Lost Lake Resort And Campground You Might Even Be Lucky Enough To See The Reflection Of Mt Hood Shimmering In You Relax By The Lake
Less than 2 hours drive from Portland City, Lost Lake caters to all types of campers. But, the tenting options are in abundance and the favorite of many people.
With 148 sites all in the Mount Hood region offering spectacular views of the towering mountain. Another fantastic aspect of this site is 2 miles of handicapped-accessible trails giving everybody a chance to enjoy this spectacular area.
Address: Lost Lake Rd, Hood River, OR 97031, United States
Battle Ground Lake State Park The State Park Is Covered By An Evergreen Forest Located Around A Crater Lake Of Volcanic Origin
Although one of the more rustic sites that do require a bit of a walk from the parking area, you cant really go wrong with weekend camping at this site. Nestled in the forests of the Cascade Mountains, you are provided with nature trails, and opportunities for swimming.
This is back to nature at its best. Whether youre with friends or family, it doesnt get much better than this if you enjoy the outdoors.
Address: 18002 NE 249th St, Battle Ground, WA 98604, United States
The Best Spots For Camping In Oregon
– Last updated: August 6, 2022
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Camping in Oregon allows you to base yourself near, or sometimes even in, the states most scenic areas and attractions, providing a base for many outdoor adventures. Pitch up your tent and get your bonfire started because there are plenty of Oregon campgrounds to choose from, all with something a little different to offer.
Whether youre looking for somewhere extra comfortable to head back to after exploring the scenic landscape or dont mind roughing it a little to get closer to nature, there is something for everyone.
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Saddle Mountain State Natural Area
Drive time: 1 hour 7 minutes
The diverse ecosystem of this picturesque camping area makes for a surprise at every turn whether its spotting a great egret cleaning its feathers, a deer and her doe peacefully grazing, or a plant youve never seen before.
Other than restrooms, a trip to Saddle Mountain qualifies as primitive camping.
A haven for hikers, Saddle Mountain State Natural Area trails are recommended for experienced hikers. The main trail goes 2.5 miles and about 1,650 feet up. It ends with breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains and Columbia River.
For those less experienced theres the Humbug Trail with a viewpoint that can be reached within a half mile of the trailhead.
Trillium Lake Government Camp Mount Hood Rises Mightily Over The Northern Shore Of Trillium Lake And You Camp On The East
Boasting unrivaled views of Mount Hood, Oregons tallest mountain, this area is ideal for pitching your tent and relaxing. Alternatively, Trillium Lake offers many opportunities for campers such as fishing, swimming, a boat ramp, and a 2-mile boardwalk for evening strolls, there is something for everybody to engage in. Surrounded by vast forests, hiking or just casual walking is a great way to unwind at Trillium Lake.
Address: From Portland, OR travel southeast on Highway 26 for about 40 miles. Turn right a mile east of Government Camp, OR. Continue 2 miles to the campground entrance.
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Three Forks Recreation Site
Three Forks is one of the most remote campsites, located on the far-east side of the state on BLM land. The site is named Three Forks for the three rivers the Owyhee, the North Fork Owyhee, and the Middle Fork Owyhee that converge in the area. The site has five designated campsites, a boat launch, vehicle parking, and vault restrooms.
Be on the lookout for the remains of a historic military road that can still be seen today, zig-zagging up the canyons west face. There are also old wagon and ranching roads that allow for hiking and walking in the area.
Promontory Park Campground Family Camping Boating And The Potential To Stay In A Yurt The Perfect Combo
Located on the Northfork Reservoir which is part of the Clackamas River it offers a wide range of family fun and is a great campsite to spend time with loved ones. This 1950s campground is alcohol-free and has a vast variety of amenities and activities for all the family. The park offers cooking facilities, a kids nature area, swimming opportunities, paddleboard rental, and a boat launch.
There is also excellent angling for those who may want to catch their diner. Whitewater paddling is also available for the more adventurous, reputably some of the best in Oregon. Reservations are necessary but can be made months in advance. Fantastic family-friendly park well worth a visit.
Address: 40600 OR-224, Estacada, OR 97023, United States
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Park At The River Wallowa Lake
Comparatively few road-trippers venture to northeastern Oregon, where the small towns seem isolated in the most charming ways and the grand landscapes feel that much more secluded. The Wallowa Mountains sometimes get nicknamed the alps of Oregon, which gives you a sense of the big draws out here: alpine lakes, sweeping views, and outdoor adventure. You get access to all of that at Park at the River, a private campground thats next to the glacial Wallowa Lake and across the street from the Wallowa Lake Tramway, a seasonal gondola ride that whisks you up to the summit of Mt. Howard. Open late April to mid-October, the campground has 49 full hookup sites, dry camp spots along the Wallowa River, and a cluster of log cabins. Hiking trails in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, lake beaches for taking a summer dip, and the artsy enclave of Joseph are only a few minutes’ drive away.
The 10 Best Campsites Near Portland Or
Portland, Oregon: home to sweeping landscapes, incredible microbreweries, and some of the best camping in the Pacific Northwest.
By:The Outbound Collective+ Save to a List
From the Columbia River Gorge to Mount Hood, the greater Portland area features rich ecosystems and an abundance of campsites to explore. Choose your scenery: golden beach dunes, easy lake access, old-growth forests, or jagged mountain peaks…you really can’t go wrong. We’ve also included a few backcountry campsites for those looking to find that extra bit of peace and quiet. Pack the car up, rally your crew and go explore!
Photo: Kyle Szegedi
Bring friends, family, and furry friends for a relaxing and unforgettable weekend at Trillium Lake. Trillium Lake is the epitome of serene lakeside camping, with stunning views of Mount Hood. Bring a camera to capture the stunning reflection of Mt. Hood alpenglow on the lake.
Photo: Angela Clarke
Just over an hour from downtown Portland, Burnt Lake is the ultimate backpackers weekend destination. You need only hike for four miles to reach the campsites at Burnt Lake. After setting up camp, hikers can feel free to follow the trail the rest of the way to the summit of Zig Zag Mountain. Youll enjoy gorgeous views of Mount Hood throughout the duration of your trip.
Photo: Austin Jackson
Photo: Jennifer Heifferon
Photo: Jenn Z
Photo: Seth Whelden
Photo: Andrew Hoang
Photo: Austin Jackson
Photo: Dan Moe
Photo: Erik Sanders
Cover Photo: Erik Sanders
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Panacea At The Canyon
Excellent for its laid back luxury and giving you the ability to disconnect, at least just for a while.
Staying at Panacea is a camping experience with a difference. The 40-acre luxury tent resort also has an on-site spa and 5-star amenities, although you will still feel surrounded by nature.
The park is situated in the Scenic Crooked River Canyon, therefore ideal if you are looking for a little adventure while having somewhere a little luxurious to head back to.
Price: Varies depending on package booked.
Bear in mind that the resort is completely signal free!
Trillium Lake Government Camp
Visible from Portland on clear days, Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon and a defining adventure playground of the Pacific Northwest. The mountain is surrounded by a massive national forest of the same name. A plethora of campgrounds and primitive camping opportunities are on all sides of Mount Hood, including the sought-after Trillium Lake.
Trillium Lake is just over an hour drive from Portland and accessible via the historic town of Government Camp. It’ a national forest campground with 60 campsites for tents and RVs. Because of Trillium Campground’s shoreside status and the variety of recreation available, it’s recommended to make a reservation well ahead of time.
Two boat ramps at the campground entice non-motorized expeditions onto the adjacent 63-acre Trillium Lake, and an accessible fishing pier invites anyone to cast a line. Swimming is also popular at the lake, particularly in the heat of summer.
A two-mile boardwalk trail circles the water, offering views of the national forest in every direction. Plenty of hiking and biking trails navigate the forested surroundings, and just outside the campground, the historic Timberline Lodge is reached within less than a ten-mile drive.
This is a notable family-friendly campground in Oregon, and perhaps the biggest appeal of this popular place to pitch a tent is the outstanding views of Mount Hood that are often reflected in the water. It’s approximately a 60-mile drive from Portland to Trillium Lake.
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Viento State Park Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River flows through a gorge sowellgorgeous that Congress designated it a national scenic area in 1986. The landscapes look Tolkienesque, with dozens of waterfalls tumbling over basalt cliffs, spires rising like cathedrals, and evergreen forests draped with moss. The riverfront Viento State Park campground puts you smack in the middle of it all. Located eight miles from the outdoorsy city of Hood River, the parks access to nearby trailheads and waterfalls is its main calling card. With 74 reservable sites including dozens suitable for RVs, its an ideal hub for recreationists who want to stay right on the river, where the famous winds make this a popular spot with windsurfers. There are many scenic hikes nearby. In the park itself, youll find the trailhead for a 5.6-mile portion of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, popular with hikers and cyclists of all abilities.
From A Stay In A Yurt With The Comforts Of Home To Rugged Backpacking Outings Heres Our Guide To Pacific Northwest Summer Camping
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
No, Im not rehashing a Victorian literary saga Im recalling my daughters first camping trip.
Last summer we took our 11-month-old to get her inaugural overnight taste of the great outdoors. Parts of the weekend swimming in the sparkling lake, witnessing her wary fascination with the campfire, tasting her first tofu weenie cooked over the flame were the moments you photograph and later wonder how something so perfect could have happened.
Other parts of the trip were less idyllic. Im pretty sure I got less sleep than when she was a newborn, since she suddenly regressed to wanting to breastfeed every freaking minute of the day. And what were we thinking choosing a site without toilets?
Im finally recovered enough to try again, just in time for the start of summer. So whether your familys comprised of camping newbies like me or wilderness pros, here are the Northwests best camping spots both near and far. Whats more, a slew of tips will help make this years excursions ones to remember for all the right reasons.
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The Best Camping Spots Within 2 Hours Of Portland
in Camping / by Roofnest Team
Isnt it funny how cool weather can make your urge to camp even stronger? With fall in full swing, all we want to do is put away our laptops and get outside before winter is upon us.
Fall camping does need some extra prep, like cold-weather camping gear for you and your dog. Youll also want to find a camp spot not too far from the city, so you can spend less time driving and more time playing during limited daylight hours.
Camping within 2 hours of the city doesnt mean you have to sacrifice any of the wonders of the great outdoors especially when youre in a beautiful state like Oregon.
With 3 different wildfires still devastating different areas around Portland, you may have erased camping from your to-do list this year. But we found campgrounds that not only have great ratings, but are safely distanced from the fires and smoke.
Weve rounded up 5 of the best Oregon campgrounds within a 2 hours drive from Portland, so you can get outside faster this fall, and stay longer.
Beacon Rock State Park
A 42-mile trip across the Washington state line and to the east brings adventurers to Beacon Rock, a 5,100-acre park with 26 tent spaces in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The parks signature attraction the monolithic Beacon Rock juts 840 feet above the river and features a steep, mile-long trail blasted out of the rock and leading to panoramic views of the gorge.
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Oxbow Regional Park & Camp Store
Located in the Sandy River Gorge, Oxbow Regional Park is terrific for watersports, including a popular spot for a float or paddle adventure. Main attractions here also include outdoor learning with classes about mushroom and plant identification. Because its a pristine wildlife area, pets are not allowed, but wildlife viewing is excellent.
- Closest town: Gresham, OR
- Specs: 86 tent/RV sites, standard nonelectric, no pets, usage heavy, open year-round
- Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, fire pits
- Reservations: Yes, at OregonMetro.gov
Yurt Camping Near Portland
You can find yurts -a semi-permanent round tent- at dozens of Oregon State Parks, including several within 100 miles of Portland. Many of these modern yurts come complete with locking doors, electrical outlets, heating, wooden floors and skylights and windows. These yurts are available year-round for a small fee and can be reserved online. All yurts come with an outdoor fire pit for smore-filled evenings .
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Crater Lake National Park Southern Oregon
There are several likely reasons the state tourism board declared Crater Lake among its Seven Wonders of Oregon. Reaching depths of 1,949 feet, its the deepest lake in America. And as photographers will tell you, its arguably one of the bluest lakes in the world, famous for the deep hues of its snow- and rain-fed waters. Whatever the official reason for its designation, a wonder it remains. And camping means that you can stay close to the lake while also immersing yourself in the vast wilderness surrounding it. There are a few ways you can pitch a tent in the national park: staying at an official campground or, for savvy outdoorspeople, roughing it in the wild with a backcountry permit. For a more accessible slice of the wilderness, opt for an official campground. The rustic Mazama Campground, open June to September, claims more than 200 sites for tents and RVs. Its set in a scenic old-growth forest and kitted out with special bear-proof food lockers to keep the big furries at bay. Mazama is about a 15-minute drive from Rim Village, where you find the historic lodge, visitor center, and trailhead for the cliffside Discovery Point hike.
Cape Lookout State Park Tillamook
Cape Lookout State Park is an easy escape to the ocean and a great home base for exploring the Oregon Coast. It features over 200 campsites often encompassed by a large swath of dense coastal foliage. This otherworldly environment best caters to tent camping.
Headland trails, easy beach access, and a serene experience on the Netarts Spit to the north entice adventures from the campground. The view atop Cape Lookout, itself, is a reason for many to visit. And alongside ample drive-in tent camping, Cape Lookout is also home to one of the best hiker/biker camps on the coast.
The park is roughly an 80-mile drive from Portland, and it’s recommended to book a few nights. A fun weekend trip is made by driving the 40-mile Three Capes Scenic Loop, which also includes Cape Meares and Cape Kiwanda.
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Portland Fairview Rv Park
Only a 20-minute drive east of Portland, this RV park offers a variety of amenities with a nearby lake and river access, and a large number of campsites with full hookups. A dog park and mini-golf course push the convenience of this RV park into the resort category.
- Closest town: Fairview, OR
- Specs: 407 RV sites, no tents, full hookups, pets welcome, usage heavy, open year-round, short/long-term stays available
- Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, laundry, wi-fi, pool, fitness center, clubhouse, mini golf, dog park
- Reservations: Yes, at RVOntheGo.com
Campgrounds Close To Portland
Whether you’re a Portlander looking for a quick getaway or a visitor in need of a nature-based alternative to urban lodging, it’s nice to know which campgrounds are close to the city.
In Portland, that generally means driving at least 20 miles outside city limits to find any parks with campgrounds, though the majestic natural settings you can find – including old growth forests and rivers filled with salmon – is well worth the small journey.
And let’s get one thing out of the way: While city officials have experimented with legalized outdoor camping in parts of Portland – a measure intended to help the homeless population – this is not the kind of camping we’re talking about.
The following are campgrounds open to both tents and RVs, all found within 40 miles of downtown Portland, though travel time may vary widely from park to park depending on traffic.
See a map of all 11 campgrounds below, or peruse the options here, all of which make a great getaway close – but not too close – to the big city.
Campers cook up a hot meal at Oxbow Regional Park.
Ainsworth State Park
Rates: $17 to $24Distance from Portland: 34 miles
Found in the western portion of the Columbia River Gorge, Ainsworth State Park boasts easy access to several stunning waterfalls and scenic vistas via nearby hiking trails, the Historic Columbia River Highway and Interstate 84.
Barton Park
Rates: $21 to $26Distance from Portland: 22 miles
Champoeg State ParkFeyrer Park
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