Deschutes River State Recreation Area RV & Campground Guide
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Deschutes River State Recreation Area is a beautiful spot, just alongside the Deschutes and Columbia rivers. Look for an explosion of wildflowers in early spring, and for oriole nests that resemble hanging baskets, tucked away in the white alder trees. Families can hike, ride bikes, horseback ride, and do plenty of other outdoor activities in the recreation area here!
Weather in the Deschutes Valley is surprisingly arid in summer, with only a day or two of rain on average each month. Winter is the rainiest time, with about a week and a half of rain per month. July and August are typically the warmest months, with highs of almost 90°F, and in winter, the lows drop to 30°F in January.
Spring 36-74 F
Summer 55-89 F
Fall 36-81 F
Winter 30-48 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Deschutes River State Recreation Area
Camping is available in four areas of the park, although three are closed during winter months. Flush toilets and showers are available at one of the campgrounds, along with hookups. If you choose to rent an RV, consider renting with RVshare. Each rental vehicle comes with nationwide insurance coverage, 24/7 roadside assistance, and a dedicated team that will work to make sure you have the perfect RV for your travel plans and unique needs.
There are also several nearby campgrounds where you can stay while you visit the park:
Rufus RV Park
Just off the Columbia River, this campground is a great place to relax, or to go fishing, kiting, or windsurfing.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wi-Fi: yes
Pet friendly: yes
Other amenities: laundry, showers, close to river
Cottonwood Canyon State Park
Enjoy awesome views of the rugged canyon and rushing river, and the vast expanses of grasslands that spread as far as the eye can see! Camping here is rustic, but the views are worth it.
Water hookup: no
Electrical hookup: no
Sewer hookup: no
Wi-Fi: no
Pet friendly: n/a
Other amenities: showers, hiking, fishing, boat launch
What to Do at
Deschutes River State Recreation Area
Inside Deschutes River State Recreation Area
There are a number of things to do in the Deschutes Valley, year-round.
Hiking: There is plenty of hiking along the river and throughout the park. On hot days, cool off with a trail near the river in the shade of the white alder trees (see if you can spot oriole nests hanging from the branches!).
Biking: There is also mountain biking available along trails that wind throughout the Deschutes River State Recreation Area.
Fishing: Fish for world-class steelhead and trout in the rivers within the state recreation area.
Boating: Heritage Landing is a popular launch for jetboaters, providing access to the Deschutes and Columbia Rivers. Jetboating is allowed on the lower segment of the Deschutes for most of the year.
Horseback riding: Horseback riding is permitted from March-June with a reservation.
Rafting/kayaking: The Deschutes River drops about ¼ of a mile as it snakes through the canyons, making it a fun place for whitewater rafting, kayaking, and tubing.
Outside Deschutes River State Recreation Area
There’s plenty to do outside the recreation area as well! From taking in the local sights to relaxing with a tasty bite to eat, once you’ve explored the park, try one of these activities.
Restaurants
Bob's Texas T-Bone Frosty's Lounge
A very popular stop for a variety of steak cuts, as well as homemade desserts! You’re likely to have plenty of leftovers for another meal as well.
Type: Casual steakhouse
Location: Rufus, OR
Bulldog Diner
The Bulldog Diner serves up delicious burgers, and people rave about the fries. There’s also breakfast on the menu if you want to get an early start...and delicious milkshakes for a cool afternoon treat!
Type: Diner
Location: Rufus, OR
Alpenstube Restaurant
Dine slope side on Mount Hood for a truly unique experience! Alpenstube is known for their Nacho Mountain (you may want to share with a friend), appetizers, sandwiches, and Black Angus Beef burgers. And when in Oregon - it’s practically a requirement to try a local craft beer. They have several…
Type: American
Location: Mt. Hood, OR
Shopping
Timberline Gifts
The gift shop at the Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood has unique art, jewelry, local iron work, and souvenirs. There’s even a The Shining and Overlook Hotel collection, because part of the movie was filmed at the hotel.
Location: Government Camp, OR
Sightseeing
Friend Ghost Town
Friend sprang up as the town at the end of the Great Southern Railroad - a line that connected The Dalles to Dufur. When the railroad stopped operation in 1936, the town was abandoned. Now, you can see the empty schoolhouse, the old general store and post office, and a concrete building whose purpose is uncertain. But mostly you can take in the vast expanse of grass and sky and appreciate the lonely scenery and imagine the people who lived and explored the West.
Location: Friend, OR
White River Falls State Park
This day-use park has a quarter-mile trail that leads you to the river, where you’ll find a system of pipes and flumes that diverted water from the falls to a powerhouse and produced electricity for the region from 1910-1960. The White River Falls are definitely photo-worthy as well, with their drop of more than 90-feet into the pool below.
Location: Wasco County, OR
Mount Hood
Whether hiking and wildlife-watching in summer or skiing in winter, Mt. Hood is an awe-inspiring place to visit at any time of year! In fact, thanks to the numerous apple and pear trees, and abundant berries, the drive from the mountain to the town of Hood River is known as the Fruit Loop.
Location: Mt. Hood, OH
How to Get to
Deschutes River State Recreation Area
The recreation area is about an hour and a half from Portland. Take I-84E/US-30 E to OR-206 E in Wasco County. Take exit 97 for OR-206 toward Deschutes/State Park/Celilo Park and follow the road to the Deschutes River State Recreation Area.
Entering Deschutes River State Recreation Area
There is no entrance fee for the recreation area, but there is a fee to make reservations for the equestrian trail.
Heading out camping with friends or family is a great way to make new memories and have adventures together! Renting an RV with RVshare takes a lot of stress off of you and makes the trip easier to plan. Whether you choose to rent an RV near your home and drive, or fly into Portland and rent an RV, you’re sure to have a trip you won’t soon forget! We would love to see pictures of your travels - be sure to send us photos of your trip to [email protected] and tag us on social media. Your memories could be featured on our blog, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter page!
Frequently Asked Questions About Deschutes River State Recreation Area
The best time to visit Deschutes River State Recreation Area is spring, when the park gets a break from cloudy, rainy weather and starts to warm up, and summer, when there is very little rain.
The winter months are cold, snowy and cloudy at Deschutes River State Recreation Area. The spring is rainy, and the summers are hot and dry, with temps often reaching 100 Fahrenheit.
There are 34 year-round RV camping sites on the A Loop and 18 primitive RV sites on the B and G Loop. For RVs with a combined maximum length of 24 feet, there are 11 primitive sites on the T Loop.
You do not need to reserve a spot, but you may want to during summer. During the winter, all sites are first come, first served. The sites cost $17.00 to $28.00 per night.
Yes, there are accessible restrooms, showers, and camping sites at Deschutes River State Recreation Area. You can find them at the A Loop campground, which is open year-round.