A day out in Battle Ground perfectly balances that small town feel without having to take a long road trip — it’s only about 20 minutes from Vancouver (and 45 minutes from Portland). While the city gets it’s name from historical military maneuvers, the only battles you’ll find today are for parking spots at the lake or the lines for their phenomenal food trucks. Choose from lake or river fun, pick some berries, and finish it all with a fried oreo.
For the unfamiliar, Battle Ground is a small city in Clark County located north of Vancouver and accessible off the I5. It’s one of vibrant, and growing, community of small towns and farms in the area. Here are some of our favorite places in the area.
Battle Ground Lake
Located just outside of town, Battle Ground Lake State Park offers swimming, picnics and camping. There’s a sandy beach, hiking trails, picnic areas, and plentiful bathroom access. Grab your favorite floatie and stake a spot in the sand. You can grab a walk-in tent spot for as low as $12, or simply park and swim with a Discover Pass. RV and drive-in camping spaces are available online, too (and include a parking spot). Day trip parking passes may be purchased online or onsite for $10/day or $30/year, but be aware–parking fills up FAST in the summer. Go early.
Pro tip: If considering an annual pass, purchase prior to October 1st when fees jump from $30 to $45. You can still use it all year and it will work at many different Washington state attractions, such as hiking at Beacon Rock in the Gorge.
Daybreak Regional Park
If you love running water and easy wading, then Daybreak Regional Park is for you. It’s the perfect spot to grab a picnic in the shade by the playground, or skip rocks into the clear water of the Lewis River. This 77-acre park is located along the east fork of the river with walking access to the water across sand and river rock. Frequently popular as a boat ramp, the ramp is closed until October 2025 allowing for ample parking and smaller crowds (at least when we visited).
U-Pick Blueberries
There are multiple blueberry farms in the Battle Ground area. Pro tip: Check each farm’s website before you go for current berry availability. Closer to town is Indigo Acres Blueberry Farm in Battle Ground, noticeable with its the big powder blue metal barn en route. Majestic Farms Blueberries is in the nearby neighborhood of Brush Prarie, with both u-pick and pre-picked. They provide buckets and bags and advertise as family-friendly with parking and basic amenities. Keep your eye out for additional pop ups, as many smaller farms advertise fresh berries via roadside signs, rather than online.
Pro tip: Plan a route and consider visiting multiple Southwest Washington farmstands.
Food Truck Fanatics
Food carts aren’t just for Portland! Battle Ground has its own food cart pod downtown called simply, Battle Ground Station that includes more than half a dozen trucks and a couple pop-ups across the street. We ate at lunchtime and got the daily special nachos from The Pit for $9 and grabbed a churro for $3 from further down the lot. We couldn’t find full listings of all the food trucks and hours, but when we visited, we saw food carts selling tacos, brunch, smash burgers, boba, BBQ, Southern/Creole and snow cones.
Across the street in either direction, you’ll find two of the most popular dirty soda spots in the greater Portland area, Thirst Trap and Over Ice. Both locations are in walking distance of the food truck pod.
Pro tip: In addition to Southern fried savory favorites, Krisey’s Kitchen features deep fried oreos as a treat.
Bonus Stop
Technically in Brush Prairie, and not in Battle Ground, we couldn’t resist adding Alderbrook Park to our list. Head to the Friday Night Cruise In at Alderbrook Park to spy classic cars — and romp through oodles of kid-friendly activities that are all included with admission.