The Real Road Trip begins - day 1: Crow camping along the Columbia

  Welcome back road trip followers!!! We've already taken you with us on a road trip warm-up to Zion National Park and Las Vegas…now for the real deal. An epic cross-country adventure from our old home in Seattle to our new home in coastal North Carolina. This 4000 mile-ish trip started earlier this summer, around the beginning of July. Husband, wife, & our horrible cat-daughter in a Toyota compact car (in need of a new clutch…), completely over-flowing with stuff.

  We decided to stop early on in the trip because the stress of leaving is, well, stressful. We chose a campsite in Crow Butte Park - an island park on the Columbia River (map below).

   We didn't see any rattlesnakes:) We did, however, end up in a really sunny tent site. It's dry and hot here in the summer. We arrived in the heat of the day and got roasted while setting up camp! Many sites had shade…almost all except ours - #18. Avoid campsite #18.

All and all the park is pretty cool  - with trails and lots of access to the water.

   Our only complaints? Besides the sun (not a huge deal), we noticed a really smelly smell in the morning. Was it the river? A plant? Our neighbors? Who knows! Our only regrets are we didn't have a little more time to explore this section of the river via kayak or hike to a few secret beaches on the island.

   Next stop: An amazing campground near some of the largest sand dunes in the country!!!! Check back Monday!!!!

   ~Paul, Amber, Kali     ETC

Details:
Crow Butte Park
Reservations can be made here.
Park opens March 15th and closes on October 31st
The 275 acre park is on an island located in the majestic Columbia River at the very southwest section of Benton County in Washington State. It is accessible by motor and river traffic. There are 50 full service camping sites, three boat launches and a boat basin.
Crow Butte Park is primarily a water-sports park with three boat launches and a sheltered bay for temporary moorage. Activities include:

• Boating
• Fishing
• Personal Watercraft
• Swimming
• Camping
• Hiking
• Wildlife Watching
• Sail Boarding
• Horseshoe Pits