About 45 minutes outside of Portland, Oregon, L.L. Stub Stewart State Park is tucked away just off Highway 26. It is a fairly small state park that is a great place for camping, hiking, and mountain biking. It holds a special place in our hearts as the first campground where we ever camped in an RV. That was when we rented from Outdoorsy to see if we would enjoy it. It’s also where we went for our shakedown trip when we bought Shortstack.
The Campground
The campground is split into 2 loops, Dairy Creek Camp East and Dairy Creek Camp West. They are opposites, in a way. The East camp is very open while the West camp has more tree cover. Combined there are 78 RV sites, all with full hookups, including 3 pull-through sites. If you have friends or family wanting to join without an RV, there are walk-in tent sites in the West loop. There are also separate loops with 15 cabins and 21 hike-in tent sites.
Both the East and West loops have their own camp hosts and restroom facilities including showers. The sites vary, but if you’re looking for a shady site you’ll want one on the interior of the West loop. The exterior sites on that loop still back up to vegetation, but are a little more open. If you need to set up Starlink or a satellite TV dish, the East loop is your best bet. There is very little shade in that loop, especially on the interior sites.
Details
Address: 30380 NW Highway 47, Buxton, OR 97109
Seasons/Dates: Open year-round
Cost: $41-$51 (less for tent sites) depending on state of residence. Non-Oregon residents are charged 25% extra for RV sites.
Reservation Site: ReserveAmerica.com
- Back-in
- Pull-through
- Electric 50 Amp
- Water
- Sewer
- Amphitheater
- Cabins
- EV Charging Station
- Firewood ($)
- Ice ($)
- Pets Allowed
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Biking
- Day Use Area
- Disc Golf
- Hiking
- Horse Trails
- Mountain Biking
- Playground
Things To Do
Inside the park there are several options for anyone who likes to be active. There are 2 disc golf courses, one for beginners and another for more advanced players. One thing you notice as soon as you enter the park is the extensive trail system because it crosses the roads in several places. There are nearly 30 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, equestrians, and mountain biking.
Nearby
There is plenty to do outside of the park as well. The city of Portland, Oregon is just 45 minutes to the east. Some of the most popular spots to visit there include the Oregon Zoo, Portland Japanese Garden, and Multnomah Falls (permit required at certain times).
Giant Troll
One of the most unique things in Portland is a troll from the Northwest Trolls art project. If you aren’t familiar, this art project features hand-built troll sculptures by Danish environmental artist Thomas Dambo. The Portland troll, named Ole Bolle, is a giant sculpture that is lifting the roof of a house to peer in. It’s a very cool thing to see in person and it’s totally free to visit including parking.
Wine
Southeast of Portland in the Willamette valley you’ll find more vineyards than you’ll have time to visit no matter how long you’re staying. One of our favorites is Ardiri Winery & Vineyard and it’s just a 36 minute drive from L.L. Stub Stewart State Park. On a clear day it has a beautiful view of Mt. Hood and a nice lawn area to relax while you try their wine selection. Getting to a lot of the vineyards involves some narrow roads with tight turns and small parking lots. So plan on visiting with just your tow vehicle or do research first if you want to visit with a larger rig.
The Coast
Drive west away from Portland for just under an hour and you’ll reach the popular Oregon Coast. When you get to highway 101 you can head south for just a few minutes to reach Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park. Or go north on the 101 to explore Seaside and Astoria. We go into more detail about places to visit on the coast in our review of Fort Stevens State Park.
Supplies
If you need groceries, Home Depot, Costco, or similar stores you can find those without having to go all the way into Portland. The city of Hillsboro is just 24 minutes from the campground and has stores with just about anything you might need during your trip.
Tips
- Both loops sell firewood and ice. Check with that loop’s camp host for access.
- If you have kids (or adults, no judgement!) that love to explore wooded areas, the interior loops in Dairy Creek Camp West are perfect. There’s a wooded area between both sides of the loop with trails running through them.
- Sites in the Dairy Creek Camp East are best if you plan on using Starlink or satellite TV. The interior sites on that loop offer the least obstructions.
- If you are not an Oregon resident, the cost you see initially is NOT the price you will pay. When you add the site to your cart and get an official subtotal you’ll see an extra 25% added for being an out-of-state resident.
Our Rating
If you’re looking to explore near Portland without staying in a city environment, this is a really great spot. It’s only 45 minutes from town, but is one of the quietest and most secluded campgrounds we’ve been to. Whether you want to do some hiking, play disc golf on a mountain, or just relax in a peaceful campsite, L.L. Stub Stewart State Park has got you covered.
If you live nearby and are getting your first RV, we also highly recommend camping here for your shakedown trip like we did. Towing through part of Portland can be a little nerve-wracking, but most of the trip is a fairly easy tow for newbies and if you need something you’re not far from places like Beaverton and Hillsboro.
The main negative for this campground would be a lack of options for watersports. There is no lake in this park so don’t plan on swimming or kayaking. Overall we love this campground and would recommend to anyone looking for a nice, quiet campground, or for anyone who wants a good base when exploring Portland.
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