Aimee H.
Guide
GuideOxbow Regional Park
Wooded escape
Great place to have a peaceful evening or longer. Showers are hot, facilities are well maintained and provided the sites aren’t all booked, there is a decent amount of space between visitors.
Camping near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area offers camping options across several developed campgrounds on both the Oregon and Washington sides of the river. Established campgrounds like Lost Lake Resort, Ainsworth State Park, and Cascade Locks KOA provide facilities for tent and RV camping, with some offering cabins or yurt accommodations. Most sites feature picnic tables, fire rings, and restroom facilities, with varying levels of hookups depending on the campground. The area includes both forest service and state park operations, with several campgrounds positioned along the river offering scenic views of the Columbia Gorge.
Seasonal availability limits most camping between April and October, with many campgrounds closing during winter months. Tucker Park operates from April through October, while Cascade Locks KOA welcomes visitors from February to mid-October. Road access remains generally good throughout the camping season, with most developed sites accessible by standard vehicles. Reservations are strongly recommended during peak summer months when sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. "Wyeth is a very nice national campground. It's well maintained, has flushing toilets, and has great access to hiking and biking trails," noted one camper about Wyeth Campground.
Visitors frequently mention the tall trees and natural shade found in campgrounds throughout the region. The proximity to hiking trails and biking paths represents a significant draw, with many campgrounds serving as convenient baselines for exploring the area's waterfalls and scenic viewpoints. Several campgrounds provide direct river access or fishing opportunities. Train noise affects campgrounds situated near the tracks on both sides of the river, which multiple reviewers have mentioned. As one visitor reported about Home Valley Campground, "The train passes right next to this campsite day and night (with horn) so keep in mind the noise from that." Despite this, most campers rate their experiences positively, citing the beautiful forest settings and convenient access to Gorge activities.
Best Camping Sites Near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (375)
1. Lost Lake Resort And Campground — Mt. Hood National Forest
55 ReviewsRhododendron, OR14 miles+1 (541) 386-6366$45 - $125 / night
"I have kind of a love/hate thing going on for Lost Lake Campgrounds. Pros: It is beautiful. There's a reason it's one of Oregon's most photographed sites."
"Lost Lake Resort & Campground is somewhere we go at least once each summer. It has that nostalgic summer-camp vibe. A little more spendy than your typical Oregon campsite, but serene and private."
2. Tucker Park Campground
39 ReviewsHood River, OR10 milesWebsite+1 (541) 386-4477$25 - $60 / night
"The campsites are relatively close but not so much that you’re walking over each other we camped in our RV and secured a second spot so we could have the space between the campground is very close to the"
"Excellent faculties with easy access to amenities. Sat by a campfire pit in the evenings and went to sleep with the sound of the river surrounding us. What more could you ask for."
3. Cascade Locks KOA
23 ReviewsCascade Locks, OR5 milesWebsite+1 (541) 374-8668$27 / night
"There is a train that runs along the back of the campground which can be loud if your site is close by. The train noise did not bother us in the center of the park where we were."
"We also did the Historic Highway 30 and saw all the waterfalls. Stop in at Gorges Brewery, nice beer, I loved the Stout."
4. Viento State Park Campground
24 ReviewsColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, OR5 milesWebsite+1 (541) 374-8811$24 - $31 / night
"Viento is a nice state park along 84 right outside of hood river. It is along the columbia river and has beach access."
"Great location here in the gorge for hiking biking river access here at the park direct access to the bike trail. large sites, showers and bathrooms hiking trails in the park as well."
5. Ainsworth State Park Campground
43 ReviewsNorth Bonneville, WA15 milesWebsite+1 (503) 695-2261$29 - $53 / night
"All are very close to the highway so you will hear road noise and trains thundering past on the adjacent tracks."
"Picture a hillside with a winding road surrounded by thick green trees. Ainsworth is that place. Absolutely gorgeous."
6. Eagle Creek Campground
22 ReviewsNorth Bonneville, WA8 milesWebsite+1 (541) 308-1700$15 / night
"But nice hiking trails near by. Close to highway so can be kinda noisy. Very close to Portland. Camp host could pick up more garbage though."
"Near the Hood River and a short distance to Mt Hood trails and surrounding"
7. Toll Bridge Park Campground
30 ReviewsHood River, OR15 milesWebsite+1 (541) 387-6889$35 - $80 / night
"The campground itself is quite small, with some sites closer together and not enjoying that much privacy, and others tucked further back with more privacy."
"That’s what led us to Tollbridge, a lightly used campsite 15 miles south of Ukiah on Highway 325."
8. Panther Creek Campground
20 ReviewsCarson, WA10 milesWebsite+1 (541) 338-7869$25 - $45 / night
"Some camp sots are better situated then others, so do research before making reservation."
"Located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, just north of the town of Carson. Its about a 20 minute drive to the Columbia river, and 10 minutes to the small town of Carson."
9. Home Valley Campground
14 ReviewsCarson, WA1 mileWebsite+1 (509) 427-3980$20 / night
"So unless you find a place away from the river and out of the gorge, you will just have to deal with that. So bring ear plugs if you're not a very heavy sleeper. The camp hosts were super friendly."
"Tons of boats here during spring salmon runs at Drano lake and the wind river but we would absolutely come back. "
10. Wyeth Campground at the Gorge
12 ReviewsCarson, WA0 miles+1 (541) 308-1700$20 - $30 / night
"So nice to have first come/first serve campgrounds so close to Portland. I arrived around 2 on a Wednesday in August and grabbed one of 3 open sites."
"Easy access to biking along the Columbia River. Sites are well distance apart, some more private than others depending on trees and terrain.
Water, trash and toilets available."
Recent Camping Photos near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
669 Photos of 375 Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Campgrounds
S. Renae M.
Wind Mountain RV Park
Robert N.
Home Valley Campground
Lanae
Wyeth Campground at the Gorge
Michelle K.
Timberlake Campground & RV
Chris H.
Rainy Lake Campground
Greg L.
Viento State Park Campground
Matt R.
Cascade Locks KOA
Corinna B.
Skamania County Fairgrounds
Jenny R.
Port of Cascade Locks Campground
Michael K.
Columbia Gorge Getaways
Joshua C.
Eagle Creek Campground
Henry N.
Eagle Creek Overlook Group Campground
Recent Reviews near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
2047 Reviews of 375 Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Campgrounds
- RRose A.
TravelerLittle Soda Springs Rd Dispersed
Great Little Spot
I enjoy treasured spots near water & this is certainly one of them. This area is very clean. It’s near long hiking trails. There seems to be dispersed camping all around this area, however this specific spot by the bridge is not near busy roads.. it’s off a gravel road, so when there is traffic it’s slow. Forest service does come around, friendly and helpful. Bathroom area a good walk up past the horse camp. Very long intricate forest trails. Peaceful quiet and about 15 minutes away from cell service, fuel, food, supplies. Soft dirt tent areas, RV areas, the river beach is mostly large rocks. Loved it!
- LLaura S.Traveler
Celilo Park Recreation Area
Celilo Village
Beautful park along the Columbia River. Interesting history. Day use, tent camping Friday through Sunday, or seven days in the designated parking area. Restrooms, garbage dumpsters, veiws of barges or cruise paddle boats on the river. Cell service works great. The only drawback is if the interstate noise or traffic from trains bothers you. Located right next to both.
- MMike J.Traveler
Pine Point Campground
Beautiful and not crowded
Lots of good day use spots but $10 fee, worth it, families just cart stuff down the trail its bikes only most of the way. They dont make that obvious if you're a big rv be careful around the end youll be doing point turns to get back out. Dispersed camping is a quick bike ride for cell signal
DahliaGuidepinnacle Ridge dispersed camping
Would have been a nice spot
I mainly wanted to camp at this spot because of the view, and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. However, the best spot to see Mount Hood is at the top/end of the road which doesn't have much room for many people. When we got there, we saw a group of 10 people already camped out, and there was not enough space for us. They had 3 trucks, and probably 7 tents. There are a couple spots down the road which is where we ended up. Not a bad spot. Lots of room for tents and 1-2 cars. You can kinda see the mountain, but there are lots of trees blocking the view. Unfortunately, the first night we were supposed to stay, we got informed of a fire evacuation warning and ended up leaving. I would love to come back and stay in this beautiful place though. The only other downside is a VERY rocky and rough road.
- CColleen B.Traveler
Iron Creek Camp on Forest Road 7708
Extremely close to road, and so many bugs
This spot is just after the turnoff forest road 25 toward Mosquito Meadows. No need to go two miles, all the mosquitos are at this spot! Not unexpected since it’s by a creek, but still a drawback.
The spot is small and surrounded by trees, but within hearing of forest road 25, which is pretty busy
Kent R.GuidePromontory Park
Close to Portland, Yet Far Enough to Get Away
As other people have said, sometimes there is little separation between sites. Plus, sometimes the sites, other than were you park your trailer, are rocky and not at all level. There was a level spot near the back for a tent. The terrain is offset by the VERY tall trees throwing a lot of shade. The sun sets behind the hill across the lake, so it gets completely shady in the late afternoon. Note that the sites next to the river have chain-link fences to keep you from falling off a bluff and into the river, which, when we stayed there near the end of June, was still almost ice cold.
We chose to stay in a non-electric site, and were only able to get a little sunshine for our solar panels to help recharge.
As a product of the 1950s, the sites have a maximum RV/trailer length of 20 feet. Our 18-foot trailer and mid-size SUV fit easily. Navigation can be tricky.
My only complaint about the showers is that the non-adjustable water temperature was near-scalding hot. The showers and bathrooms were clean.
The cooking station near us was very handy for boiling water to cook pasta.
The store at the marina next door has an amazing variety of stuff for campers, including ice.
- MMark J.
ScoutMemaloose State Park Campground
Columbia Gorge Viewpoint spot
Great spot to take in the view of the Columbia Gorge area. Site B37 FHU paved with the use of 1” level board on the driver side. Nice spacing with other sites . B27, B29, B31, B33 and B35 are the best sites for the views. All nice amenities. One hour drive to PDX. The only downside is the odd way to enter the state park via rest area ramp on I84.
- mmitzi M.Guide
Wyeth Campground at the Gorge
Lovely qnd quiet spot
This campground is fairly primitive. It’s also fairly inexpensive. I Boondock in a tent site and it was very lovely. It is obviously an older campground from the days when Highway 30 was the main road through the gorge.
This campground is not patrolled by Rangers every day they come through probably twice a day. It is not clean or kept up and the only reason I left four stars instead of five is because the flesh toilets are not working. And I do believe they could fix that problem even though I don’t even know what the problem is. It’s hard to say.
I like the fact that it’s not properly maintained and the roads all swept and the pinecones all gone. I appreciate the rustic and even though it’s relatively close to I 84 the noise becomes background and you can convince yourself. It’s a creek. The other reason, I only left four stars is because the hiking trails are not marked and that would be very helpful If you want a quiet out-of-the-way spot, this is a good one.
Guide to Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area campsites span across forested slopes ranging from near sea level to 4,000 feet in elevation, creating diverse camping microclimates throughout the region. Most campsites are tucked into Douglas fir and western hemlock forests that provide natural shade and wind protection. Several campgrounds remain open year-round despite the region's 70+ inches of annual rainfall concentrated between October and April.
What to do
Waterfall hikes from camp: Several trails lead directly from campgrounds to scenic waterfalls. At Eagle Creek Campground, "a trail and stream to explore right from the campground" make it easy to discover nearby cascades. One camper noted that Wyeth Campground provides "great access to hiking and biking trails" with "a short ways to Emerald Falls."
Water sports access: The Columbia River offers multiple water recreation opportunities. At Toll Bridge Park Campground, you'll find "many places to sit in the water and play and it doesn't move too terribly fast." The park's location makes it "close to everything. Mountain biking, hiking, fishing, boardsailing, kite boarding... This area is a maca for all season sports."
Mountain biking: The region offers extensive trail systems for cyclists of all abilities. Wyeth Campground features "a paved off-road bike trail. I took it 6 miles up to Venieto State Park. Along the highway, but still very pretty." Another camper noted that Timberlake Campground's camp host "noticed we were traveling with mountain bikes and was kind enough to lead us to some great trails just outside of Hood River."
What campers like
Tent-specific sites: Some campgrounds offer special accommodations for tent campers. Ainsworth State Park features "6 walk-in tent sites and a hiker/biker campground with no reservations required," which often remain available when other sites fill up. At Wyeth Campground, "the walk-in tent sites look nice" according to multiple reviewers.
River proximity: Many campers appreciate sites positioned near water. Tucker Park Campground offers riverside spots where "we spent two nights at one of the river sites with easy access to the river. The campsite was scattered with smooth rocks perfect for tanning and nice sandy beaches along the river for your fur companions to cool off."
Swimming holes: Natural swimming areas provide relief during summer heat. At Lost Lake Resort, "the lake is always cold no matter the season. Really easy fishing if you're just learning." Another camper explained that Tucker Park has "both day use and river access from the camping area were lovely and the water was perfect to cool off after a hot day."
What you should know
Train noise: Railroad tracks run alongside several campgrounds, creating significant noise disturbances. At Cascade Locks KOA, "the freight train runs about every 30 minutes including overnight. The first time was a big surprise, but we got used to it." The campground has adapted by providing "ear plugs" for guests.
Highway proximity: Many campgrounds sit close to Interstate 84, resulting in traffic noise. Viento State Park is "very close to I-84 and to a very active railroad, so it's pretty noisy." Another camper noted, "You can hear the highway from the sites" at Wyeth Campground, though they added there are still "lots of trees and lots of privacy."
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. At Lost Lake Resort, "most day-use sites are first-come, first-served. By the time we arrived, all the sites that were accessible for someone with disabilities were occupied." Another camper advised, "DO NOT DRIVE YOUR RV DOWN TO THE STORE. Park at your site or somewhere near it and walk to the store. Not great for large equipment."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. Panther Creek Campground offers "multiple access points to the creek" where families can explore safely. At Tucker Park, there's "a playground and well maintained showers and bathrooms (very clean). The real magic here though is the sound of the river as you drift off to sleep."
Swimming opportunities: Family-friendly water access points make hot weather more bearable. Toll Bridge Park has "a childrens park and covered picnic area. Nestled at the base of Mount Hood, this is an area not to be missed." Tucker Park features "many places to sit in the water and play" with relatively gentle currents.
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer organized programs and amenities designed for children. At Cascade Locks KOA, "there's kids running absolutely everywhere. Pool and playground were fine, too." Another camper noted, "Bring your bike for riding around and you can also head into the nearby little town for plenty of good food and ice cream."
Tips for RVers
Site accessibility: Some campgrounds have challenging access for larger rigs. At Timberlake Campground & RV, "Some of the sites are on the smaller side and a little tricky to back into but doable." However, "Don't be scared away because there are no pull through spots. The management can coach you into the site. They were great."
Hook-up availability: Electrical services vary widely between campgrounds. Toll Bridge Park offers riverside sites with electrical connections, where one camper "came here on a hot summer day when I wanted to plug in for A/C. This place was perfect." At Viento State Park, RV sites are better equipped than tent sites, though campers noted the "sites are small" overall.
Size restrictions: Many gorge campgrounds have specific length limitations. At Wyeth Campground, "The sign at entrance says 30 foot max length for trailers." Another camper with "a short bed truck and a 22' trailer" had "a very hard time getting into the spot we reserved (site 8)" because "the roads are very narrow and are lined with curbs."
Frequently Asked Questions
What permits are required for camping in the Columbia River Gorge?
What permits are required for camping in the Columbia River Gorge?
Camping permits in the Columbia River Gorge vary by location. Most developed campgrounds like Deschutes River State Recreation Area require standard campsite reservations through state park systems or recreation.gov. For day use at popular attractions like Multnomah Falls Parking Lot (Day Use), a $2 timed-entry reservation permit is required during peak seasons. Washington State Parks like Beacon Rock and Maryhill require Discover Passes for day use and separate camping fees. Some recreation sites along the Lower Deschutes River operate on a first-come, first-served basis. National Forest campgrounds typically require Northwest Forest Passes for parking and separate campsite fees. Always check the specific campground's website before your trip as permit requirements can change seasonally.
Where are the best camping spots in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
Where are the best camping spots in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
The Columbia River Gorge offers diverse camping experiences for all preferences. Beacon Rock State Park Campground provides a popular base with amazing views and access to the iconic rock formation trail. For those seeking riverside camping, Macks Canyon Recreation Site offers primitive sites at the end of the Lower Deschutes Access Road. Water enthusiasts will appreciate Columbia Hills Historical State Park Campground near Horse-thief Lake, though be prepared for gorge winds. Just outside the immediate gorge area, Trillium Lake provides stunning Mount Hood views across pristine waters. For convenient interstate access with full facilities, consider Cascade Locks KOA or Eagle Creek Campground.
What camping is available near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
What camping is available near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
According to TheDyrt.com, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area offers a wide range of camping options, with 375 campgrounds and RV parks near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and 69 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
Which is the most popular campground near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is Lost Lake Resort And Campground — Mt. Hood National Forest with a 4.3-star rating from 55 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 69 free dispersed camping spots near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
What parks are near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
What parks are near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area that allow camping, notably Mt. Hood National Forest and Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
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