Best Campgrounds near Multnomah Falls, OR
The Columbia River Gorge surrounding Multnomah Falls provides established campgrounds within 30 minutes of this popular waterfall destination. Ainsworth State Park Campground, located just minutes from the falls, offers full-hookup RV sites, walk-in tent sites, and access to nearby hiking trails. Other options include Oxbow Regional Park with tent, RV, cabin, and yurt accommodations, and Eagle Creek Campground providing more rustic settings for tent and RV campers. The region includes several state parks and private facilities like Cascade Locks KOA that provide varying levels of amenities from basic tent pads to luxury glamping experiences.
Camping is primarily seasonal in the Gorge area, with most facilities operating between March and October due to winter conditions. "Multnomah Falls is one of the great treasures of the Columbia River Gorge in northern Oregon along the Columbia River," noted one visitor, highlighting the area's primary attraction. Road noise and train tracks affect several campgrounds in the corridor, particularly those closest to Interstate 84 and the rail line along the Columbia River. Reservations are essential during summer months when waterfalls attract peak visitation. The Historic Columbia River Highway provides scenic access to camping areas but may not accommodate larger RVs due to narrow, winding sections. Travelers should note that some trails and camping areas still show impacts from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire.
Campers frequently mention the trade-off between convenience and solitude when staying near Multnomah Falls. The walk-in tent sites at Ainsworth State Park receive positive reviews for providing more privacy than the RV sections. A reviewer explained, "We stayed in the C Loop, walk-in camping... The C loop is great! More secluded than most state park tent camping areas." Many visitors use the campgrounds as base camps for exploring the area's numerous waterfalls rather than for the camping experience itself. The proximity to Portland makes these campgrounds popular weekend destinations, with sites often filling completely during summer months. While campground facilities provide showers and flush toilets, some campers mention traffic and train noise as drawbacks to the otherwise scenic location.
