Camping near Gates, Oregon

Camping near Gates, Oregon includes 5 public campgrounds on record, 4 reservable and 1 first-come. The Bureau of Land Management runs the most, 2 of 5. The nearest, Santiam Horse Camp, is 2 miles from Gates in a straight line, and all 5 are within 15 miles. 1 stays open all year. Another 51 public campgrounds filed under nearby towns are within 30 miles of Gates.

Santiam Horse Camp Rock Creek Campsites

Shady Cove

Yellowbottom Recreation Site

Old Miner's Meadow Group Use Area

Camping near Gates at a glance

Public campgrounds: 5 (2 BLM, 2 State Forest, 1 National Forest)
Getting a site: 4 reservable and 1 first-come
Cost: Lowest posted fee at Shady Cove: "Single Site: $12 per night"
Distance from Gates: 2 miles (Santiam Horse Camp) to 12 miles (Old Miner's Meadow Group Use Area) in a straight line; 5 within 15 miles
Elevation: 1,276 ft (Rock Creek Campsites) to 1,673 ft (Santiam Horse Camp), 5 of 5 on record
Season: 1 open all year, 2 seasonal with posted dates
Campsites: 26 across the 4 campgrounds that state a count
RVs: 2 take RVs; no hookups on record; longest stated RV length 70 ft (Yellowbottom Recreation Site)
Drinking water: 1 of 5

Distances are straight-line miles from Gates's point in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer (2025), not driving distances. Every other fact comes from each campground's own sourced record, linked from its page.

Agency

Reservable Santiam Horse Camp Gates · State Forest · 2 mi

Agency: State Forest
Sites: Not on record
Season: late May to October
Fee: $20 horse site, $15 tent site; $5 per extra vehicle

First-come Rock Creek Campsites Gates · State Forest · 2.6 mi

Agency: State Forest
Sites: 3
Season: late May to mid-September
Fee: $20 vehicle sites, $5 extra vehicle

Reservable Shady Cove Gates · National Forest · 8.5 mi

Agency: National Forest
Sites: 1
Season: Year-round
Fee: Single Site: $12 per night

Reservable Yellowbottom Recreation Site Gates · BLM · 11.8 mi

Agency: BLM
Sites: 21
Season: Not on record
Fee: Not on record

Reservable Old Miner's Meadow Group Use Area Gates · BLM · 12.2 mi

Agency: BLM
Sites: 1
Season: Not on record
Fee: $100 per night up to 50 people; $2 per additional person per night

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More campgrounds within 30 miles of Gates

Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site, 3.4 miles from Gates in a straight line , BLM , reservable ; listed under camping near Lyons.
Fishermens Bend, 4.4 miles from Gates in a straight line , BLM , reservable ; listed under camping near Mill City.
North Santiam County Park Campground, 7.2 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($25/night plus $7 reservation fee; includes parking for one vehicle); listed under camping near Lyons.
John Neal Memorial County Park Campground, 9 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($28/night (seniors $23); group camping $300/night, 2-night minimum; $12 reservation fee (2024 guide)); listed under camping near Lyons.
Shellburg Falls Campground, 10 miles from Gates in a straight line , State Forest , first-come ($20 vehicle sites, $15 walk-in tent sites, $5 extra vehicle); listed under camping near Mehama.
Detroit Lake State Recreation Area, 12 miles from Gates in a straight line , State Park , reservable (Residents: full hookup $31-$60, electric $29-$55, tent $20-$33 a night (2026 statewide ranges)); listed under camping near Detroit.
Butte Creek Falls Campground, 12 miles from Gates in a straight line , State Forest , first-come ($20 vehicle sites, $5 extra vehicle); listed under camping near Scotts Mills.
Southshore, 13 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $28 per night; Multiple Campsites: $56 per night; additional vehicle $9 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Piety Island, 13 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $12 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Cove Creek, 13 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $28 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Silver Falls State Park, 14 miles from Gates in a straight line , State Park , reservable (Residents: electric $29-$55, tent $20-$33, horse $20-$45 a night (2026 statewide ranges)); listed under camping near Mehama.
Hoover, 15 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $28 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Hoover Group Campground, 15 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable ($260 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Elk Lake, 15 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , first-come (Single Site: $12 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Santiam Flats, 15 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $21 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Aquila Vista Recreation Site, 16 miles from Gates in a straight line , BLM , reservable ; listed under camping near Scotts Mills.
Rocky Top Bridge Group Camp, 17 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($250/night plus $50 non-refundable reservation fee (2024 guide)); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
Humbug, 17 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $21 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Bagby Campground, 18 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , first-come (Single Site: $27 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Fox Creek Group Campground, 18 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Overnight Use:); listed under camping near Detroit.
Whitcomb Creek County Park Campground, 19 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($25/night (seniors $21); boat-in sites $15/night; $12 reservation fee (2024 guide)); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
Cedar Grove Campground, 19 miles from Gates in a straight line , BLM , reservable ; listed under camping near Scotts Mills.
Three Bears Campground, 20 miles from Gates in a straight line , BLM , reservable ; listed under camping near Molalla.
Cleator Bend, 21 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Group Site: $200 per night (up to 45 people)); listed under camping near Idanha.
Whispering Falls, 21 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $21 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Breitenbush, 21 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $21 per night); listed under camping near Detroit.
Kingfisher, 22 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (free); listed under camping near Estacada.
Little Fan Creek, 24 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , first-come (free); listed under camping near Detroit.
Round Lake, 24 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , first-come (free); listed under camping near Idanha.
Riverside, 25 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $25 per night; additional vehicle $9; day use $9); listed under camping near Detroit.
Sunnyside County Park Campground, 25 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($35/night with hookups, $28 without (seniors $30/$23); group camp A or B $325 (11 sites); $12 res. fee (2024 guide)); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
Cascadia County Park Campground, 25 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($28/night (seniors $23); group tent camp A or B $100/night (25 people max); $7 extra vehicle (2024 guide)); listed under camping near Cascadia.
Longbow Organizational Camp Group Campground, 25 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Overnight Use:); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
Trout Creek Campground, 25 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $25 per night; Double Site: $50 per night; additional vehicle $8 per night); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
Yukwah, 25 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $25 per night); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
Fernview Group Campground, 25 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Group Site: $200 per night); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
River Bend County Park Campground, 25 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($35/night power and water, $28 without (seniors $30/$23); 6-site group area $250; $12 reservation fee (2024 guide)); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
Raab, 25 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Overnight Use:); listed under camping near Estacada.
Marion Forks, 26 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , first-come (Single Site: $21 per night; double site $40; additional vehicle $7); listed under camping near Detroit.
Riverford, 26 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , first-come (Single Site: $19 per night); listed under camping near Estacada.
House Rock Campground, 27 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $25 per night); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
Riverside, 27 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $19 per night); listed under camping near Estacada.
Edgewater County Park and Marina, 27 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($41/night 30 amp, $46/night 50 amp (peak season May 1 to Sept. 30, 2024 guide)); listed under camping near Sweet Home.
Waterloo County Park Campground, 27 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($35/night power and water, $28 without (seniors $30/$23); $12 reservation fee; $7 extra vehicle (2024 guide)); listed under camping near Lebanon.
Feyrer Park Campground, 27 miles from Gates in a straight line , County , reservable ($42/night water/electric (Oregon resident), $52 non-Oregon resident; $12.25 reservation fee per site); listed under camping near Molalla.
Sevenmile, 28 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $16 per night; day use $7 per vehicle); listed under camping near Cascadia.
Big Pool, 28 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Overnight Use:); listed under camping near Lowell.
Rainbow, 29 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $19 per night); listed under camping near Estacada.
Ripplebrook, 29 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $19 per night); listed under camping near Estacada.
Indian Henry, 30 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Single Site: $22 per night); listed under camping near Estacada.
Lost Prairie Group Campground, 30 miles from Gates in a straight line , National Forest , reservable (Overnight Use:); listed under camping near Sweet Home.

Things to do near Gates

Public land and water within 30 miles of Gates, the public land its campgrounds sit in, and landmarks at those campgrounds, nearest first.

Monument Peak trail system, at Santiam Horse Camp (2 miles from Gates): Starting point of the Monument Peak non-motorized trail system, 12 miles of trails for horseback riders, bikers and hikers through a partly burned forest.
Willamette National Forest, Shady Cove (8.5 miles from Gates) sits inside this national forest; publiclandsdb.com has its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary.
North Santiam State Recreation Area, a state park whose mapped point is 8.7 miles from Gates; its hours, entrance fee, and boundary on publiclandsdb.com.
Opal Creek / Little North Santiam, a swimming hole whose mapped point is 10 miles from Gates; swimming details on swimholesmap.com.
Detroit Lake State Recreation Area, a state park whose mapped point is 12 miles from Gates; its hours, entrance fee, and boundary on publiclandsdb.com.
Opal Creek Wilderness, a wilderness area whose mapped point is 12 miles from Gates; its permit and camping rules and boundary on publiclandsdb.com.
Silver Falls State Park, a state park whose mapped point is 12 miles from Gates; its hours, entrance fee, and boundary on publiclandsdb.com.
Quartzville Creek Wild and Scenic River, at Old Miner's Meadow Group Use Area (12 miles from Gates): The fenced two-acre meadow sits on Quartzville Creek, a National Wild and Scenic River popular for gold panning and kayaking, upstream of Green Peter Reservoir.
Butte Creek Falls, a swimming hole whose mapped point is 12 miles from Gates; swimming details on swimholesmap.com.
Table Rock Wilderness, a wilderness area whose mapped point is 15 miles from Gates; its permit and camping rules and boundary on publiclandsdb.com.

Supplies and emergencies near Gates

Nearest emergency room: Santiam Hospital & Clinics, 1401 N 10th Ave, Stayton, OR, 18 miles from Gates , (503) 769-2175. Next nearest: Legacy Silverton Medical Center, 342 Fairview St, Silverton, OR, 25 miles, (503) 873-1500. Both report emergency services in the CMS Hospital General Information dataset (accessed 2026-09-26) . In an emergency, call 911.

Groceries: Sierra Market convenience store · 0.1 miles
Gates Market convenience store · 0.2 miles
Select Market supermarket · 2.9 miles
Fuel: Mobil fuel station · 3.1 miles
Pratum Co-op Energy fuel station · 10 miles
Chevron fuel station · 19 miles
Pharmacy: Pill Box pharmacy · 25 miles

Not mapped in OpenStreetMap within 25 miles of Gates: propane, RV dump station, potable water fill, laundromat, and ice. Stores, fuel, propane, dump stations, water fill, laundromats, and pharmacies are the nearest few mapped within 25 miles, straight-line, © OpenStreetMap contributors (data as of 2026-09-29; this extract under the ODbL). Hours are as mapped; call ahead.

Common questions

Where can I camp around Gates, OR?

5 public campgrounds are on record near Gates. Nearest first, straight-line from town: Santiam Horse Camp (2 miles), Rock Creek Campsites (2.6 miles), Shady Cove (8.5 miles), Yellowbottom Recreation Site (12 miles), and 1 more. 3 book through Recreation.gov, 1 is first-come, first-served with no reservations, and 1 books through ReserveAmerica.

Where can I camp with an RV near Gates, OR?

2 campgrounds near Gates take RVs: Santiam Horse Camp and Yellowbottom Recreation Site. None has hookups on record.

Where can I go tent camping near Gates, OR?

Santiam Horse Camp lists tent or walk-in sites on record.

Where can I camp near Gates with drinking water?

Santiam Horse Camp has potable water on record.

Are there year-round campgrounds near Gates, OR?

Yes: Shady Cove is open all year, per the managing agency. The rest are seasonal or have no season on record.

When is camping season near Gates, OR?

Of the 2 seasonal campgrounds with posted dates, most open in May (2 of 2) and close in September (1 of 2). Shady Cove stays open all year. Each campground's own dates are in the table.

Where is the nearest emergency room to Gates, OR?

Santiam Hospital & Clinics, 1401 N 10th Ave, Stayton, OR, is 18 miles from Gates in a straight line and reports emergency services to CMS; phone (503) 769-2175. In an emergency, call 911.

Every campground in the state: camping in Oregon ; by agency: BLM campgrounds in Oregon , National Forest campgrounds in Oregon and State Forest campgrounds in Oregon ; by county: campgrounds in Linn and campgrounds in Marion .