Camp Rilea to McKinley's Marina and RV Park, Waldport, Oregon

September 6-8, 2011 McKinley's Marina and RV Park Waldport, Oregon.


We enjoyed our stay at Camp Rilea taking advantage of the great rate ($20) and free laundry. We explored the local towns of Warrenton and Seaside and sampled some of the local cuisine.
Thursday, Sept. 6 we awoke to one of the prettiest sunny days of our stay as it has rained almost everyday. The temps have been in the low 60's during the day and 50's at night. But on this day we prepared to travel about 150 miles south along Hwy 101 to Waldport a small town just south of Newport, Oregon.

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Turnout on Hwy. 101.

Rico and Maggie checking out the views

Hwy 101 is twisty and rough in many spots with some short steep climbs and descents. After driving about a third of the way we stopped at an overlook to check out the rugged coastline. 

The rugged Oregon Coast in the ever present fog and mist.

Scenic Hwy 101

Just north of Newport we again stopped at a scenic turnout and checked out the shoreline views. We were lucky that our travel day was one of the very few days that it didn't rain here in the Northwest during our visit.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

We soon arrived at our destination, McKinley's Marina and RV Park located on the water in Waldport, Oregon. We got checked in and had our choice of a few sites including a couple on the water's edge. However, it was breezier and cooler close to the water. Therefore, we chose a couple of sites near the center of the park. We each paid just under $200 for a week's stay with full hook-ups, strong WiFi and cable (even though we set up our satellites). 

Our site: 32

The sites are designed to be buddy sites meaning we could pull in at opposing directions and thus have our doors opening towards the center of both sites. We took site 32 and Paul and Paula took site 33. 

Paul and Paula's site to the left of ours.

Because of the nearly constant rain, we chose this park for the big concrete pads. Although it perhaps would have been nice to go to a scenic state park, we all thought the concrete pads would be much better for rainy conditions. We all got set up and enjoyed the rest of this rare sunny day. The RV Park is attached to a small marina and there are lots of recreational fisherman occupying the RV sites. Many are engaged in fishing for Salmon and setting crab traps for Dungeness Crabs.

The following day it rained but we drove into Newport to check out the grocery stores and to visit one of the lighthouses. Specifically the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Paul and Paula were interested in checking out this BLM location as they often advertise for volunteers. We checked out the visitor center and learned about some of the volunteer responsibilities. Perhaps not a bad volunteer job... in the summer!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

The weather wasn't cooperating as it was cold, windy and sporadically raining. However, we all managed to pose for a picture.

Joyce and I on the left next to Paula and Paul

The Oregon coastline is as beautiful as it is rugged. We will be here in Waldport for a week and if the weather gives us a little bit of cooperation, we shall get out and explore the area some more.