We arrived!
Driving from Rocklin, California to The Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington, with a two day stop in Portland, Oregon netted us 913 miles in the car. Thank goodness we broke it up, driving halfway to Portland Wednesday night, finishing the drive to Portland Thursday, then driving the rest of the way to The Gorge on Saturday.
As we drove into The Gorge Amphitheater parking area, there were two lines of cars that went on for what seemed like forever — and it was hot! Parking attendants were checking parking passes and directing traffic, and because we were camping at new The Oasis Campground, we were the first parking lot and didn’t have to wait in the monstrous line of cars waiting to get into the general camping areas and parking lots.
Camping At The Gorge Amphitheater
There is only one official Gorge Amphitheater Campground, with several different tiers of options for camping at The Gorge:
We did our research in advance to pick the best option for our family. The Glamping option and Gorge Oasis option are the only two where everything is set up for you when you arrive and you don’t have to do anything. They also have regular bathrooms with running water.
Because we were road tripping and stopping in Portland on the way, we didn’t want to have to pack all of our camping gear. We also didn’t want to worry about getting to the campground early enough to get a decent spot and set up camp — really, we just didn’t want to get there and have to go to work, setting up camp in the heat.
The Glamping option was sold out when we called, so we went with The Gorge Oasis campground.
The Oasis Campground At The Gorge
When we drove up to The Oasis Campground the kids were ooohing an aaahing, straining in their seats to get a good look at all of the canvas tents set up. They couldn’t wait to get out of the car and were so excited — heck, Brian and I were excited. The little campground area was so cute with all of the canvas tents lined up and tables and chairs set up outside each one.
The website claims that The Gorge Oasis is a touch of luxury at the most beautiful venue on Earth and they’re not kidding. All of the tents are on grass and made of a high quality canvas. They have floors, beds or cots depending on the option you selected, and electricity with four outlets, so we all could charge our devices at night.
All Gorge Oasis camping experiences include parking for one vehicle, bag service, a large furnished canvas tent, 24/7 concierge service and access to the Oasis Lounge — a large covered tent area with outdoor furniture and coffee and water.
There are two tent options at The Gorge Oasis:
Deluxe Tent for Two
- Fully Furnished Canvas Tent
- Locking Entrance
- Lighting
- Memory Foam Mattress
- Bath Linens
- Luxury Bath Products
The 4 Person Tent
- Fully Furnished Canvas Tent
- Locking Entrance
- Lighting
- 4 Cots
- New Sleeping Bags (you take these home with you)
Because we were camping with the kids, we chose the 4 Person Tent option with the cots. It ended up working out great, but man, I’m too old to sleep in a cot and I missed snuggling with Brian. When we go back, because we’re totally doing this again, we’ll get the Deluxe 2 Person Tent and just have the kids sleep on sleep on the ground, after all, it is grass.
Proximity To The Venue
After checking in, putting our stuff in the tent, and relaxing a bit out on the grass in the shade, it was time to head over to the Gorge Amphitheater for Dead & Company. We had box seats for this show, so we wanted to get over there early and check them out. Plus, we wanted time to explore the venue and the gorgeous views of the Columbia River Gorge.
The Oasis Campground is maybe a five minute walk to the venue entrance. While walking over we could see the Glamping cabins and the other campground areas and were so thankful we were at The Oasis. While the Glamping cabins are the nicest, they are much farther away from the venue and we really value a short walk at the end of the show when we are sleepy.
When we walked into the amphitheater, we were awestruck and even more excited to see Dead & Company play. The Gorge is truly the most spectacular concert venue I have ever been to. With the Columbia River snaking through the steep canyon walls, the panoramic backdrop for the stage is breathtaking — and watching the sun set as the band jams to many of our favorite songs is a beautiful bonus.
SIDENOTE: We were hitting the road early the next morning for a 15 hour drive from Grant County, Washington back to Rocklin, California, so we went to bed right after the show. If you’re in the same boat, be sure to bring ear plugs because the campground is loud after the show and trust me, you’ll want to block out the drunk cackling women that want to keep partying. Or if you’re not an ear plug person, bring some Zzquil to help you fall asleep faster.
