Campgrounds and RV parks near Finley, WA

The Columbia River dominates outdoor recreation. A boat ramp at nearby Hat Rock State Park provides access to Lake Wallula, the reservoir behind McNary Dam, noted for walleye, sturgeon, and other fish. Water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, and boating are popular, and the park's pond is stocked with rainbow trout and provides year-round habitat for waterfowl. Families in the Tri-Cities use Columbia Park in Kennewick for riverfront paths, splash pads, and an off-leash dog area. Hikers head to Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve in Richland for ridge trails with views over the basin, and to Chamna Natural Preserve for flat walking loops along the Yakima River. Wine country is a short drive in every direction. Red Mountain AVA tasting rooms sit just west of Finley, and Walla Walla AVA wineries are roughly an hour east. Interpretive displays at Hat Rock describe the area's wildlife and volcanic past, with a short spur connecting to the 10-mile Umatilla County Lewis and Clark Commemorative Trail and a Lake Wallula overlook.

The Tri-Cities is a semi-arid region with hot, dry, sunny summers and cooler, partly cloudy winters, with breezy spring and fall conditions and average annual precipitation around seven to eight inches. Late April through mid-June and September through mid-October are the easiest windows for comfortable RV travel. Summer is the peak booking season. In Pasco, summers are short, hot, dry, and mostly clear, with the yearly temperature typically varying from about 27°F to 93°F and rarely below 13°F or above 102°F. Triple-digit afternoons occur in July and August, so full hookups for air conditioning are effectively required, and shade is limited at most parks. Winter brings cold snaps and occasional snow, though accumulation is usually light and melts quickly. Hat Rock State Park is open year-round for day use, with July and August busiest at the lake; off-season visitors find fewer crowds and a better chance to spot eagles and waterfowl along the shore. Spring brings wildflowers and steady winds along the Columbia and through the Horse Heaven Hills.

Most full-hookup parks in the area provide level pads, water, sewer, 30/50-amp electric, Wi-Fi, laundry, and restrooms with showers. Pools and pet areas are common at the larger resorts. KOA campgrounds in the area typically offer level sites with full hookups, laundry facilities, and pet-friendly amenities. Shade is the main variable. Newer resorts have young trees and limited canopy, while older parks and state-park-adjacent sites tend to have mature cottonwoods. Hat Rock State Park itself is a desert oasis surrounded by sagebrush hills and basalt outcrops, with cottonwood and black locust shade ringed by irrigated grass. Wind is a regular factor. Crosswinds along the Columbia River and on the I-82 bridge between Kennewick and Umatilla can be strong, especially in spring and fall. Stock up on groceries in Kennewick or Pasco before heading to smaller park sites, where the nearest store may be a 15-minute drive.