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Best Tent Camping near Wallula, WA

229 Reviews

Tent camping near Wallula, Washington provides access to several primitive sites in the arid Columbia Basin landscape where the Snake and Columbia Rivers meet. Juniper Sand Dunes OHV in Pasco offers free tent-only camping in a desert environment approximately 25 miles northeast of Wallula. For water-based tent camping, Lyons Ferry Park and Lyons Ferry Marina provide tent campsites along the Snake River about 40 miles east. Devils Bench near Kahlotus offers basic tent camping with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets in a remote setting.

Most tent campgrounds in the Wallula area require preparation for primitive conditions. Juniper Sand Dunes features drive-in tent sites with no amenities, requiring campers to pack in all water and supplies. According to reviews, it offers "desert camping off the beaten path" with excellent stargazing opportunities, though visitors should "track your hikes, as it's easy to lose your way." Lyons Ferry facilities provide more amenities for tent campers, including drinking water, toilets, and trash service. However, campers noted that Lyons Ferry Park can become "crowded with little privacy" during summer holidays, particularly around July 4th, and some mentioned issues with "geese poop all over in the grassy area."

The backcountry tent camping experience near Wallula features stark desert landscapes and river access. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, making spring and fall preferable for tent camping. The area's minimal tree cover means limited natural shade at most sites. Sand Station Recreation Area across the border in Oregon provides tent camping with swimming access, though reviews indicate "the site is right next to the freeway and train tracks, so is noisy." Winter camping is possible at year-round sites like Sand Station, but campers should prepare for cold desert nights. Most primitive tent sites in the region do not accept reservations, operating on a first-come basis, and many require self-sufficiency with water and waste management.

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Best Tent Sites Near Wallula, Washington (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wallula, WA

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Tent Camping Reviews near Wallula, WA

229 Reviews of 12 Wallula Campgrounds

  • John 'n Sara D.
    Aug. 2, 2018

    Jubilee Lake Campground (Or) — Umatilla National Forest

    Peace & Quiet!

    The campground is somewhat primitive. There are flushing toilets on the lower loop, vault toilets on the upper loop. no showers, but you can refresh in the lake. The nights get chilly, so be prepared with warm socks and a beenie, especially if you’re tent camping.

    There are no power boats allowed on the lake, so it is raft, kayak paddle board friendly.

    The path around the lake is an easy walk, just don’t expect to sit on a bench and enjoy the view of the lake, the trees have grown up.

  • Nick B.
    Jul. 15, 2019

    Target Meadows Campground — Umatilla National Forest

    Rustic campground with a neat history

    We tent camped for the weekend in mid-July. The plan was to camp at Jubilee Lake, but it was full when we arrived Friday evening. Target Meadows is just a short drive from the lake, but there were plenty of sites available. The campground is heavily wooded with beautiful evergreens. Sites are private and well spaced. This is a rustic campground, so there is no water or power. Amenities include (very clean!) pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits with cooking grates. There is a lot of dry timber on the ground, so it is easy to collect your own firewood. There is easy access to hiking, including Burnt Cabin trailhead. Most campsites are trailer friendly, including a few with drive-through access. We really enjoyed the area and will be back again!

  • S
    Jul. 8, 2021

    Hood Park

    Hood Park

    Do not try to check in before 2 pm!!!! No alcohol allowed in park!

    Typical Park campground outside of urban area. Decent swim beach area a lot of algae outside of swim area. Town is close by so you can do other things ( Groceries, laundromat etc…..) while waiting for check in. Spider issue others write about appears to be controlled. However every picnic table has lots of spider webs underneath!!!!

  • K
    Sep. 18, 2020

    Plymouth Park Campground

    Clean campground

    $12 a night for water and electricity. Clean area with grass and playground. Some areas appear to be under construction or upgrade. Dumpster and restroom available. Showers closed because of covid-19. Sights are on paved roadway with firepits and picnic tables. Easy in and out for our 32' Class A. Hermiston Oregon is 6 miles away.

  • K
    Jul. 16, 2019

    Woodland Campground

    6 dispersed sites

    Beautiful little pull off campground, single loop with 6 sites - pit toilets, fire pit, and picnic table. There is cell reception, $8/night for standard tent. Only issue is it’s close to the road so you can hear when truckers go by, otherwise perfect primitive camping spot

  • Alissa K.
    Sep. 3, 2020

    Beach RV Park

    Great tent site with WiFi

    Great site off the freeway- but because it’s close, you’ll hear cars all night. We were the only tent campers so we had a bunch of space. Fire rings and picnic tables at every site as well as a bunch of firewood. There are 2 bathrooms and showers that look pretty new. WiFi works closer to the RVs.

  • Nathan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2021

    Hood Park

    Very Comfortable with Manicured Lawn and tons of space

    Lots of options in this campground from drive through big trailer spots to back in spots to tent only areas. 

    Tons of wide green lawns with lots of space, camp sites end up pretty well spaced apart so you might only have 2 or 3 neighbors then a ton of lawn before another neighbor.

    It's right on the snake river, so you can practically fish from your camp site if you want. There is a connected wildlife preserve that you can walk around in and also fish in that is a sperate area. Lots of birds to watch. 

    There is also a connected park that is only open during the day with a beach. 

    Fully facilities including water and power hookups, a central dumping station. Flush toilets and showers included. A playground for the kids. 

    River barges keep things along the river interesting. Maybe road noise from the nearby highway was a bit louder than we'd like.

  • J
    Jul. 15, 2020

    Wildhorse Resort Casino RV Park & Tipi Villiage

    Shady park like view

    Fairly level site 95 fit our trailer & truck totaling 55”. People tend to not leash their dog which is a problem for my dog. Full hookups, check in is 3pm out is 11am. About 10 miles outside of Pendleton, OR (post office for mail and packages, Walmart Supercenter and Safeway. Arrowhead travel center for gas or munchies that has easy RV access. Free WiFi and 2 bars of Verizon LTE. Just off of Hwy 84. We did not enter the casino. Roosters restaurant in Pendleton provided safe distance dining in a clean environment.

  • a
    Jun. 28, 2022

    Sand Station Recreation Area

    Mostly day use

    We were here on a hot day, lots of families with kids using the beach and swimming area. There are no designated camp sites except for two gravel group sites with fire rings and picnic tables that you are supposed to have a permit for. We were not group camping but used one of those sites anyway as it seemed the only place to camp and no one else was camping.

    The site is right next to the freeway and train tracks, so is noisy. I used my ear plugs.

    All the day users were gone by 9pm.

Guide to Wallula

Tent camping near Wallula, Washington centers around the convergence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers, creating a stark landscape of basalt cliffs and open desert terrain. The region sits at approximately 340 feet elevation with temperature extremes ranging from over 100°F in summer to below freezing in winter. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from spring through fall due to harsh winter conditions and limited facilities.

What to do

Water recreation at Lyons Ferry Marina: The marina serves as a launching point for boating, fishing, and swimming in the Snake River. One camper noted, "Nice campground but very desert-ie right so hot in the summer but on the river though so if you have a boat its great."

Stargazing at high elevation: Mottet Campground provides exceptional dark sky viewing conditions in the nearby Blue Mountains. According to a visitor, "Great place for astrophotographers when conditions are right!"

OHV trails and dirt biking: The sandy terrain surrounding Juniper Sand Dunes OHV creates ideal conditions for off-road vehicles. A camper reports: "Lots of fun! Good trails, tons of dirt biking."

What campers like

Secluded camping options: Mottet Campground offers a quieter alternative to more popular nearby locations. One camper explained, "Here there's lots of room between you and your neighboring campsite - if you even have neighbors, we were the only ones there."

Basic facilities for primitive camping: Devils Bench provides fire rings, picnic tables and vault toilets while maintaining a remote feel approximately 40 miles east of Wallula.

River access with amenities: Multiple campgrounds provide water access with varying levels of facilities. At Lyons Ferry, campers appreciate that "Bathrooms and showers are available for a fee. Busy campground and park for fun."

What you should know

Vehicle requirements: Some campgrounds require appropriate vehicles to access. At Mottet, "you will need a higher clearance vehicle to reach this campground, and signage may be limited so make sure you know your step by step directions beforehand."

Maintenance conditions vary: Bone Spring Campground represents the more primitive end of the spectrum. A visitor reported, "Now, it is not maintained and it's difficult to tell where the sites were. There's a pit toilet on site, also not maintained."

Noise considerations: Some water-adjacent sites experience traffic noise. At Sand Station Recreation Area, "The site is right next to the freeway and train tracks, so is noisy. I used my ear plugs."

Tips for camping with families

Swimming areas with supervision: Sand Station Recreation Area offers designated swimming areas that attract families. A visitor observed, "We were here on a hot day, lots of families with kids using the beach and swimming area."

Holiday planning: Holiday weekends bring crowds to the best tent camping near Wallula, Washington. At Lyons Ferry Park, one camper experienced "the weekend of the 4th of July. Lots of campers and children, we only stayed one night as there were too many people and we moved to a quieter campground nearby."

Limited designated sites: Some recreation areas have restricted camping options. At Sand Station, "There are no designated camp sites except for two gravel group sites with fire rings and picnic tables that you are supposed to have a permit for."

Tips from RVers

Group camping options: West Park provides shaded sites with electric hookups. A visitor noted, "This is a nice, shady campground. It is well-kept and on par with many other state park campgrounds I've been to."

Spring water availability: Some primitive campgrounds offer natural water sources. At Mottet Campground, campers have access to "a pit toilet, and a freshwater spring."

Navigation challenges: The desert landscape can be disorienting for hikers and campers. At Juniper Sand Dunes, visitors advise to "track your hikes, as it's easy to lose your way!"

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wallula, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wallula, WA is Sand Station Recreation Area with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Wallula, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Wallula, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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