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Bullards Beach State Park

State Park near Bandon, Oregon, United States
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Park Overview

Bullards Beach is a large, family-oriented park located at the mouth of the Coquille River, two miles north of Bandon. The campground is nestled among shore pines and protected from strong ocean breezes. Visitors can enjoy strolling on the beach, riding horses, exploring a lighthouse and excellent fishing and crabbing in the river.

Horse Play

Equestrians will enjoy the park's horse camp and access to 11 miles of trails and four miles of beach and dunes. Sites feature double or quadruple corrals. 

Hiking and Biking

A mostly paved path to the beach begins near the campground registration booth. The path weaves for just over a mile through the open, grassy fields and lowland forest to the sandy dunes. Enjoy views of the Coquille River and Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge on the opposite bank.

Explore 4.5 miles of beach at the end of Bullards Beach Road. Bring your mountain bike to ride the hard-packed sand along the edge of the surf, or just enjoy a stroll along the ocean shore.

A refurbished hiker/biker camp popular with those hiking the Oregon Coast Trail offers storage lockers with solar powered USB charging ports.

Year-round Camping

Campground is accepting reservations up to 6 months in advance at oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com.

  • 103 full-hookup sites
  • 82 electrical sites with water
  • 13 yurts (6 pet-friendly) RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
  • Horse camp with 8 primitive sites
  • Hiker/biker camp
  • Flush toilets and showers (campers only)
  • Reservable picnic shelters
  • Yurt meeting hall
  • RV dump station
  • Firewood for sale 
  • Universal Access: Six campsites and three yurts are ADA accessible.

What's Nearby

In nearby Bandon, enjoy shops, galleries and restaurants. Learn the legend of Face Rock and access miles of shoreline at state parks on Beach Loop Drive. For more information on the local area, visit the Tourist Information Center in Bandon's Old Town.

Coquille River Lighthouse

The historic lighthouse is located at the end of Bullards Beach Road. The signal room is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. mid-May through September. It's staffed with volunteers who interpret the history of the area. Tower is closed to the public for safety concerns. Information: 541-347-2209.

mdi-alert-outline Construction advisory
mdi-alert-outline General advisory
mdi-cellphone Call for reservations: 800-452-5687
Call for info: 800-551-6949
Call for park info: 541-347-2209
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Amenities and features

Questions

mdi-help-circle-outline General

When is the park open?

Day Use

The day-use area is open year-round from 7:00am to dusk (30 minutes after sunset). 

Campground

A Loop is open from mid-March through the beginning of November. B Loop is open from mid-May through mid-October. C Loop is open year-round.  Shower facility hours for registered campers vary by season, but are typically 6am-8pm during the winter season and 6am-11pm during the summer.

How far is the campground from the beach?

The main campground at Bullards Beach is located 3/4 of a mile as the crow flies from the beach.  This provides protection from occasional strong ocean breezes.  Two trails connect the campground and beach. The Beach Trail is an easy paved/ bark-chipped 1 1/4 mile trail suitable for bikes that offers excellent views of the Coquille River as it transects the day-use portion of the park.  Pearl's Trail, named for a member of the Bullard Family, is a moderate 3/4 mile trail that traverses sand and boardwalks through a dune ecosystem and seasonal wetlands. Additionally, there is parking in the day-use portion of the park that offers immediate access to the beach over a small foredune. 

Where is the closest restaurant, fuel station, or grocery store?

Bullards Beach is located 2 miles north of Bandon, Oregon.  Bandon offers a variety of amenities, incuding grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations.

When are the docks available for use at the boat ramp?

Depending on conditions, the boat ramp docks are typically installed in late April and removed in late October.

mdi-help-circle-outline About Camping

How many extra vehicles can I have in my campsite?

One primary motorized vehicle is included in the camping fee for each site.  Campers may have up to one additional vehicle in each site for $7 per night, provided that all vehicles fit on the paved driveway within the site. No overflow parking is available elsewhere in the campground. Only one RV is allowed per spot.

What are quiet hours and when are they in effect?

Quiet hours are a period of time during which campers are asked to keep noise contained to their own  campsite to provide a peaceful and enjoyable camping experience for all park guests.  Quiet hours begin at 10pm and remain in effect until 7am.

Does Bullards Beach have wi-fi?

No. However, the town of Bandon offers free wi-fi at multiple locations.

Are advanced reservations required?

No, but Bullards Beach is popular year-round. You can still visit the campground and check online, or with staff when they're available, to find potentially reservable sites. For best availability, we highly recommend making reservations in advance.

Some camp loops close for the winter season. From early November through mid-May, C Loop remains open.

I noticed that all of the campsites at Bullards Beach have at least water and electricity. If I'm not going to use these ammenities, do I still have to pay full price?

Yes.  The use fees for campsites in Oregon State Parks are determined by ammenities available within the site, not ammenities used. 

Where can I wash my boat?

At this time Bullards Beach State Park does not have boat washing facilities.  There are however options located in Bandon, which is 2 miles south of the park.

mdi-help-circle-outline What's Allowed

Are fireworks allowed anywhere in the park? What about on the beach?

No.

Is metal detecting allowed at Bullards Beach?

No.  However, metal detecting is permitted on the beach in front of the park.  The beach is defined as open sand west of the vegetation line on the foredune.

Are drones allowed at Bullards Beach State Park and nearby beaches?

Commercial and recreational use of radio controlled aircraft, unmanned aircraft (drones, quad-copters and similar devices) are prohibited at Bullards Beach State Park and oceanside parks managed by Oregon State Parks, including Bandon State Natural Area, Seven Devils State Recreation Area, and Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint.
This is for the safety of visitors and wildlife. 

Is crabbing and fishing allowed from the Bullards Beach boat docks?

Beginning in Spring of 2017, crabbing and fishing will no longer be allowed from the Bullards Beach boat docks.  This change comes with the installation of new boat docks funded through the Oregon State Marine Board. Boat docks funded by the Oregon State Marine Board are restricted to boat use only. Recreational crabbing and fishing can be done from the public docks located in the Bandon harbor.

What if I want to do some night photography in the day-use area?

Visitors may apply for a free night photography permit for Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint through the park office by calling 541-347-2209 ext. 221 (leave a message if busy). Permits are typically valid for 1-7 days and allow the holder to remain in a day-use area from dusk to 11pm.  Permit holders must carry a copy of their valid permit with them. Permits are not available during special events. Permits are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact the park a minimum of 7 days in advance of the anticipated need of the permit to allow time for permit issuance.

At this time permits are not being issued for the day use portion of Bullards Beach State Park, including the Coquille River Lighthouse.

mdi-help-circle-outline Animals

Does Bullards Beach offer pet-friendly yurts?

Yes.  Bullards Beach currently offers six pet friendly yurts (C11, C25, C29, C, E, and F).  For an additional $10 fee, visitors may stay with up to two pets in these yurts.  Pets are prohibited in all other facilities.

Is my service animal welcome in all buildings?

Yes. Service animals are permitted in all areas where campers are allowed. In keeping with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is defined as a dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. (Providing emotional support or deterring crime are not considered qualifying tasks.) Except under special conditions, service animals must also be restrained while in state parks.

What should I do if I see a seal pup on the beach?

Harbor seal pups are often found on the beach. Usually, they are not stranded and should not be disturbed. They are resting while their mothers are off looking for food.
The Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network (OMMSN), which responds to stranded and injured marine mammals, notes that "adult female seals are shy and a mother is unlikely to rejoin a pup if there is activity nearby. She may only return to suckle her pup at night when people are not around. It is very important not to interfere with this process, and especially not to move a pup from where it is receiving care from its mother. Within 3-4 weeks of birth, harbor seal pups are weaned from maternal care and are left to fend for themselves. While learning to find and catch its own food, a young seal may come ashore frequently to rest. This is often a very challenging stage of life, and not all pups survive. But while it may be tempting to 'take them in,' their best chance for survival is to be left alone on the beach."
If you are concerned about the welfare of a seal pup or any other marine mammal you encounter, report it to park staff, the park office (541-347-2209 ext 221), or the 24-hour Oregon State Police hotline at 800-452-7888. Please describe the situation and location of the animal so the OMMSN can follow-up on your concerns.
For more information, please check out the OMMSN website and their link to Stranding Dos and Don’ts.

mdi-help-circle-outline Day use/Special Events

Is there a fee for the day use portion of the park?

Bullards Beach does not charge a day use fee. 

I want to have an event or wedding in a park or on the beach. What do I need to do?

It depends. Call the Park Office at 541-347-2209  x 221 to discuss your plans and possible permits, fees or insurance requirements. Events on the beach are first-come, first-served. Depending on the event, you may need a special use permit for non-traditional activities. A non-traditional activity is an activity, gathering or use of park properties, ocean shore or other recreational area that is not defined in park area rules and regulations. Some examples of events that require a permit are:

  • organized group gatherings of 50 or much such as weddings, company picnics, tournaments, and contests;
  • an activity that requires setting up a structure and/or decorations such as a stage, event tents, archways, tables/chairs;
  • sales of good and services by vendors, concessionaires, and other businesses;
  • commercial filming;
  • educational and scientfic projects;
  • activities that restrict public access.

 

For more questions, review our statewide FAQ

History

The park was acquired between 1962 and 1985 by purchase from various owners, including the U. S. Bureau of Land Management. The Coquille River Lighthouse, built by the U. S. Coast Guard in 1896 and operated until 1939, sits at the confluence of the river and ocean. The Bullard family were early settlers in the Bandon area. Robert Bullard established a store and post office at the mouth of the Coquille River and operated a ferry, which crossed the river near the present bridge on U.S. 101.

Brochures and maps

mdi-file-pdf-box 2024 South Coast Tide Tables mdi-file-pdf-box Bullards Beach State Park campground map mdi-file-pdf-box Bullards Beach Trails mdi-file-pdf-box Plover Management Areas – South Coast

Photos