Camping options near Cathlamet, Washington include both private RV resorts and public campgrounds along the Columbia River. The area sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Elochoman rivers with an average elevation of 20 feet above sea level. Winter brings significant rainfall with 80-90 inches annually, creating lush forest settings but challenging camping conditions from November through March.
What to do
Fishing access: Silver Cove RV Resort backs up to Silver Lake, providing immediate water access. "We come down here to get away from the heat, inland area. The sites almost all back up to the water and fishing is pretty easy here. Mostly crappie and bass though I've seen a couple trout or perch pulled out," notes one visitor to Silver Cove RV Resort.
Beach exploration: Campgrounds near Seaside and Long Beach provide beach access for walking and wildlife viewing. "A 5 minute walk down the beach path leads to a great beach. The sites are tight, but the town was fun," reports a camper at Thousand Trails Long Beach. The beach hosts seasonal kite flying and sand castle building contests.
Mt. St. Helens visits: Several campgrounds serve as bases for exploring Mt. St. Helens. "Only about 7 minutes to the visitors center for mt St. Helens. There's about 200 rv spots but they do have a couple tent spots," explains a visitor to Toutle River RV Resort, noting the convenient location for volcano exploration.
What campers like
Indoor amenities: Many RV parks near Cathlamet provide indoor facilities for rainy weather. "Super nice bathrooms and laundry facility. Pretty well situated. Only downside is the highway noise," reports a camper at RV Park At The Bridge.
Beach town proximity: Cannon Beach RV Resort offers walkable access to coastal towns. "Close to town biking or walking. Nice well kept grounds. Cable tv hookups WiFi (although not very robust)," notes a visitor. Another adds, "Just east of Hwy 101 in Cannon Beach, this RV resort is an easy (really!) 10 minute walk to the beach, just north of Haystack Rock."
Recreational options: Some parks feature on-site activities for guests. "This is the kind of RV park that I like. Nice spots surrounded by grass, decent space between sites (not much, but enough), and most importantly, lots and lots of things for kiddos to explore. There's random trails, a playground, big green fields, volleyball court, etc," writes a camper at Toutle River RV Resort.
What you should know
Spot selection matters: At Thousand Trails Long Beach, site utilities can be problematic. "The sites are set up so that only the EVEN number sites have hookups on the drivers side. Otherwise, you need extensions for your electric, stinky slinky, and water," warns a camper.
Weather considerations: Winter camping along the Columbia River brings heavy rainfall. "We check the weather in Seaside before you go - poured almost the entire time we were there!" advises a camper at Seaside RV Resort.
Reservation timing: During summer, coastal campgrounds fill quickly. "We are enjoying a free year of Thousand Trails membership and this was another last min stay, it was packed! But it's the middle of summer, and we were able to find a spot in overflow same day," notes a Seaside RV Resort visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated children's areas. "The campground offers a variety of amenities, including a pool and hot tub, which are perfect for relaxing after a day of activities. For pet owners, there's a convenient dog park where dogs can run and play," shares a reviewer at Thousand Trails Long Beach.
Indoor options for rainy days: "Great amenities, and the CLEANEST bathroom I've seen yet this week camping," notes a visitor at Seaside RV Resort. Many coastal campgrounds provide indoor facilities to accommodate the frequent coastal rain.
Quiet space considerations: Some campgrounds provide better environments for families. "The north side and middle give little room for it, and the south side has an area that at least gives some wiggle room. The little dog park was a great place for our Husky and Corgi to be off leash for a bit," advises a camper about Thousand Trails Long Beach.
Tips from RVers
Site sizing reality: RV parks near Cathlamet sometimes overstate site dimensions. "I read some of the other reviews and didn't have the same experience. The spots I've stayed in are huge. Room for a fifth wheel (awning and slide out), two vehicles and two large dogs without feeling packed in at all," explains a camper at Silver Cove RV Resort.
Internet connectivity: WiFi quality varies significantly between parks. "We decided to stay for the whole week since the WiFi has been decent (2-5Mb) with no real latency or packet loss. I use a router to repeat the campgrounds network with our same WiFi name that our devices always connect to," shares a visitor at Cannon Beach RV Resort.
Cell coverage options: Cell service strength differs across the region. "ATT and Sprint service work very well," reports a Thousand Trails Long Beach camper, while another notes, "No tents allowed and our ATT service only has one bar at our site" at Cannon Beach RV Resort.
