Campgrounds and RV parks near Arlington, OR

The Columbia River dominates outdoor activity. The river at Arlington is part of the John Day Lock and Dam pool, with a boat launch at the Port of Arlington for fishing, paddling, and small-craft cruising. Smallmouth bass fishing is strong, and salmon and steelhead runs draw anglers in season. Steady west winds also make this stretch a known destination for windsurfing and kiteboarding. South of town, Cottonwood Canyon State Park covers more than 8,000 acres along the lower John Day River, with hiking and biking trails, swimming and wading in the river, and dark-sky stargazing. Across the river in Washington, Brooks Memorial State Park offers forested hiking, disc golf, and quick access to Goldendale Observatory and the Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge replica.

Spring and fall are the most comfortable windows for RV travel in this part of the Columbia Plateau. At Cottonwood Canyon, camping is busiest from late March through mid-June, when sites typically fill every day of the week, and the last two weeks of September and the first week of October fill again with hunters. The campground is quieter from late June through mid-September because of summer heat. Summer is hot and dry, with daytime highs frequently in the upper 80s to mid-90s and very little rain. Campfires at Cottonwood Canyon are typically banned from June 1 through September 30 based on local fire conditions, with bans on propane stoves and fire rings also possible during high-risk periods. At Brooks Memorial, water at hookup sites is shut off outside the mid-April to late-October window. Winter brings cold nights, occasional snow, and steady wind along the gorge. Port of Arlington stays open year-round, while Cottonwood Canyon switches to first-come, first-served camping from November 1 through March 31.

This is high desert and shrub-steppe country, not coastal Oregon. Expect open skies, golden hills, basalt cliffs, and almost no shade outside of developed sites. Wind is constant along the Columbia, and gusts can be strong enough that securing awnings and leveling jacks matters. Bring water, sun protection, and layers for cool nights. Services in Arlington include a small grocery store and a handful of restaurants; the next larger town is roughly 20 minutes away, so stock up before leaving. Cottonwood Canyon has no dump station and no cell coverage in the park, with the nearest dump stations at Maryhill State Park in Washington or in The Dalles. Train horns and interstate traffic are audible at the riverfront in town. Rattlesnakes and cougars live in the canyon country south of Arlington, so secure food and keep dogs leashed.