Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Camping isn’t for everyone. For some, the idea of crawling into a sleeping bag on top of a foam pad on the ground, separated from the elements by nothing more than a thin tent wall, is nothing short of a nightmare.

Thank goodness for deluxe cabins.

Oregon state parks – always mindful of the varying degrees of camp comfort – offer all kinds of accommodations, but the most luxurious is the deluxe cabin which, while not exactly a bed and breakfast, offers far more amenities than the humble yurt or rustic cabin.

In a deluxe cabin you get a private bathroom and shower. There’s room enough to sleep five, with a door separating the bedroom from the living room, where you’ll find a futon and (in some parks) a TV and DVD player. There isn’t a full kitchen, but there is a kitchen sink, refrigerator, microwave and dining table. There’s even a covered porch, where you can get some fresh air before retreating to sweet comfort back inside.

Most deluxe cabins look the same, as the parks department uses one of two similar layouts for each. One park (Umpqua Lighthouse) offers deluxe yurts, which offer all the same amenities but sleep up to seven people with the addition of a second futon.

Those of us who live and breathe the Oregon outdoors might be tempted to turn our noses up at this glamorous form of camping. Some might not call it camping at all (technically it is). But there’s nothing wrong with a little comfort in nature sometimes, and to that degree, these deluxe cabins deliver.

Here are six Oregon state parks where you can book one.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Cape Lookout

Cape Lookout falls into the Goldilocks zone of Oregon state parks in many respects: it's cramped, but not crowded, sprawling but manageable, wild but well-maintained. It's also a beautiful pocket of sandy beach in the shadow of a gorgeous headland. It offers six deluxe cabins (three are pet-friendly) that are given some additional privacy, located in the day-use area instead of the campground.



Deluxe cabins are $91 per night, and pet-friendly deluxe cabins are $101 per night; reserve online at oregonstateparks.org or call 800-452-5687.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Fort Stevens

One of the very best state parks in Oregon, Fort Stevens boasts an incredible 11 deluxe cabins (five of which are pet-friendly). They're a great way to spend some time on the coast during the winter, offering a place to dry off your boots and jacket after a day at the rainy beach or in nearby Astoria.



Deluxe cabins are $92 per night, and pet-friendly deluxe cabins are $102 per night; reserve online at oregonstateparks.org or call 800-452-5687.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

The Cove Palisades

A desert oasis found at the confluence of three major rivers, The Cove Palisades is best known as a haven for boaters, but its three deluxe cabins (one is pet-friendly) are a huge draw, too. The cabins are perched at the edge of a ridge overlooking the flooded canyon, and are quite possibly the most scenic state park rentals in Oregon.



Deluxe cabins are $87 per night, and pet-friendly deluxe cabins are $97 per night; reserve online at oregonstateparks.org or call 800-452-5687.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

LaPine

A quiet desert hideaway south of Bend, LaPine features five deluxe cabins (three are pet-friendly) in a campground that is otherwise designed for RVs. There's an impressive trail system that snakes through the park, winding alongside the Deschutes River and to a small waterfall, but the park is also a great jumping off point for adventures around the area.



Deluxe cabins are $89 per night, and pet-friendly deluxe cabins are $99 per night; reserve online at oregonstateparks.org or call 800-452-5687.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Courtesy of Oregon State Parks

Prineville Reservoir

Found on the banks of the Prineville Reservoir in central Oregon, Prineville Reservoir State Park is a popular spot for boating, fishing, waterskiing, windsurfing and just about any other form of open water recreation. Its five deluxe cabins (one is pet-friendly) sit at the edge of the small campground, with good views of the reservoir.



Deluxe cabins are $89 per night, and pet-friendly deluxe cabins are $99 per night; reserve online at oregonstateparks.org or call 800-452-5687.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

Umpqua Lighthouse

Umpqua Lighthouse is the only state park that offers six deluxe yurts (three are pet-friendly), which are pretty much exactly like deluxe cabins, only round. Each yurt sleeps up to seven people and doesn't have a separate bedroom area, but otherwise comes with all of the same amenities. The forested campground is near the lovely Umpqua Lighthouse, as well as an access point to the Oregon Dunes.



Deluxe yurts are $82 per night, and pet-friendly deluxe yurts are $92 per night; reserve online at oregonstateparks.org or call 800-452-5687.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Photo courtesy of Recreation.gov

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

Winter rentals: Whether you want a cabin, a yurt or a guard station, here are 45 winter rentals around Oregon.

Oregon's most beautiful places: Oregon is incredibly beautiful, but these are the 50 most beautiful places across the state.

Fire lookouts: Nothing tops staying overnight in an old fire lookout, and Oregon just so happens to have more than a dozen to rent.



--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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