RV Parks In Cascade Locks, Oregon

For full hookups and big-rig room, the Cascade Locks / Portland East KOA Holiday is the easy choice, with 30/50-amp service, a pool, and 110-foot pull-throughs 44 miles east of Portland. For a riverfront spot in the heart of town, the Port-run Marine Park Campground sits right by the Bridge of the Gods with water and power at 12 of its 16 sites, though a 12-foot railroad trestle limits tall rigs. West in the waterfall corridor, Ainsworth State Park offers full-hookup and electric sites, and the historic Eagle Creek Campground in the national forest is the rustic option. Together they cover convenience, scenery, and budget.

Some do. The Cascade Locks KOA has full hookups with water, sewer, and 30/50-amp power, which is the reliable choice if you want everything at the site. Ainsworth State Park to the west also offers full-hookup and electric sites with a dump station. The Port-run Marine Park Campground is more basic, with water and electric at 12 of its sites but no sewer, and the US Forest Service Eagle Creek Campground has no hookups at all. So if full hookups matter, book the KOA or Ainsworth; if you are happy with electric and water or dry camping in a beautiful setting, the Marine Park and forest sites are cheaper.

Plan on roughly $30 to $90 a night depending on the park. The Cascade Locks KOA sits at the upper end, as KOAs do, especially in summer for a full-hookup pull-through. The Port-run Marine Park is mid-range for its water-and-electric sites, and the Oregon State Park and Forest Service campgrounds are cheaper, generally in the $20s to $30s, with the no-hookup forest sites the cheapest of all. Oregon does not charge a separate day-use parking fee at most state parks. Shoulder-season nights in spring and fall are easier on the wallet than peak summer Gorge weekends.

For summer weekends, reserve as early as you can, because the Columbia River Gorge is one of the most popular camping corridors in the Northwest and the KOA, Ainsworth State Park, and Marine Park all fill fast from late June through Labor Day. The Marine Park takes reservations only from May 15 to September 15 and you book it by phone. Forest Service sites at Eagle Creek go on Recreation.gov. Midweek and the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are far easier, often with same-week openings. If you want a summer weekend, book a month or more out.

Summer, roughly July through mid-September, is the prime season: warm, dry, and perfect for hiking and river time, but also the busiest and windiest, with strong afternoon gusts funneling through the Gorge. Spring is spectacular for waterfalls swollen with snowmelt, though it is wet and breezy. Our value pick is fall, when the color comes on, the crowds thin, and reservations ease before the forest and state campgrounds close. Winter is wet and occasionally icy from east wind, with only the KOA and Marine Park open, so it is for hardy travelers passing through.

Yes, but choose carefully. The Cascade Locks KOA is built for big rigs, with 110-foot pull-throughs and full hookups, and it is the worry-free choice for a 40-footer. Ainsworth State Park also has sites that fit larger rigs. The catch is the Marine Park Campground: a railroad trestle at the entrance has only a 12-foot clearance, so tall motorhomes and fifth-wheels cannot get in, and you must measure your height before heading there. The Forest Service Eagle Creek sites tilt small. I-84 itself is easy big-rig driving, but Gorge winds buffet tall rigs, so plan around the afternoon gusts.

Yes. Mt. Hood National Forest surrounds the area, so there are first-come and dispersed options for self-contained rigs up the side roads, and the historic Eagle Creek Campground takes reservations on Recreation.gov but sometimes has first-come availability. The Port-run Marine Park runs year-round and is first-come outside its May 15 to September 15 reservation window, which makes it a handy off-season spot. Truly free Gorge camping is limited because most land is managed and popular, so plan on a campground for summer. For first-come flexibility, head into the national forest on the Oregon or Washington side.

The Cascade Locks Marine Park Campground is the most scenic in-town option, run by the Port of Cascade Locks right on the Columbia River beside the Bridge of the Gods. It is small, just 16 sites with water and power at 12 of them, plus four no-hookup spots, a central restroom and shower building, free WiFi, and picnic tables. Step out and you have a boat launch, a swimming beach, the historical museum, grill huts, a restaurant, and the Columbia Gorge sternwheeler. The one big caveat is the 12-foot clearance under the railroad trestle at the entrance, so tall rigs are out. For smaller rigs it is a gem.

In the Gorge the trade-off is comfort versus setting. The private KOA gives you full hookups, 50-amp power, a pool, and room for the biggest rigs, but at a premium price and with a more developed feel. The public options, the Port-run Marine Park, Ainsworth State Park, and the Eagle Creek forest campground, put you right on the river or in the waterfall corridor for less money, but they cap at electric and water or have no hookups, and most close in winter. We book the KOA when we want full hookups and big-rig ease, and go public when we want to wake up on the Columbia or in the forest and save some money.

This is one of the best basecamps in the Northwest for scenery. The Columbia River Gorge waterfall corridor runs west toward Multnomah Falls, with trail after trail right off the historic highway. In town you can walk the famous Bridge of the Gods, a Pacific Crest Trail landmark, ride the Columbia Gorge sternwheeler, fish or launch a boat at Marine Park, and visit the historical museum. Hood River, 20 minutes east, is a windsurfing and craft-beer hub, and the whole area is laced with hiking, mountain biking, and river recreation. It is hard to run out of things to do here.

It is easy interstate driving. Interstate 84 runs right along the Columbia River past Cascade Locks, about 44 miles east of Portland, with no steep grades through this stretch, so most rigs arrive without trouble. The Bridge of the Gods crosses the river to Washington and WA-14 if you want the north-shore route, though it is a narrow toll bridge, so go slow. Portland International Airport is about 45 miles west if you are flying in to a rental, and Hood River is 20 minutes east for fuel and supplies. The one local hazard is the 12-foot trestle clearance into Marine Park and the strong Gorge crosswinds on I-84.

Some are. The private KOA and the Port-run Marine Park Campground both stay open year-round, so you can camp here in the off-season, while Ainsworth State Park and the Forest Service Eagle Creek Campground close for winter. The thing to plan around is Gorge weather: winters are wet, and when cold east wind funnels through the canyon it can bring ice storms that glaze roads and trees, so watch the forecast and carry traction gear. For comfortable camping, aim for late spring through fall, but a year-round site is there if you are passing through in winter and want to break up an I-84 trip.

It is arguably the best RV base in the Gorge. Cascade Locks sits right in the middle of the action, a short drive west to the famous waterfall corridor and Multnomah Falls, and 20 minutes east to Hood River for windsurfing, breweries, and orchards. From a full-hookup site at the KOA or a riverfront spot at Marine Park you can hike, cruise the river on the sternwheeler, walk the Bridge of the Gods, and explore both the Oregon and Washington sides over WA-14. With year-round options and easy I-84 access from Portland, it works as a hub for anything from a weekend to a long Gorge exploration.

Often, yes, and it is worth planning for. The Columbia River Gorge is a natural wind tunnel, which is exactly why nearby Hood River is a world-class windsurfing and kiteboarding destination. Afternoons in summer regularly bring strong, steady west winds, and in winter the wind can reverse and pour cold east air through the canyon. For campers that means securing your awning, stowing lightweight gear, and parking with the wind in mind. It is rarely dangerous, just persistent, and many RVers actually come for it. If calm matters to you, the tree-sheltered forest and waterfall-corridor sites cut the wind more than the open riverfront.

For full hookups and big-rig room, the Cascade Locks / Portland East KOA Holiday is the easy choice, with 30/50-amp service, a pool, and 110-foot pull-throughs 44 miles east of Portland. For a riverfront spot in the heart of town, the Port-run Marine Park Campground sits right by the Bridge of the Gods with water and power at 12 of its 16 sites, though a 12-foot railroad trestle limits tall rigs. West in the waterfall corridor, Ainsworth State Park offers full-hookup and electric sites, and the historic Eagle Creek Campground in the national forest is the rustic option. Together they cover convenience, scenery, and budget.

Some do. The Cascade Locks KOA has full hookups with water, sewer, and 30/50-amp power, which is the reliable choice if you want everything at the site. Ainsworth State Park to the west also offers full-hookup and electric sites with a dump station. The Port-run Marine Park Campground is more basic, with water and electric at 12 of its sites but no sewer, and the US Forest Service Eagle Creek Campground has no hookups at all. So if full hookups matter, book the KOA or Ainsworth; if you are happy with electric and water or dry camping in a beautiful setting, the Marine Park and forest sites are cheaper.

Plan on roughly $30 to $90 a night depending on the park. The Cascade Locks KOA sits at the upper end, as KOAs do, especially in summer for a full-hookup pull-through. The Port-run Marine Park is mid-range for its water-and-electric sites, and the Oregon State Park and Forest Service campgrounds are cheaper, generally in the $20s to $30s, with the no-hookup forest sites the cheapest of all. Oregon does not charge a separate day-use parking fee at most state parks. Shoulder-season nights in spring and fall are easier on the wallet than peak summer Gorge weekends.

For summer weekends, reserve as early as you can, because the Columbia River Gorge is one of the most popular camping corridors in the Northwest and the KOA, Ainsworth State Park, and Marine Park all fill fast from late June through Labor Day. The Marine Park takes reservations only from May 15 to September 15 and you book it by phone. Forest Service sites at Eagle Creek go on Recreation.gov. Midweek and the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are far easier, often with same-week openings. If you want a summer weekend, book a month or more out.

Summer, roughly July through mid-September, is the prime season: warm, dry, and perfect for hiking and river time, but also the busiest and windiest, with strong afternoon gusts funneling through the Gorge. Spring is spectacular for waterfalls swollen with snowmelt, though it is wet and breezy. Our value pick is fall, when the color comes on, the crowds thin, and reservations ease before the forest and state campgrounds close. Winter is wet and occasionally icy from east wind, with only the KOA and Marine Park open, so it is for hardy travelers passing through.

Yes, but choose carefully. The Cascade Locks KOA is built for big rigs, with 110-foot pull-throughs and full hookups, and it is the worry-free choice for a 40-footer. Ainsworth State Park also has sites that fit larger rigs. The catch is the Marine Park Campground: a railroad trestle at the entrance has only a 12-foot clearance, so tall motorhomes and fifth-wheels cannot get in, and you must measure your height before heading there. The Forest Service Eagle Creek sites tilt small. I-84 itself is easy big-rig driving, but Gorge winds buffet tall rigs, so plan around the afternoon gusts.

Yes. Mt. Hood National Forest surrounds the area, so there are first-come and dispersed options for self-contained rigs up the side roads, and the historic Eagle Creek Campground takes reservations on Recreation.gov but sometimes has first-come availability. The Port-run Marine Park runs year-round and is first-come outside its May 15 to September 15 reservation window, which makes it a handy off-season spot. Truly free Gorge camping is limited because most land is managed and popular, so plan on a campground for summer. For first-come flexibility, head into the national forest on the Oregon or Washington side.

The Cascade Locks Marine Park Campground is the most scenic in-town option, run by the Port of Cascade Locks right on the Columbia River beside the Bridge of the Gods. It is small, just 16 sites with water and power at 12 of them, plus four no-hookup spots, a central restroom and shower building, free WiFi, and picnic tables. Step out and you have a boat launch, a swimming beach, the historical museum, grill huts, a restaurant, and the Columbia Gorge sternwheeler. The one big caveat is the 12-foot clearance under the railroad trestle at the entrance, so tall rigs are out. For smaller rigs it is a gem.

In the Gorge the trade-off is comfort versus setting. The private KOA gives you full hookups, 50-amp power, a pool, and room for the biggest rigs, but at a premium price and with a more developed feel. The public options, the Port-run Marine Park, Ainsworth State Park, and the Eagle Creek forest campground, put you right on the river or in the waterfall corridor for less money, but they cap at electric and water or have no hookups, and most close in winter. We book the KOA when we want full hookups and big-rig ease, and go public when we want to wake up on the Columbia or in the forest and save some money.

This is one of the best basecamps in the Northwest for scenery. The Columbia River Gorge waterfall corridor runs west toward Multnomah Falls, with trail after trail right off the historic highway. In town you can walk the famous Bridge of the Gods, a Pacific Crest Trail landmark, ride the Columbia Gorge sternwheeler, fish or launch a boat at Marine Park, and visit the historical museum. Hood River, 20 minutes east, is a windsurfing and craft-beer hub, and the whole area is laced with hiking, mountain biking, and river recreation. It is hard to run out of things to do here.

It is easy interstate driving. Interstate 84 runs right along the Columbia River past Cascade Locks, about 44 miles east of Portland, with no steep grades through this stretch, so most rigs arrive without trouble. The Bridge of the Gods crosses the river to Washington and WA-14 if you want the north-shore route, though it is a narrow toll bridge, so go slow. Portland International Airport is about 45 miles west if you are flying in to a rental, and Hood River is 20 minutes east for fuel and supplies. The one local hazard is the 12-foot trestle clearance into Marine Park and the strong Gorge crosswinds on I-84.

Some are. The private KOA and the Port-run Marine Park Campground both stay open year-round, so you can camp here in the off-season, while Ainsworth State Park and the Forest Service Eagle Creek Campground close for winter. The thing to plan around is Gorge weather: winters are wet, and when cold east wind funnels through the canyon it can bring ice storms that glaze roads and trees, so watch the forecast and carry traction gear. For comfortable camping, aim for late spring through fall, but a year-round site is there if you are passing through in winter and want to break up an I-84 trip.

It is arguably the best RV base in the Gorge. Cascade Locks sits right in the middle of the action, a short drive west to the famous waterfall corridor and Multnomah Falls, and 20 minutes east to Hood River for windsurfing, breweries, and orchards. From a full-hookup site at the KOA or a riverfront spot at Marine Park you can hike, cruise the river on the sternwheeler, walk the Bridge of the Gods, and explore both the Oregon and Washington sides over WA-14. With year-round options and easy I-84 access from Portland, it works as a hub for anything from a weekend to a long Gorge exploration.

Often, yes, and it is worth planning for. The Columbia River Gorge is a natural wind tunnel, which is exactly why nearby Hood River is a world-class windsurfing and kiteboarding destination. Afternoons in summer regularly bring strong, steady west winds, and in winter the wind can reverse and pour cold east air through the canyon. For campers that means securing your awning, stowing lightweight gear, and parking with the wind in mind. It is rarely dangerous, just persistent, and many RVers actually come for it. If calm matters to you, the tree-sheltered forest and waterfall-corridor sites cut the wind more than the open riverfront.

Yes — there are free RV waste disposal options available near Cascade Locks.