RV sites near Chinook, Washington offer beach access and ocean views along the Pacific coastline. Seasonal weather affects campsites, with winter temperatures dropping to low 40s and summer highs around 60 degrees. Columbia River influence creates variable weather patterns and can affect camping conditions, especially during fall storms when wind protection becomes valuable at more sheltered campgrounds.
What to do
Beach exploration: 5-minute walk from Thousand Trails Long Beach provides access to a clean beach. "A 5 minute walk down the beach path leads to a great beach. The sites are tight, but the town was fun," notes a camper.
Historic site visits: 2 miles away from Chinook campers can explore Fort Stevens. "Fort Stevens is right across the street and has a lot of great day activities as well. Very clean and spread out with different options for your camping experience including cabins," reports a visitor at nearby Astoria-Warrenton-Seaside KOA.
Seasonal events: Annual festivals draw crowds to coastal areas. "We ended up going during International Kite Festival. The beach hosts kite flying and sand castle building contests. The town is open and friendly," shares a camper who stayed at Thousand Trails Long Beach.
Fishing excursions: Columbia River estuary offers productive salmon fishing. "The Columbia River estuary is just 10 miles away. Which is the place of the world class Buoy #10 Salmon fishery, every August - October. Both Large Chinook Salmon, and the feisty smaller, Coho (silver) salmon," explains a camper from Thousand Trails Seaside.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Modern bathrooms receive positive reviews. "Super nice bathrooms and laundry facility. Pretty well situated. Only downside is the highway noise," notes a camper at RV Park At The Bridge.
Wildlife viewing: Elk sightings occur regularly in some areas. "The Elk greeted us and were eating all the flowers as we entered," shares a visitor at Cannon Beach RV Resort, which offers "Gas station, propane, laundry, showers, convenience store, pool and two shower/restroom facilities."
Convenient locations: Easy access to beaches and towns. "Walking distance to the beach and Cannon Beach 'downtown'," appreciates one camper. Another mentions, "We stay here often. Easy to get to from our home on the west side of Portland. Friendly staff, clean restrooms and other facilities."
Seasonal shellfish harvesting: Clam digging opportunities near camping areas. "The Clatsop county beaches have the best razor clam digging in Oregon. On every minus tide, in the winter and spring, you have some of the best razor clams, this far south of Alaska," reports a camper.
What you should know
Site spacing varies significantly: Many campgrounds feature close quarters. "The sites are super close to one another," notes a camper. At Columbia Shores RV Resort, reviews mention "Really tight sites, almost no room between you and your neighbor" and "Very weathered and older facilities."
Advance reservations essential: Summer fills quickly at coastal sites. A camper reports, "We didn't have reservations and there was plenty of availability," but this was during off-season travel.
Hookup configuration challenges: Some sites have inconvenient utility placement. "The odd numbered spots all have the sewer on the wrong side requiring a very long sewer hose extension that the hardware store nearby does have."
Variable internet connectivity: WiFi quality fluctuates by location and time. "There is free WiFi that works great early in the day but slows to a crawl at night. ATT reception is very limited."
Weather consideration: Coastal climate brings frequent rain. One camper noted, "Check the weather in Seaside before you go- poured almost the entire time we were there!"
Tips for camping with families
Indoor activities for rainy days: Pool facilities provide weather alternatives. "This is a great KOA...probably the best I've been to. It's very big with a lot of activity options including an indoor pool, playground and trails," notes a visitor at Astoria-Warrenton-Seaside KOA.
Playground conditions: Check before arrival as maintenance varies. "Having children, the playground and pool are a huge deal when you're camping at an RV resort. Well, the playground was rusted over and had pieces that were missing to it, the swings were broken as well," warns a family who visited Thousand Trails Seaside.
Beach safety: Tides and marine life require supervision. "Watch your toes!! There's jelly fish & Mr Crabs!!" cautions a family camper.
Seasonal crowds: Expect busy conditions during summer months. "A very busy campground with lots of things to keep you occupied and make the weekend go by way too quick," reports a family camper about Astoria-Warrenton-Seaside KOA.
Tips from RVers
Backing skills required: Site layouts challenge larger rigs. "The spaces are very tight at 90 degree angles to the road. This requires backing skill level 10! The north side and middle give little room for it, and the south side has an area that at least gives some wiggle room," advises an RVer.
Utility extensions needed: Some sites require additional equipment. "The odd numbered spots all have the sewer on the wrong side requiring a very long sewer hose extension."
Cell coverage: T-Mobile outperforms other carriers in some locations. "The power was rock solid. There is free WiFi that works great early in the day but slows to a crawl at night. ATT reception is very limited."
Site selection strategy: Corner sites offer more space. "We got lucky and parked at the end by the dog park in an odd spot. My opinion on spots... that even numbered one across from the dog park is the best and has a good amount of private room due to the tree there."
