Gresham sits at the eastern edge of the Portland metropolitan area, about 17 miles from downtown Portland and at an elevation of around 300 feet. The Sandy River runs along its eastern boundary, providing water recreation options during summer months when temperatures typically range from 75°F to 85°F. RV parks near Gresham offer varying levels of amenities and accessibility to both urban conveniences and natural attractions.
What to do
River activities: Enjoy fishing or swimming at Sandy Riverfront RV Resort, which provides direct access to the Sandy River. "The absolutely best part about this park is that it's across the street from Sugarpine Drive-in. Somewhat expensive (for a drive-in) but oh-so-delicious food. It's also right on the Sandy River where you can enjoy the beautiful views and swim (very carefully...bring life-vests to be safe)," notes one camper.
Hiking trails: Access multiple forest paths from Mt Hood Village Resort, which serves as a convenient basecamp for outdoor exploration. "The campground is well taken care of, the staffing are friendly, awesome amenities, perfect home base for dropping off camper and taking off for hiking and mushroom hunting adventures," shares a visitor.
Urban exploration: Visit historic downtown Troutdale, just minutes from several RV parks. "Bike into cute town of Troutdale very close. Right on the river," reports one camper staying at Sandy Riverfront RV Resort, where concrete pads provide level camping with river views.
What campers like
Swimming pool access: Portland Fairview RV Park offers recreational facilities that campers appreciate. "I'll be honest. I wasn't expecting much from this RV Park. It's not in the most exciting area of Portland (the closet thing is a Walmart down the road). But it's actually quite lovely. Nice and clean. Plenty of green space, trees," says one reviewer who particularly noted the pool area.
Pet amenities: Many area RV parks have designated pet areas, making travel with animals more convenient. "Columbia River RV Park has daily, weekly, and monthly rates, which vary with the size of the space. The park has two off-leash dog areas, two shower facilities, a community kitchen, a rec room that you can use for gatherings," explains one long-term visitor.
River views: Sites overlooking water features command premium rates but provide scenic settings. According to one visitor to Sandy Riverfront RV Resort, "Book early to enjoy the spaces that overlook the Sandy River, otherwise you'll just be looking at other RVs."
What you should know
Train noise: Several RV parks experience railroad disruptions that might affect light sleepers. One camper at Sandy Riverfront notes, "Train bridge across from the park so there is train noise," while another mentions "You do hear noises from the distant freeway and airport."
Varying water pressure: Utility quality differs between campgrounds. At Columbia River RV Park, one visitor observed, "Water pressure is the lowest we've ever experienced. Not sure what's going on but all of the folks we've talked to are experiencing the same."
Reservation systems: After-hours check-in processes vary. "We rolled in after hours, office closed but they are so organized, available spots are clearly indicated with specific instructions," reports a camper at Sandy Riverfront RV Resort, while at Columbia River RV Park, "We arrived late in the evening, and the staff met us and showed us to our room, which was especially helpful in the dark."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Jantzen Beach RV Park offers multiple recreational facilities for children. "My kiddos absolutely loved the three pools, playground, and basketball hoops. Plenty to check out and explore for them even if this was not your typical 'campground' experience," shares one parent.
Swimming options: Multiple pools are available at some parks for different ages and abilities. "While I thought the odd location in such a commercial area as well as the combination of trailer park and RV park was a little strange, my kiddos absolutely loved the three pools, playground, and basketball hoops," notes a family visitor to Jantzen Beach RV Park.
Indoor recreation: Mt Hood Village offers all-weather activities. "We had an RV on site. Used the indoor swimming pool and the restaurant for some breakfasts & lunches. Food was adequate. There is a playground onsite for those with children and plenty of bike paths and walking paths to keep you busy," reports a family camper.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Choose pull-through sites when available for easier parking. "Most sites are pull through. Full hookups worked well for us," notes a visitor to Mt Hood Village Resort, while another camper mentions "the spots are typically close together, but some have more separation than others."
Extended stay options: Monthly rates provide significant savings for longer visits to Gresham area RV parks. "Spent 3 months here on contract. Very nice staff and the grounds were kept up nice. Spaces can be a little crowded but our overall visit was good," shares one extended-stay camper at Roamers Rest RV Park.
Connectivity considerations: WiFi quality varies significantly between properties. A Mt Hood Village visitor notes, "The Lodge has wifi, the rest of the park does not," while another mentions "Verizon phones and T-Mobile hotspot had great signal here and the park offered free cable service."
