The city of Portland is the country seat of Multnomah County and has a population of 652,503 as of the 2020 US Census. It sits at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. This port city offers RVers quick access to I-5 and I-84, with amenities and attractions that could support extended stays of two or more weeks, should you desire to do so.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in Portland, including a visit to Powell Butte Nature Park. This extinct volcano offers a 611-acre recreation area, including trails that mix pavement, compacted soil, and loose gravel. Another destination worth viewing is the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, showcasing over 175 bird and threatened salmon species. The Willamette River offers spots for boat tours and swimming, or you can enjoy paddleboarding in places like Sellwood Riverfront Park.
Portland hosts Oregon's zoo, a 64-acre facility with 76 animal species on display. If you are looking for a smaller animal encounter, visit the herd at Bellmont Goats in northern Portland. During your visit, you can spend half a day or more exploring the city museums, including the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon Maritime Museum.
There are many quality seafood eateries in this port city, with the Cabezon Restaurant getting high marks from locals. The Mediterranian Exploration Company is known for its healthy dishes, as is the Blossoming Lotus with its fusion dishes. If you want to try something different, enjoy the Peruvian and Latin dishes at Andina Restaurant off NW Glisan Street.
Campgrounds Near Portland, Oregon
One of the more popular RV campsites near Portland with excellent RV amenities is the nearby Portland Fairview RV Park. It has 497 back-in or pull-through sites with full RV hookups, 30 and 50-amp power, a hot tub, a swimming pool, cable TV, cell reception, and WiFi. Prices start at $59 per night.
Another nearby option is the Rolling Hills RV Park in nearby Fairview. It provides 137 back-in or pull-through sites with full RV hookups and 30 or 50-amp power options. You can use the pool or showers here, or enjoy the cable TV and cell service. WiFi is also provided to guests.
You can also try one of the 150 sites at the Portland-Woodburn RV Park. The lots at this nearby facility offer full hookups, 30- and 50-amp power, cable TV, cell reception, and WiFi. It is pet-friendly and offers AAA, FMCA, AARP, and military discounts. You can stay here daily, weekly, or monthly, with rates starting at $54.29 per night.
State Parks Near Portland, Oregon
Nearby Battle Ground Lake State Park is a 30-mile road trip north of the city in Washington state. There are over 30 campsites here, and six of them have partial RV hookups. Summers here are warm, while winters are cool and rainy. The best times of year to visit will be mid-spring through mid-fall, as some campsites and water are closed during the winter season. You can enjoy the beach, boat, canoe, fish, paddleboard, or swim the ancient volcano filled with clear waters. On land, you and your pet can explore miles of biking, hiking, or equestrian trails.
Traveling 25 miles southeast of Portland places you at Milo McIver State Park. You can enjoy views of the area, including Mt. Hood to the east. The Clackamas River offers anglers chinook salmon or steelhead, especially when the latter is in high numbers in March. Guests also enjoy taking guided tours of the fish hatchery and kayak or paddleboard rentals are available on-site. Winter sees lots of rain and temperatures that can drop near freezing, while summers can range between 51 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit for highs. June through September is when the park receives the most traffic. The park has 44 designated RV sites for camping.
Another nearby Washington state attraction is Paradise Point State Park, 26 miles north of Portland. The park encompasses over 100 acres, offering 49 standard campsites and 18 partial RV hookup sites. Most traffic happens during the summer months due to less rain. You can enjoy biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and swimming at the park. Many people enjoy the tranquility of the area. You'll find locals playing disc golf, shellfish harvesting, or wildlife viewing for species like blue herons. The apple orchard down by the Lewis River is also a place guests like to visit.
National Sites Near Portland, Oregon
The Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is across the Columbia River in Vancouver, WA. Learn the tales of Native Americans, fur traders, settlers, and soldiers that lived and worked in the area. Enjoy the exhibits, including reconstructed fur trading and military forts. You can also hike the easy-rated Officers' Row and Spruce Mill trails, each being under one mile in length. The city of Vancouver surrounds the historic site and offers access to amenities when you finish touring the fort.
If you want to visit Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks, it will require a 92-mile road trip northwest of Portland, near Warrenton. There are three state parks here in Oregon and another two in Washington celebrating the Lewis and Clark expedition. The main draw for this site is the reconstructed Fort Clatsop, where the explorers stayed with the soldiers of the Corps of Discovery. A visitors center displays a documentary film that discusses the lives of these explorers and the expedition itself.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park sits 174 miles north of Portland, in Seattle, WA. This park explores the history of the Klondike gold rush and the roughly 25,000 people who tried their luck in Alaska. The Seattle facility offers two floors of exhibits that you can explore, providing insight into how gold seekers and commercial entities used the city stores to make the trip north. It also shows how the gold rush impacted the growth of this city in the Pacific Northwest.
National Forests Near Portland, Oregon
The Mount Hood National Forest lies east of Portland, covering over one million acres. Mount Hood is the dominating feature of the region, with an elevation of 11,249 feet. Numerous trails offer access to the area, ranging from casual nature walks to multi-day excursions into the backcountry. Guests enjoy facilities like the alpine slide, bike park, ski chair, bungee jumping, go-karts, and zipline tours at Mount Hood SkiBowl. Biking, hiking, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, and stargazing are popular activities throughout the forest, depending on the time of year.
If you travel 86 miles south of Portland, you will enter the Willamette National Forest. It offers guests 1,675,407 acres of terrain to explore year-round. You can camp for up to 14 days within two months before relocating. The forest is east of Eugene, where you can get food, gas, and shopping completed before or after your trip into the area. Numerous trails offer access to lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Other popular activities include fishing, geocaching, bird watching, and star gazing.
A 157-mile road trip north into Washington will get you into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It covers 1.32 million acres of old-growth conifer forests, glaciers, and volcanic peaks. That includes the areas affected by the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens. It is a favorite among hikers and photographers alike, and anglers enjoy many of the 21 lakes within the forest's boundaries. Nature watching is popular during the day, and the night opens dark skies for stargazing and astrophotography.
Pet Friendly RV Rentals in Portland
Portland is a beautiful place to RV with pets, as there are plenty of pet-friendly parks and tourist destinations. If you're going to be camping in the region, be sure to check out this list of the top pet-friendly campgrounds in Portland. There are also a number of pet-friendly restaurants and bars in Portland, so you won't have to leave your companion in the RV while you grab a bite to eat.
Portland is also home to one of the country's largest urban forests, Forest Park. Bring a leash and keep an eye on your dog if you decide to explore the more than 5,000 acres of forest.
