South Beach State Park
South Beach State Park things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Busy place in the summer but overall it’s a great family spot. We camped in A loop and since there is only one way in and out there was a lot of foot and car traffic. The spaces are spacious for the most part. They have disc golf and many other activities as well as rentals to enjoy them if you forgot to bring a disc or even horse shoes. Bathrooms are clean and plenty of fields for kids to run and trees for them to climb. In the A loop there is a path to the beach that’s very easy to access. There is also a bike path and it’s all very clean and easy to access. The beach is compact for the most part and there were several people riding it with their bikes. The beach is a long walk ending in a jetty to the bay if you want to watch boats go through now and then. The only reason it’s not 5 stars is simply because the beach is a tad boring (in the fact that there isn’t anything but sand) but for most people that’s perfect but for us we like rocks and ride pools to explore. But if you have kids it’s absolutely perfect, they could run for miles. The other reason for only 4 stars is because it’s crowded with people and screaming kids having a good time. If you aren’t drinking or have a ton of screaming kids yourself it can be a bit much. Not as relaxing as some of the smaller camp grounds near by. They cater to families and fun and we are old farts that want to explore and sleep and play cards and relax and all the screaming at 8 am sometimes can be a bit much. Tip: the back of the park can be a little less traffic and up against the outside of the loops they are more private. The app for state parks shows you pictures of the spaces and that helps a lot.
cindy harrisoncindy harrison
40
We stayed at the night here recently and loved it! The campsites were clean and well maintained. The bathrooms very clean and lightly heated which was nice as it was very cold out while we were there so not having to use a cold bathroom in the middle of the night was wonderful. It has many nice walking trails to the beach right from the camp sites. The visitor area was also maintained regularly as well as the visitor bathroom. This was one of the most well maintained parks I have been to. A quick walk over the dunes at low tide and we were able to secure ourselves a few razor clams each off the sand bar. The clamming here is not the best, we suggest going a little farther North for a slightly better chance of obtaining razors. Firewood can be purchased at visitors center along with a few other items until 8pm. If you find you need something late at night the near by South Beach Fish Market has a convenience store attached that is open 24/7, the fish market closes around 8 I believe. The Park is located very close to the bay which is nice if you are there to harvest seafood. The only things that were a down fall would be that the sites could use a little more shrubbery to make one feel more separate from their neighbors at some of the sites. We also had a neighbor that smoked which was not appriciated by us and a few other neighbors. I don't know if smoking is allowed at the sites but if it is it should not be and designated smoking areas should be set up. If it isn't allowed that is one thing they could uphold better. We were there to enjoy the fresh air not stale cigarette smoke. Over all wonderful stay and we will be back soon.
Dee BergyDee Bergy
10
We are tent camping for 9 days. So far we are very unimpressed with the tent camping sites. Most of the campground is for RV camping with nice paved roads, paved pads, well groomed trees and grass, nice bathrooms with a family bathroom in each loop, nice paved paths to the bathrooms....and then you have the tent camping area. Gravel roads, overgrown tent sites with lots of tall grass (which the mosquitos love), overgrown gravel paths to the bathrooms, and apparently a homeless problem. My husband and I spoke to 2 rangers and a park host about an area directly behind our tent site that had used toilet paper all over in it. We were told that homeless people and hikers come off the highway and camp in the bushes behind the tent sites. Apparently a particular person regularly camps in the bushes directly behind our tent site. The area was referred to as site I-20 and a 1/2. We were warned not to let our small children go into the bushes at all and they as of yet have not sent anyone to clean up all the disgusting toilet paper. We may leave early simply due to the disgusting unsanitary area behind our site and the very real safety concerns with our toddlers. If I had known just how different the tent camping area was from the rest of the campground we would have gotten an RV site. It is truly unbelievable, its like 2 different campgrounds. Lots and Lots of stickers in the grass. The kids can't play in the grass at all without getting Covered in them. The swarms of mosquitos have been pretty horrid as well. Simply weed whacking the tall overgrown grass would help with the mosquito problem.
Amanda WestAmanda West
30
Stayed 1 night in H11 8/21. NO fires allowed. A couple things. This campground is HUGE and popular. Something like 200 tent and RV sites? On the cusp between Newport and the jetty, it's a nice stop-off if you're traveling 101. We came Saturday on a whim after a night at Tillicum to find a spot. As big as this campground is, during the summer it's usually full. Praise the Lord we got in on a cancellation (wing and a prayer)! It was super-nice in that respect, but a few pain points for those looking for a restful and relaxing stay. First, don't expect peace and quiet. Lots of kids playing, babies crying, dogs barking, and the fog horn on the jetty (you might not hear it...we could) sounds every 5 seconds, 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. Those may not bug you, but the sea lions in the harbor at Newport make a racket constantly all hours of the night and morning. If none of those bother you, then maybe the proximity of your neighbors will since the sites are so close together. There's little tree cover so not much shade, and privacy? Non-existent unless you hide away in your RV. However, the camp is meticulously maintained (owned by OR Parks and Rec), showers and bathrooms were clean and stocked. RV dump site and recycling on site. There's lots to do here. Newport is almost walking distance. Beach access? You can walk about 3/4 mile over a mostly paved path then 1/5 mile over somewhat-steep sandy dunes, or choose 1/4 mile walk of the same variety, or use the day-use area which is lots easier for access. Overall, it's hard for me to give it more than 3 stars, but we still had fun.
Nick BrunsNick Bruns
150
So I came here for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I was pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness of the park and the easy access to the beach. There were only a couple of things that I would suggest improving. 1. The fire pits need cleaning. There was a foot of compacted ash in the fire rings. With a fixed grate on top it made it had to get a good fire going. 2. There was no hot water for the showers. However a sign said parts were ordered. 3. There is no grey or black water disposal. You have to drive 20 min away for that making it a hassle. 4. Firewood is $7 a bundle. Just up the road a few min you can get 3 bundles for $12. They do allow dogs on a leash but some people brought a ridiculous amount. There were also some aggressive dogs I wish had not been there. The nights were quiet (we had one neighbor make a huge racket one night at 2am that woke everyone up) and the skies were clear and bright. We saw shooting stars, some passing satellites and the rings on Jupiter with some magnification. Saw lots of constellations and some beautiful sunsets.
Mr. FixitMr. Fixit
00
Easy to find, right off Hwy 101. The park is on level ground and is far enough from the road that you cannot hear traffic. Campsites are level and easy to back into. Big, wide, flat, level, paved trails to overlook for visitors who have difficulties with sand. You can sit and watch the ocean on a wood platform that is all-accessible. Trails also go to south jetty and provide information about how the jetty changed the shoreline. Lots of trees provide shady campsite with bushes between sites for some privacy. Unique amphitheater made from shells. Playground and welcome center in the campground with bike rentals and interpretive programs daily. Lots of park hosts keep the park clean and well maintained. Gate house staffed, clean washrooms with flush toilets and hot, free showers. Great vacation park. Great ocean beaches.
Michelle NicholsonMichelle Nicholson
20
Nearby Attractions Of South Beach State Park
South Jetty (South Beach State Park)
Day Use Area
South Jetty (South Beach State Park)
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Day Use Area
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
5580 SW Coast Hwy, Newport, OR 97366
Map
Phone
(800) 551-6949
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Website
oregonstateparks.org
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Reviews
Overview
4.6
(1.4K reviews)
Ratings & Description
outdoor
adventure
family friendly
pet friendly
Description
South Beach State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. It is near the unincorporated community of South Beach.
attractions: South Jetty (South Beach State Park), Day Use Area, restaurants:
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