Searching for the best camping near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla, OR? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla is surrounded by family-friendly activities. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Oregon camping adventure.
Looking for Deschutes River camping? Look no further than the campground at Deschutes River State Recreation Area. Located in north-central Oregon, this campground gives you access not only to the Deschutes River, but also the Columbia, with tons of fun activities year-round. This campground has four loops full of campgrounds for tent campers, RVers and backpackers alike.
This is The Deschutes River Rec. Area, which is on the Columbia River, not the Deschutes campground at The Cove Palisades State Park near Madras.
Welcome to Deschutes State Recreation Area. We have 32 miles of bike trails and 7.5 miles of hiking trails. All sites allow Tents or RVs (with a 24 foot combined vehicle length restriction in T-Loop). A-Loop electric sites have 50/30/20 amp connections available. Restroom building closed from from late fall to early spring. Port-a-potty available. There is no water available from from late fall to early spring.
MAKE SURE YOUR SITE MEETS YOUR CAMPING NEEDS Before reserving, please become familiar with the particulars of your chosen site, including the size of the tent pad area and the type of equipment that you may bring to the park. Site details and tent pad sizes can be viewed online by clicking on the site name.
Peach Beach RV and Campground is a small privately owned park right on the Columbia River. It has beautiful trees and green grass, lots of places to launch and swim. Family and pet friendly, back in, pull thru and sites right on the water. Newly remodeled bathhouse and friendly camp hosts.
$40 - $45 / night
$10 / night
This recreation area is part of The Dalles Lock and Dam, Lake Celilo
The stars seem to shine brighter at this campground on the east end of the Columbia River Gorge, 11 miles west of The Dalles. Campsites look over the river and the park’s namesake, Memaloose Island, a place sacred to the indigenous people of the Columbia River Gorge. They would lay the bones of their dead on open pyres on the island. Also buried there is an early settler and town promoter of The Dalles, Senator Victor Trevitt. A granite monument visible from Memaloose campground marks his grave. Today, the park is a gateway to exploring The Dalles and the east end of the Gorge. Visitors will enjoy spring wildflowers and the cooling shade of the maple, willow and cottonwood trees. On summer nights, the park’s grassy meadows are the perfect spot to observe the nightly celestial performance. Campground 43 full-hookup sites 66 tent sites with water nearby Flush toilets and hot showers RV dump station
$27 - $38 / night
LePage Park is located at the confluence of the John Day and Columbia Rivers just five miles from Rufus, Oregon, and the John Day Dam. Popular activities include river fishing, swimming, water skiing and boating.
Visitors enjoy boating, water sports and swimming in the river. Anglers fish for smallmouth bass, catfish, and abundant sunfish. A boat ramp is located at the campground for convenient river access.
The park is situated in a river basin with a high desert climate. Mature shade trees line the edges of this open grassy park on the banks of the John Day River. Wildlife is abundant in the area, such as mule deer, waterfowl, and birds of prey.
Between 04/15/2024 and 10/15/2024 this location is staffed. Please call (541) 739-2713 to speak with local staff. From 10/16/2024 to 10/31/2030 this location is unstaffed. Please call (541) 739-1135 for general information.
$30 / night
Campground closed for the season. Note: Bonneville Power Administration is replacing transmission lines. Due to severe safety hazards, public access will be restricted in the work area. The area under the powerlines is closed to the public until December 2021. The remainder of the park and shoreline are open for public use. Operated by the Army Corp of Engineers, Giles L. French Park offers free primitive camping and up to 14 days of use. First-come, first-serve; no reservations. Also included: bathrooms, boat ramp, dock, and trails. There are no reservations for primitive campsites. All primitive campsites are first-come, first-serve with a 7-day use limit. Camping permitted April 1 - October 31
This recreation area is part of The Dalles Lock and Dam, Lake Celilo
$25 - $60 / night
Looking for Deschutes River camping? Look no further than the campground at Deschutes River State Recreation Area. Located in north-central Oregon, this campground gives you access not only to the Deschutes River, but also the Columbia, with tons of fun activities year-round. This campground has four loops full of campgrounds for tent campers, RVers and backpackers alike.
This is The Deschutes River Rec. Area, which is on the Columbia River, not the Deschutes campground at The Cove Palisades State Park near Madras.
Welcome to Deschutes State Recreation Area. We have 32 miles of bike trails and 7.5 miles of hiking trails. All sites allow Tents or RVs (with a 24 foot combined vehicle length restriction in T-Loop). A-Loop electric sites have 50/30/20 amp connections available. Restroom building closed from from late fall to early spring. Port-a-potty available. There is no water available from from late fall to early spring.
MAKE SURE YOUR SITE MEETS YOUR CAMPING NEEDS Before reserving, please become familiar with the particulars of your chosen site, including the size of the tent pad area and the type of equipment that you may bring to the park. Site details and tent pad sizes can be viewed online by clicking on the site name.
Peach Beach RV and Campground is a small privately owned park right on the Columbia River. It has beautiful trees and green grass, lots of places to launch and swim. Family and pet friendly, back in, pull thru and sites right on the water. Newly remodeled bathhouse and friendly camp hosts.
$40 - $45 / night
$10 / night
The stars seem to shine brighter at this campground on the east end of the Columbia River Gorge, 11 miles west of The Dalles. Campsites look over the river and the park’s namesake, Memaloose Island, a place sacred to the indigenous people of the Columbia River Gorge. They would lay the bones of their dead on open pyres on the island. Also buried there is an early settler and town promoter of The Dalles, Senator Victor Trevitt. A granite monument visible from Memaloose campground marks his grave. Today, the park is a gateway to exploring The Dalles and the east end of the Gorge. Visitors will enjoy spring wildflowers and the cooling shade of the maple, willow and cottonwood trees. On summer nights, the park’s grassy meadows are the perfect spot to observe the nightly celestial performance. Campground 43 full-hookup sites 66 tent sites with water nearby Flush toilets and hot showers RV dump station
$27 - $38 / night
LePage Park is located at the confluence of the John Day and Columbia Rivers just five miles from Rufus, Oregon, and the John Day Dam. Popular activities include river fishing, swimming, water skiing and boating.
Visitors enjoy boating, water sports and swimming in the river. Anglers fish for smallmouth bass, catfish, and abundant sunfish. A boat ramp is located at the campground for convenient river access.
The park is situated in a river basin with a high desert climate. Mature shade trees line the edges of this open grassy park on the banks of the John Day River. Wildlife is abundant in the area, such as mule deer, waterfowl, and birds of prey.
Between 04/15/2024 and 10/15/2024 this location is staffed. Please call (541) 739-2713 to speak with local staff. From 10/16/2024 to 10/31/2030 this location is unstaffed. Please call (541) 739-1135 for general information.
$30 / night
Campground closed for the season. Note: Bonneville Power Administration is replacing transmission lines. Due to severe safety hazards, public access will be restricted in the work area. The area under the powerlines is closed to the public until December 2021. The remainder of the park and shoreline are open for public use. Operated by the Army Corp of Engineers, Giles L. French Park offers free primitive camping and up to 14 days of use. First-come, first-serve; no reservations. Also included: bathrooms, boat ramp, dock, and trails. There are no reservations for primitive campsites. All primitive campsites are first-come, first-serve with a 7-day use limit. Camping permitted April 1 - October 31
Traveler
This was a very last-minute stop for us & we didn’t look up the reviews first. To mirror what the other reviews have said, the trains run all throughout the night. Because of that, plus the noise from the freeway, I was surprised by the 3-star rating, so gave my rating accordingly. We’ve been on a month-long trip & would not consider this place 3 stars. The location is convenient & the campground is nestled in the trees, but it’s not enough to offset the noise. Speaking of the trains again — we’ve stayed at many campgrounds where trains can be heard, but never like this… We were woken up by blaring train horns at least 8 times in the middle of the night. So if you value sleep at all, I would say there are plenty of other options in the area to choose from
Scout
Very nice and secluded... Only critique is not stocked with much of everyday things.. Coffee ect. But loved the yurt!!!
Scout
I mostly want to balance out these other reviews. No one said something that wasn’t true, but the weight that they seem to put on how disruptive the trains are surprising to me. You don’t just have trains passing, you have them blowing their horn multiple times a night, and they are close enough you can feel their vibration. If you are a very VERY deep sleeper, I’d say this is a 5 star stop. I wore noise canceling headphones and played a white noise machine in the background- and still had to take a sleeping pill at 3am after being woken up multiple times.
RangerFirst time here, not particularly enamored with the campground for several reasons.
Nestled in the trees and between Hwy 84 and the Union Pacific Railroad, both are busy and can be heard all day and night.
No dump station anywhere in this campground, you can dump and either campground to the west or the east but not convenient.
Spaces are tight and we would not have been able to get into our spot if the person across from us did not kindly move her vehicle. Our rig is not that large, at 26'.
The good is the river which is an easy walk or e-bike ride. Lots of trails to ride but they say no e-scooters but okay for e-bikes. This was not enforced since my brother and sister in law rode their scooters all over the place.
RV camping is separated from the tent camping which would make it nice for tent campers.
Fun to ride the paved trails, go to the Columbia River and watch the sail boarders doing their thing.
TravelerShowed up here during the evening after a long day on the road and if I wasn’t so tired I would’ve kept going. There’s someone that obviously lives here in their RV with a lot of “stuff” scattered about.
Ranger
Had a great few nights at this awesome campground with friends . All sites are very large, flat and most have bonus room for hanging out or visiting. The views of Mt Adams are just awesome. There are hiking trails and several places to enjoy trout lake while hiking. There were deer on the trail today. This campground is very clean and has ice available along with propane fill if you need it. We will return.
TravelerThis is a nice campground with lots of trees and shade but it sits between I-84 and the Columbia River which has a major train line so it's not necessarily a quiet campground (trains run all night). No dump station available but we had electric and water. Not much grass anywhere and things were really dusty due to dryness and heat of the summer. You can't see the river from the campground but you can walk to it (or drive to it) and there are several picnic tables near the river. There is a nature trail but it is not marked well at all to find the beginning of it. Convenient to Hood River though and an easy drive to Cascade Locks for ice cream at the local dairy dine.
Ranger
Stayed 3 nights and had a great time rafting on the river. Lots of options for RV and tent camping. Group sites are available (3). Restrooms could use an update but functional. All camp staff hosts are helpful and friendly. Will come back again. This campground is popular and books up quickly.
GuideNice find in the forest. Very peaceful with huge sites. There are only 3 sites for tent camping. If you have a camper or RV very large parking lot to camp in. Nice hiking trails throughout the sno-park that we took advantage of. We got up next morning and hike the falls down the Hwy. Camp sites are right off Hwy. A little Hwy. noise but at night fall only a couple of cars. We did pack out a lot of other people’s trash at both sites. Sad to see so much trash left behind when there are garbage cans right next to the pit toilets. Definitely will come back.
Guide
Quiet campground with clean vault toilets. Many of the sites are very close to each other and some do not accommodate even a small trailer. Small stream near by with limited access. Monte Carlo and Monte Cristo trails are close by but were under repair by WTA. There were some mountain lions near the camp while we were there, 2 separate sightings, probably moving because of the work on the nearby trails
ScoutOverall experience was great…. with a caveat. It’s a small camping park, sites are small and close to each other. However the park is clean and well maintained. Our only issue is that our first night, at about 2am, I was woken up by footsteps outside our trailer window. I looked out to see we hat appeared to be a younger adult male dressed in all black who pulled the coolers and chairs out from under our trailer and pulled two booze bottles out of the cooler and had them on the picnic table getting ready to take them. I opened the door and scared him into running by yelling at him. This is my first time, in 40+ years camping that I’ve had anything like this happen. So at 2:15 this morning, I was outside hauling all of our gear into the trailer. Joke was on him though, the bottles were filled with water to freeze and use as ice. Just beware, this is a nice little park, but don’t leave your valuables out overnight.
We reported it to the office, who told us they’ve been having the issue recently, that they think it’s local teens, but their hands were being tied by local police on how to catch the thieves. I called local non emergency and reported the incident to them in hopes they might step up patrols or something.
Traveler
Wonderful little place between a park and an orchard. Camp hosts are cool, they all live in Skoolies. Right on the river. Clean facilities. One star off for the noise. There’s a highway and railroad tracks in the backyard and the same across the river. If you’re a rail-fan, you’ll dig it. But it never really quiets down, you get used to it a bit. Campers are courteous and friendly and quiet. Sites west of the entrance seem to have a bit more shade than sites to the east. The wind can be a factor. Nice place to bring the dog. This is my second time here, I’ll keep it on the list.
Scout
This is a nice little park, it’s a little misleading when you pull in as there is an Indian reservation next to it that looks like a bunch of homeless camps, so be careful where you park your rig. Also if you’re tent camping, I found out from the camp host that you may want to check with him before you set up a tent as there are automatic sprinklers that come on certain days
GuideGreat spot right on the shores of the Columbia River. There’s a pit toilet, and a garbage dumpster on-site. Over half the “sites” are right on the water, while the others are less than 50 feet away.
It is just a big gravel parking lot, so don’t expect any privacy, but it’s still a great spot with Mount Hood visible down the river.
There are train tracks and a controlled crossing right beside the campground, which means it’s loud - and even through the night, trains do blow their horns at this crossing. I’m not a light sleeper, but it even woke me up a handful of times through the night.
Aside from that, this spot is pretty fantastic though!
Legend
We had no issues finding this campground(CG). We followed the instructions on our confirmation email where we got off I-84 east of the CG where there was signage to the Recreation Area and CG. We entered the park and there was no check-in gate, so we proceeded to back-in site A-27 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP). Our nightly rate was$0 due to the Oregon Disable Veterans Pass. You do not have to be a state resident to get this pass. The back-in was fairly easy with plenty of room to maneuver. We had enough room for our 40’ fifth wheel and parking our F450 truck at an angle. The electric worked fine and the water pressure was on the low side, but fine for our overnighter. The A loop has water and electric where the other loops are dry camping with B loop able to support RVs or tents. Our site was about 50 yards from the Deschutes River and there are tie downs along the river for boats. There are a lot of mature trees in the A loop so satellite could be iffy. We did not put out Starlink for this overnighter. We got 1 to 2 bars on Verizon. There was a shower house not too far from our site. There isn’t dump station in the CG, but there’s a COE and other options near the CG. We had a nice view of the Deschutes River. There was loud train noise as they blow the horn and the trains run all night. There's an Oregon Trail and other historical memorials within the CG area that are worth checking out. The nearest gas/diesel and minor amenities are about 15 minutes away in Rufus. All in all we enjoyed our overnighter and would not hesitate coming back.
ScoutDay I arrived was very windy and being a first timer I thought that was normal. Spoke with many campers who had been coming to Peach Beach for years and they said it was very unusual. Next few days, glorious. Lots of trees so shade from hot sun is plentiful. Tons of stuff to do: Maryhill Winery (ya gotta try their charcuterie board!!), Marhill Museum (better set aside at least an hour for this), Stonehenge. In July the peaches are plentiful and delicious. Camp was quiet (except for trains all day and night - bring earplugs and you'll be fine), bathrooms are extremely clean and modern. Shower did rotate from hot to cold every 30 seconds or so...not sure what that was about. Overall, had a good time with friends and will go back for sure.
Traveler
We look forward to our annual camping trip to Trout Lake every year. The view of Mt Adams is amazing and the park is a great place to have family gatherings. We love it there!
Traveler
Good parking area for us, not many here or could get a little tight depending on how people park. It does not have shade so a little warm in August! Be self contained 😀
Traveler
The price for FHU was very reasonable. Access to the wifi was great. The views were interesting. Once you get past the big industrial plant, the sunset in the river was nice.
4 trains rolled by in the middle of the night. They blew their horns every time.
Traveler
There's a handful of dispersed campsites throughout NF44 and various side roads. I had several options to choose from and never saw another person. This was on a Thursday afternoon.
Scout
Camped at site 5 with an E-Pro 19FD. Sites are back in and have well maintained level sites of crushed gravel. The first time I haven't had to level the trailer side to side. Water and Electrical hookups well maintained. Site is all gravel.
Walking to the Columbia River and viewing the petroglyphs is an enjoyable stroll. Restrooms and Showers are well maintained and clean.
Watch out for the incredible amount of goose poop. There was an area roped off so as not to disturb a nesting Eagle that could be viewed with the naked eye.
If your a fan of trains you are right next to the BNSF tracks.
Best Park Hosts that I have ever meet. Very knowledgeable on local sites and and things to do/visit. They are constantly busy keeping the park in order.
Guide
If you're in an RV, be prepared for some SERIOUS white knuckle driving if you cross the Hood River bridge. It's two lane, NINE FEET WIDE. Most RVs will have inches to spare. I had to slow to a crawl and was trying my best not to rip the side of my rig open.
Now, regarding the campground. The host, Shirlene, who runs the office, has the poorest customer skills I've ever encountered. She never could remember what she discussed with me, and was very rude and short over email. I had a two month reservation which I actually cancelled because she scared me away with her terrible people skills.
I'm sure the campground is well maintained, but the management sucks. Too many other places in the area who are happy to have your business. Avoid this turkey at all costs.
P.S. Be aware that this outfit expects you to pay IN FULL for the reservation at the time you make it. This might be OK for a day or even a week, but I was planning to stay for 2 months. No damn way am I paying a grand for the place a year in advance. They should learn how to TAKE A DEPOSIT like every other campground in the United States.
Guide
We stayed here for two nights and snagged some nice waterfront spots, it was a nice area and relaxing. They have a toilet, no shower. The vault toilet is not super gross thankfully, but there are a couple potential long term campers here beware of that. If you stick close to the entrance side then you will have some good spots and not too many neighbors.
Guide
We arrived in the late afternoon in a search for a campground with space available for our rental RV C-25. We were met by the staff, who were very helpfull and friendly. They drove us around to show the available sites, inspite of the fact they were very busy. Enthusiastic and customerfriendly ! We could pay at the entrance later on at a machine.
GuideThis is more like a large parking lot for day tourists with a few spots right by river side. There are no designated camping spots. There is one vault toilet which is clean. There are mostly fisherman or boaters staying here. No shade. For a overnight stay fine but I would not stay longer.
GuideTook a while to discover this spot, but clearly seems well used for dispersed camping. I parked nearest the access road, as my van would have hit trees to go a little further in. For smaller vehicles (e.g. roof top tents), you can get in a little further and off the access road. There was actually someone else back there, and we can't hear nor see each other.
TravelerArrived late and found an envelope with all my check in details posted in front of the office, including park map with highlighted route to my site. All of the facilities were clean and the ground were clear of litter and well maintained, which must be a challenge considering the lawns between the sites. Rufus itself is not a destination; we were in and out in one night, but we found the Rufus RV Park to be a peaceful and dog-friendly stopover.
Camping near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla, Oregon, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled trip, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla, Oregon, offers a unique blend of outdoor fun and relaxation. With the right preparation, you can enjoy everything this beautiful area has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla?
According to TheDyrt.com, John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla offers a wide range of camping options, with 108 campgrounds and RV parks near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla is Deschutes River State Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla.
What parks are near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near John Day Lock and Dam, Lake Umatilla that allow camping, notably Cheatham Lock and Dam and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
