Join the fun near Vantage. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Vantage, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"No dog park. Great view of the lake from your door. We took a 4 mile, one-way, bike ride to the town of Vantage and then to the Ginkgo Petrified Forest."
"Park is literally right off of I-90 near Vantage! RV spots don’t have much privacy, but the spots are huge! Full hookups, good cell phone coverage! Nice swimming area(kind of a walk from RV spaces)."
"Walk in sites are really tight. Heavy winds at night. No running water bathrooms. Noise from highway at night is very noticeable. No recycling option."
"Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and path down to a rocky beach on the Columbia."
$30 / night
"It is hay cutting season, and semi’s are racing up and down the road 60 feet away from the front sites starting at 7:30 am and continuing until dark. Jake brakes will wake you up. Trust me."
"Location has trees, grass, picnic tables, full hook ups, basic and premium rates, showers(3 minutes hot water for .50, buy 2 tokens at a pop, you can walk down to the river."
"Great location so close to 90 but tucked away - will be staying here often"
"I prefer to park here when its not busy as the "Feathers" basalt columns are really pretty to camp up next to. The second open site down the road has pit toilets and is a much larger area."
"Just off I90 in Eastern WA at Vantage."
"The landscape is gorgeous, there’s a sand dune right around the corner, and the sunsets are breathtaking."
$10 / night
"Windy, as is everything in Vantage. Walk in spots. Walk-in is about 100 yards. Quiet. Some wild life. Frogs and sheep."
"Great little campsite near the petrified forest. Windy the day we were there - but beautiful location near river. We had a large herd of bighorn sheep as pre dusk visitors which was great to admire."
"OF NOTE: The vault toilets are about a mile away from here."
"The entrance to the site is rough. Scouting is a good idea before attempting entry with a trailer."
"It was very beautiful and private but it’s right off the high way so you can hear traffic all night. Ideal if you’re just looking for somewhere to crash before you get back on the road."
"This place is where I go when I want to disconnect and get away from the stress of school in Ellensburg."
"Surrounded on three sides by tall basalt column cliff walls. Small water fall at northeastern corner. Incredible hiking up to top of rim and around to secondary canyon with a larger lake."
"Boat launch and hiking trails. Very quiet and well spaced out sites. Dusty Lake Trail is here and Ancient Lakes is a short drive away."
"Hiked the ancient lakes trail and dusty lake. Didnt see anyone on the trails and didn't see or hear rattler. I will come back here but only in the spring."
GuideNice spacious sites. Lots of privacy between sites. No dog park. Great view of the lake from your door. We took a 4 mile, one-way, bike ride to the town of Vantage and then to the Ginkgo Petrified Forest. The town of vantage is very small with a lot of closed shops. Has a gas station and convenience store. That’s about it. Very scenic area and quiet and relaxing.
TravelerSo I tried booking a spot through this app, and then cashapp was pending the purchase. I ended up calling the campground and they never received my booking. So I waited about 10 min and then I seen that my money was refunded. I ended up calling the camp back and booking it through over the phone. Same price....so I don't see what discount might have done. And also this campground or the lady who answered the phone had never heard of this APP...and named a few partners they work with....this app not being one of them...so...I don't know... ANYWHO.....
Stayed one night, the site 204 was a little difficult to find. The on-site store was pretty good size, from what I saw they had camping gear and regular convenience store stuff. When we got there there was only 1 other tent/ family set up a space away. The site was In a good place, just a walk away from the river. We did have like 2 hornets make their way into our tent. I used the showers behind the dog park, which had 2 shower stalls. And was empty. Hot water instantly, cute lil set up. The campground it self was pretty big...like it was a little town...big play area for kids, lake looked big, same with dog park. Then I took a walk around on the path, and followed the river (as in picture). Quiet time at 10....woke up early and packed up...felt safe, didn't get bothered..no trouble checking In...loved it...
GuideThe spots were solid dirt and our site was on top of the one next to us. It would have been better suited for a smaller rig (we were in a thirty foot trailer). The lake was actually a pond and was so scummy I wouldn’t let our kids swim in it. The dog park was a nice touch and lots of fun sitting areas and outdoor games. Right next to the road. Hosts were accommodating and so nice. Turtles in the pond were super cute! The wine bar was a nice touch. Showers kept flooding the bathroom but they were clean. Laundry was expensive.
LegendEastern Washington near the water is my favorite type of landscape. It's a hot, windy, and a true desert climate. When you get near a body of water like you do along the Yakima River, the diversity of life expands and makes for great wildlife watching.
Umtanum Recreation Site is part of several BLM campgrounds lumped together along the Yakima River known as the Yakima River Canyon Campgrounds. All can be reserved ahead of time via the reservation.gov website: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/250985. Standard for most BLM camping in Washington, sites are very basic. Gravel parking, pit toilets, and a picnic table. This place does have a dumpster for trash, not all do. There are no hook ups, no drinking water, and in our case, very little shade. Neighbors are close and there is not a lot of privacy. The day use area is right there too, close to camping and can be loud. It is heavily patrolled by the wonderful BLM folks to keep everything clean and the people orderly. They also give out tickets if you don't mind the warnings for correct passes or day use fees.
The campground itself is one little loop with six sites. The loop is an offshoot of a very large gravel parking area for day use. Mostly boat launching and hiking access to Umtanum Creek and Umtaum Ridge trails. You can check the Information Board for rules on day use and camping fees, passes, and how to check to see if a site is reserved.
We arrived on July 3rd in the afternoon. The campground was very quiet and all the sites were reserved. The morning of July 4th, the recreation site turned into a total madhouse. BLM Rangers, Law Enforcement, making constant rounds to patrol the never ending hoards of people coming to park and float the river. There was a lot of noise, dust, drunk and rowdy folks. Friday was calm again until afternoon, Saturday was not as bad as the 4th but still pretty crazy. It was also hot! No shade to be had in our site. After hiking in the morning, we spent a lot of time across the bridge, in it's shadow, in the river.
If you are using this spot as a base to do some hiking, fishing, or floating it's very convenient. I am sure in Spring and Fall when river floating is not at it's peak, it's gorgeous and peaceful. The raptors and songbirds are splendid. We saw Bighorn sheep on the hill, big rock squirrels, wild turkeys with babies, and fish. No rattlesnakes or ticks, but this is prime territory. Hiking down the Umtanum Creek trail, over the suspension bridge, is one of my favorite hikes ever.
ScoutWe were here for memorial weekend. Staff was helpful and friendly. Rooms were clean and tidy. The resort grounds were breathtaking. Very nice walkable paths and waterfront. Keep your eyes open for the Blue Lake Resort. Great place to bring the family and pets. kayaking and fishing was Fun for the kids. Enjoy your time...
ScoutInteresting spot at the bottom of the coulee. Windy, as is everything in Vantage. Walk in spots. Walk-in is about 100 yards. Quiet. Some wild life. Frogs and sheep. Good place to drop in and find a spot last minute depending on the day and time of year. Tent spots are nice bordered with pea gravel. Level and flat. Fire pits. Big metal picnic tables. No shade!! And it does get very hot, even though there is some lake effect. Great views. Water is accessible. Not necessarily easily accessible from every camp spot. You may have to walk your SUP board around up to a spot to put in.
TravelerThe campgrounds are right next to all the climbing vantage has to offer. You can park right next to your site, have fires. There is one bathroom that smells horrible, I'm usually fine with campground bathrooms but this one is eye watering awful. The climbing is so close to the site, sunshine wall is my favorite
LegendGeneral: 20 RV sites, nine cabins, and open space for tent sites.
Site Quality: Sites 1-13 are located closer to the road while 14-20 are tucked further back closer to the river and we did not hear any road noise in Site 15. All are level. Minimal separation/privacy. Campsites are dirt. RV sites have water and electric.
Bath/Shower house: One single bathroom each for men and women as well as one shower each for men and women. The shower was warm but as a short person, I was not able to adjust the handheld shower nozzle, making my shower just a bit challenging. Showers and bathrooms were clean although the fan in the women’s room had accumulated quite a bit of dirt/dust so I turned it off.
Activities/Amenities: Many games (giant chess, corn hole, etc.) sprinkled throughout the property but otherwise there was not much in the campground itself. Nearby there are hiking/mountain biking trails. Fly-fishing on the river. Recreational water activities on nearby Bumping Lake. A kids' playground within walking distance from the campground is located at Jim Sprick Community Park. There was a full kitchen with a sink, dishwashing soap, stove, fridge, and microwave. I only took advantage of the dishwashing sink.
Be aware there are several cats roaming the property; they were not a nuisance as we like cats (they only came within view and no closer). This is also a wedding venue and a wedding was held the weekend before we arrived. We were the ONLY ones in the entire campground; the store/office was closed when arrived shortly before 6 p.m. on a Sunday after Labor Day (since our site was not assigned when we reserved, a note was left on the door) and we left before it opened the next morning.
This kitschy old western-themed campground would be fun for a wedding or family gathering/reunion, but for us, it was a one-night stop along our route. There was zero cell coverage (Verizon) if that is important to you.
RangerJust off I90 in Eastern WA at Vantage. This is primarily a rock climbers base camp, but also serves well for a great overnight stop where you can camp right on the edge of the canyon, get in some nice vista views,& a short hike to a"falls". You will share this spot with other campers, busy even in winter. One note about access, the entrance to this camping area has some pitch to it. Better suited for high clearance vehicles, and brave souls in truck campers......
Discover the best spots for pets-allowed camping near Vantage, Washington, where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Vantage, WA is Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 26 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 102 dog-friendly camping locations near Vantage, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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