Campgrounds and RV parks near The Dalles, OR

The Columbia River itself drives much of the activity. Popular pursuits include hiking, biking, climbing, swimming, fishing, paddling, and windsurfing, with the consistent Gorge winds drawing windsurfers and kiteboarders to launches on both sides of the river. History and landscape sit close together. The Horsethief Lake section of Columbia Hills State Park is a National Historic Site, with guided tours of pictographs and petroglyphs offered Fridays and Saturdays from April through October, and reservations are required. Lupine and balsamroot bloom in mid-April, creating fields of purple and gold across the Dalles Mountain Ranch unit. Further out, Deschutes River State Recreation Area Campground offers a long riverside trail system on an old railbed, plus access to whitewater rafting, steelhead and trout fishing, and birdwatching along the canyon.

The Dalles sits in the drier, warmer end of the Gorge. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, and steady afternoon winds are a defining feature on the river. Late spring and early fall offer the most comfortable RV weather, with warm days, cool nights, and lighter traffic than peak summer weekends. Seasonal operations matter for planning. Memaloose State Park runs seasonally from mid-March through October 31, offering both RV hookups and tent sites, while Columbia Hills State Park typically closes its camping loop in late October and reopens in late March. At Deschutes River State Recreation Area Campground, the main A Loop runs first come, first served from December 1 through March 31, the other loops and group camps close November 1 through March 31, and the main restroom building closes from late fall through mid March. Fire restrictions also shape the shoulder seasons. Due to high fire danger, the Lower Deschutes River corridor is closed to all campfires and charcoal fires from June 1 through October 15, though propane and white gas stoves and shielded lanterns remain permitted.

Wind and train noise are the two constants. It can get quite windy in the Columbia River Gorge, so gear and awnings need to be secured, particularly at exposed riverside sites. Active rail lines run along both shores: Memaloose State Park sits next to Interstate 84 and an active rail line, where trains and road noise can be heard at all hours, and the BNSF tracks just north of Maryhill State Park carry frequent freight traffic that can disturb light sleepers. Sites tend to be open and grassy rather than wooded, with limited shade and close spacing at the river parks. Cell service is generally usable near The Dalles and Hood River but drops off in the Deschutes canyon. Memaloose has an unusual quirk: the park is reachable only from the westbound lanes of Interstate 84 via the Memaloose Rest Area exit, so eastbound travelers must continue past, exit, and double back.