13 Top-Rated Campgrounds near Portland, Oregon

Alongside Portland’s culture and entertainment comes the occasional need to get away from it all. Luckily, great campgrounds are only a short drive away. Some of these places to camp are surrounded by sterling national forests, a dynamic coastline, or one of the most waterfall-laden corridors in the country.

Popular activities at campgrounds close to Portland include chasing waterfalls, climbing crags, or finding inspiration as the sun sets over the ocean. RV and tent camping are both available close to Portland, as are hike-in sights that require gear to be hauled with backpacks. However you choose to get away, the lush Pacific Northwest scenery enables an easy escape from the city.

For more information on state park campgrounds and to make reservations, check out the Oregon State Parks homepage. And find the ideal place to pitch your tent with our list of the best campgrounds near Portland:

1. L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park, Buxton

One of the newest campgrounds in the Oregon State Park system, L.L. “Stub” Stewart has been a popular place to pitch a tent since opening in 2007. About 35 miles northwest of Portland, Stub Stewart was constructed on former timberland and now encompasses over 1,600 acres of forested slopes, open hilltops, and multiple campgrounds.

Recreational activities at L.L. Stub include hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding, with nearly 30 miles of trails to explore. The mountain biking trails at L.L. Stub are particularly well known for their professional design. An 18-hole disc golf course is also at L.L. Stub, and the park’s Discovery Depot is a great place for interpretive information about the area.

L.L. Stub offers four camping areas and a Cabin Village. Both Dairy Creek West and Dairy Creek East cater to RV drivers with over 75 full-hookup spots between the two campground loops. The hike-in Brooke Creek Camp provides a more primitive setting to pitch a tent, with 23 sites available.

Stub Stewart is also well known for its Hares Canyon Horse Camp featuring four-stall corrals. The campground connects directly to a variety of horse-friendly trails. All overnight visitors at L.L. Stub have access to hot showers and flushing toilets.

2. Oxbow Regional Park, Gresham

Oxbow Regional Park is one of the closest campgrounds to Portland. It offers 74 campsites in a beautiful setting on the east side of Gresham. And with its location in the scenic Sandy River Gorge, Oxbow is within biking distance of city limits.

This prime location makes Oxbow a popular campground on the weekends. Most sites at Oxbow cater exclusively to tent camping, with approximately 11 sites suitable for small RVs. Oxbow is operated by Oregon Metro, and campsite reservations are accepted nine months in advance. The park enforces family and eco-friendly protocols, including no dogs.

Fishing, boating, and swimming are also popular here beneath the summer sun. And twelve miles of hiking trails surrounding the Wild and Scenic Sandy River provide other popular recreation outlets from the campground.

3. Silver Falls Campground

Silver Falls State Park is a popular family camping destination 50 miles south of Portland. Over 90 campsites accommodate tents and RVs at the Silver Falls. No hookups are available, and all sites are reservable six months in advance. Every guest has access to flushing toilets and hot showers.

The campground is within walking distance of the South Falls day-use area and one of the best hiking trails in Oregon. The nationally designated Trail of Ten Falls begins at the stunning 177-foot South Falls and is a variable 7.2-mile hiking loop featuring multiple waterfalls and family-friendly terrain.

While the Trail of Ten Falls is the crown jewel of Silver Falls, approximately 30 more miles of trails make their way throughout the rest of the park. Group camps, horse camps, and cabins are also available for advance reservations outside of the main campground.

4. Promontory Park, Estacada

Near the North Fork Reservoir and Clackamas River, just over 35 miles southeast of Portland, Promontory Park is a family-friendly campground next to the water. Promontory Park has over 50 campsites to choose from, including a small collection of “yomes”- a combination of a yurt and dome with canvas walls.

Boating, fishing, and swimming are all popular in the nearby North Fork Reservoir and adjacent marina. The inspiring Mount Hood National Forest is also easily accessible with a short drive.

Portland General Electric operates the campground. Reservations for the year can be made beginning in January. The campground enforces an evening quiet time throughout the year. A store at the campground provides overnight essentials including firewood, ice cream, and s’mores kits.

5. Cape Lookout State Park, Tillamook

Cape Lookout State Park is an easy escape to the ocean and a great home base for exploring the Oregon Coast. It features over 200 campsites often encompassed by a large swath of dense coastal foliage. This otherworldly environment best caters to tent camping.

Headland trails, easy beach access, and a serene experience on the Netarts Spit to the north entice adventures from the campground. The view atop Cape Lookout, itself, is a reason for many to visit. And alongside ample drive-in tent camping, Cape Lookout is also home to one of the best hiker/biker camps on the coast.

The park is roughly an 80-mile drive from Portland, and it’s recommended to book a few nights. A fun weekend trip is made by driving the 40-mile Three Capes Scenic Loop, which also includes Cape Meares and Cape Kiwanda.

6. Beacon Rock State Park, Stevenson, WA

Across state lines on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, Beacon Rock State Park has a long history of attracting visitors. It was once a campground for Lewis and Clark as they neared the coast.

Beacon Rock itself is an 850-foot basalt column sticking straight out of the ground overlooking the Columbia River. The near 5,000-acre state park surrounding this unique geological feature is filled with abundant recreation opportunities, including a steep, switchbacking, one-mile trail to the top of the rock.

Other popular recreation outlets at Beacon Rock include 13 miles of multi-use trails, rock climbing routes on Beacon Rock’s northwest flank, and a wide shoreline on the Columbia River.

The main campground at Beacon Rock hosts 28 forested sites best suited for tent campers. Other overnight options include a small RV campground, two equestrian campgrounds, and a group campground that can accommodate 200 people. With proximity to both Portland and Vancouver, Beacon Rock is a popular place to play and stay come summer.

7. Trillium Lake, Government Camp

Visible from Portland on clear days, Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon and a defining adventure playground of the Pacific Northwest. The mountain is surrounded by a massive national forest of the same name. A plethora of campgrounds and primitive camping opportunities are on all sides of Mount Hood, including the sought-after Trillium Lake.

Trillium Lake is just over an hour drive from Portland and accessible via the historic town of Government Camp. It’ a national forest campground with 60 campsites for tents and RVs. Because of Trillium Campground’s shoreside status and the variety of recreation available, it’s recommended to make a reservation well ahead of time.

Two boat ramps at the campground entice non-motorized expeditions onto the adjacent 63-acre Trillium Lake, and an accessible fishing pier invites anyone to cast a line. Swimming is also popular at the lake, particularly in the heat of summer.

A two-mile boardwalk trail circles the water, offering views of the national forest in every direction. Plenty of hiking and biking trails navigate the forested surroundings, and just outside the campground, the historic Timberline Lodge is reached within less than a ten-mile drive.

This is a notable family-friendly campground in Oregon, and perhaps the biggest appeal of this popular place to pitch a tent is the outstanding views of Mount Hood that are often reflected in the water. It’s approximately a 60-mile drive (90 minutes) from Portland to Trillium Lake.

8. Fort Stevens State Park, Astoria

On the far northwest corner of the state and less than a two-hour drive from Portland, Fort Stevens State Park provides unparalleled access to the Oregon coast. Visiting the state park is just one of many awesome things to do in the seaside city of Astoria. When it comes time to pitch a tent, the state park has nearly 500 campsites – making it the largest campground on the coast.

The wide beach at Fort Stevens is a short drive from the campground, and vehicles can drive right onto the beach. Clamming, kite-flying, and taking a picture with the historic Peter Iredale shipwreck are popular ocean activities at Fort Stevens State Park.

Other fun things to do at this once-active military installation include freshwater lake swimming, horse riding, and touring the various concrete World War II structures that punctuate the park.

Restroom facilities, including hot showers, are throughout all the major loops of the campground. And an impressive central amphitheater showcases nature films and documentaries throughout the summer.

9. Ainsworth State Park, Cascade Locks

Accessed via the Historic Columbia River Highway, Ainsworth State Park is an easy 35-mile drive from Portland. The park features a wide array of recreational activities and trails to explore.

Thanks to its location in the Columbia River Gorge, iconic waterfall hikes like Horsetail and Multnomah Falls are easy to visit from the campground. Other nearby attractions like the Oneonta Gorge provide ample hiking opportunities.

The 40 campsites at Ainsworth accommodate either tents or RVs, and six walk-in campsites are available, as well as a designated hiker/biker site. The campground also features two running water restroom facilities with hot showers.

10. Tillamook Head Backpackers Camp, Ecola State Park, Seaside

The backpackers camp atop Tillamook Head is a free camping area on the Oregon coast that makes for a unique overnight experience. The recommended access point for this hike-in campground is on the north side of Tillamook Head in Seaside, a 90-minute drive from Portland.

It’s a four-mile, steady, uphill trek from the north trailhead to the designated camp zone, where three Adirondack shelters and available tent space accommodate the overnight experience. The uphill hike and no water access keep this campground relatively uncrowded.

Vault toilets near the shelters also help keep the area clean. A short spur trail leads from the shelters to an ocean overlook, where the decommissioned Tillamook Rock Lighthouse makes for a beautiful focal point during the evening’s setting sun.

11. Barton Park, Boring

Barton Park is one of the three campgrounds operated by Clackamas County and is perhaps the most popular. It’s adjacent to the Clackamas River and offers several recreational activities, including fishing, non-motorized boating, floating, and swimming. Other popular activities include horseshoes, hiking, and using one of six reservable picnic areas.

Barton Park is a 30-minute drive from Portland and has over 100 campsites, and many accommodate full hook-up RVs. Hot showers are available for all registered guests. A bunkhouse is also available to rent.

Other campgrounds operated by Clackamas County include Feyrer Park and Metzler Park, both a little bit longer drive away. Metzler is southeast of the city and accessible with a 45-minute drive. It has approximately 75 sites available with similar accommodations. Feyrer is a few more miles south with approximately 20 sites available.

12. Memaloose State Park, Wasco County

Memaloose State Park overlooks the Columbia River, halfway between The Dalles and Hood River. It’s right off Interstate 84 with over 100 sites available, split between tent sites and full hook-up RV spaces. The campground provides no legal river access, but the views of the Columbia River can’t be beat, especially when the sightseeing steamboats pass by against the current.

Memaloose is less than a 90-minute drive from Portland and a great scenic gateway to the surrounding Columbia River Gorge. Hot showers, potable water, and flushing toilets are available to all overnight users. The surrounding landscape of maples, willows, and cottonwoods provide shady surroundings in the summer.

Memaloose also tends to stay less crowded than other campgrounds in the Columbia River Gorge. This makes it an excellent location for last-minute trips.

13. Champoeg State Heritage Area

Champoeg State Heritage Area is a unique historic park southwest of Portland along the Willamette River. Visitors from the city reach the park with an approximately 30-minute drive. The campground at the heritage area caters primarily to RVs, though a few tent sites and yurts are available.

Champoeg State Heritage Area has 21 full hookup sites and 54 electric sites with water. The B Loop of the campground operates year-round, and all campsites are reservable up to six months in advance. Overnight guests have access to flushing toilets and hot shower facilities.

The heritage area is full of history, from Indigenous cultures to fur trappers, and was once the site of a historical vote in 1843 to form Oregon’s first government. Visitors can learn more about the region and history at places like the Champoeg Visitor Center and the Pioneer Memorial Building.

Where to Stay near Portland after Camping

If camping near Portland is part of your larger vacation to the city, a wide range of hotels can accommodate your stay once you’re ready to sleep on a bed. Mid-range hotels can be found throughout the heart of Portland, including the Downtown District, Pearl District, and Northwest neighborhoods, and many more affordable options can be found north of downtown near the Columbia River.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• In the heart of downtown Portland and well regarded as one of the most beautiful hotels around, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Portland exudes the overall vibe of the city with a swank lobby and well-decorated rooms. Aside from its central location near Portland’s many top attractions, the Kimpton Hotel also has a first-class restaurant attached to the building.
• Another decadent but affordable option in downtown Portland is The Duniway Portland, a Hilton Hotel a few blocks away. Featuring in-house celebrity chefs and close attention to detail when it comes to a comfortable stay, The Duniway is a boutique hotel, which delivers on a wonderful experience.
• In the Pearl District, the fashionable Mark Spencer Hotel is another boutique option, with European flair, exceptional service, and quiet accommodations in a bustling location.

Budget Hotels:

• On the northeast side of the city, near the Columbia River Gorge, the Nordic Inn & Suites is a popular hotel that won’t break the bank. Featuring clean and comfortable facilities and memory foam pillows, this affordable hotel offers a good night’s sleep.
• Close to the city and north of the Willamette River, the Viking Motel is another affordable option, which has been family-owned and -operated for over 50 years. Featuring a friendly and accommodating staff, the Viking Hotel is also conveniently located near many public transportation lines.
• In the University District at the city’s center, the Econo Lodge City Center is the best affordable option in the thick of Portland’s urban action. With comfortable beds and quiet rooms, the Econo Lodge is a great place to simply sleep between full days of exploring the city.

Map of Campgrounds near Portland, Oregon

Portland, OR – Climate Chart

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More to Explore in Portland: Alongside a great collection of campgrounds close to the city, Portland has many great hiking trails to explore within the city limits. For an extended excursion in the area, our Day Trips and Weekend Getaways from Portland article provides ideas for more adventures around the city.

Adventures in Oregon: The state of Oregon is stacked with adventure and outdoor opportunities. From the state’s best hiking trails to the best campgrounds in Oregon, to the scenic waterfalls, and hot springs, tourists and residents can find an endless list of things to do and places to see in Oregon. The best campgrounds on the Oregon coast lie conveniently close to some of the area’s best beaches, and other areas, like the Mount Hood National Forest, also beckon adventurers.