M
Michael 
Scout
ScoutGee Creek Rest Area I-5
Rest area
Rest area off interstate I-5. Sign's posted from 15min to 8hr parking. There were several campers and cars parked overnight. No security.
Camping near North Bonneville, WA
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Camping options around North Bonneville, Washington span from established campgrounds to primitive sites along the Columbia River Gorge. Beacon Rock State Park Campground provides year-round access with full RV hookups and tent sites, while Eagle Creek Campground across the river in Oregon offers a more rustic experience with tent and small RV sites. The area features a mix of accommodations including cabins at Cascade Locks KOA and Lewis & Clark Campground & RV Park, alongside tent camping at several Forest Service locations. Most campgrounds are situated within 20 miles of North Bonneville, providing convenient access to both Washington and Oregon sides of the Columbia River.
Road noise and trains are common issues for campsites in the region, particularly those close to Interstate 84 and the railway along the Columbia River. "Eagle Creek is a small campground located high above the Columbia River. The sites offer good privacy and are quite large," noted one camper, though they mentioned train noise occurring a few times during the night. Seasonal availability varies, with many campgrounds like Panther Creek operating from May through September. Several sites require reservations during peak summer months, while others offer first-come, first-served options during shoulder seasons. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the gorge, with strong winds common year-round and occasional winter snow at higher elevations. Cell service is generally reliable near major roads but can be spotty in more remote Forest Service areas.
Along the Columbia River, campgrounds provide strategic access to numerous hiking trails and water activities. Eagle Creek's proximity to the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness makes it popular despite highway noise. A visitor described it as having "secluded feeling" campsites that "more than made up for too much sun." Campgrounds on the Washington side like Beacon Rock State Park receive consistently positive reviews for their waterfront access and proximity to hiking trails. Higher elevation sites in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest offer cooler temperatures during summer months. Most developed campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, though shower facilities are limited to larger operations like KOAs and state parks. Dispersed camping opportunities exist on nearby Forest Service and BLM lands for those seeking more primitive experiences.
Best Campgrounds near North Bonneville (372)
1. Ainsworth State Park Campground
"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."
from $29 - $53 / night
Check Availability2. Lost Lake Resort And Campground — Mt. Hood National Forest
"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. "
from $45 - $125 / night
Check Availability3. Cascade Locks KOA
"We also did the Historic Highway 30 and saw all the waterfalls. Stop in at Gorges Brewery, nice beer, I loved the Stout."
"This camp has RV sites, tent sites and beautiful cabins with porch swings and is located close to the Columbia River waterfalls."
from $41 - $195 / night
Check Availability4. Eagle Creek Campground
"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"
from $15 / night
Check Availability5. Panther Creek Campground
"Some camp sots are better situated then others, so do research before making reservation."
"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."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability6. Mt Hood Village Resort
"There is a playground onsite for those with children and plenty of bike paths and walking paths to keep you busy."
"Gas station (72) and great grocery store (thrift away) nearby )1.5 mi away)."
7. Upper Campground — Beacon Rock State Park
"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."
"Campground Review: Beacon Rock State Park Beacon Rock State Campground is a very nice, small, looped campground located across the freeway and about a mile or two away from the amazing hike up Beacon"
from $12 - $29 / night
Check Availability8. Woodard Creek Campground — Beacon Rock State Park Campground
"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."
"Not only is the campground itself a woodland wonderland with winding paths through tall old growth forest areas, but the surrounding area of the park itself is impressive with exciting things to do around"
from $29 - $46 / night
Check Availability9. Tucker Park Campground
"The campsites are relatively close but not so much that you’re walking over each other we camped in our RV and secured a second spot so we could have the space between the campground is very close to the"
"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."
from $25 - $60 / night
Check Availability10. Port of Cascade Locks Campground
"They have a rail museum and access to a well manicured island. Close to town and the Bridge of the Gods, and a great restaurant with a nice view of the gorge."
"So does the adjacent park with a playground and plenty of room for kids to run loose. For the adults, Thunder Island Brewing is right there with delicious brews and sandwiches."
Drive Time
- 35 min from Portland, OR
- 1 hr 14 min from Longview, WA
- 1 hr 22 min from Salem, OR
- 1 hr 40 min from Albany, OR
Recent Camping Photos near North Bonneville, WA
648 Photos of 372 North Bonneville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Eagle Creek Campground
Eagle Creek Overlook Group Campground
Port of Cascade Locks Campground
Upper Campground — Beacon Rock State Park
Woodard Creek Campground — Beacon Rock State Park Campground
Skamania County Fairgrounds
Cascade Locks KOA
Ainsworth State Park CampgroundK
Naked Falls
Snag Creek Trailhead Dispersed
Wyeth Campground at the GorgeL
Rainy Lake Campground
Recent Reviews near North Bonneville, WA
2025 Reviews of 372 North Bonneville Campgrounds
- LLaura S.
GuideCelilo Park Recreation Area
Dispersed camping
The available areas are on the paved parking lot. But the park is beautiful, restrooms are claen, garbage is available, cell reception is great. It's a great place to watch the barges and riverboats go by, and enjoy the windsurfers. Very pleasant park.
Erin G.GuideMount St. Helens Dispersed Camping
It’s a compromise
The only dispersed camping is in the south side of the mountain, and it is disconnected except by hiking trail to the north side. The drive to the north from the south is very very far. We missed out on the north side trails, views etc but the dispersed camping on the south side was excellent. Very clean, interesting geology and waterfalls. Plenty of good spots
Dave M.ScoutCamp Creek
Nice quiet campground
Camp host is very nice and helpful, gave brief history of the camp!
- PPhil G.Guide
Ainsworth State Park Campground
Woodsy, easy access, semi-private sites
The campground is clean and full of dense forestry. This gives it a semi-private feel. Close proximity to Multnomah Falls and Columbia River. Cell service is decent. The only complaint is that there is a rail line and you frequently hear freight train noise and vibration.
Byron S.
TravelerAvery Rec Area- Columbia River Gorge
River is beautiful
River is beautiful, trains are few, but ridiculously loud. View of Mt Hood down the center of the river is a nice bonus
Emmi O.GuideMilo McIver State Park Campground
Beautiful place!
We spent one night here. Beautiful place. Good phone service and really clean restrooms!
- DDana R.Scout
Tranquil Orchard and Wine Tours
Peace and quiet
Loved the unique setting of camping among the hazelnut trees. Good way to “commune with nature”. Very quiet, except for the occasional sound of hazelnuts falling to the ground or the picnic table or the car, etc. It was kind of comical! The “cricket choir” (as Shane, the host describes it) was very soothing and peaceful. No issues with mosquitos, etc. Didn’t even use bug spray. Saw a couple of earwigs, but no other critters. Only gave 4/5 stars as I only had one to two bars of reception on my Verizon phone. I understand that it was probably because of the trees, but I was expecting better coverage based on previous reviews.
- RRobert W.Scout
Sun Outdoors Portland South
Beautiful campground
Grounds were very well kept. Laundry facilities clean, indoor pool, hot tub pet laundry (first I’ve seen this)
Guide to North Bonneville
Dispersed camping options near North Bonneville, Washington are available across both sides of the Columbia River in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mount Hood National Forest. The area sits at approximately 100 feet elevation in the river gorge, with surrounding mountains rising to over 4,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-90°F, while winter drops to 30-50°F with occasional snow at higher elevations.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Access numerous trails directly from Eagle Creek Campground, which serves as an entry point to spectacular gorge scenery. "This campground has ready access to the Eagle Creek Trail #440 that accesses the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness," notes one camper, highlighting its strategic location for waterfall exploration.
River activities: The Sandy River at Tucker Park Campground offers excellent swimming opportunities during summer months. A visitor mentioned, "The campsite was scattered with smooth rocks perfect for tanning and nice sandy beaches along the river for your fur companions to cool off," making it ideal for cooling down on hot days.
Mountain biking: For mountain bike enthusiasts, trails are accessible near several campgrounds in the region. "Using this RV park as a jumping off point, there are endless hiking trails and lakes to paddle and explore in the Mt Hood wilderness. You will never get bored in the Mt Hood area," reports a camper about the area's recreational diversity.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Panther Creek Campground receives praise for its spacious layout. "This is a great campground in a nice forest setting. Nice big sites with a level tent pad. Multiple access points to the creek and the PCT is just outside the campground," explains one visitor who appreciated the campground's design.
Well-maintained facilities: Many campers highlight the clean facilities at Beacon Rock State Park Campground. "Very clean and well maintained with a pool. Good to use when just passing through the area," notes a camper, adding important context about the overall upkeep that makes stays more comfortable.
Convenient location: Despite being in nature, campers appreciate how accessible many sites are from urban areas. "If you live in PDX and want to get away from the city for a second, I highly recommend this campground," writes one camper about Oxbow Regional Park, noting its ideal location for quick escapes.
What you should know
Train and road noise: Many campgrounds in the area experience noise from trains and highways. "Road Noise and TRAINS. Clean, cheap $15, Location, all good," reports a camper about Eagle Creek, succinctly summarizing what to expect regarding ambient sounds.
Reservation requirements: During peak season (May-September), securing a spot can be challenging without advance planning. "Try to get there early and snag a spot down by the river," advises one visitor about Tucker Park, highlighting the competitive nature of first-come, first-served sites.
Weather variations: Wyeth Campground offers heavily wooded sites that provide shade during hot summer days. "Heavily wooded with well spaced terraced sites in the trees," notes one camper, describing how the natural environment helps moderate temperature extremes that can occur in the gorge.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "There is a playground, swimming pool, small store, cafe, bathrooms with showers (and warm water) and activities during the day for kids," shares a parent about their stay at Mt Hood Village Resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best camping spots near North Bonneville?
Where are the best camping spots near North Bonneville?
North Bonneville offers excellent camping options along the scenic Columbia River Gorge. Beacon Rock State Park Campground is a top choice featuring incredible views and access to hiking trails, including the famous climb up Beacon Rock with its stunning panoramic vistas. For those seeking water access, Columbia Hills Historical State Park Campground offers sites tucked next to Horse-thief lake, though be prepared for the characteristic Gorge winds. Both provide relatively easy access from North Bonneville while offering distinctive natural attractions.
Are there any free camping options near Bonneville Dam?
Are there any free camping options near Bonneville Dam?
Free camping options near Bonneville Dam are limited, as most established campgrounds in the area charge fees. Panther Creek Campground offers some of the more affordable camping options in the region with basic amenities. For true free camping, you'll need to explore dispersed camping opportunities on nearby National Forest land, which typically allows free stays up to 14 days. These areas have no amenities (no toilets, water, or trash service), so be prepared to pack everything in and out. Always check current regulations with the local Forest Service office before setting up camp.
What amenities are available at North Bonneville campgrounds?
What amenities are available at North Bonneville campgrounds?
Campgrounds near North Bonneville offer a range of amenities to enhance your outdoor experience. Wyeth Campground at the Gorge provides first-come, first-served sites with access to hiking trails and nearby attractions like Emerald Falls. The campground has regrown beautifully after past wildfires, offering lush surroundings. For RV travelers, Columbia River RV Park provides convenient full hookups close to the river. Most area campgrounds feature basic facilities including restrooms, designated fire rings, and picnic tables, though specific amenities vary by location.
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