We are planning a summer trip (late July-August) with our grown children. We will meet them after crossing the country in the rv in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. From there we will have approximately 14 days. Visiting Seattle and Portland is on their bucket lists along with seeing National Parks, the Oregon wine country and the Oregon coastline. We love the outdoors, hiking and great food! Would prefer to camp in state parks whenever possible with our 31" motor home and tents. Appreciate any thoughts/recommendations.

Both DW and I are from Portland area. I grew up in the Columbia river Gorge and we have lived near Dayton for 30 years. Have made the trip back many times. Coeur d'Alene is a nice stop. We have stayed at Blackwell Island a private campground close to town and very nice. The Oregon State Park campgrounds we like in the Gorge are Memaloose close to the Dalles and Ainsworth near Troutdale near Portland. Some great hiking in the Gorge, plenty of waterfalls. Hood river has a lot of wind surfers and it's less than an hour drive to Mt Hood. We like Fort Stevens State Park and it is close to the Lewis and Clark exhibits. Plenty of good State Parks on the coast but they are pretty full on week ends so need reservations. You won't have any problem finding things to do. mount St Hellens is interesting on the way to Seattle and so much more like the Rain Forest.

You might have some real problems actually seeing Portland and Seattle, because there aren't that many places to park an RV and those that exist are in very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very high demand. It might already be too late to snag a campsite for next summer. Also, I assume you'll have a towed vehicle to actually explore in.Here are my picks for nearby campgrounds:Portland: Ainsworth in the Columbia Gorge waterfall area; fantastic and easily accessible sceneryTollgate and other campgrounds on Hwy 26 west of Mt. Hood (a terrific area to explore)Seattle: Dash Point in Tacoma, Denny Creek on I-90 west of Seattle, Seaquest near Mt. St. HelensAlso, north of Seattle: Deception Pass state park, huge park, great hiking and scenery. Consider a drive into North Cascades National Park, whether or not you camp there. Fantastic scenery, and not quite as crowded as places closer to Seattle.On the OR coast, the fairly numerous state parks are your best bet. Reserve well in advance, and don't even try to go there on a weekend without reservations.I can't overemphasize how popular and bloody CROWDED the PNW is in the summer. Still, it's a wonderful place to be. Plan ahead and make your reservations yesterday. In fact, make them the day before yesterday.

better make reservations! Oregon and Washington SPs are usually booked up early, for the summer.especially coastal or popular ones.

if you can extend your stay you will be rewarded.you could spend 14 days on the northern oregon coast and not see it all let alone pdx and seattle area'sreservations are strongly advised this is the prime time here in the nw.

Sounds like you are in pretty good shape, and maybe up for some "soft adventures"May I suggest1) Timberline zip line out of Coeur d'Alene. (very, very cool) 5 stars2) Rouge river jet boats out of Gold Beach. (very, very cool) 5 stars3) Ediz hook for hiking out of Port Angeles WA. (very cool) 5 stars4) Grayland State park for hiking and camping. (vey cool) 5 stars5) balloon ride from Arlington WA. (very cool) 4 stars6) I-fly Seattle (sort of cool) 3 stars7) Seattle and Portland, ok but one big city same as the next 3 stars.As for hiking in my opinion it is hard to find a Wa or Or. park that does not offer good hiking.

Pacific NorthWest July/august | Good Sam Community

30 Replies

Owldancer
Explorer
Apr 03, 2016
Spirit Moutain Casino, on hwy 18(oregon) has a lot of room for RVs.
I really like Hope Valley RV Park near Salem oregon, on Enchanted Way, which is next to Enchanted Forest. A wonderful place for children.

Salem area is just Hours away from the Coast, Mountains and close enough to drive to Portland/Eugene for the day.

Also, if you have an Elk Member, you can stay at many Elk Clubs.
Wishbone51
Explorer
Apr 02, 2016
rhagfo wrote:
SITTING in Old Stone right now! Very nice park, we are help CD and boyfriend with a fence.

Nice! I live in Newberg just a couple of towns away. I've only been to Olde Stone once, just to get away from the house.

They have a 15 year age rule for the RVs, and the time I went, I was just under the limit, so I won't be back until I end up with a new one.

Very nice place though. Not really camping, more like a neighborhood, with streets, and driveways.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Apr 02, 2016
Wishbone51 wrote:
Some of my favorite places:

Ainsworth State Park
Champoeg State Park
Olde Stone Village - Right next to the Evergreen Air Museum and the Wings and Waves water park

....and my favorite on the coast: Sea and Sand RV Park

SITTING in Old Stone right now! Very nice park, we are help CD and boyfriend with a fence.
cinandtim
Explorer
Apr 02, 2016
Thanks all! We are considering changing things up a bit to spend more time at Port Townsend. Wishing we had 2 months, but looking forward to the adventure!
nightshift
Explorer
Apr 01, 2016
Plan a day for this.
Wishbone51
Explorer
Apr 01, 2016
Some of my favorite places:

Ainsworth State Park
Champoeg State Park
Olde Stone Village - Right next to the Evergreen Air Museum and the Wings and Waves water park

....and my favorite on the coast: Sea and Sand RV Park
rhagfo
Explorer III
Apr 01, 2016
2gypsies wrote:
I'd cut two days off Ainsworth SP and add them to Port Townsend. There's a lot more to see/do in Port Townsend/Sequim area.

The gorge has a lot to offer also, and Ainsworth sits high and back a bit so doesn't have so much noise from the trains.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Apr 01, 2016
I'd cut two days off Ainsworth SP and add them to Port Townsend. There's a lot more to see/do in Port Townsend/Sequim area.
IDoMyOwnStunts
Explorer
Mar 31, 2016
cinandtim wrote:
Thanks everyone! We do have reservations made for most of the trip, but we are thinking the first part of the trip may be a bit ambitious. Here it is.....
July 23-26 Coeur d'Alene
July 26-28. Port Townsend (Fort Worden)
July 28-31 Columbia river gorge (Ainsworth SP)
July 31-August 2 Northern Oregon Coast (Nehalem Bay SP)
August 2-5 Central Oregon Coast ((Beverly Beach SP)
Question...is the leg of our trip going to Port Townsend too much? Appreciate your feedback!

A little warning about Ainsworth SP or any park directly in the Gorge. Trains go through the gorge all night long. If you are a light sleeper or if that bothers you, you may want to make other reservations a little out the Gorge.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Mar 31, 2016
cinandtim wrote:
Thanks everyone! We do have reservations made for most of the trip, but we are thinking the first part of the trip may be a bit ambitious. Here it is.....
July 23-26 Coeur d'Alene
July 26-28. Port Townsend (Fort Worden)
July 28-31 Columbia river gorge (Ainsworth SP)
July 31-August 2 Northern Oregon Coast (Nehalem Bay SP)
August 2-5 Central Oregon Coast ((Beverly Beach SP)
Question...is the leg of our trip going to Port Townsend too much? Appreciate your feedback!

It will be a bit of a drive it is mid week so you will have traffic to deal with.
You have options you can go south around the sound and up the west side to Port Townsend.

OR

Go north either on 405, or get from I90 up to Highway 2, (many options) come down near Everett, and catch a ferry from Edmond's to Kingston, then drive across the Hood Canal floating bridge to Port Townsend. :)

Ferry fares

Spring Schedule

Good choices on the State Parks, while Beverly Beach is on the east side of 101, you have direct beach access by trail under the 101 bridge over the creek, about 60' over the creek.