The daily 9:00 to 5:00 routine gets old pretty fast. When Friday hits, you yearn for a weekend retreat with friends or family that doesn’t require weeks of planning, research, and reservations. You just want to get away.
Fortunately, we’ve covered most of that for you. If you live in the Northwest, get your camping gear ready! We’ve compiled the 25 best campgrounds within two hours of Portland, Oregon. While Portland is part of a metropolis, many are surprised to learn it also hosts one of the largest urban wildlife parks in the US. With a variety of campers in mind, we found campgrounds to fit your every style or need. Whether you prefer to stay in a cabin, RV, tent, or even teepee, this list has it all. Not to mention, these Portland area campsites offer a multitude of outdoor activities – from hiking, swimming, and fishing to disc golf, berry picking, and wine tasting.
Wanna have some fun in the car? Here are our favorite road trip games:
Games On The Go is pretty cool. It’s 50 games clipped to a little carabiner.
MOUNT HOOD / COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
Trillium Lake Campground : Mount Hood, OR
Trillium Lake Campground
Located alongside Trillium Lake and at the base of Mount Hood, this peaceful retreat offers amazing views of the mountain’s summit. Well-known for its family-friendly atmosphere, Trillium Lake is a great place to swim, boat, and fish. A two-mile hiking and biking trail circles the lake, while other nearby trails provide a little more rugged terrain. The campground provides many tent and RV sites that come with a picnic table and fire pit with a grill rack. We love this site not only for its scenic beauty but also because the tall trees of the Mount Hood National Forest provide shade and privacy between campsites.
Also located in the Mount Hood region, the Lost Lake Resort & Campground is secluded in the Mount Hood National Forest just 76 miles from Portland. Along with the 148 tent and RV sites, Lost Lake also offers lodge rooms and cabins equipped with a king bed and a small kitchen for those who enjoy a more luxurious camping style. We love this place because it is accommodating to anyone and everyone, with two miles of handicap accessible trails. On the edge of Lost Lake itself, the resort rents out fishing boats, paddleboards, and canoes for all kinds of water activities.
Beacon Rock State Park
If you really want to get back to the basics of camping, Beacon Rock State Park is the place for you. With only 26 tent sites and a few spaces for RVs less than 20 feet long, this seasonal campground across the Washington state line is located in the center of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This site is mostly primitive with only five utility sites throughout the grounds with electricity and water. However, it features equestrian campsites for campers traveling with horses. The Beacon Rock that juts out 840 feet above the river is the park’s main attraction, offering 360-degree views of the gorge.
Eagle Creek Campground
Forty miles east of Portland on the Columbia River Gorge lies Eagle Creek Campground. With only 14 tent sites available for reservation and 3 first come first serve, it is not a very popular spot for summer tourists. However, that doesn’t mean you should stay away! The campsites are positioned on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River and Eagle Creek, with tall trees for plenty of shade. Hike along the Gorge on one of the many Eagle Creek trails and end up at Punchbowl Falls right near the campsite. We love this campground because it’s a peaceful and relaxing weekend getaway for you and significant other or the whole family.
If you’re looking for something even more off the radar, Beaver Campground is calling your name. This quiet camp with just 24 sites for tents and RVs is a location made for solitude seekers. Hike along the Trapper Creek Wilderness trails towards the two-tiered falls with a crystal-clear pool of water at the top – perfect for a quick dip on a hot summer day. The Wind River allows for plenty of kayaking and canoeing, as well as salmon and trout fishing for anglers. We highly recommend giving this spot a look.
Sunset Falls Campground is located in the southern part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The 18 standard campsites offer space for both tents and RVs up to 22 feet, however, no hookups are available. Each is equipped with a fire ring, grill, and picnic table. Multiple vaulted toilets are dispersed on the grounds. As far as outdoor activities go, the Lewis River runs alongside the sites, making it perfect for kayaking and fishing. Hiking trails are also scattered throughout the grounds – the Silver Star trail leads to a scenic lookout of Portland.
Tollgate Campground
Conveniently located an hour from Portland, Tollgate campground is a popular place to explore the Mount Hood area. The Zigzag River runs parallel to the grounds and provides access to many hiking trails, fishing holes, and scenic picnic spots. Multiple historic sites are scattered throughout Tollgate as well, including points on the well-known Oregon Trail. There are 15 sites for mostly tenting and small RVs up to 16 feet. For campers not interested in doing their own cooking there is a trail that leads to a few diners in the neighboring town. Tollgate Campgrounds tends to fill up quickly, so be sure to get there early!
A relatively quiet campground, Bear Springs’ 21 campsites are scattered in the southeast corner of Mount Hood National Forest. This is a great weekend spot if traveling with a group, as there are several group recreation and group picnicking areas. Bear Springs sits along Indian Creek and makes for excellent fishing. A variety of trails run through the grounds for both hiking and RVs, perfect for further nature exploration. The tall pines trees provide lots of shade for those hot summer days. Bear Springs has sites for tents and RVs, but there are no hookups available.
North Arm Campground
Located on the shores of Timothy Lake, this campground offers a variety of water activities including sailing, boating, fishing, and swimming. Anglers love this spot for catching kokanee salmon and a variety of trout. If you’d rather stay on land, there are numerous trails that loop around the lake for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. One of them connects to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail that extends from Canada to Mexico. There are fourteen sites for both tent and RV campers but hookups are not available. Most sites are surrounded by a thick understory that provides shade between you and your camping neighbors.
This is a perfect alternative when nearby North Arm campground is full. This is a smaller lake with scenic views of Mount Hood and a great place for swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating. It is located less than a mile from the Clackamas Lake Ranger Station Historic District where you can see the unique architecture of the cabins built for the forest service workers in the early 1900s. This campground has single-family sites for RVs and tents, as well as eleven equestrian sites with horse corrals. Accessible vault toilets are located among the sites.
This is a great location for all of you water lovers. Right along the Sandy River Gorge, Oxbow Regional Park provides an oasis for swimming, fishing, rafting, and kayaking. If you venture here in the fall, it’s hard to miss the spawning salmon. You may encounter different wildlife species along the site’s sandy beaches and 12 miles of trails. Oxbow offers drive-up campsites that include a picnic table, fire pit, and cooking grill, as well as 10 pull-through RV sites. Whether a day trip or a weekend stay, this is truly is a beautiful place to camp.
Just forty minutes west of Portland, Gales Creek Campground is a prime spot for the whole family. There are excellent mountain biking and hiking trails right along the water. The 21 tent sites are spread out far enough from one another that you have a private space and the sound of the running creek drowns out any nearby neighbors. If you want to venture a bit offsite, Browns Camp just down the road has great ATV trails. Gales Creek runs on a first-come-first-serve basis, so be sure to get a spot early or you may be out of luck.
This is an extremely popular park for many travelers and long-term residents. It is right on the edge of the Columbia River with excellent views of the water. All of the sites are paved and have a 20amp, 30amp, or 50amp full hookup option. We recommend this park because of its close proximity to downtown Portland and within walking distance to lots of dining and shopping. Columbia Edgewater Golf Course is also just down the road. The park offers free wifi, a place to do laundry, and an area for your pets to run without a leash. Reservations are required so be sure to call ahead!
Jantzen Beach RV Park
Just 7 miles from downtown Portland and a perfect getaway for the whole family. While no tent camping is allowed at Jantzen Beach, each RV site comes with free wifi, 20, 30, or 50 amp hookups, and water and sewer connections. It is located on the shores of the Columbia River and has a swimming pool, fitness center, game room, and basketball court to keep everyone busy. If you come for the weekend, we recommend you stop by the Portland Saturday Market, the nation’s largest open-air crafts market, and stroll down rows and rows of handcrafted items and homemade foods.
A beautiful state park just 34 miles west of Portland. Perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway, the 1,800 acres of rolling hills, flowing streams, and hiking/biking trails will keep you exploring for hours. L.L. Stub also caters to equestrian enthusiasts with its horse staging area and designated horse trails. One downfall is that the streams onsite aren’t big enough for swimming, but nearby Vernonia Lake is great for both swimming and fishing. This campground has 78 spots that include primitive campsites, full RV hookups, and 1-2 bedroom cabins. It also offers flush toilets and hot showers to keep you feeling fresh. Don’t forget to bring your pets – they are welcome too!
If you really want to get away, head an hour and a half west of Portland to the oceanfront of Cape Lookout State Park. Swimming, hiking, beachcombing, and whale-watching are only a few of this park’s various outdoor activities. It offers 35 full hookup sites and more than 70 tent sites with nearby water. If you forget your tent or are more into glamping than camping, Cape Lookout also has yurts and deluxe cabins for rent. This is the perfect weekend getaway with friends or family whether you want to “rough it” for a few nights or maintain your luxurious lifestyle.
Cannon Beach RV Resort
Escape to the coast for a weekend to stay at Cannon Beach RV Park. As a full-service and full hookup facility, this resort accommodates any RV camper’s need. We highly recommend this park because it is open all four seasons – not just when it’s warm. In addition to being a few short blocks from the beach, Cannon Beach has countless amenities that make it extra family-friendly. The indoor heated pool and spa, game room, convenience store, and free cable and wifi will keep the kids entertained for hours. The Lodge clubhouse is also a great place to meet other travelers and hear about their time on the road.
If you don’t mind an extra 20 minutes, Coyote Rock RV Resort & Marina sits on the banks of the Siletz River in Lincoln City, Oregon. Park your RV in one of the 64 spots along the water and drop in your boat at the boat launch for some of the greatest fishing in the area. Kayaking, crabbing and clamming in the river are popular things to do at the resort as well. In addition to the RV spots, Coyote Rock has 4-person tree houses for rent and tent sites for those who want to get out of the RV. This is an awesome place to cross a few unique activities off your bucket list.
Reeder Beach Resort
Just 30 minutes north of Portland, Reeder Beach Resort is located on Sauvie Island and overlooks the Columbia River. Who doesn’t want to say they went to an island over the weekend? This park is only a few miles from warm water fishing, sandy beaches (one where clothing is optional), and numerous wildlife viewing areas. Sauvie Island is home to many small farmers’ markets where guests can choose from an assortment of locally-grown fruits and veggies. Between swimming, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and kiteboarding, there something fun for everyone in the family. Reeder Beach is for RVs only and has full 30amp hookup sites.
Fort Stevens State Park
This is one of the more unique campgrounds on our list. Right at the mouth of the Columbia River, Fort Stevens State Park lies on the Northern Coast. This area was once a primary military fort and much of the history still remains today. The park offers a tour of different parts of the fort and a historic shipwreck site, in addition to the traditional swimming, hiking, fishing, and canoeing activities. Fort Stevens accommodates all campers, whether you prefer to stay in a tent, RV, yurt, or cabin. This site is relatively large, too, with more than 500 sites, so it is easy to find the perfect spot.
Located on 45 acres in the Cascade Foothills, Camp Dakota is just an hour south of Portland. With accommodations for any camper, it offers RV pull-throughs with 50-amp service and tent sites that include a picnic table and fire pit. Teepee rentals and cabin tents are also available. The on-site adventure park will keep you and the family plenty busy, where disc golf, zip-lining, and rock climbing are just a few of many unique activities. Camp Dakota also has waterfalls and hiking trails through the state forest for those that want a more relaxing camping experience.
Just 30 miles from Portland, Champoeg State Heritage Area lies in the heart of Willamette Valley wine country. Hiking and biking trails wind through the prairie-like vineyards, and the open grassy fields are great for tossing a frisbee. If you’re a history buff, you can check out the Log Cabin Museum onsite to learn about pioneer life at Champoeg. This park includes tent sites, full hookup RV sites, yurts, and cabins to fit the style of any camper, plus their pets! Hot showers and flush toilets are also located throughout the five camping areas. If you venture here in August, don’t forget a berry bowl for blackberry picking!
Silver Falls State Park
Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, Silver Falls State Park is one of the largest and most popular state parks in Oregon with more than 9,200 acres of land. Not only can you hike, bike, or horseback ride across 25 miles of trails, but you also pass ten different waterfalls along the way. If you need a way to cool off, you can actually walk behind four of the falls and feel the mist. Silver Falls has tent sites, RV hookup sites, cabins, and even a dorm-style bunkhouse for those traveling with a large group. Not far from the grounds are a number of tasty restaurants for some post-hike grub.
Just south of Salem, Albany/Corvallis KOA is perfect if you want easy access to surrounding attractions. Within miles of various wineries, Oregon State University, and Albany’s Historic Museum, this KOA also has mini-golf, a pool, and a basketball court right onsite. This site will keep everyone entertained and having fun. It offers space for tents, 50-amp hookups for RVs, and has cabins available for rent. If you are seeking a longer stay whether house hunting, job-related or whatever the case may be, look no further. This KOA also has an extended stay option.
Milo McIver State Park
A hidden gem that is an awesome spot for bird watching. Waterfowl, American Dipper, osprey, bald eagles, four species of woodpeckers, and many more birds all reside in Milo McIver State Park. It is only 45 minutes from Portland and is situated on the Clackamas River. Fishing, boating, hiking, and disc golf are only a few of the many recreational activities offered here. There are sites for tents and RVs with 44 electrical sites with water. Hot showers and flush toilets are also available to keep you feeling clean. Milo McIver State Park has three group tent sites that make it great for exploring with friends or family.
A newer group-only campground accommodates those traveling in numbers. It is located on the Collawash River about an hour and a half from downtown Portland. There are many trails for hiking and biking and great river access for fly fishing. Rafting and kayaking are a few other popular activities at Raab. It has six group campsites to accommodate up to 60 people and three of these sites are suitable for RVs. The tall Douglas Fir trees provide plenty of shade and privacy between campsites. The only downfall of the campground is there is no accessible drinking water, so remember to bring your own!
On January 24, 2023, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order launching the Natural State Initiative, a program designed to ramp up [...]
01/27/2023-01/29/2023 If you’re hitting the slopes this weekend, make sure you know where the pow is best! Vermont Bolton Valley Bromley Mountain Burke Mountain [...]