Beverly Beach State Park

So far we've only stayed at Beverly Beach State Park once, but we will be returning for Memorial Day weekend this year. We managed to get one of the few sites left on Labor Day weekend in 2009 and looking back, it must have been a miracle we got a spot at all because the Beach State Parks on holiday weekends are impossible to get without a reservation.

We only stayed for one night because we were working our way down and back up the Oregon coast in search for our wedding location. We stopped at Beverly Beach and there was a spot so we took it. I remember it was a beautiful evening, we walked on the beach and the wind was blowing low so the sand looked like a mirage hovering over the ground and moving. We had dinner and afterwards put all of our camping stuff in the car and put a tarp over our tent because it looked like it could rain. About 10 minutes after we got in the tent it started DUMPING heavy rain and it thundered and lightening all night. It was awesome. The next morning it completely stopped raining about 15 minutes after we got up, just perfect for us to pack up the car and head out. It had rained so much through the night that there was a little stream between us and the walkway to the bathroom.

I liked the campground and I am pretty sure we made note of good sites, if I can find them I'll post later, but I will be sure to have plenty of information to post after Labor Day.

A key element to this campsite is its location. It's almost dead center between Depoe Bay and Newport. So if you're doing the tourist thing and visiting the aquarium or the Rogue Brewery in Newport this is a good base camp. There are also several great view points to do some whale watching and Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is about 4 miles south. Yaquina Head is a federal area, so your state park camping pass will not work as a day use pass, but you can purchase a 3 day pass (that's the minimum) for $7. There is a light house, tide pools, and more, I haven't been yet, but it looks B-E-A-U-TIFUL! Devil's Punch Bowl is about 2 miles North of Beverly Beach and I have yet to see it full but imagine it is a spectacular site and keeping going back with "high" hopes.

In my very brief experience at Beverly Beach State Park, I'd have to say what I liked most about this campground is that it's a big campground that feels small and your tent is nestled in the trees set back away from the ocean winds, but just a hop, skip, and walk under a bridge away and you're on the sand.