Lake Wallula stretches along the Columbia River at 340 feet elevation, spanning both Washington and Oregon sides of the water. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F during July and August, with frequent strong winds across the reservoir. Campgrounds in this area often fill quickly during weekends from late spring through early fall when water recreation peaks.
What to do
Water activities: Umatilla Marina & RV Park offers direct river access with a marina and boat launch. "The marina has a large parking lot and spots to clean fish. There is a nice park and swimming area for kids," notes one visitor at Umatilla Marina & RV park.
Winery exploration: Set up base camp at Wine Country RV Park for vineyard touring. "This could be a nice basecamp spot for people who love exploring wineries. The small town of Prosser has almost 30 wineries and tasting rooms in the immediate area and this park is in the midst of them all," reports a camper. The park even offers "tastings from local wineries in their community room frequently."
Fishing: Multiple access points along the Columbia River provide excellent fishing opportunities. One camper staying at Horn Rapids mentions its proximity to the Yakima River: "Great spot, clean facilities, horse trails and boat ramp. I've stayed here many times and feel it's under utilized."
McNary Dam visits: Learn about river management at the McNary Dam. "The McNary Dam and Fish window are a few miles down the road and well worth a visit (when open)," advises a camper from Umatilla Marina.
What campers like
Riverside locations: Several campgrounds provide water views and swimming access. At Umatilla Marina, campers appreciate that "it's nice down by the water you can swim or fish. It also has a nice view of the sunset."
Well-maintained grounds: Many campgrounds maintain tidy facilities. One visitor to Horn Rapids RV Resort observed, "This RV park is the best maintained park I have ever seen. The lots are not real big, but the landscaping is pristine (think golf course) and overall the park is meticulously maintained."
Convenient travel stop: Pilot RV Park offers easy highway access for overnight stays. "They took our reservation from the road so we could drive right into our pull-through space. Since we were stopping for a weather delay, we just hooked up electric and used their restroom and shower," states a reviewer.
Recreational amenities: Larger resorts offer additional facilities. At Horn Rapids, campers enjoy "a really nice pool and hot tub, laundry room, showers, and a very nicely stocked store that includes hot food available."
What you should know
Highway noise: Several campgrounds experience traffic noise due to interstate proximity. At Umatilla Marina and RV Park, one visitor noted, "During the night, some people camping in their truck would start the engine every hour to keep warm plus the truck traffic over the I-82 bridge was noisy."
Seasonal conditions: Weather varies dramatically between seasons. A camper at Umatilla Marina shared their October experience: "This was in late October 2020 during a cold snap."
Pet restrictions: Some campgrounds limit pet sizes. Wine Country RV Park enforces a "40 POUND LIMIT" for dogs according to one disappointed camper.
Bathroom maintenance varies: Quality of restroom facilities differs between parks. At Pilot RV Park, visitors found "the facilities were immaculate," while others reported maintenance issues at different locations.
Reservation needs: Many parks accept drive-up visitors but reservations provide security. "We made reservations and have loved the staff! They are great and helpful," notes a camper at Columbia Sun RV Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Look for swimming areas: Some campgrounds offer kid-friendly water access. "There is a nice park and swimming area for kids," mentions a reviewer at Umatilla Marina.
Outdoor movie opportunities: Check local schedules for entertainment. A family staying at Umatilla Marina and RV ParkPublic shared this experience: "The field next to the campground set up an outdoor movie night with free popcorn. The kids loved it and it was a great memory maker."
On-site activities: Some parks provide recreational facilities. Horn Rapids includes "a pool and hot tub, laundry room, showers, and a very nicely stocked store," making extended stays more comfortable.
Bring entertainment backups: Limited internet can complicate digital activities. One family noted, "The only annoyance I had was poor internet service: I needed to download more kid shows for the next stretch of our drive and the signal kept dropping."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Most rv sites near Lake Wallula offer full services. At Driftwood RV Park, campers find "tables at each spot make it easy to cook and bathrooms are clean."
Site leveling: Check site conditions before setup. One RVer at Umatilla Marina noted, "We had a grassy area next to our RV but it wasn't level."
Sprinkler awareness: Move gear when irrigation starts. One camper warned, "Just move your stuff out of the way of the sprinklers! We had to do a late night dash outside to rescue books and such!"
Off-season value: Consider shoulder season visits for better availability. A November visitor to Wine Country RV Park found "we had more than adequate space but that is due to few campers. Would be a typical rv park spacewise otherwise."
Alternative fire options: Some parks prohibit wood fires. A Columbia Sun visitor shared their solution: "No firepits but we knew that before going - brought a propane fire pit with us."
