Best Campgrounds near Grays River, WA

Camping near Grays River, Washington encompasses a mix of established campgrounds and rustic options along the lower Columbia River. The area sits within reach of several state parks and private retreats, including Skamokawa Vista Park and Cape Disappointment State Park on the Washington side, and Fort Stevens State Park across the Columbia in Oregon. These locations provide access to both river and ocean environments, with the Pacific coastline just a short drive west. Rose Creek Retreat offers a more secluded experience with private campsites nestled on the Columbia River shoreline between the ghost towns of Altoona and Cottardi Station.

Most campgrounds in the region are accessible via paved roads, though some dispersed sites like Road to Snag Lake require vehicles with higher clearance. The climate is typical Pacific Northwest coastal weather with mild, wet winters and cool summers. Mosquitoes can be problematic in summer months, particularly in forested areas. According to one visitor at Rose Creek Retreat, "mosquitoes in the lush forest in June were insane and very hungry." Reservations are strongly recommended for established campgrounds during the peak season from May through September. Skamokawa Vista Park operates seasonally from May 1 to September 15, while other facilities like Cape Disappointment remain open year-round.

The camping options range from full-service RV parks with hookups to primitive tent sites. Established campgrounds typically provide amenities such as showers, flush toilets, and picnic tables, while dispersed camping areas offer more basic facilities. Cape Disappointment State Park features spacious sites with a visitor noting, "The spaces are large and spread out. Very green and lush." For those seeking waterfront camping, Elochoman Marina in Cathlamet provides boat-in access and accommodates both RVs and tents. Many campgrounds in the area are pet-friendly, making them suitable for travelers with animals. Cell service can be spotty in more remote locations, particularly in the forested valleys away from major highways.

Best Camping Sites Near Grays River, Washington (194)

    1. Fort Stevens State Park Campground

    154 Reviews
    Hammond, OR
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 861-3170

    $11 - $120 / night

    "The trails around it were fun and led from the camp right up to the beach by the old ship wreck. My kids ages 2-14 always had something to do and we brought our bikes."

    "Extensive walking/biking paths and beautiful shady sites. I now have a camper van and stop by frequently to use the dump station."

    2. Cape Disappointment State Park Campground

    86 Reviews
    Ilwaco, WA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 642-3078

    $40 / night

    "This state park on the edge of Washington is absolutely beautiful and wild. It’s best to visit in the summer of course as the weather can be very unpredictable the rest of the year."

    "This campground is all about location. The sites are not huge or fancy, but the view and the hiking make up for any complaints."

    3. Skamokawa Vista Park

    15 Reviews
    Cathlamet, WA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 795-8605

    $35 - $55 / night

    "General: Vista Park, located directly on the Columbia River between Long Beach or Astoria to the west and Kelso to the east."

    "Friendly camp hosts with sites available directly on the rivers edge and back in the trees as well. Bathrooms are clean and camp sites well maintained."

    4. Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    15 Reviews
    Naselle, WA
    11 miles
    Website

    "There are several spots off the road around these radio tower stations and it is quite secluded. We didn't see any other person the whole time we were there."

    "There's basically zero traffic on the dirt road near the campsite. A lot of the trees around seem to be new growth. Great view of the stars at night!"

    5. Astoria-Warrenton-Seaside KOA

    45 Reviews
    Hammond, OR
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 861-2606

    $45 / night

    "Just across from the state park where you can take beach walks and enjoy sunsets. Clean and spacious showers and bathrooms."

    "Everyone in the general camping areas kept distance or was masked up. Appreciate that codes are given out to gain access to the bathrooms (very clean)."

    6. Clatsop State Forest Gnat Creek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Cathlamet, OR
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 325-5451

    $10 - $15 / night

    "There was free firewood stacked nearby because of all the logging in the area. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. Walk in tent camping only, or you could park your van in the parking lot."

    "The paid camping is small and close to the road. But if you drive a little ways passed the paid camp site there is a surplus of free dispersed camping spots that are much more private and beautiful!"

    7. Snag Lake Campground

    7 Reviews
    Naselle, WA
    11 miles
    +1 (360) 577-2025

    "Two drive in sites the rest are walk in. A couple that are a short walk. Great fishing in the lake year round. The road up to campground is pretty rough. Lots of washboard."

    "There's a couple spots for a bigger truck camper like ours and a handful of secluded tent sites you can walk to from the parking area."

    8. Elochoman Marina

    7 Reviews
    Cathlamet, WA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 795-3501

    $35 - $50 / night

    "We had a great spot on the water with beautiful sunset and walking distance to a pub and pizza place."

    "Close to town/restaurants. If you are ok with some traffic (boats launching etc) and want a grwat view. This is it."

    9. Rose Creek Retreat

    1 Review
    Grays River, WA
    7 miles
    Website

    $33 - $55 / night

    "CAMPGROUND REVIEW

    The Rose Creek Retreat is located about 2 hours northwest of Portland in Washington across from Astoria."

    10. The Lamp Camp

    15 Reviews
    Loomis, WA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 777-3949

    $60 - $67 / night

    "Nice quiet place and easy access to the beach. We will definitely be back!"

    "Our night was great, very close to the beach, amenities are clean and well kept. Our host Kim was also wonderful!!"

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Recent Reviews near Grays River, WA

1221 Reviews of 194 Grays River Campgrounds


  • Kateryna K.
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Nehalem Bay State Park Campground

    Great Spot

    Plenty of space for two tents on the one spot. Clean bathroom and showers. Close to the beach, beautiful nature. We really enjoyed our stay here. I would love to come back.

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Paradise Cove RV Resort & Marina

    Maybe if?

    The campground had better days. We wanted a 50amp so we went up the hill. Road is terrible. It’s a long timer campground. It’s a “pick your spot” campground. Our site was soggy. But we were going to pick one. There’s an old lodge where a pool shows on the map. It is empty. Just for fun we went down to the lower area and it has some awesome views. But very crowded. I would probably go somewhere else next time.

  • GG Z.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Nehalem Bay State Park Campground

    Lots of amenities

    Typical paid campground with hookups, firepits, and tables in every site. Sites are way too close together imo but I typically do dispersed camping. There's showers, trash, dog poop bag stations and easy access to the beach although it's a bit of a climb up the sand to get to the water

  • Melissa S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Nice Spot 1st pull off

    Nice spot. Enough room for a few vehicles. Traffic during the day. Open spot for starlink. Good cell service also.

  • Susan O.
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Mt. St. Helens RV Park

    Very Poor Quality - False Advertising

    This place is totally disgusting and in need of repairs. False advertising, many amenities are listed on their website and are not offered, nor are in working order. Only one bathhouse, that is very dark and dirty. Rotten old stairway that leads to dog park, very unsafe. Wooden structure in children's play area is leaning and rotted. Broken metal toys. Dried grass and tall weeds everywhere, berry bushes. No maintenance. No wifi, no cable tv, no level RV spot. No public access to game room/club house area. Which looked more like their private storage area with tires. No community kitchen. Everything in total disarray and in need of repair.

  • Christopher  T.
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Lake Sylvia State Park Campground

    OUR FAVORITE

    This is our all time favorite campground. Phone service is non-existent and we had att Verizon cricket and straight talk but it does have free WiFi. Only downside is we can't get our big camper in there and have to use our small one. It is the place we go to camp since we're full timers we have stayed some of all 12 months and many of the sites

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Nehalem Bay State Park Campground

    Excellent location and great price but no privacy at all between campsites

    One very tall Sand Dune away from the ocean, and a very nice calm they to kayak in or lunch boats from. Very clean facilities and constant surveillance so very safe here. Very nicely maintained and dump station near the front although I don't know if they charge. They sell ice and firewood come and water from the spigots at each camping location is potable.

  • B
    Aug. 21, 2025

    Cole Mt Ridge

    Good spot

    The coordinates did not take us to the exact spot, but the pin on the map was the closest, it’s actually to the left on the dirt road. You’ll see a tiny dirt road going up hill and that’s the spot. Had some trees that had been chopped down and a fire pit area. Definitely could fit a couple cars up in that area. We arrived around 7pm and stayed the night. It’s about 25 minutes from Cannon Beach. The view of the mountains was nice!

  • H
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Andersen's Oceanside RV Park & Cottages

    Please read

    This is long but I wish someone wrote it so I knew what I was atleast spending our money on. I’ll first write about the website and how it lies and then my experience, with pictures. For context, we have a 43-foot fifth wheel that stands at a standard height of 13’6”, totaling approximately 60 feet in length with our truck. Discrepancies in Site Descriptions: Forested Sites: 1. The website advertised three large grassy areas. In reality, one was occupied by the campsite manager. Though there are two sites remaining, the one closest to the store backs up into low-hanging branches that could easily damage our solar panels and things on top and was not in an area or wide enough for us to back in our 43’ fifth wheel. 2. Amazing for Slides: The two available sites might work for slides, but the most narrow spot would have posed a significant risk. Which is the one we were supposed to have. If you don’t have slide toppers, your slides would be filled with leaves and branches. 3. Size Claims: The website states sites are 100'x50'. The owner specifically state that they are 70'x20' and none of the sites are100’x50’. 4. Surface Quality: The site closest to the store was somewhat gravel, but weeds were growing over it. Further back, it became more uneven, with slopes and hills leading into grass rather than a proper gravel pad. 5. Connectivity: The advertised satellite, TV, and Wi-Fi were virtually non-existent. Wi-Fi in the other areas was terrible, leading to frustrating experiences trying to connect. 6. Fire Pit: We booked a spot with a fire pit, which we were told would be moved to our site from the forested area. However, we never received it. Thankfully, we brought our own. Prime Sites: 1. Surrounding Environment: Claims of being quietly surrounded by grassy dunes and playful pines are misleading. While there are sand dunes, the pines are very far from the sites; you are primarily in a campground without immediate tree access. 2. Proximity to Beach: this was accurate it was a nice walk 3. Size: Again, the owner mentioned that all sites are 70'x20,' contradicting the 100'x20' claim online. Our fifth wheel did not fit adequately, forcing us to deal with dirt and litter behind us. 4. Patio Description: The site described a sand entry on their site and a beauty-barked entry when you go to book. It is in fact sand which is why I purposely booked the forested site 5. Wi-Fi Quality: Rather than excellent Wi-Fi, we experienced frequent disconnections, and often it only worked late at night when the campground was quiet. Overall Experience: Upon arrival, I was met with the owner stating that we didn’t need to get out of the truck, which seemed convenient at first. However, once led to the incorrect site, I expressed our booking for a forest site, only to be told they preferred to place us elsewhere because of our size(which we did specify during booking) The roads were a bit narrow for turning around a big rig despite them saying big rig friendly, and backing into a suitable site required a three-point turn, making it an complicated process. When I approached the office regarding a refund for the site difference, the owner reeked of pot(I usually don’t care but I would rather do business with someone sober than argue with someone stoned). the owner was immediately confrontational and dismissive. Despite my attempts to explain the situation, he insisted that all sites were the same and refused to acknowledge the misleading size and price differences. His behavior was unprofessional and unacceptable. When I asked him about price and size difference he kept saying it was all the same and the only difference was the forested site got a fireplace for free and it would follow me however we never did get it. How wife at one time during the argument came out and said she would give us a refund for the difference and he told her to shut the hell up. He then told us to either take what we were given(at the lesser price) or take a full refund and leave. I later discovered that the owner has a history of confrontations, as noted in various reviews, which further dampened our experience. In conclusion, the forest and prime sites are not worth the price of$125 per night. I also never received the promised fireplace, which was an additional disappointment. Having booked in March for an August stay and specifically choosing the forested site, I expected a much better experience. Overall the difference in price between what I booked and what I got was$135 for the 4 nights.


Guide to Grays River

Camping near Grays River, Washington, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor fun. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are several campgrounds to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking: There are great trails nearby. Campers at Seaquest State Park Campground enjoyed the hiking paths, saying, "Nice hikes and walking paths throughout the campground area."
  • Wildlife Watching: Many campers love spotting wildlife. One visitor at Skamokawa Vista Park mentioned, "We saw elk, rabbits, and the site horses while there."
  • Fishing: If you enjoy fishing, this area has plenty of spots. A camper at Rainbow Falls State Park Campground noted, "Swimming in hot weather would be great," highlighting the fun of fishing and cooling off.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-kept restrooms and showers. One reviewer at Cannon Beach RV Resort said, "Bathrooms were super clean and people were friendly."
  • Friendly Staff: Many visitors mention the helpfulness of campground staff. A guest at The Lamp Camp shared, "Super friendly hosts."
  • Scenic Views: Campgrounds near Grays River offer stunning views. A camper at Cape Disappointment State Park Campground remarked, "Love this campground. It’s a hidden gem."

What you should know:

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs, especially in warmer months. A visitor at Fort Stevens State Park Campground warned, "Ferocious number of mosquitoes that were persistent despite repellant."
  • Site Proximity: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Astoria-Warrenton-Seaside KOA mentioned, "These sites are pretty close together."
  • Noise Levels: If you're used to quiet camping, be aware that some areas can be noisy. A reviewer at Thousand Trails Seaside said, "It was extremely hard to get rest at this location."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. One parent at Astoria-Warrenton-Seaside KOA noted, "They have plenty of kid-friendly activities, including playgrounds and a jumping pillow."
  • Safety: Choose campgrounds that feel safe and welcoming. A visitor at Sea Ranch Resort said, "Sea Ranch Resort was a very safe place to stay."
  • Plan for Rain: Be ready for wet weather, especially in spring. A camper at Skamokawa Vista Park mentioned, "We had the campground to ourselves this wet January."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookups: Make sure your site has the right hookups for your RV. A reviewer at Cape Disappointment State Park Campground noted, "All their spots are great, it just depends on what you're looking for."
  • Space Between Sites: Look for campgrounds with more space between sites if you prefer privacy. A visitor at Rainbow Falls State Park Campground said, "Sites are kind of pricey, but they offer some private sites."
  • Internet Access: If you need to stay connected, check for WiFi availability. A camper at Seaquest State Park Campground mentioned, "WiFi is available, which is a plus."

Camping near Grays River, Washington, has something for everyone. From beautiful views to family-friendly activities, it's a great spot to enjoy the outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Grays River, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Grays River, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 194 campgrounds and RV parks near Grays River, WA and 8 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Grays River, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Grays River, WA is Fort Stevens State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 154 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Grays River, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Grays River, WA.