Campgrounds and RV parks near Mattawa, WA

Mattawa sits on the Wahluke Slope along the Columbia River in central Washington, surrounded by the Saddle Mountains, irrigated farmland, and the basalt cliffs of the Columbia Plateau. The area is a popular base for RV travelers heading to the Gorge Amphitheatre, the Hanford Reach National Monument, and the petrified forest interpretive sites near Vantage. The closest developed RV camping is at Ginkgo Petrified Forest - Wanapum State Park, where the Wanapum Recreation Area campground offers full-hookup sites along Wanapum Reservoir. Vantage Riverstone Resort sits a short drive north in Vantage, and The Park at Cave B is positioned near the Gorge Amphitheatre outside Quincy. Royal City Public Golf Course and RV Park provides hookup sites east of Mattawa, and Martha Lake - WDFW Land offers primitive shoreline access for self-contained rigs north of George. This is a high-desert, semi-arid environment. Expect open sage country, big skies, strong wind, and limited shade at most sites along the river corridor.

State park sites at Ginkgo Petrified Forest - Wanapum State Park are booked through the Washington State Parks reservation system at washington.goingtocamp.com or by calling 888-CAMPOUT (888-226-7688). Reservations open up to nine months in advance and are accepted for arrival dates between May 15 and September 15; outside that window, sites are first-come, first-served. The park fills early on summer weekends, especially during Gorge Amphitheatre concert season. Check-in is 2:30 p.m. and check-out is 1 p.m. Private parks, including Vantage Riverstone Resort, The Park at Cave B, and Royal City Public Golf Course and RV Park, are booked directly with the operator by phone or website. Martha Lake - WDFW Land is first-come, first-served and requires a Discover Pass or WDFW Vehicle Access Pass for parking.