Paradise Point State Park Campground is located just minutes from Ridgefield, Washington, offering rustic cabin accommodations with convenient highway access. The cabins at this park include electric heating options making them suitable for year-round use, even during cooler seasons. Located near the I-5 corridor, Paradise Point provides an accessible option for travelers looking for cabin camping near Ridgefield without venturing too far from urban conveniences.
What to do
Disc golf course access: Paradise Point State Park Campground features a 9-hole disc golf course that provides entertainment for all skill levels. "Hole one is a fun one that plays under a freeway overpass," notes one visitor who appreciates the creative course design despite the relatively small area.
Fishing opportunities: At Battle Ground Lake State Park Campground, visitors can enjoy fishing in a volcanic lake. "Nice hike around lake with plenty of spots to rest and fish. Rope swing. Very popular," shares a reviewer who found multiple fishing spots along the trails surrounding the lake.
Biking trails: The Banks-Vernonia Trail at Dairy Creek West provides a paved surface perfect for casual riders and families. One camper mentioned, "The park has many hiking trails of varying length, access to the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, several disc golf courses, cabins, a horse camp, a day use picnic/event area and a hike-in camp area."
River access: Oxbow Regional Park offers easy river access for swimming during summer months. "The river was shallow and dropped to the deep end. It was ideal for children because the shallow end stretched a bit and the deeper end was the other side," explains a visitor describing the gradual depth changes that make the swimming area family-friendly.
What campers like
Privacy options: Cabin sites at various parks offer different levels of seclusion. One visitor to Battle Ground Lake explained, "Most of the campsites are large enough for 2 tents, and there were many RVs and popups - good size driveways/parking areas," providing context for the spaciousness of the sites.
Natural settings: Seaquest State Park Campground provides a densely forested environment with multiple camping options. "This campground is split into three loops; an RV loop, Mixed loop, and a predominantly tent loop," shares a reviewer who appreciated the organization of the campground areas.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds throughout the region maintain their facilities well. "Clean bathrooms, one women's shower. Walk to Mt. St. Helens visitor center. Very shaded and dense forest," notes a visitor to Seaquest State Park who appreciated both the facilities and surrounding environment.
Historical elements: Champoeg State Heritage Area Campground offers educational opportunities alongside comfortable camping. "Great historic park with no issues with hookups in the RV area," reports a camper who enjoyed both the historical aspects and modern amenities.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely between campgrounds. At Seaquest State Park, a camper noted, "Limited cell service with T-Mobile but it still works! Free WiFi in the day use area," providing important information for those needing to stay connected.
Reservation requirements: Most cabin sites require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. "The yurts are heated, and a couple of them are pet friendly, which is great for us!" shared a Champoeg visitor, highlighting that pet-friendly options are limited and should be reserved early.
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds more than others. "It's right off i-5, so we thought it would be a great idea to stay here while exploring Portland and the nearby casino," explains a Paradise Point visitor who found the highway noise more noticeable than expected.
Site dimensions: Some campgrounds have restrictions for larger vehicles. "We put the size of our RV in the state website and it gave us site 50. We arrived and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get our rig in that site due to the trees," warned a Paradise Point visitor, emphasizing the importance of verifying site dimensions.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Government Island State Recreation Area offers a unique boat-in camping experience. "We love camping on the island, as you can only get to it via boat so it is not overly populated," shares a visitor who appreciated the isolation despite being close to Portland.
Educational opportunities: Many parks offer junior ranger programs during summer months. At Seaquest State Park, a camper observed, "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained."
Swimming areas: Several parks feature designated swimming areas that are ideal for children. "The day use area also provides life jackets if you forget yours," notes a Paradise Point visitor, highlighting an important safety feature for families with young children.
Hiking difficulty: Trail systems vary in difficulty across the region. At Battle Ground Lake, "There are two hikes around the lake; an upper, and a lower one. Both are easy hikes, and are dog and kid friendly," according to one visitor who found the trails accessible for all ages.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electricity and water access varies between campgrounds. At Lewis River Campground Community of Christ, "Cabins, tipis, lodge, and RV park - all for groups such as churches, organizations, schools, etc. No individual camping," according to a reviewer who clarified the reservation requirements.
Site leveling: Campground terrain affects setup difficulty. "The pad starts with asphalt and then goes to gravel, where you actually park the rig," explains a Dairy Creek West visitor who found the mixed surface helpful for leveling.
Loop access: Some campground loops have tight turns challenging for larger vehicles. "We couldn't even continue out the secondary loop because it was so narrow and had trees on the inside of turns," warns a Paradise Point visitor, sharing important navigation information for RV drivers.
Water pressure: Utility quality can vary between parks. "The water pressure was not very good at around 35 psi," notes a Dairy Creek West camper who found this detail worth mentioning for RVers who might need consistent water pressure.
