Driftwood

Its 6 sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), camping costs Single Site: $8 per night, and it is open from Memorial Day to Mid-November. Driftwood is a National Forest campground near Dale, Oregon.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Dale, Oregon

Managed by: National Forest

Driftwood sits inside Umatilla National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

North Fork John Day River rafting put-in: On the banks of the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River with a rafting put-in, swimming and fishing; low water in mid to late summer.

Getting a site

Managed by: National Forest
Reservations: None, first-come
Fee: Single Site: $8 per night

Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-28

Sites and hookups

Total sites: 6

✓ Toilets
✕ Potable water

On site: Toilets. No potable water.

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Access and cell service

Elevation: 2,987 ft

45.0182, -118.8591 in Umatilla. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

Driftwood is open from Memorial Day to Mid-November , at 2,987 ft.

Sources: epqs.nationalmap.gov, accessed 2026-09-29; fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Driftwood?

No. Driftwood is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.

How much does it cost to camp at Driftwood?

Camping at Driftwood costs Single Site: $8 per night.

How many campsites does Driftwood have?

Driftwood has 6 campsites.

Is there drinking water at Driftwood?

No. Driftwood has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.

When is Driftwood open?

Driftwood is open from Memorial Day to Mid-November.

Is there cell service at Driftwood?

Probably not: the FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows no 4G LTE or 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon at or within about half a mile of Driftwood. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it.

Who manages Driftwood?

Driftwood is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Driftwood

First-come Gold Dredge Dale · National Forest First-come Drift Fence Ukiah · National Forest

First-come Tollbridge Ukiah · National Forest First-come Oriental Campground Dale · National Forest

More campgrounds: camping near Dale and campgrounds in Umatilla.

Sources

apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-28
epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-09-29
broadbandmap.fcc.gov (cellCoverage), accessed 2026-09-27
fs.usda.gov (sites, water, season, notableFeature), accessed 2026-09-29

First-come, first-served Single Site: $8 per night

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