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Milo McIver State Park Camping with Kids: A Family Mecca

By July 11, 2018July 21st, 202022 Comments

We love camping at Milo McIver State Park in Oregon, partly because it’s such a kid-friendly campground. In fact, Milo McIver—one of the best campgrounds near Portland, just a half-hour away—helped me get over my giant hangup about camping with kids. (In all fairness, that hangup materialized after one particularly difficult trip when 1-year-old Kiwi did not sleep unless she was lying on top of me, so I spent two nights sitting upright in the car. Not fun.)

You see, camping with kids isn’t always easy—you have to pack for every contingency, try to get kids who are hopped up on s’mores to sleep, and deal with the whole latrine toilet situation. But camping with kids is so worth it, and picking a family-friendly spot like Milo Mciver campground makes it easier.

Just think: Camping with kids means you have dedicated family time away from electronics with nothing to distract you except the call of an owl or a campfire running low on fuel.

Camping at Milo McIver State Park with kids in Oregon / To & Fro FamCamping at Milo McIver State Park in Oregon has a million kid-friendly activities, like disc golf and hiking. To & Fro Fam

Milo McIver Park, Oregon: Camping with the whole family

Camping with kids allows the whole family to unplug and play in the great outdoors, and camping at Milo McIver State Park in Estacada, Oregon is a great place for just that. It’s also a fantastic campsite to visit if you’re not the rugged backpacker-type.

In fact, the Milo McIver campground is one of the better campgrounds to visit with kids. After all, there are so many kid-friendly activities, features, and destinations within the park, your whole family won’t even notice that Baby hardly slept.

(Kidding! Maybe your baby will sleep in a tent like a champ. If so, tell me your secret.)

So if you’re family camping in Oregon, check out Milo McIver park. Here’s everything you need to know, from the campgrounds to disc golf, swimming and more!

Camping at Milo McIver State Park in Oregon has a million kid-friendly activities, like disc golf, swimming in the Clackamas River and more. To & Fro Fam

Milo McIver State Park Camping

When you camp at Milo McIver State Park near Portland, don’t expect ultra-rustic sites. Instead, you’ll find flat, clean and large campsite—that near everyone else who’s car camping that day. I thought that the sites actually had a good amount of room between them, but you’ll be able to hear and see most of your neighbors.

Camping near Portland, Oregon: Milo McIver State Park in Estacada, OR. To & Fro Fam

Milo McIver Park Amenities

The Milo McIver campgrounds are also accessible to RVs (my in-laws joined us with their rig). The campground has an RV dump station and RV hookups.

We were able to easily walk to the flush toilets and shower facilities. And as you can see, fire rings help you keep fires safe.

Milo McIver park has several group tent camping areas, including one near the disc golf course (more on that in a second!). We’ve often wanted to rent a group camping site but haven’t yet.

You can also rent a shelter at Milo McIver’s day-use area. We did this for Hubs’ 40th birthday party. We had plenty of space for our guests to spread out (and nom on his birthday cake, yum yum!). What’s more, the shelter had running water so everyone could wash hands after making fairy wands.

The day-use area is open to everyone, not just campers; you’ll just need to pay the $5 parking fee or get a yearlong Oregon state park pass for just $30.

Level 10 travel tip: Next to the Cedar group picnic area and shelter, you’ll find a tall tree (a cedar I think??) that kids can play in. The branches create an awesome hidey area to play inside. Our littles spent an entire day making it into a fairy castle!

The Best Things to do at Milo Mciver Park: Disc Golf and More 

The great thing about spending a weekend at Milo Mciver Park in Oregon is that there are plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained! You’ll leave feeling refreshed and your kids will have such fun stories to tell their friends at school.

Milo Mciver Disc Golf

We first discovered Milo McIver State Park when Hubs hit up the park’s 27-hole disc golf course. Since then, he goes disc golfing at Milo Mciver just about every week.

Disc golfing is a wonderful family activity because just about any aged kid can throw a disc (even if not very far), you can go at your own pace (or your kids’ pace), and there is a ton of room for kids to run and explore.

When you’re camping here, you can drive to access the Milo Mciver disc golf park at the north end (by turning left if you’re coming from the park’s entrance). If it’s your first-time disc golfing, let faster groups behind you pass you, and don’t hesitate to ask other disc golfers where you’ll find the next hole. If you’re not already a disc golfer, you can buy or rent discs at the park office.

Level 10 travel tip: Keep a close eye on your kids and other groups when you disc golf. After all, you don’t want your kids to accidentally get in the way of an oncoming disc!

Camping at Milo McIver State Park in Oregon has a million kid-friendly activities, like disc golf. To & Fro Fam

Milo Mciver State Park Swimming Areas for Kids

Milo McIver State Park is nestled along the Clackamas River, and you can access the water throughout the park.

When you camp at Milo McIver State Park in Estacada, Oregon, bring your suit to play in the Clackamas River! To & Fro Fam

Playing in the Clackamas River

Whenever we go to Milo McIver, my girls want to swim—even if it’s raining out! The park has swimming holes, and there are even more spots great for wading.

Make sure you never take your eyes off your kids—the Clackamas River does have a current.

Also know that the water stays quite cold until mid-summer, so bring cozy towels to wrap up your kids after their swim.

Level 10 travel tip: Our favorite river access spot at Milo Mciver Park is between holes 6 and 7 on the east disc golf park. Even if you’re not disc golfing, you can walk along the riverbend trail to find this sandy, calm spot.

Camping at Milo McIver State Park with kids: swimming, disc golf, and adventure! To & Fro Fam

Floating the Clackamas River

The stretch of the Clackamas River at Milo McIver is fairly mellow but has a few baby rapids. For families with older kids, it can be a fun adventure to float (aka “tube”) the river.

There are boat ramps throughout the park. You’ll want to leave a car at the takeout so you can drive back to your campsite—or back to the river to float the Clackamas again!

Please be safe, though: Wear lifejackets at all times.

Camping at Milo McIver State Park in Oregon: Boating, camping, hiking, disc golf and much more! To & Fro Fam

Visit The Fish Hatchery at Milo Mciver State Park

The park is home to one of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fish hatcheries. In fact, it’s just a few minutes’ drive (or a hike) from many of the Milo Mciver Park camping areas, making it a fun family-friendly activity if your kids need a break from throwing sticks in the campfire.

My kids couldn’t believe how many fish were in the holding tanks—the surface of the water practically rolled with fish growing bigger and bigger.

I learned a lot about fish in Oregon at the hatchery, too. The fish hatchery raises Chinook salmon and Steelhead, helping populations of these threatened species survive threats like habitat loss.

Fish hatchery at Milo McIver State Park in Oregon / To & Fro Fam

Camping at Milo McIver: Bat house

When you’re camping at Milo McIver, look up: At night, you’ll see flitting shadows. Yep, those are bats!

Before you get creeped out, remember that these nocturnal animals are eating mosquitoes and other bugs. (Thank you, bats!)

It just so happens that Milo McIver State Park is home to Townsend’s big-eared bat, a protected species in Oregon. You and your family can learn even more about these crucial critters by hiking to the Bat House and going along the self-guided tour.

Level 10 travel tip: The hike to the Bat House at Milo McIver is through an open area so it’s not shaded. Make sure to put sunscreen and hats on your kids, especially in the summer, so they don’t get sunburned.

Milo McIver Park Camping: Even more family-friendly features!

  • There are miles and miles of hiking trails all around Milo McIver State Park. Pick up a map at the park office.

Camping at Milo McIver State Park with kids: There's so much in this family-friendly destination, from hiking to swimming to disc golf. To & Fro Fam

  • Bikes are welcome on all paved roads but not on any trails.

Level 10 travel tip: There’s a big hill that separates the Riverbend section of the park (with the disc golf course) and the Riverside part of the park (with the campsites). Unless your kids are up for a big uphill climb—or you’re willing to pull them in a trailer—stick to one side or the other.

  • During the summer, there are park ranger-led kids activities. Check at the park office for a schedule.
  • There’s a beautiful viewpoint near the Milo Mciver park office. Stop by to see the Clackamas River from above.

Clackamas River Milo McIver State Park Oregon / To & Fro Fam

Looking forward to planning our next Milo Mciver Camping Trip

I’m beyond excited for summer camping this year, and we’ll definitely be camping at Milo McIver State Park again. If you’re looking to head out for the weekend and go camping near Portland, make sure to add Milo Mciver Park to your bucket list!

Looking for Oregon family camping ideas? This family-friendly campsite has you covered with a river, ranger activities, disc golf and more. Click over to read more! / To & Fro Fam

Looking for camping near Portland Oregon? Milo McIver State Park in Estacada, OR has flush toilets, river access, a disc golf course and spacious campsites. What more could you want? To & Fro Fam

Looking for more family-friendly camping in Oregon? Check out my post on yurt camping at Ft. Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast because I’m pretty sure you and your kids will love it as much as my littles did!

Do you have any family camping plans?

22 Comments

  • Your children are beautiful! I’m a little embarrassed to say that I did look up Oregon on the internet – I must have heard of the Oregon university but had no idea of the place. I dont know if I will be able to have such camping experience at Milo (since I live thousand miles away) and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your story. 🙂

    • catherine.art says:

      That’s totally allowed, haha! I went to the University of Oregon, but the state has SO much more to offer. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world, I think! Thanks for stopping by and reading.

  • Sarah says:

    What a beautiful family you have! I just love that you are giving your kids these experiences to appreciate nature!

    • catherine.art says:

      Thank you, Sarah! Getting outside is our #1 family passion. Thank you for stopping by and reading!

  • Coco says:

    Looks like such a fun family trip! I’ve never been camping before but I’d love to visit the PNW and go camping there one day!

    • catherine.art says:

      Wow, I’m always amazed when I meet people who have never camped—but some families just didn’t do it growing up. I hope you get to go someday!

  • Laureen says:

    Hi. I’m from Washington State. We love camping in Oregon too, but this is a park I have never heard of. Looks really beautiful. I’ll be adding it to my list!

    • catherine.art says:

      Hi Washington neighbor! We love WA, too, for its incredible hikes, scenery and camping spots. Thanks for stopping by my family travel blog!

  • Carrie says:

    Eeshk I cannot imagine “sleeping” sitting in a car all night with a baby. That would scar me from camping with kids too — I’m amazed you gave it another shot! Campsites with river access are always great with kids. Hours of entertainment!

    • catherine.art says:

      Haha, yeah it wasn’t ideal. But I did get over it, my daughter grew up a bit, and now we all enjoy camping! Win-win!

  • Aireona says:

    Some of my favorite memories as a kid come from camping with my dad. It really brings me back to see you guys having such a great time in Oregon. I think camping with your kids is so important and this looks like the perfect place to do it!

    • catherine.art says:

      That warms my heart to hear you still remember camping with your family so fondly. I hope my girls grow up with the same warm memories!

  • I haven’t spent much time around Oregon, but it’s been on my list for travel. I”m not much of a camper anymore (okay, like never was), but I do enjoy rivers and all of the natural beauty. I’m sure it’s still a great place to visit around even if I don’t camp, right? Your photography and tips were great, by the way!

    • catherine.art says:

      Thank you, Tess! Absolutely, Oregon is an incredible place to visit even if you don’t camp. (In fact my sister in law, who lives here, is 100% anti-camping, and she still loves it here!) Oregon has SO much natural beauty.

  • Samantha says:

    Looks like a great family friendly place to camp! My parents always took me camping as a child, so I hope to continue that tradition once I have kids!

    • catherine.art says:

      I love hearing about adults’ experiences of camping as a child. It makes me wonder about what my kids will remember!

  • Sahar says:

    The sweatshirt made me giggle! I love that there are so many family-friendly features to this camping site. It makes it so much easier for camping lovers to introduce their passion to their children! I have to admit, though, that I don’t think I’ll be going camping anytime soon 😉

    • catherine.art says:

      I know, I want that sweatshirt in my size too!! And I feel so fortunate for all the family friendly campsites in our area.

  • Alexis Rae says:

    I freaking love the PNW! How great is it that this park is just outside the city?!?! I love that viewpoint pic too!

  • Suzy Jones says:

    Oh all these photos made me want to try camping in the US. Its so lush and green! Very different to our desert here in Western Australia.

    I’m in solidarity with you regarding the first camp trip with a baby! We went camping when our girl was 11 months and it did not go at all to plan. She wouldnt sleep either. Looks like your family enjoys the outdoors now though 🙂 lovely photos

    • catherine.art says:

      I feel you on the baby camping sleep struggles! We’re living proof, though, that camping with kids gets easier—and even more fun—as they grow up (and can completely exhaust themselves so they sleep at night!!!!).

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