Camping near Lake Wallula

Lake Wallula campgrounds stretch along the Columbia River with distinct high desert characteristics. Summer temperatures consistently reach over 90°F while spring brings moderate weather suitable for outdoor activities. The camping areas near Lake Wallula combine irrigated lawns with desert landscapes, creating green oases amid the arid terrain where the Snake and Columbia rivers meet.

What to do

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Hood Park offers access to nearby McNary National Wildlife Refuge. "There is a connected wildlife preserve that you can walk around in and also fish in that is a separate area. Lots of birds to watch," notes a visitor to Hood Park.

Riverside trails: The 2.8-mile trail at Boardman Marina Park provides excellent biking and walking options along the river. "The trail has a great little microbrewery that serves pizza so bring your wallet! If you venture down to the Rivers Edge Lodge you'll find the trail continues a bit further along the river out in front," reports a camper at Boardman Marina Park.

Swimming access: Sand Station Recreation Area provides designated swimming areas for families. "We were here on a hot day, lots of families with kids using the beach and swimming area," shares one visitor about the day-use facilities.

What campers like

Easy river access: The Columbia River offers boating, fishing and swimming opportunities directly from many campsites. "The marina has a large parking lot and spots to clean fish. There is a nice park and swimming area for kids," explains a camper at Umatilla Marina & RV Park.

Level, well-maintained sites: Plymouth Park Campground provides accessible camping areas with consistent upkeep. "The sites are level and paved, easy for any size rig. Lawns are irrigated and green so that is a nice touch. Host is sweet and seems to be on top of things," notes a visitor.

Affordable options: Several campgrounds in the area offer reasonable rates with good amenities. "Pay in cash and get a good deal. Nice RV park with amenities close by," mentions a visitor to Pioneer RV Park in Hermiston.

What you should know

Noise considerations: The proximity to highways and railways affects some camping areas. "Be advised that the train tracks are nearby BUT there are no crossings, so no horn. The campground itself is like a city park, many of the spots have quite a bit of room," notes a camper at Boardman Marina Park.

Insects and wildlife: Some campers report seasonal insect activity. "When you arrive a sweet lady warns you about the snakes. But what she failed to warn us about is the swarming yellow jackets," cautions a visitor to Plymouth Park Campground.

Facility maintenance issues: Campground facilities may have seasonal closures or maintenance problems. "The setting is lovely, but the bathrooms/showers/campsite sewer hookups were all out of order. It would have been super helpful to know this while I was on the phone booking my spot for the night!" reports a camper at Plymouth Park.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. "This campground offers developed sites with hookups for campers. There is a playground and interpretive events for kids in the evenings. They even had some movies on the weekends," notes a visitor to Hood Park.

Swimming safety: Designated swimming areas provide safer options for children. "The overflow parking offers water and electric in a concrete parking lot, dump station is located at campground. It is walking distance to swim and/or fish," explains a camper at Boardman Marina Park.

Entertainment options: Some campgrounds offer organized activities. "Columbia Sun RV Resort has all the amenities and activities you want in a semi-urban RC resort. Heated pool and hot tub, game room and more," shares a visitor to Columbia Sun RV Resort.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Choose sites based on your priorities for space or view. "In site 45, I think the dump ended up being almost uphill from my trailer, so it was an interesting challenge to get my tanks emptied. Overall spent a restful afternoon there - will be back," notes an RVer at Boardman Marina Park.

Leveling considerations: Some areas have uneven surfaces that require adjustment. "Some of the pull throughs do have quite a bit of pavement buckling, so it can make leveling a bit more work," cautions a camper at Boardman Marina Park.

Hookup availability: Seasonal changes affect water availability at some locations. "Be advised that if you go in the off-season the spots are first come first served. We were disappointed to find there was no water hookup as they had already winterized," advises an RVer.