Camping in a Yurt
Tips, Information, Gear, Plans, Comfort
Coastal Camping in the Northwest USA
Oregon, Washington, California, B.C.
By Mike Garofalo
For camping at Coastal Northwest State Parks
during the Year, I think a Yurt is just dandy
for two people.
First, you are in a State Park in Oregon or Washington campground in a forest of shore pines or old growth, adjacent to sand dunes, and can easily walk to the beach. State Parks are usually in quite beautiful locations, and most have sandy walking trails and paved park roads for biking. There are many local sightseeing options and outdoor activities possible near these State Parks. Your yurt campsite is often stiuated in very beautiful surroundings, and in off-season times the campgronds are usally quite empty.
Second, I prefer a Yurt so as have a secure place to stay warm and dry, off the ground, out of the wind, and out of the rain. A canvas Yurt is a circular domed tent 16 feet in diameter and 10 feet high. It has a skylight ceiling vent, screened windows (closed or open), hardwood floors, heavy canvas and plastic covers, and an interior lattice work of wood for side strength, and a locking door. It has a 120 AC electrical outlet, one small light (60-100 watts), and a small wall electric heater. It has a padded bunk bed and a padded futon couch bed, and a small low table, and sometimes wood chairs and table.
Third, at $51-$90 to reserve a Yurt per day it is cheaper than a typical cottage, B&B, motel or hotel room cost ($130+) in Ocean Shores, Aberdeen, Westport, Long Beach, Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, or Tillamook. Yurt rates vary in Washington and Oregon depending upon weekend or weekday rates, off season or summer season rates, how many people can reserve and use a Yurt site, adding tents to a Yurt site, adding extra cars to a Yurt site, adding an RV or trailer or truck and boat to a Yurt site, adding pets to a Yurt site, etc. Some Yurts have specialized handicapped access options. Bringing a dog to a Yurt costs an extra $10 to $15. Also, by using the on-line reservations system you can plan your trip locations 6 months in advance. Typically, I spend $160 for three nights, Monday to Wednesday. Check in time is 4 pm, and Check out time is 11 am.
Fourth, all the Yurts I have used are clean, neat, and simple. Each Yurt site usually has a small to large raised covered deck outside the front door. The Yurt site includes a standard large picnic table and a fireplace pit, usually both on a large concrete pad. There is usually a nice paved gravel or asphalt driveway in front of the Yurt that can accommodate two vehicles. There is room for a tent at many, but not all, Yurt campsites. The canvas window covers can be rolled up or down for ventilation purposes.
Fifth, for camping all year, you must use a Yurt. Very few people camp in tents from October to March in these coastal State Parks, except on dry cool weekends. The majority of the very few campers in these Parks during the wettest cold off-season are staying in nice trailers of all sizes, RVs, truck campers, vans, or the Yurts. A Yurt enables you to easily cope with low temperatures, steady and gusty winds, and steady or intermittent rain showers. The spacious interior (for one or two persons) provides ample space for inside activities, crafts, table games, reading, and hobbies for the long winter nights.
Sixth, Yurt camping during the off-season is really nice because the campgrounds, trails, and beaches are often nearly empty and very quiet. If you prefer solitude then camp on the coast during the off-season. Seasonal tourist flow is relative to children's school schedules: so summer months, major holidays, and no school in session means the coastal campgrounds will be filled and all Yurts reserved many months in advance. In the summer months, my wife and I stay in hotels, resorts, motels, cabins, and VRBO homes. Also, during when clam digging is open, the sandy coastal areas can be quite busy; but the campgrounds have very low attendance during the cold wet months, and you don't see many families with children.
Seventh, many State Park coastal campgrounds in Oregon and Washington are near small tourist towns offering restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, gasoline, and other store supplies and services needed by campers. Conveniences, yet Nearness to Beauty!!
Eighth, here are many Activities you can Do while Camping on the Coast or even inland.
Other Important Yurt Campground Considerations:
Yurts have locked doors. Information on how to get into the Yurt varies. When you reserve a Yurt, 1) they might send you an email with a code you will use to key into the electronic lock on the door to open it up. Or, 2) you might check into the Ranger Station and they will give you a key to manually unlock your Yurt. Or, 3) you will use a code that they send to you by email to key into a lock box at the door that swivels forward open to reveal a key to manually unlock your yurt. The inconsistency is frustrating. When I am busy going inside and outside the Yurt while camping, I keep the bolt lock on the door open and extended so as to prevent it closing and possibly locking me out. It is always best to arrive at 3:40 p.m. for the 4:00 p.m. Check-In Time. Keep the manual key or key code safe and on your person. Warming: Pay Close Attention to this Locking Door aspect of using a Yurt.
You cannot cook inside a Yurt; you must cook at the outside picnic table. The picnic table is on a paved concrete pad. Some folks bring pop-up covers (10'x10') to place over the table or fireplace area if it is drizzly and damp. You can eat at the picnic table or on the covered porch. I eat many tasty and nutritious uncooked foods inside the Yurt; and sip hot coffee or tea inside the Yurt (bring a thermos).
Cooking and eating at your Yurt campsite can save you money and travel time. Or, again, many State Parks on the Northwest Coast are near small towns with restaurants, cafes, fast food takeout places, grocery stores with hot foods, espresso outlets, etc. You can eat out all the time and never cook anything if that is your preference. I often eat seafood dishes at local restaurants and cafes for lunch or dinner.
A Yurt does not have a toilet. You must use the public restrooms. There are public restrooms nearby. These restrooms are usually neat and clean, and offer hot showers for a fee. The restrooms are often cold in the winter. In a tent or yurt I have secure containers for safely storing my urine; so that I don't have to make any nighttime trips outside the yurt to pee. Some of us old people need to pee more often at night. Dispose of your black/yellow water in the morning in the public restroom. Use simple, clean, smell free, and dry alternatives. I never pee on the ground outside the Yurt. During the busy summer season, these beach campgrounds get sometimes cluttered and gnarly because of too many people; from October to May these public campgrounds are perfect and usually empty, except for daytime clamming dates.
A Yurt does not have water inside the Yurt. There are numerous public water spigots in the campground. I bring two gallons of fresh water in bottles. Many Yurt campsites have a water spigot right at the Yurt campsite below the RV hookup post.
You cannot smoke inside a Yurt. You can smoke (tobacco or cannabis) on the picnic table, by the fireplace, or on chairs 20-25 feet away from the Yurt. Always be very careful with smoking during the warmer and dryer summer season.
You may or may not be allowed to make a wood fire in the fireplace. There is often a ban on any kind of camp fires during the warmer and dry summer season. Keep your fireplace area neat and clean and organized. Local stores and sometimes the campground hosts have firewood to sell. On those cool dry winter days, a campfire can be quite pleasant. Always tend your campfire properly, safely, and reasonably. Extinguish with water when finished. Purchase wood from local sources near your campsite.
Leave your Yurt campsite, usually before 11 am, exactly as it looked when you arrived. Sweep the floor of the Yurt before you leave. Look under the beds and table for your belongings. It should be clean and neat. Remove all your trash bags. Clean up the fireplace and picnic table areas. Check three times to make sure you have removed ALL of your belongings and packed them in your vehicle. I use a Ford Escape Titanium 2018 for travel. Warm up your car. Do a final Yurt campsite inspection. Take some pride in your good Yurt campground skills! Drop the yurt keys in the drop box at the Ranger Station entrance.
Tips for Solo Yurt Campers
1. Bring More Lights and Using Electricity
Bring More Electric Lights! The lights in all the Yurts I have stayed at have one light inside and one outside on the porch. The Yurt's interior light is, for me, totally inadequate for reading, games, or crafts. You should bring a 120AC lamp and cords. I also bring two USB lanterns and flashlights.
I have lots of electronic gear: Samsung Cell Phone G32 5G, Kindle reader, HP laptop computer, Samsung tablet, chargers, lights, cords, Jackery powerbank, cameras, USB cords, etc.. Since the Yurt has one 120AC dual outlet, you can run a hot water pot on the porch and heat water for your thermos; or, any other simple undemanding AC appliance. I use a Jackery Power Station unit to run my lights, laptop, and charging on any portable table or wood table irrespective of location.
I bring a 20' extension cord, 6" cord, and multiple plug in box.. The wood table is often at the side of the Yurt opposite the electrical outlet. I have flashlights and USB lanterns.
With the Jackery Power Station, I can set up basic electrical anywhere for my needs. It has USB, 12V, and AC outlets (low wattage).
2. Bring Appropriate Clothing for Coastal Camping
From October to May:
Bring clothing that can be used to keep you warm, keep you dry, keep you protected from the wind, and keep you safe.
I bring a raincoat, rain pants, waterproof boots, rain hat, and umbrella. Bring enough clothing so that if and when you get wet, and you will, you will have more dry clothing to change into at the Yurt. Clothing dries slowly in the cold and damp beach weather.
You bring your own bedding, covers, blankets, play and recreational gear, food box, kitchen supplies, clothing, indoor activity gear, sports equipment, towels, shoes and supplies.
3. Bring Portable Tables
Yurts vary as to the size, shape, or even presence of a wood table, e.g., Grayland Beach Yurts have no tables. I have one small side table (2"X2"x20"), and two small portable desk like tables (2"x3"x27"). I take one side table and one desk table on each trip. If I'm with others, I bring two desk tables. These are handy to set up inside the Yurt, outside on the Yurt porch or campsite area, at the beach, or anywhere needed. I use the light Redcamp portable tables.
The wood table is often at the side of the Yurt at the opposite end of the room from the electrical outlet and wall electrical heater. When needed and possible, I just move the wood table closer to the heater and plug; and put it back where it was when I leave. Or, I set up my portable table and portable chair closer to the heater and outlet. With the Jackery Power Station, I can set up electrical anywhere on a portable table.
With 14 hours of darkness in the winter, you'd better have a table and chair in the Yurt to work and play on!
Yes, there is always a large wood picnic table just outside the Yurt. I prefer my softer portable chair to the hard picnic table seat, but both will work. However, when the weather is inclement and the outdoors is wet, I prefer to sit in my portable chair on the Yurt porch or inside the Yurt.
4. Bring Portable Chairs
Most Yurts have two wooden chairs at the table that you can sit at for work and play. Some Yurts will not have chairs or tables, e.g., Grayland. A few yurts will have four chairs and a larger table to sit at. Therefore, knowing this, I am prepared by bringing two sturdy portable chairs.
These are handy to set up inside the Yurt, outside on the Yurt porch or Yurt campsite area, at the beach, or anywhere needed. I am big man (250 lbs), therefore a good, sturdy, strong, and easy to set up outdoor chair is essential for my coastal camping trips. I use the Ever Advanced lightweight folding director chair. An extra cushion for the rump makes them quite nice.
You bring your own bedding, covers, blankets, play and recreational gear, cooking kitchen supplies, food, clothing, indoor activity gear, sports equipment, towels, shoes and supplies. I bring kites, fishing equipment, canned food, fruit, nuts, extra clothing, special Bogs muck boots, cane, etc.
5. Bring Food
I am a solo four season Yurt camper. I eat uncooked foods at the Yurt, and dine out at local restaurants. I rarely stay more than 3 nights and 4 days at a coast Yurt campsite.
For eating, I bring dried fruit and fresh fruit, V8 juice cans, conservas (canned seafood), nuts, cookies, candy, jerky, crackers, carrots, etc. I bring food items that I don't have to refrigerate to preserve, or cook to eat.
I do boil water in an electric pot. I save the hot water in a thermos. I enjoy coffees and teas. I've tried a few dried commercial foodstuffs reconstituted with boiling water, e.g., Top Ramen and others, and use them occasionally.
All my good hot meals are at local restaurants.
I seldom bring kitchen equipment to use to cook at the picnic table, and I don't enjoy cooking or cleanup. I don't bring an ice chest, cooking utensils, pots, stove, extra propane, cleaning supplies, more food, ... just thinking about it makes me chore-tired and gives me Ford Escape SUV space packing anxiety.
If you are into cooking, the outdoor Yurt campsite picnic table provides adequate space for such delightful activity. When I camp with my son, the current Executive Chef at the Feral Heathen Restaurant in Vancouver, he brings a big stove and plenty of cooking gear, and we use the picnic table a lot. We have some big feasts! We have also cleaned razor clams late into the night on a Yurt campsite picnic table lit up by my Jackery Power Station.
6. Bring Everything - In Your Vehicle
I drive a 2018 Ford Escape Titanium SUV. It's a medium sized Sport Utility Vehicle with All Wheel Drive.
You might drive a vehicle with plenty or room (e.g., a truck, a large SUV, a station wagon, a van); or, a vehicle with far less cargo room.
The point here is that Somehow you have to Fit ALL your travel gear safely in your vehicle. Then you have to safely unpack all your gear at the Yurt. Repack your vehicle at the Yurt and then unpack all your gear at your home base. Pack and Unpack - Twice!
Can you see out your back vehicle window when driving to your Yurt campsite? Are all items in your vehicle secured in place? Is your gear safe from rain while driving? Can anything spill or is a dangerous substance that you are carrying?
How can you most effectively and efficiently use the cargo space in your vehicle? First, reduce what you bring. Just not cooking saves me cargo space. Bad weather predicted: no need to bring firewood, kites, fishing gear, etc. Maybe I don't bring those seldom used items (e.g., waders, fancier clothes, muck boots). Use your ebook reader and leave books at home, if cellphone reception is available at the Yurt campsite.
I favor putting my gear in bags. Each bag contains a specific kind of item. For example, I have a large green nylon bag for my Coleman 6lb King Size sleeping bag, inflatable pillow, regular pillow, and towel. I have a large black nylon bag for most of my clothes for the 4 day trip. One long blue nylon bag holds all my kites. There are smaller specialized bags for cameras and accessories, laptop and accessories, electronic gear, fishing gear, cosmetics/first aide, etc. I use a personal briefcase (called a 'Murse' or messenger bag) for many personal and business items. Most big bags are soft and squishable. The smaller bags are often padded, sturdy, but softer. I have two blue hard plastic containers for foods, electric water pot, and eating utensils, paper towels, etc., and probably could reduce to one food container.
I don't pull any trailers or carry bikes. I don't have a hitch or rooftop rack. I pack everything inside my SUV and can see out the back window.
Your interests and needs for equipment and gear for safely enjoying your solo all year Yurt camping adventures might vary greatly from mine. Nevertheless, figuring out how to load and carry all this gear will test your skills, patience, and pocketbook.
7. Bring a Friend
I normally go Yurt camping by myself. I enjoy the solo time. I favor off season camping at empty campgrounds.
However, for over two decades, I have sometimes stayed in a single Yurt with another person, usually my wife, Karen, or son, Michael D. I think two adults in one Yurt is about my comfort limit for Yurt camping. We have booked up to three Yurts at one time in the summer for family gatherings. I have seen families with two adults and three young children enjoying camping in a Yurt. When summertime Yurt camping, you spend much more time outdoors, sometimes late into the night, and more people like to join you then for summer time fun activities. Your budget may also necessitate compromises around sleeping arrangements.
You can put a tent up on a Yurt campsite. I believe that 6 people can occupy a Yurt campsite. Some friends will want to stay in a local motel and then join you during the day at your Yurt campsite for eating, campfire, beach walks, etc.
8. Reserving a Yurt Campsite
Northwest Pacific Coast Yurts
Oregon, Washington, California, B.C.
Pacific Beach State Park, Pacific Beach, Washington
Bay View State Park, Padilla Bay, Mt. Vernon, Washington
Dosewallips State Park, Hood Canal, Brinnon, Washington
Belfair State Park, Hood Canal, Belfair, Washington
Twin Harbors State Park, Westport, Washington
Grayland Beach State Park, Grayland, Washington
Bay Center KOA, Bay Center, Washington
Cape Disappointment State Park, Ilwaco, Washington
Fort Stevens State Park, Astoria, Oregon
Nehalem Bay State Park, Manzanita, Oregon
Cape Lookout State Park, Netarts Bay, Tillamook, Oregon
Beverly Beach State Park, Depot Bay, Oregon
South Beach State Park, Newport, Oregon
William M. Tugman State Park, Eel Lake, Florence, Oregon
Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park, Florence, Oregon
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, Winchester Bay, Coos Bay, Oregon
Bastendorff Beach Park, Coos Bay
Sunset Bay State Park, Charleston/Coos Bay, Oregon
Bullards Beach State Park, Bandon, Oregon
Harris Beach State Park, Brookings, Oregon
I have tent camped at all the State Parks on the California Coast north of San Francisco.
I am not aware of any Yurts in these State Parks in California.
I lived in Red Bluff, California, from 1998-2017, and we toured all of Northern California.
I have yurt camped or day camped east of the Cascades in Oregon and Washington:
Potholes State Park, Moses Lake, Washington
Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Biggs, Oregon
Maryhill State Park, Biggs, Washington
Columbia Hills State Historic Park, The Dalles, OR
Parks in Oregon with Yurts or Cabins
I strongly recommend that you use the online reservation system to reserve a tent campground site or yurt campground site at the State Parks in Washington and Oregon. For example, the campground was full of RVs and trailers all the times I have visited Grayland Beach. You will need to think and plan ahead. During peak summer usage, during kite flying events and contests, during peak low tide clamming season dig openings, surf perch fishing contests, salmon runs, etc., the beaches and coastal cities are always very crowded and the campsites are far less or not available. I always reserve a yurt campsite or tent campsite online many months ahead of time.
Again, State Parks vary during the "off season" of "lower" usage (September 15 - May 15 each year) often it is first come first served only with no reservations for tent campsites (e.g., Ocean City SP). Daily rates for Yurts vary with the seasons, weekdays or weekends, pets or no pets, extra cars, etc.
Here are a few of My Reports on Yurt Camping.
Index to information about the coastal towns and cities on the Northwest Coast by Mike Garofalo.
9. Cell Phone Services
Many State Parks in the region are located in areas where there is either no cell phone services or limited cell phone services in the campground. For example, Cape Disappointment, Cape Lookout, and Sunset Bay are in nestled among hills and cliffs that block cell phone reception. However, you will get cell phone services in most nearby local towns.
If you are a EBook reader, no cell phone services will prevent you from reading your many books on Kindle or cellphone. Therefore, be sure to bring books and magazines for reading.
If you health is poor, you will need to study local emergency hospital resources. There are hospitals with emergency services in Aberdeen, South Bend, Illwaco, Astoria, Tillamook, Newport, Lincoln City, Coos Bay, and Brookings. Otherwise, daytime only medical services are somewhat limited in most of the small towns.
Last Updated on March 8, 2025