Camping near Umatilla offers access to the Columbia River with average summer temperatures reaching 90°F during peak season. The area sits at approximately 300 feet elevation in a semi-arid climate zone with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Winter camping remains available at several year-round facilities, though services may be limited during colder months.
What to do
Water recreation access: Plymouth Park Campground provides easy access to water activities. "Easy bike ride or short drive to the water area. Sweet secret near the water," notes Mimi, who appreciates the proximity to Columbia River water access.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area offers good bird watching opportunities near camping areas. According to Nathan B. at Hood Park, "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."
Fishing from campsite: Many sites provide direct access to fishing spots along the river. "It's right on the snake river, so you can practically fish from your camp site if you want," notes Nathan B. about Hood Park, making it convenient for anglers who want to maximize fishing time.
Visit McNary Dam: Located just minutes from Umatilla Marina, this educational stop offers interesting views when open. Jill T. mentions, "The McNary Dam and Fish window are a few miles down the road and well worth a visit (when open)."
What campers like
Large green spaces: Hood Park features expansive grassy areas between sites. "Tons of wide green lawns with lots of space, camp sites end up pretty well spaced apart so you might only have 2 or 3 neighbors then a ton of lawn before another neighbor," writes Nathan B. about the spacious layout.
Clean bathroom facilities: At some parks, the bathroom cleanliness stands out. "Bathrooms and showers were excellent," notes cindy at Umatilla Marina & RV Park, providing practical information for those concerned about facility quality.
Level, easy-access sites: Many campgrounds offer convenient pull-through options. Roger M. notes about Umatilla Marina & RV park, "Level gravel sites with grassy area between sites. Friendly and helpful staff. Clean campground."
Budget-friendly options: Some campgrounds provide affordable stays with hookups. According to Katherine K., Plymouth Park offers "$12 a night for water and electricity. Clean area with grass and playground."
What you should know
Seasonal insect concerns: Yellow jackets can become problematic during summer months. Courtney Z. warns about Plymouth Park: "But what she failed to warn us about is the swarming yellow jackets. My boyfriend spent the entire evening fighting them away from the van. I got stung."
Highway noise levels: Some campgrounds experience road noise that may disturb light sleepers. As Judy T. notes, "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."
Water access limitations: Not all campgrounds provide direct river access despite proximity. C S. mentions about Plymouth Park Campground: "If you think you're camping on the Columbia River, you're not. It's close, but you can't get there from here—walking anyways."
Site privacy varies: Some campgrounds offer little separation between sites. Nicole L. observed at Plymouth Park, "It's a cute spot if you don't mind sharing right spaces and zero privacy. The spots are basically pull outs off the camp roadway."
Tips for camping with families
Playground facilities: Hood Park offers designated play areas for children. Chris A. notes, "There is a playground and interpretive events for kids in the evenings. They even had some movies on the weekends."
Swimming opportunities: Some parks have designated swimming areas during summer. John S. comments about Hood Park: "Close to the river, plenty of fishing and swimming. The trees are nice."
Evening activities: Campgrounds may offer organized programs. According to Chris A., "This campground offers developed sites with hookups for campers. There is a playground and interpretive events for kids in the evenings."
Pet-friendly trails: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Umatilla provide walking paths suitable for families with pets. Matthew S. notes about Umatilla Marina, "It's a bit pricey for being as basic as it is but when you look around at other campgrounds in the area and nationally the price is right in line. Next to Umatilla park so that's a bonus. Marina is just down the hill. Pet friendly."
Tips from RVers
Power outage precautions: At Plymouth Park, Laura P. encountered unexpected utility issues: "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!"
Site selections for shade: Limited shade exists at some campgrounds, requiring strategic site selection. Jessie L. observed at Plymouth Park Campground: "The sites are level and paved, easy for any size rig. But there is little to no shade, and the sites have no space between or privacy."
Larger rig accommodations: Most parks can handle larger recreational vehicles. Ray V. notes about Umatilla Marina & RV park: "Have a 28' class C with a toad. The pull their site was able to accommodate both vehicles with a problem."
Overnight transit options: Several campgrounds serve well as quick overnight stops. Tucker B. mentioned, "This spot costs a bit more than I'd usually spend and the spots were super spacious for my Tacoma. I just got lucky they had something available because I rolled in after dark with no reservation."
