Campgrounds and RV parks near Union, OR

Catherine Creek runs through the area and supports trout fishing and wading. Visitors can camp next to Catherine Creek and fish for rainbow trout, play horseshoes, or walk the trail between the campground and picnic area for views of the canyon scenery. The Grande Ronde River at Hilgard Junction State Park draws anglers, rafters, and swimmers, and campers can see ruts of the historic Oregon Trail at the nearby Blue Mountain Crossing Interpretive Park. Guests at Grande Hot Springs RV Resort can use two mineral soaking pools, available seasonally, typically April through September. In town, the Union County Museum and Buffalo Peaks Golf Course are within walking distance of the Historic Union Hotel and RV Park, and Anthony Lakes ski area is about an hour away.

Summer is the core RV season around Union. Catherine Creek Campground is closed for camping from October 6 to May 1, and if the weather allows, the park may open sooner for the summer season. The park stays open for day use throughout the year, though restrooms remain closed until the campground opens. Hilgard Junction is open mid-April through mid-October for primitive tent and RV camping, first-come, first-served, with no hookups. Spring brings high water on Catherine Creek and the Grande Ronde River, which is good for rafters but can mean cool, wet nights. Summer days in the valley are warm and mostly dry, while afternoons in the surrounding mountains can run cooler and bring thunderstorms. Wildfire smoke can affect air quality in late summer, so check current conditions before traveling. Fall brings river-corridor color and lighter crowds, but freezing nights begin by late October. Winter snows bring herds of elk and deer to the banks of the river near Hilgard Junction, and most state park campgrounds in the area close. The Grande Hot Springs RV Resort and yurts are open year-round, though the outdoor mineral pools and certain glamping options are seasonal and weather-dependent.

Sites near Union are a mix of full-hookup RV resorts and primitive state park campgrounds. Grande Hot Springs Resort offers 100 full-hookup RV sites, all 90-foot pull-throughs, with 30 and 50 amp service. Hilgard Junction is primitive with no hookups, but there are hydrants with drinking water nearby, flush toilets, and firewood for sale. Catherine Creek State Park offers 20 sites for tents, RVs, and primitive camping, with clean facilities, flush toilets, and potable water, but no cell service and persistent highway noise from the nearby road. Hilgard Junction has back-in, asphalt driveways for self-contained rigs, and spaces accommodate RVs and trailers up to 35 feet in length, and it sits directly adjacent to I-84 with some highway noise. Stock up on groceries, fuel, and propane in La Grande or Union before heading to the more remote sites.