Rivers West RV Park

We would camp here again only if we needed a site for an overnight (or few days) from I-5 and were exhausted enough to sleep through the noise. The price reflects the weekly rate. However, there are quite a number of parks near here that would be quieter.

We stayed for a week at the campground because we could not find a decently priced/located site on the coast at the last minute. It is a CG with a number of full time residents, not all of whom keep the cleanest site but most of whom are very nice. There are a few stray cats and the highway and train noise is significant. ( trains pass by with full whistles across the river at 10:30 PM and 6, 7:30 and 12:30 AM every day and truck traffic runs all day and night on I-5 which runs along the other side blocked from view,and a bit from the noise, by a stand of lovely pine trees. There is not, however, any noise after 10 from residents and security patrols from time to time. (Update: in retrospect either the noise was really bad on the first night, Monday, because there is a lot of truck traffic that night or we got used to it but I have to say that by the end of our week we wee sleeping through the night with no problem (and even through the 12:30 AM train!)

There are a few pull thru sites next to the office so they can serve large rigs but these sites are not very private. The sites along the river are better and back in and big enought for 35- 40 ft. FHU except at the very end (# >100) next to the tent campsites but past the end of the trees. The river is accessible and is nice for kayaking and dipping/swimming. There is little to no shade and it gets hot in the afternoon in the summer because the sites are laid out so the sun hits the side of the rig full on all afternoon. It cools off at night.

Reservations are not needed and there are usually sites open ( I think #99 is best as it's just before the tent area and before the end of the trees by the highway so a bit more private. The sites don't have a lot of room but the layout provides privacy when you are outside in the sitting area which is decent size.

What we did like is that we were 1.5 hours from the coast and 2 hours from Crater Lake so we were able to visit both as well as Cottage Grove (covered bridges) and Roseburg.

There is a large grassy area where pets can be walked and a small per activity area with bags and trash can.

The bathrooms are clean and they have what are my idea of perfect showers. They are separate from the toilet areas, with a locking door; there are lights and warming lamps on 15 min timers; the room is large- bench at one end with hooks, an extremely large changing area and showerheads with perfect pressure and plenty of hot water. There is a laundry room for which you need a key from the office. If you plan to do laundry while there simply ask for the key when you check in. You can return it when you leave. There are 3 washers and 3 dryers-$1 each and it's hard to beat that. Make sure you have quarters though.

So, convenient and pretty nice but the noise really keeps me from recommending this place for anything longer than a night or two unless you want to take advantage of the cheap weekly rate.

I would not, however, recommend tent camping here and did not see anyone doing so. The sites are exposed to both sun and noise.