4th of July at N. Oregon Coast's Sand Lake Now Requires Pre-Sales for Camping, Entry

Published 04/11/26 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Pacific City, Oregon) – Fourth of July weekend is always in high demand along the Oregon coast – for any aspect. But some areas are much more sought after than others, and among them is one spot along the Three Capes. Which is why entry tickets for campgrounds or just bringing in your car are getting announced well ahead of time this year.

According to the National Forest Service (NFS), tickets for Fourth of July weekend access to Sand Lake Recreation Area will be released May 5. Anyone visiting the area between July 3 and 5 will be required to have either a vehicle ticket or a campground reservation. All tickets must be purchased in advance through Recreation.gov at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10113281.

A vehicle ticket is required for each street-legal passenger vehicle entering Sand Lake on July 3, 4 and 5. Tickets cost five dollars, except at Fisherman’s Day Use Area, where tickets are required but free to reserve. A vehicle ticket is needed for day-use parking, dispersed camping, sand access and sand camping in the Derrick Road Dispersed Camping Area, Fisherman’s Day Use Area, Sand Access on the dunes, and the West Winds Day Use parking lot.

A reservation at a developed campground in this north Oregon coast hotspot also provides entry to Sand Lake during the holiday weekend. Each campsite allows two street-legal vehicles, but those limits will be strictly enforced. Campers with reservations do not need an additional vehicle ticket. The three developed campgrounds in the area are Sandbeach, West Winds and East Dunes, and availability may be limited.

“Last year, significant overcrowding led to safety hazards at Sand Lake during the Fourth of July weekend. The ticket system will help protect visitors, reduce congestion, and create a quality recreation experience,” the NFS said.

The system is intended to improve the overall recreation experience, they said. Entry will not be permitted without a vehicle ticket or campground reservation, and no tickets will be sold on site.

From 2021: Murder Investigation and Search Closes N. Oregon Coast Park for a Time Saturday Sand Lake Recreation Area was closed as deputies searched for an armed suspect

The Forest Service adopted the ticketing system after last year’s Fourth of July weekend saw significant overcrowding and related safety hazards. Officials say
Additional information is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/

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