Affordable camping and sightseeing around Columbia river gorge.

[Aguyfromcalg]

Hello All:
We are looking for recommendations for camping and sightseeing around Columbia river gorge.
We have already booked one night at Anisworth state park on July 1st.
We would like to stay there until July 3rd but it may not be possible.
What other campgrounds would be recommended? We will be traveling west to Seattle.
I noticed that a lot of hiking tours are paid and guided tours.
Is it possible to hike without having to pay for a guide?
My RV is a 30ft. Class c with one slide.
Thanks in advance
Pat

[Melvo]

We like Ainsworth close to the falls and entrance to the old highway which is not good for RVs. We also like Mammaloose Island State park, great view of the river. The state parks are kind of costly so there is a county park near Hood River that is good and less expensive . Can't remember the name. Hood River is a nice little tourist town with wind surfers to watch and only a couple hour driver to MT hood. There are some forest service campgrounds near hood but they have no service. There are hiking travels in almost every canyon with a stream and generally a water fall or two.

[twogypsies]

You certainly don't need to take a tour or pay to hike!

Ainsworth is almost to Portland and on your way to Seattle. You will almost be finished with the Gorge. You could try for Mammaloose State Park for your whole stay and do some day-tripping in both directions from there. It doesn't make sense to move twice within a short distance.

Here's a good site to explore for things to do. Definitely take a tour of the Lock and Dam. There are campgrounds around there, also.

https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missi...tion/Columbia/

[Mr_D]

Memaloosa can only be accessed from the westbound lanes of I-84 through the rest area. You have to drive west to the next exit to go back eastbound and the same going east. Nice park but usually windy

[Renipladlo]

Hmmm, head east on I-84 and take Biggs, OR exit, cross river to WA. There is a nice state park just over the bridge, on the right side in middle of the curve, cannot remember the name. Further east on I-84 at exit 104? The COE has a nice RV park at the confluence of the John Day and Columbia Rivers, don't know costs, believe it's first come. Further east more on I-84, campground in Arlington, OR, don't know name. Further east take Hwy 730 go east on it, and look for Hat Rock SP, very nice CG. All of these are along the Columbia, and it gets you away from civilization. Suggest you get copy of Good Sam Road Atlas, which lists all the CG either GS or private mostly. A companion is the RV Travel & Savings Guide, which lists every CG in the USA and Canada. Both about 17 each, and only in Camping World Stores usually. Best buy for traveling across USA.

[yblaw]

We spent a week at Timberlake Campground and RV Park just east of the Cascade Locks Bridge on the Washington side of the Columbia. It's a very nice campground with sites large enough for our 43' Dutch Star and our Jeep toad.
It's about 40 miles east of Portland. And....it's quiet!

Timberlake Campground & RV Park
112 Bylin Rd
Home Valley, WA 98648
509-427 (camp) 2267

Web: Timberlake Campground & RV Park | Camp the Gorge

[CeeCee]

We live in the Portland/Vancouver area and love weekending in the gorge. I highly recommend the AllStays app which I have on iPad. The main difficulty with the state parks will be finding space, especially on weekends. If you don’t need full hook-ups, your options open up considerably. There are a number of Forest Service parks shown on AllStays that don’t take reservations. The park at the Hood River fairgrounds is a nice grassy field. There are also several parks run by the county. All of these are shown on AllStays. Freecampsites.net is another resource we use a lot. We do like to dry camp when possible.

[UTTransplant]

OP, are you from Calgary? I am just guessing based on your user name. Either way, I recommend you find somewhere quickly for early July. The Independence Day (4 July) results in full campgrounds just about everywhere, plus the weekend before and after.