Best Campgrounds near Adams, OR

Dispersed camping options near Adams, Oregon include McDougall Dispersed Camping on public land approximately 22 miles northeast of the city in the Umatilla National Forest. The area includes developed campgrounds such as Umatilla Forks Campground, Harris Park, and Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, accommodating both tent and RV camping with varying levels of amenities. Several properties offer cabin and yurt accommodations alongside traditional camping spaces, with Wildhorse Resort Casino RV Park providing tipis as unique overnight options for travelers exploring the region.

Camping accessibility varies significantly by season throughout the Blue Mountains and surrounding valleys. Most established campgrounds operate from late spring through mid-fall, with Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area typically open May 1 to October 21 and Harris Park available April through October. "Stayed here one night, just passing through. Made reservation online, but wasn't assigned a site. When we arrived, the office was closed and there were no instructions on how to check in," noted one visitor about reservation processes. Some properties like Wildhorse Casino and Pendleton KOA remain open year-round, providing reliable options during winter months when forest service roads may become impassable due to snow or mud conditions.

Campers report varied experiences across the region's facilities, with notable differences between casino-affiliated RV parks and forest service campgrounds. Sites at Umatilla Forks Campground receive high ratings for natural settings along the river, while casino properties offer convenient amenities but less privacy. As one camper described a typical casino RV park: "The sites are within a few feet of each other with no privacy. There's no shade or really any vegetation." Travelers seeking more solitude might prefer McDougall's dispersed camping areas, which require self-sufficiency but provide free camping without reservations. Those preferring amenities can find full hookups, showers, and additional facilities at the region's KOA and casino campgrounds, though these tend to have closely spaced sites with minimal separation between camping units.

Best Camping Sites Near Adams, Oregon (88)

    1. Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area

    26 Reviews
    Meacham, OR
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 983-2277

    $20 - $74 / night

    "Oregon always has beautiful state parks. This one is no different. It is close to Hwy 84, so there is road noise. The campsites don't seem to be as on top of each other as some places."

    "It was a welcome dose of green after a long day of brown along the interstate through Idaho and western Oregon. The cabin was rustic, the shower house was in good repair with nice hot showers."

    2. Wildhorse Casino

    12 Reviews
    Cayuse, OR
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 654-9453

    "A pleasant facility that is easy to drive and maneuver with a tow behind trailer. Sites were fairly level with lawn and a picnic table. Property is well maintained."

    "Breakfast at the course is awesome, within walking distance and great bang for the buck. Did not visit casino, but shuttle is readily available."

    3. Wildhorse Resort Casino RV Park & Tipi Villiage

    9 Reviews
    Cayuse, OR
    9 miles
    Website

    $20 - $80 / night

    "Easy and simple access to all hookups. Mostly quiet (except for simi trucks parking for the night on the road near park running their equipment all night.) Staff was professional and kind."

    "About 10 miles outside of Pendleton, OR (post office for mail and packages, Walmart Supercenter and Safeway. Arrowhead travel center for gas or munchies that has easy RV access."

    4. Pendleton KOA

    11 Reviews
    Pendleton, OR
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 276-1041

    5. McDougall Dispersed Camping

    6 Reviews
    Weston, OR
    19 miles

    "McDougall is a small mountain community located in the blue mountains above Weston, Oregon. There is a small neighborhood consisting of permanent RVs, cabins and shanties."

    "Primitive location, nothing there, but maybe a fire ring and a spot to park your vehicle. Go about 2 miles on the dirt road and watch out for the dirt pot holes."

    6. Umatilla Forks Campground

    3 Reviews
    Umatilla National Forest, OR
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 522-6290

    "The campground is divided into 2 sets of 4 with one set of spots further up the road in a different unmarked entrance."

    7. RV Resort Four Seasons

    6 Reviews
    Walla Walla, WA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 529-6072

    "conveniently located , Large sites."

    "They were nearly full. They held a spot. Grass pad full hook up. Most of the sites are shaded by trees due to my starlink sat needs a clear shot at the sky I took a space in the sun."

    8. Blue Valley RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Walla Walla, WA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 525-8282

    "Walking distance to downtown wineries and restaurants. Located in industrial area but I suppose this is due to cheap land."

    "Near an industrial area, but safe and close to downtown."

    9. Harris Park

    2 Reviews
    Weston, OR
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (541) 938-5330

    "It was great for that purpose- they reserved two adjacent campsites on the South Fork Walla Walla River."

    10. Woodward Campground — Umatilla National Forest

    3 Reviews
    Weston, OR
    22 miles
    +1 (509) 522-6290

    $12 / night

    "Gorgeous pine forest all around, lake view though it’s private so no access. Cute cabins around lake. Super quiet until dark when the elk started their singing! So cool! Absolutely loved it."

    "There is a view of a private lake. Very little noise."

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Recent Reviews near Adams, OR

366 Reviews of 88 Adams Campgrounds


  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    RV Resort Four Seasons

    Great location to all of Walla Walla

    conveniently located , Large sites.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Pasco Tri-Cities KOA

    Clean and friendly

    Sites are clean, level and well manicured. Showers are clean and spacious. Staff are friendly and very accommodating.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Plymouth Park Campground

    Nice for a day

    The sites are level and paved, easy for any size rig. But there is little to no shade, and the sites have no space between or privacy.

    Lawns are irrigated and green so that is a nice touch. Host is sweet and seems to be on top of things

  • Reagan M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Arrowhead RV Park

    Nice spot to stay and explore!

    Great spot to spot up and explore the tri cities area. Definitely a lot of spots to get on the river!

  • Tim The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Pendleton KOA

    Nice well kept park

    Quite, nicely maintained,

  • Matt B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 - Dispersed

    Quick and easy

    Quickly and easy stop close to 84 if you are traveling through. Does the trick for an overnighter. Lots of dispersed pullouts. No amenities.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    RV Resort Four Seasons

    Very comfortable

    I called from 40 miles out on a Friday night on the 22 nd of August. High summer season. They were nearly full. They held a spot. Grass pad full hook up. Most of the sites are shaded by trees due to my starlink sat needs a clear shot at the sky I took a space in the sun. I was just traveling thru if I was staying longer go for shade. Its 85-90 this time of year. The people who run the place were very nice and the grounds are very well kept.

    I recommend it anytime of year!

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Plymouth Park Campground

    Not my style of camping

    It’s a cute spot if you don’t mind sharing right spaces and zero privacy. The spots are basically pull outs off the camp roadway. Nice for a pit stop on the drive but I wouldn’t prefer to stay there more than that. Personally, I’ve stayed better places for free and the $30 tag for the spot wasn’t worth it for me.


Guide to Adams

Camping sites near Adams, Oregon range from forest service campgrounds to RV resorts with full hookups. The Blue Mountains area sits at elevations between 3,000-5,000 feet, creating distinct camping seasons with snow-closed roads in winter months. Summer temperatures typically range from 45°F at night to 85°F during peak daytime hours, requiring campers to prepare for significant temperature fluctuations even during summer visits.

What to do

Mushroom hunting near McDougall: Springtime in the Blue Mountains offers excellent morel mushroom hunting. A camper at McDougall Dispersed Camping notes, "Just past the village you get into the woodland where the Morels are plentiful. This is an ideal location to go mushrooming." Foraging permits may be required depending on quantity.

Swimming in forest streams: The South Fork Walla Walla River provides cooling relief during summer months. At Harris Park, campsites are "angled nicely to allow views of the river with vegetation between sites to add a little extra privacy." Note that water levels and current strength vary seasonally.

Wildlife watching in meadows: Early morning and dusk offer prime wildlife viewing opportunities. A visitor to McDougall Dispersed Camping mentions, "You'll see many types of wildlife here and hundreds of varieties of meadow wildflowers." Elk bugling can often be heard in fall, with one camper at Woodward Campground noting, "We were the only campers here when we pulled in... Super quiet until dark when the elk started their singing!"

What campers like

Private riverside sites: Campers consistently mention the natural settings along waterways as highlights. At Umatilla Forks Campground, a visitor reported, "Amazing peaceful secluded sites right on the river... They are spread out with lots of trees so you can't see the other sites at all. The sounds of the river have me in a meditative state all the time."

Clean facilities at established sites: Even at more developed areas, cleanliness stands out. One camper at Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area mentioned, "The bathrooms were very clean, great trails and the interpretive center was very educational." Another noted, "The sites have water, fire pit and picnic table and lots of trees for privacy."

Historic significance: The region's Oregon Trail history appeals to many visitors. A camper at Emigrant Springs shared, "This has been a historic place to stop on the way through the Blue Mountains since the Oregon Trail." Another family mentioned, "The park rangers were so nice. They had informed classes about animals in the forest. The Jr rangers program for the children was wonderful and hands on."

What you should know

Highway noise at some locations: Proximity to interstate traffic affects certain campgrounds. At Emigrant Springs, one camper warned, "The road noise is extreme; very loud. If you can get past that the place is really sweet." Another noted, "It's a shame that the campsites are directly by the highway. A half-mile into the forest would have made all the difference!"

Seasonal closures and accessibility: Many forest service areas become inaccessible during winter. A recent visitor to McDougall Dispersed Camping found "The road to the site was not plowed. Several feet of snow. Not many alternatives in the area so plan accordingly if you hope to stay here."

Availability can be misleading: Some campgrounds show limited availability online but have many open sites. A camper at Emigrant Springs reported, "During booking I was told there was only one site available and it was a full hook up RV site that was the most expensive rate... When I arrived I found 95% of the campground empty and saw only 3 other campers over the course of the weekend."

Tips for camping with families

Junior ranger programs: Educational activities engage children while teaching about local ecology. A family at Emigrant Springs shared, "The Jr rangers program for the children was wonderful and hands on. Our families came from all over Oregon and Washington, even California. We came from Missouri. What an amazing family reunion."

Swimming holes for hot days: Natural water features provide cooling recreation. At Harris Park, "The South Fork of the Walla Walla River runs along the campground but current is too strong for young children to play in." Parents should assess water conditions carefully, especially after spring runoff.

Limited cell service: Most forest campgrounds lack connectivity. One camper at Umatilla Forks Campground reported, "No cell service at all with TMobile." Prepare offline activities and emergency communication plans when camping with children in remote areas.

Tips from RVers

Hookup locations and leveling: Check placement of utilities before setting up. At Wildhorse Casino, a camper noted, "The site was level, power checked out good and sewer and water were also provided. There is a picnic table. The pads are gravel, and there is a substantial amount of groomed lawn."

Accessibility for larger rigs: Not all campgrounds accommodate big rigs. At Harris Park, one visitor mentioned the campground "has 14 private campsites... All spots have water and electrical hook ups." However, they noted "the target customer" seemed to be "larger RVs with bathrooms" rather than smaller units.

Casino camping convenience: Several RV parks near casinos offer shuttle services. At Wildhorse Casino, "The casino and golf course are adjacent - but it's a good hike; use the shuttle or just drive over. The casino facility has several restaurants and movie theaters."

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a permit required for camping in Adams National Forest?

Yes, camping permits are typically required in Adams National Forest areas. At Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, reservations are recommended, especially during peak summer months. For dispersed camping in Adams National Forest, you'll need to check with the local ranger district office as requirements vary by location. At Red Bridge State Wayside, camping is managed with a fee system. Always verify current permit requirements before your trip as regulations may change seasonally and annually.

When is the best time of year to camp in Adams?

The ideal camping season in Adams is late spring through early fall (May-September), when temperatures are most comfortable and facilities are fully operational. Grande Hot Springs RV Resort is an excellent year-round option with thermal features that make it enjoyable even in cooler months. Summer provides warm days ideal for outdoor activities, while Umatilla Marina & RV Park offers water recreation opportunities during the warmer months. Fall brings beautiful foliage and fewer crowds, but nights get cooler. Winter camping is possible but requires preparation for potential snow and freezing temperatures.

What are the best hiking trails in Mount Adams?

Mount Adams offers several excellent hiking trails for all skill levels. Near Hilgard Junction State Park Campground, you can access trails along the Grande Ronde river and even connect to a section of the historic Oregon Trail. The park features both riverside trails and more strenuous paths heading north. For more challenging hikes, the trails near Jubilee Lake Campground in Umatilla National Forest provide scenic forest routes. Most trails are best hiked from late spring through early fall when conditions are dry and temperatures are moderate.