State Park · Oregon
A huge Oregon Coast park where the Columbia River meets the Pacific: the Peter Iredale shipwreck, historic military batteries, a freshwater lake, paved bike paths, and one of the largest campgrounds in the state.
Field briefing
Fort Stevens State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
Solve a campsite first for summer weekends, then build the day around the shipwreck at low tide, the military history, and the lake or paved bike paths.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Cool, green, and showery, with improving beach and trail weather.
Pack Rain shell, warm layers, and footwear for sand and mud.
The warmest, driest window, with busy weekends and high campground demand.
Pack Camp reservation, wind layer for the beach, and sun protection.
Cooler, quieter, and often clear between storms, good for the shipwreck and batteries.
Pack Rain protection, warm layer, and a headlamp for shorter days.
Wet, windy, and dramatic, with big surf and quiet trails.
Pack Full rain kit, insulation, and storm-aware beach timing.
Wreck of the Peter Iredale
The park's signature sight: the rusted ribs of a 1906 shipwreck sitting right on the beach, an easy walk from the parking area and best at low tide near sunset.
Historic military area and Battery Russell
Concrete gun emplacements and a museum tell the story of the only mainland U.S. military site fired on by a foreign power since the War of 1812, when a Japanese submarine shelled the fort in 1942.
Coffenbury Lake loop
A flat freshwater loop near the campground, good for an easy walk, a swim, or a paddle when the coast is too windy.
Keep one flexible slot in the day, because weather, parking, and energy usually decide more than the map does. For one day in Fort Stevens State Park, make Wreck of the Peter Iredale the non-negotiable, add Historic military area and Battery Russell only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Coffenbury Lake loop as the flexible finish.
Turn Fort Stevens's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Fort Stevens State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Fort Stevens State Park packing list
0 of 22 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Fort Stevens asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Camp in the park if you can, because it puts the shipwreck, lake, and batteries minutes from your site and saves you the summer parking shuffle. Warrenton and Astoria are the practical hotel bases when the campground is full, with Astoria adding restaurants, the Columbia River Maritime Museum, and easy day trips.
Camping reservations
Fort Stevens runs a very large campground with full-hookup, tent, and yurt sites, and summer coast weekends fill far ahead, so camping should be the first locked decision.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Oregon State Parks accepts new camping reservations from the day of arrival through six months in advance at most reservable campgrounds.
Where to book or verify
Official Oregon State Parks campground details and reservation links.
Park profile with facilities, fees, history, and current notices.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Arrival note
Fort Stevens sits at the far northwest tip of Oregon near Warrenton and Hammond, just west of Astoria and about two hours from Portland.
Car strategy
A car is the practical way to reach it and to move between the shipwreck, the military area, Coffenbury Lake, and the South Jetty.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends and yurts. Oregon State Parks accepts bookings from the day of arrival through six months in advance, and this large coastal campground fills early.
Very close. The wreck sits right on the beach about 0.2 miles from the parking area, making it an easy walk for almost anyone. Low tide near sunset gives the best views.
Day-use parking at Fort Stevens is free, unlike some Oregon coast parks that charge. Camping, yurts, and certain facilities still carry fees.