egrove
Dallastown, PA
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We are planning on visiting the city of Portland and the Columbia River Gorge. I saw there are numerous campgrounds in the area, but does anyone know of a good one that would be central to both Portland and the Columbia River Gorge area? Or are these two areas too far apart? Also, what are the must sees and dos in the Columbia River Gorge area? Thanks!
Eric Grove
Dallastown, PA
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m.j.mckay
Ogden, Utah
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Eric,
Try getting off I-84 east of Portland at mile marker 35. Travel the old highway and enjoy waterfalls like Multnomah Falls, the viewpoint at Crown Point. What a splendid drive...take your time. Numerous CGS along the route. Are you headed towards Astoria at all? Will be back in the area late August.
Safe Travels,
M.J.McKay
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rv2go
Fulltime (Knoxville, TN).... or someplace else
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We stayed at Ainsworth State Park, OR. the last time we visited the Gorge. I think it's about 35/40 miles from downtown Portland.
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adamroof
Camarillo, CA
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egrove wrote:...Or are these two areas too far apart? Also, what are the must sees and dos in the Columbia River Gorge area? Thanks! I haven't camped up there yet, but we will be next summer. I used to fly up there alot to Portland for my last job, we had an office in Beaverton.
Portland and the Columbia River Gorge area are pretty much right on top of one another, you'll take the I84 east from Portland and be pretty much ran smack into the recreation areas. You can windsurf and river raft and antique shop. Troutdale is nifty, but a little too touristy. If you are out for a drive, take the Historic Columbia River Highway, south from the 84 @ Lewis N Clark State Park near Troutdale. Also the drive from Portland over the river and on the bottom edge of Washington is really cool too. Alot of houses that border the river.
Im not so sure about whats further upstream, but that whole area is b-e-a-utiful.
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bdpreece
Woodburn Oregon
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m.j.mckay wrote:Eric,
Try getting off I-84 east of Portland at mile marker 35. Travel the old highway and enjoy waterfalls like Multnomah Falls, the viewpoint at Crown Point. What a splendid drive...take your time. Numerous CGS along the route. Are you headed towards Astoria at all? Will be back in the area late August.
Safe Travels,
M.J.McKay
The old highway is a nice ride but I do not recommend it in a motorhome towing a car. Find a nice rv park use it as a base to take the trip in your car. The state parks in the gorge are nice but you will have some train noise. The Port of Cascade Locks has a very nice campground.
Brian & Loretta
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louiskathy
Oregon (presently)
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I've heard others talk about the Rose Garden and the Japenese Tea Garden in Portland as both being excellent. VooDoo Donuts is a local famous thing. People get MARRIED in the bakery and they make cakes out of the donuts..all different shapes and sizes...some not exactly "family friendly". I've just heard stories of the bakery but I've tasted the donuts as they are sold in some local coffee shops and they are good.
If you want a panoramic view of Portland, you can ride the tram to the OSU Hospital outdoor balconey area. You'll see the tram once you head downtown from almost any direction. It's not free but it is fun. Great views of Mt. Hood and if it's a clear day, you can see Mt. St. Helens, too.
If you come south from Portland to the Salem area, The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville on hwy 18 west of Salem is a wow day's activity. They let us boondock overnight in the lot so that we could spend more time there. You can see some of my pics at www.RVPICS.com and just do a search for EVERGREEN.
Kathy
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mockturtle
WA
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We also like Ainsworth State Park.
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tiptoe tommy
Seattle
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We like Ainsworth SP. Memaloose is nice, but has much more train noise. The gorge is a major freight corridor. If your tastes run to rustic, consider Beacon Rock SP on the Washington side. If you want to visit Portland from the gorge, consider driving into Gresham on the east side of town and taking light rail in to town. Between the rail and streetcar, you won't miss your car and will save time and money.
As for sights in the gorge that haven't been mentioned, here are a few. Crown Point is the first grand vista on the Oregon side and a great view of the gorge. Bonneville Dam is a fascinating tour which takes you inside the dam. Access it from the Washington side. Heading east on the Washington side consider rustic Carson Hot Springs. Beacon Rock is a great climb. And further along the Washington side are a replica of Stonehenge and the Maryhill museum with its peacocks and Rodin museum built by JJ Hill, founder of the Great Northern RR. On the Oregon side heading back towards Portland, visit Hood River, a fun town with great restaurants. And do take the old highway and take the short hikes to the waterfalls. And of course you will have to visit Multanomah Falls.
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soricobob
Gilbert, AZ
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We just returned from that area where we stayed a couple of nights in Boardman (Driftwood RV Park), and two nights in Portland (Columbia River RV Park). Driftwood was almost full with residents. The place was spotless and most of them left for work during the day. It was well managed, quiet, clean, and safe. Columbia River Park was in the city, but quite nice. There was airplane noise as it is close to and in the flight path of the Portland Airport. This, too, was clean, safe, and had many working residents. Except for the planes this was a quiet place. We drive a big rig and had no problem in either park.
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zmotorsports
Utah
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We prefer Cascade Locks KOA. It is near Multnomah Falls as well as the fish hatchery and Bonneville dam/power. The campground is very nice with huge trees throughout the CG. There are some train tracks running alongside the rear of the campground so if possible try to get a spot towards the middle or front area. Mike.
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