$27 - $38 / night

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Camper submitted image from Memaloose State Park Campground - 2

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Camping

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Established Camping

Memaloose State Park Campground

35 Reviews

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About

The stars seem to shine brighter at this campground on the east end of the Columbia River Gorge, 11 miles west of The Dalles. Campsites look over the river and the park’s namesake, Memaloose Island, a place sacred to the indigenous people of the Columbia River Gorge. They would lay the bones of their dead on open pyres on the island.

Also buried there is an early settler and town promoter of The Dalles, Senator Victor Trevitt. A granite monument visible from Memaloose campground marks his grave.

Today, the park is a gateway to exploring The Dalles and the east end of the Gorge. Visitors will enjoy spring wildflowers and the cooling shade of the maple, willow and cottonwood trees. On summer nights, the park’s grassy meadows are the perfect spot to observe the nightly celestial performance.

Campground 43 full-hookup sites 66 tent sites with water nearby Flush toilets and hot showers RV dump station

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Location

Memaloose State Park Campground is located in Oregon

Directions

East on I-84: take Rowena Exit 76. Follow signs that say Memaloose. Turn left and re-enter I-84 West (Do not cross RR tracks); Go 3 miles to Memaloose Rest Area and Campground exit. Drive through rest area to Campground Entrance. Turn right into park entrance. (Note: If you cross over the railroad tracks by mistake turn around at the boat ramp parking lot and exit Mayer park. Turn right and re-enter I-84 West. Follow I-84 West directions). West on I-84: take Memaloose Rest Area and Campground exit, milepost 73. Drive through rest area to Campground; Turn right at park entrance. Leaving the park: traveling west - exit park and continue on I-84 West. Leaving the park: traveling east - go 3 miles west to Mosier (exit 69). Turn left to re-e

Coordinates

45.69557893 N
121.340585 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Available
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Good
T-Mobile
Good

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

$27 - $38

/ night

For information regarding reservations, contact this campground directly.

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Contact

General Info

Reservations

(800) 452-5687

Ann W.

Guide

Reviewed Apr. 14, 2024

Wildflower base camp

Nice quiet state park campground with river views. Great spot to set up camp and hit the trails for wildflower season. Tons of hiking trails nearby. At night you will hear the highway traffic and trains. Very clean campground.

SiteA33

Month of VisitMay

Jennifer H.

Legend

Reviewed Apr. 8, 2024

Beautiful location, clean bathrooms and inexpensive

Stayed here for a night before an alignment job in Portland. Beautiful state park right on the Columbia River. Beautiful 180 degree views from our camp site of the river, river gorge. Song birds galore. You get traffic noise anywhere in the park and the closer you are to the river the closer you are to the train tracks. Didn’t bother us at all but I could see people not loving it. Very clean bathrooms, full hook up sites for $30 with a view. Can’t beat that.

SiteA59

Month of VisitMay

(10) View All

Robert D.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 29, 2023

We always camp here the last week in October just before it closes.

Great camp ground. Every October our friends and us say here in the last week. Wonderful view of the Columbia River and the Washington side of the river. Easy drive to the Dalles to get anything you might need. Bathrooms are very clean, showers are hot and long. This last week its mostly empty with campers. We always camp next to the river side so we don't have to hear the highway noise. Only the occasional train passing thru that is mostly quite. This location is usually the last camping site of the year. We camped at Memaloose State Park in a Travel Trailer.

Month of VisitNovember

Christina W.

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 15, 2022

Chamberlain Lake Rest Stop

Quiet (and dark) rest stop with a view of the water. Several picnic tables, flushable toilets and reliable ATT service.

Planned on staying the night at the Memaloose rest stop across the way in OR but it bright, noisy, was practically on highway 84, and full of semis.

This rest stop is just across the water ($2 toll for the bridge) and on a much quieter road.

Month of VisitDecember

Roman K.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 6, 2022

Amazing campground

I do not like to write long reviews but Very nice campground thanks a lot, everything what you need

Sitea53

Month of VisitJuly

Rob F.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 15, 2022

Nice Little State Park

We stopped in for the night while passing through. The park and facilities were clean, but the park was only half full. The park is right below the freeway, so there is some road noise, though we didn’t find it to be too bad. The biggest issue here is access from the west. You have to drive several miles past the park to the east to the next available exit, then come back headed west to get to it. If you leave to head east, you have to enter onto the freeway headed west then exit and turn around. Not a huge deal, but worth mentioning.

Site48

Month of VisitMay

Donald R.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 9, 2022

A surprise stop we found along the way

Just pulled in on our way back from the coast, I never would have thought there were so many sites. Nothing was to close to other sites and everything was kept up nicely. They had firewood on site and fire pits at every site. We had a site with full hookups, it seemed the lower ones only had water, check the map and make sure you get what you need. The only downside was we had to drive past to the next exit to come back because the only access is on the west bound side of the freeway.

SiteA4

Month of VisitMay

Chris D.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 18, 2021

Convenient, right off the interstate, next to the Columbia River.

Our second stay here. Our first time we were next to the highway, this time next to the river. As stated in other reviews you have the sound of the highway or the sound of the trains. Neither bother us.

The campsites have enough room between them so that you don't feel crowded. We had full hookups although some sites don't have full hookups.

It is a great site to stop for a night.

If you get the chance take the old highway 30 that runs on the gorge rim above this site, the views are well worth the slight detour.

SiteB31

Month of VisitNovember

Mark T.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 6, 2021

Perfect stop for the night

Very nice park, conveniently just off the freeway. The freeway noise on one side and train on the other is something to consider fir the light sleeper however our soundproofing and the trees helped lots.

SiteA21

Month of VisitNovember

Agnes B.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 9, 2021

Found on accident, served our purpose

5th wheel traveling with big family and multi age group kids:

I was able to reserve a spot in the B loop last minute to breakdown our trip to the Oregon coast and we were very pleased with our experience.

First, the site hosts were VERY friendly and gave us some awesome tips about Portland (things are a little dicey over there right now and we're traveling with little kids).

We have a 5th wheel and needed to back in to our site- a little more trouble than normal, but doable.

The paths were paved, which allowed our kids to explore easily on their scooters and bikes.

The common grounds/field was all dried out grass but this summer was BRUTAL with it's heatwave, so what can you do?! LOL

I can't speak for the bathrooms since we used our own.

Very pretty view of the river.

Con: Definitely a higher noise level for those that may be sensitive to that. One area is close to the highway and the opposite end (close to the river) has train tracks that are super active.

Also due to the tracks, you don't have access to the water. Oh well.

So for us and the purpose that we needed it for, we found it enjoyable. We would definitely recommend it for a quick pit stop before you make the final haul to the coast.

SiteB29

Month of VisitAugust

Jessica N.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2021

Great views but not worth it

First off you can not access the campgrounds going East towards the Dalles on 84. Not convenient at all. You have to drive through the VERY busy truck stop to enter the campground. Huge campground. For the amount of sites there are not nearly enough bathrooms. There are two women’s stalls for approximately 50 sites in one section. There were only two open working showers as well- which can be accessed by the truck stop. Not maintained at all- never had toilet paper, Camp Hosts were not available to purchase ice. Very very loud. Constant highway noise and train. The wind is super super strong so unless you have a camper don’t bother. Not a lot of trees to cut the wind. Sites have little to no privacy. Only positive is the view of the gorge. Very pretty!!

Month of VisitAugust

Robert D.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 21, 2021

This park is very nicely laid out and has many amenities to offer.

June 2021 this campground is full of trees that give shade all around most of the campsites. We stayed at site A-13 which is up against highway#84 westbound traffic so there is noise 24hrs a day especially when trucks are using their Jake brakes to slow down with. There are loops A and B. So, B loop starts inside the middle of the park and A loop goes around until about A-45 then it meets B loop then continues around the outside of the campground back to A-1. Site A-1 thru A-15 and most all of B loop have full hookups otherwise there are many tent sites that have water and a sewer drain at each site. The sites on the lower part of the campground against the river are quieter and have a wonderful view of the river and the Washington side of the river along with some river traffic. However there still is some noise from the railroad tracks once about every 2-3 hrs. But not nearly as noisy as the highway side. All and all this park is very nicely laid out and has many amenities to offer.

SiteA-13

Month of VisitJuly

(28) View All

Denise

Guide

Reviewed May. 9, 2021

Beautiful but noisy

This park is beautiful and well-maintained right on the Columbia river. The bathrooms are clean, the showers are hot, and the views of the river are gorgeous. But do not book sites A1 through A 17 as they are right under Highway 84. It’s not very relaxing sitting by the fire with trucks whizzing overhead.

SiteA03

Month of VisitJune

Alicia F.

Legend

Reviewed Dec. 1, 2020

Favorite views of the Columbia River

Great campground between Hood River and the Dalles. The spots closest to the water have great views and trees for shade during the summer. If you’re there during blackberry season you’ll find lots of blackberry bushes to pick. Definitely check out the kite surfers in Hood River as well as several breweries. The only drawback is that you have to drive past it coming back from Hood River and then turn around to enter but it’s not that bad.

(10) View All

Mike

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 29, 2020

The gem that saved our weekend!

We ended up here by accident. We tried to go to a different park, but it was first come/first served and it was full. We were headed home along the highway and decided to try Memaloose. To our surprise, there were plenty of open sites, so we decided to give it a shot. We couldn't tell what had power and what didn't in the dark, so we ended up in an interior site that ended up being pretty nice. We were under a few big trees, so it provided shade and felt kind of like we were in a cave when we were sitting by the fire.

A few things to note - 1) The hookup sites are only on the outside of the B loop. 2) It's close to the highway and there is a train that goes by, so there is some noise, but it's not bad. 3) Most of the fire pits are really tall/deep. It's not ideal for roasting marshmallows.

Overall, it's a good park. Some sites have great views of the river, and it's very central to exploring lots of stuff in the eastern Gorge area.

SiteB32

Month of VisitNovember

Sabrina E.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 27, 2020

Unexpectedly beautiful!

Awsome spot just off the highway. I pulled in to see how much for the night, and everything was free for one night! Awsome! As I pulled they had full hookups to the left and down further camp spots with just water and views of the river! Very clean and well maintained! I will be back!

Jill T.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 20, 2020

Great for train watching

Memaloose State Park is much bigger than I anticipated. There are several loops and the incline makes it interesting for biking and walks around the park. I like that the park is along the Columbia River Gorge but, it is difficult to access the park if you are driving east and there isn't access to the river.

The coolest part about the park is that there is a trail leading to an active railroad which is great for train spotting and photos. Not so great for noise.

SiteSpot B41

Month of VisitJuly

(17) View All

Sarah S.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 13, 2020

OK in a pinch but would not seek it out

We ended up here after the campground we intended to go to (Cottonwood Canyon State Park) was full and we realized we needed to go back near civilization to get gas. Since it was then 9pm at night we decided to just find the closest available place and this was it.

I am actually surprised that this campground gets such good reviews. It was a handy place to stay in our circumstance but I don't think I would seek it out. The entrance is at the far end of a rest area and it kind of felt like an extension of the rest area. You are right off of highway 84 and no matter which site you are at, you can clearly hear the highway noise. From our site you could also see all the headlights from the highway. The sites down by the river did have beautiful views of the Columbia which is nice. There is a railway track between the campground and the river and occasionally trains go by, which I like. The sites are pretty open so you're not getting a ton of privacy.

All and all, fine place if you have no other options but I personally prefer to be a little more off that beaten track.

SiteA-18

Month of VisitNovember

(5) View All

Chad L.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 26, 2020

Hidden gem

This campground is hard to find as it is located through the off ramp rest area - but worth the find. There are trains on one side and the freeway on the other - but lots of spots and beautiful views of the river.

Ivy E.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 2, 2020

Peaceful white noise

I really liked this campground. My site was right by the entrance with a direct view of I-84 but I didn’t care, the road noise and the train felt peaceful to me. It was HOT, 100 degrees July 19-21 and many sites have no shade from sun or wind so do be aware of that, however, there was a nice breeze and a stillness that was lovely. No bugs. No water access either but I knew that prior to and drove very close by to Mayer State Park to cool off, also checked out Rowena Point. The staff here is friendly and watchful, and as I was alone I felt safe. Mostly older RVers, very quiet campground.

Carolyn P.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 16, 2020

Absolutely Beautiful Spot

Snagged one of the coveted sites overlooking the Columbia River Gorge (A45) at Memaloose.

Pros: THE VIEWS. No filters needed for your photos. Must catch a sunset! Bathroom is clean. Hot showers for $. Water available. Good recycling facilities. Dog friendly.

Cons: Little privacy from other campers. Hard to snag a good site. Campground was fully booked, however the majority of reserved sites went unfilled.

Tips: Know how to set up your tent in the wind. The spot gets some healthy gusts of wind, so come prepared. If you come without a reservation and the campground is full, take a look at the list of incoming reservations for the day to get an idea which of the empty “reserved” sites may be no-shows. The list is published at the pay station.

(11) View All

Raphaela H.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 23, 2020

We had a great time despite the wind

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into with this site. We wanted to be a little further from Portland in the Columbia River Gorge. We knew that you can't get away from train sounds at any of those sites. We packed our car-camping setup (an old, tall Coleman tent) and set out. We reserved the site closest to the river (also closest to the train). Our tent was too tall for our site, which had no wind protection. At times, the tent was flat. We had to ask our neighbors uphill if we could move up between their trees to sleep.

So if you camp in the back of your car or have a low tent (or catch a less windy day), maybe this site can be nice. The colors were beautiful, the sightseeing we did nearby was fun. The view from the picnic table was great. The bathrooms were well equipped. But are tent was flat...

(7) View All

Kevin H.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 19, 2020

Very beautiful peaceful park

We stayed here for eight nights and enjoyed the peacefulness of this park. The Host/Volunteers are very friendly and keep the park very clean. There is no direct access to the Columbia River but the views of the river and opposite shore are very pretty. The interstate is close by, but other than that, it's a beautiful park with mature/older trees and plenty of shade.

SiteB25, B03

Month of VisitJuly

Kevin H.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 16, 2020

Clean and relaxing

Very nice state park. Stayed here for 8 nights. Some interstate noise but didn’t bother me. Little disappointed that there was no direct access to the river. Views of Columbia River were beautiful!! Lot of trees and shade.

Alicia F.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 1, 2020

Blackberry on the Gorge

I love this campground for its location on the gorge. In the right time of season you’ll find beautiful blackberry bushes in front of your campsite that you can snack on. Beautiful views and wonderful shade in the summer. Great location to head to the local area Town’s and hang out for the afternoon.. I love going into town and watching the kite surfers as well as hang out at the local breweries for a bite to eat and a beer.

(18) View All

Heather H.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 17, 2020

Windy but Beautiful!

Do not fall prey to a river view spot! There are no trees to provide shade or protection from the wind! There are burn marks on my tent from the polls rubbing together. It is also a little weird only being able to access the campground from one side of the 84.

Dawn G.

Ranger

Reviewed Nov. 23, 2019

Compact & Crowded.... but oh those Columbia Views!

Memaloose is a popular busy Oregon State Park with a compact layout and close together, less than private sites. Not our ideal campground. What it does offer to offset the negatives though are beautiful views of the Columbia River and easy access to Hood River and all of its attractions. We had no reservations on a Sunday in July and lucked out and a pretty decent spot was available, B35, with views of the river.*** I think B33, might be the best spot in the park. For a crowded park, with close together sites, it was surprisingly quiet and we had a great night sleep.

SiteB35

Month of VisitAugust

Tracy L.

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 5, 2019

Nice campground

Some sites have beautiful views of the Columbia Rive Gorge.

Tamisha S.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 1, 2019

Beautiful

We stopped here for a night with our RV and it was really kid friendly with a small park. I loved how easy it was to check in and navigate. It’s a little crowded. We made our reservations 2 weeks in advance.

Angela A.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 8, 2019

A nice place to rest off the freeway.

Connected to a rest area. $19 camping no hookups. Water, pad, picnic table, and fire ring in site. Free showers. Clean bathrooms. Freeway noise not bad.