarters (guess they didn't agree with Bidens no walls policy) with elastic stretch tie downs (thought appropriate tents/rv trailers were the required standard, guess anything is acceptable here - though in the 10 years I've been coming here to camp I've NEVER seen anything like this before).

The raccoons came out about 2 am-to the highest sites in the park-near the entrance, to route around for food and hiss at anyone trying to escape their tent to use the restroom. They used to stick by the water/dock area known as "racoon alley" but now venture to the highest sites seeking food.

Idk what changed other than the covid bs over the past year.. I can deal with the wildlife, it's their home, but I'll be looking to stay someplace else from now on - until they can get the homeless under control.

There were 2-3 couples with young infant newborn babies, nothing wrong there, but the homeless, raccoons, and idiots setting off explosive m40 fireworks om the street was not respectful to those parents and infants, who woke up and cried multiple times(the babies, tho if I were that dad I'd cry too for the lost sleep!).

I'm certainly not upset at the infants, but who is teaching these homeless vagrants to behave like this?....oh yeah, thanks Kate Brown and Ted Wheeler for trashing Portland like California- next time wipe the Brown off the bottom of your shoe, and Wheeler on past Oregon- we real Oregonian naitives, don't like your bs invites to the homeless for free everything here at our expense. You wanna help Oregonians, hmmm?....then help the productive members of society, and stop rewarding the lazy, failed, homeless junkies instead of the honest family folks. Devils lake should be called "homeless hill park complete with racoon petting zoo and with attached lake-style...

We really enjoy going to the park. We have been coming here for years,and we have only ran into minor problems, like camping next to a domestic violence situation where the cops came, and homeless looking situations, and a few years ago there was some real mean workers that would make you move your car if the tire was touching the grass even then tiniest bit! but whatever that was 3 times out of like 10 times of going here. Its always nice and clean and the camp hosts were extra great this time! They even had rocks for the guest the rocks were all found at the lake and their friend tumbled the rocks! They were all so cool! we were in B26, b26 is a terrible camp ground sport. Especially for older folks. My kids and I go camping with my parents that are 74. Backing in the trailer wasn't hard but the spot for the trailer was on a slope. It was impossible to level the trailer so we camped on a slope all 3 nights which sucked. Feeling like you where going to fall over constantly. Also the tent spot in that same b26 was for a baby size tent. So I took my tent to my sister's camp ground spot which was B13 and we had 2 monster sized tents with lots of space around the picnic table and fire pit and nice space for the kids to play around in the trees. Both spots were close to the bathrooms, which were always clean! We are going to give it one more chance for the trailer camping next year. Maybe we will moved to yurts! Side note.. for people with kids.. cool park on 14th street. And a VERY COOL community center with sweet swimming pool , basketball court, corn hole, pickleball, Rockwall and more. Under 10...

I had been giving this place a pass for years, since camping right in the middle of town never seemed very appealing. However, I had some last minute vacation plans change and figured I'd give it a go so I booked a couple of nights here with my sons. I AM SO GLAD I DID!

The grounds are very well maintained, the park staff is friendly, and the location is as private as you can get for being within city limits We figured it would be noisy being so close to 101, but it was very tranquil! Being within walking distance of both the lake and the ocean were big plusses. The facilities (showers, bathrooms, campsites) were spotless, and there was easy access to potable water, firewood, garbage collection, etc. One thing that stood out was there was almost NO bugs! Figured being so close to the lake, mosquitoes would be a problem, but nope! Didn't even have to break out bug spray or citronella candles this trip, which was unusual (very welcome!)

Lastly, our visit coincided with a tsunami warning triggered by a large earthquake of the coast of Russia, so the entire coast was on alert. Rangers came by a couple of times to update us on the current status, which I appreciated greatly, even though we were monitoring the advisories ourselves. Again, kudos to the staff there for being on point with campers and guests!

I would highly recommend everyone give this place a look and don't let the location dissuade you from booking...