America is vast and beautiful, full of gorgeous forests and parks, but one of the most beautiful parts of the good old US of A must be Oregon. Oregon offers a little piece of that untamed America, the America where nature thrives, where waters run wild, and where us humans can come and connect with our roots. And one of such places is the Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park. With the Pacific Ocean on one side and a breathtaking lake on the other, this state park is full of natural beauty and outdoor adventure.
Jumping in your RV and letting the road take you here will provide you with plenty of opportunities for hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, and simply relaxing by the lake and relieving some of the stress that we all suffer from. You can stay at one of over 300 campsites, almost 50 of which feature full hookups. Exploring the beauties of Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park will allow you to explore the wonderful hidden treasure of Oregon, and, as an extent, the hidden America, far from the commercialized franchises and hot concrete.
Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park is located in Lane County, with the closest town being Florence, about three miles north from the park. Another close town is Reedsport, which is about 18 miles south of the park. The roads are well signed and easy to navigate, and the road from Florence will take you through a beautiful forested area and allow for a relaxing drive. However, since the road is mainly straight, it can get boring if you are tired, so make sure to pay extra attention when driving at night. The road to the park is asphalted so no need to worry about mud when it rains.
When it comes to parking, all vehicles need to be parked on the pavement, not grass or park roads. Small parking lots are scattered throughout the park, and there is a big one located next to the H Loop. ATV vehicles are allowed from October to April, so bear that in mind if you are an ATV enthusiast.
This campground is huge! When you come to the Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park, you will be welcomed by 47 full hookup sites, 121 water and electric sites, as well as tent sites and 10 yurts. Make your reservations online- up to nine months in advance if you are an avid planner. The park has eight loops, but only the H Loop has ATV access. The park is pet-friendly, and a good portion of the sites are ADA-accessible. Your site will be equipped with a picnic table and firepit. You will find restrooms and showers on the campground, as well as playgrounds, sandboxes, and walking trails. Make sure to take all your garbage to the trash and recycling center when you leave, and otherwise, enjoy your stay!
Since the park is located on the Woahink Lake, boaters will enjoy the activities on the water on their trusty boats. Boat ramps are available to campers and they provide easy access to the gorgeous lake. The water is stocked, so you can do some fishing while you’re at it, however, the most wonderful thing you can do for yourself is simply lowering your boat in the water early in the morning, and row around the lake. The shape of the Woahink Lake is quite unique, so if you are feeling adventurous, and if you are an experienced boater, you can explore its bank and every nook and cranny it has. But that’s not all! Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park has another lake, smaller than the Woahink – the Cleawox Lake, which you can also explore during your stay here.
Having access to not just one, but two lakes is one of the most important features of Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park. This means that during the in-season months, campers can unwind and chill by the water, but they can also have a relaxing swim during the day! Wake up early and take a short walk from the campsite to the lake where you can spend an entire day sunbathing, splashing around the water, and enjoying the fresh breeze coming from the lake. If you are taking children along, pay extra attention, of course. Campers who are looking for an active vacation will surely enjoy upping their cardio and strengthening the muscles with a daily swim, so make sure to utilize all the natural amenities this park offers and recharge your batteries for a safe return home. Sandy beaches and roped designated swimming areas will provide a safe area, however, you are the one responsible for safety, both your own and your friends and family.
Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park has several trails you can take if you’re looking for some physical activity during your campervan stay here. The Cleawox Lake trail is about a mile long, Woahink Lakeside Trail is 3.3 miles, and if you take the Honeyman Dunes Loop, you will cover 2.3 miles. On the trail to the Cleawox Lake, you will pass by the picnic stations, walk through the pines, and overlook the lake shore where campers can swim and paddleboat. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can sandboard down the dunes that lead to the lake. Bring your camera and capture all the wonderful scenes you will see while hiking. From here, you can take the next trail and walk to the Woahink Lake, where you can see small, secluded beaches, a gorgeous island in the middle of the lake, and of course, the sand dunes that provide plenty of sandboarding opportunities.
All ATV aficionados will be happy to hear that ATV vehicles are allowed in the park, however, only from October to the end of April, not during the in-season months. If you are interested in having adventures on your ATV, you must stay in the H Loop sites, since that is the only loop with ATV access points you can take. Day staging is prohibited, and campers with ATVs cannot trail their vehicles to the H Loop, but the South Jetty Federal Area instead. Once you have that sorted out, you can take your ATV to the dunes and have an adventure-packed day, riding fast on the roads and being a daredevil on the dunes! However, be careful and always put safety first, especially when you see other riders.
Whenever you visit a new place in your camping trailer, you want to learn as much as you can about the rich history of the area. Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial Park has a rich history you can learn about when you camp here. You can visit the Bathhouse building, the picnic shelters, as well as the administrative building, all constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) back in the 1930s. Moreover, you can learn about the woman herself, Jessie Millar Honeyman. She was an activist who fought for the preservation of nature in Oregon. She worked with Samuel Boardman, who got the CCC to build trails and buildings in state parks across the state. Not only was Jessie a strong advocate for the preservation of the beautiful and pristine nature, but she is also one of the rare women who got something named after them – truly a great victory for all the ladies fighting for a better world!
When you roll up in your camper and claim your site on the campground, when you get tired of swimming, hiking, and sandboarding, all you want to do is sit back, relax, have some delicious food, and socialize with your friends and other campers. Luckily, you will find many designated picnic spots you can take and fire up the barbecue. Grilling delicious food for your friends, sipping on cold lemonade, and just enjoying the gorgeous surroundings is sometimes all that a person needs to recharge their batteries and feel truly happy. Since fishing is allowed on both of the lakes, you can even show off your angler skills and grill freshly caught fish and impress your friends and other campers.
