Join the fun near Carson. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Carson is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
$27 / night
"This camp has RV sites, tent sites and beautiful cabins with porch swings and is located close to the Columbia River waterfalls."
"There is a train that runs along the back of the campground which can be loud if your site is close by. The train noise did not bother us in the center of the park where we were."
$45 - $125 / night
"I have kind of a love/hate thing going on for Lost Lake Campgrounds.
Pros: It is beautiful. There's a reason it's one of Oregon's most photographed sites."
"This campground is located on the shores of Lost Lake, with amazing views of Mt. Hood. "
$25 - $45 / night
"Located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, just north of the town of Carson. Its about a 20 minute drive to the Columbia river, and 10 minutes to the small town of Carson."
"Deeply forested, gorgeous, well spaced sites, located up an easy road, nearest cell signal is about 4 toward Carson."
$22 - $33 / night
"All are very close to the highway so you will hear road noise and trains thundering past on the adjacent tracks."
"Picture a hillside with a winding road surrounded by thick green trees. Ainsworth is that place. Absolutely gorgeous."
$25 - $60 / night
"Excellent faculties with easy access to amenities. Sat by a campfire pit in the evenings and went to sleep with the sound of the river surrounding us. What more could you ask for."
"It's an hour drive from our house in portland and though you feel like your out in the middle of the woods your only 10 mins from hood river and most of what it has to offer."
$22 - $31 / night
"Viento is a nice state park along 84 right outside of hood river. It is along the columbia river and has beach access."
"Short, 5 minute walk to the river.
A train track runs throught the middle of the campground. Trains run every hour or so. VERY loud.
Tent spots were $8. Rv spots were $24."
$15 / night
"But nice hiking trails near by. Close to highway so can be kinda noisy. Very close to Portland. Camp host could pick up more garbage though."
"Near the Hood River and a short distance to Mt Hood trails and surrounding"
$20 - $30 / night
"So nice to have first come/first serve campgrounds so close to Portland. I arrived around 2 on a Wednesday in August and grabbed one of 3 open sites."
"It's already lush and green but the trails running from the camp still haven't been cleared fully, and you hike at your own risk."
"A bit of a drive to get there but worth it. Extremely well-run campground in a beautiful setting with good access to the town of Hood River."
"Important to know … it is situated on a hilly property, so it’s not an easy stroll to the restrooms and showers unless one is young/athletic."
"Beacon Rock is an incredible, tall hill in the Columbia River Gorge and a Washington State Park. The climb up the rock is through a well-built trail."
"We didn’t have any issues at the site, but noticed that spots RV4 and RV5 were relatively distanced from each other, while spots RV1-RV3 were pretty close to each other."
TravelerThe road is a bit more than a gravel road, there are some large rocks and deep ruts to avoid. Campsites 16-21 are all on a larger lake with great swimming and paddling opportunities with site 17 easily being the best site in my opinion. Feels very remote, can be a bit colder due to altitude, but very beautiful and tons of wild huckleberries everywhere! Weren’t able to have fires due to restriction, but it’s a go-to campground for me!
ScoutSteven, camp host, is 5 STARS. He is doing the best he can with what he has to work with. Which is a very old network of 3 bathroom facilities that are beyond gross despite best efforts. It is mostly about the age of the structures. They are cleaned regularly daily and we saw this over a 3 night stay. But with the rowdy young adult day visitors and age of the facilities only so much can be done. The pools above the falls, jumps into the lower pool and the falls themselves are amazing, mostly after Noon when the sun comes onto the river.
Speaking of the day visitors. It was busy every day despite staying Sunday through Wednesday but it was hot and mid summer, so OK. Most visitors were families but holy crap the the broccoli head, beat up A4 crowd with leaky oil came rolling in with their party crew around 3pm each day. They are very impressed with themselves, their mediocre cars and copious amount of smoking. Is weed allowed on Federal Land?
However, these were the least of the jerks. On the third day, what seemed like a full on cult (because we are talking a group of 30) showed up to hog the lower level. We literally walked up behind one of the young women as we came off the trail, naked in a smaller side pool pooping and urinating right in front of us and our teens as we came off the trail. Awesome! My son got a free show of mostly naked off duty strippers(?) and their half dozen or so Rajneeshi looking handlers. I have pictures but I don't think it's OK to post them! Also, ya'll's EDM you were blasting in nature SUCKED and I like EDM.
TravelerCampsite has a well maintained dirt road connecting it to the highway, has a beautiful overlook of a creek
ScoutI love how Vanessa mentioned the creek access from that first campsite! As someone who's been searching for dispersed camping spots with water features, this feels like such a gem. The fact that Forest Service regularly patrols is actually reassuring rather than intrusive- I've been to some dispersed sites that felt a bit too"wild west" if you know what I mean. I've been using offline hiking apps for my trips in the Gifford Pinchot, but I hadn't considered Little Soda Springs until now. That tip about downloading maps beforehand due to no cell service is crucial- learned that lesson the hard way last summer near Mt. Adams! Anyone know if the creek is suitable for filtering drinking water, or should I pack in all I need?
ScoutBusy campgrounds, but nice. Variety of sites from small and shaded to open and sunny. Both day use and river access from the camping area were lovely and the water was perfect to cool off after a hot day.
Hosts were helpful. Bathrooms and showers were clean.
GuideI decided to come back thinking I'd stay in the same spot as last time, but it was occupied. Thank goodness! Because I found THE most amazing spot!
GuideOnly stayed one night wit RV trailer. Nice park with sufficient site size. Many sites were reserved but empty which made it less busy. Falls were amazing. Road in from either side is rough so allow some extra time for the drive. Both Google Maps and Wave were 1.5hr off on estimated time for the drive (4 hrs from Tacoma). There is no electricity or dump station. The Upper loop has a hand-pump well for water. Multiple outhouses are around the sites.
GuideNice convenient RV stop off of highway 97. Immaculate bathrooms. Mountain views of both Mt Hood and Mt Adams.
ScoutHad a great time. Very peaceful. No mobile reception.
Camping near Carson, Washington, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax by the water, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Carson, Washington, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Carson, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 352 campgrounds and RV parks near Carson, WA and 56 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Carson, WA is Cascade Locks KOA with a 4-star rating from 22 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 56 free dispersed camping spots near Carson, WA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near Carson, WA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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