Visit Downtown Camas
A walkable Washington downtown built around a paper mill, now full of galleries, patios, and public art.
Tucked along the Washington bank of the Columbia River, about 14 miles east of Vancouver, downtown Camas has the kind of main street that makes you slow down. Tree-lined blocks, flower baskets, bronze sculptures, and brick storefronts from the 1920s sit right next to a working paper mill at the west end of town. It’s a short drive from Portland and feels a world away.
A town that grew around a mill
Camas began in 1883, when a group of investors led by Portland newspaper owner Henry Pittock bought land near the lakes to build a paper mill. The settlement was first called La Camas, after the camas root that Native peoples had long harvested here, and later shortened to Camas. The mill is still operating more than 140 years later, and it shaped nearly everything in town, from parks named for mill executives to the high school’s “Papermakers” mascot.
The downtown you’ll walk today is largely the product of a disaster. A fire in 1923 destroyed many of the original wooden buildings, and the district was rebuilt mostly in brick. That is why the architecture reads as so consistent and so charming. When the paper industry shrank, local leaders redesigned the district to be more walkable and inviting, and the Downtown Camas Association has kept it lively ever since.
Start with a self-guided walk
The Downtown Camas Association offers three self-guided tours you can do anytime, with a walking map on its website:
- The Historic Walking Tour covers the brick buildings and the mill story.
- The Hidden Bronze Bird Tour follows the bronze bird sculptures tucked around downtown.
- The Downtown Mural Tour finds the public paintings that depict local history, including newer additions.
At night, white lights twinkle in the trees and along the rooflines, which makes an evening lap worth the extra time.
Eat, drink, and caffeinate
Fourth Avenue and the streets around it pack in a surprising range of food for a town this size, and many places have outdoor seating under the trees.
- Caffe Piccolo is an Italian-inspired coffee shop that suits a slow morning.
- Tommy O’s, in the historic Camas Hotel, is a longtime local favorite with Pacific Islands-inspired dishes.
- Camas Thai Cuisine is known for its daily specials.
- Grains of Wrath brewery and restaurant, on NE Birch Street, anchors the local craft beer scene. It hosts a 5K fun run on Saturday, November 7, 2026, as part of the Oregon Brewery Running Series.
Art, antiques, and the Liberty Theatre
Camas has a deep bench of galleries for its size. The Attic Gallery (NE Cedar), Gallery 408 (NE 4th), RedDoor Gallery (NE Dallas), and the Second Story Gallery upstairs at the Camas Public Library (NE 4th Avenue) all rotate shows. Camas Antiques is a good place to wander for a while, and the boutiques and gift shops fill out an easy afternoon.
The 1920s Liberty Theatre is the downtown’s sentimental heart, and catching a movie or show there is a classic Camas evening.
Time your visit
The best day to come is the first Friday of each month, when the Downtown Camas Association hosts a free evening event with art demonstrations, shop specials, and gallery receptions. Past themes have ranged from local history to a celebration of art. In summer, Camas Days takes over downtown in July, and the 2026 edition carried a Broadway theme. Check the association’s calendar for current dates before you go, since schedules change.
Make a day of it
Downtown pairs well with the outdoors. Lacamas Lake, Round Lake, the Washougal River, and a network of hiking and biking trails are only minutes away, and the Columbia River Gorge is close by. If you want to stay, the boutique Camas Hotel sits right in the middle of everything, and walkable vacation rentals are nearby.
Plan your trip
- Where: Downtown Camas, centered on NE 4th Avenue, Camas, WA.
- Getting there: About a 15-minute drive from Portland International Airport and roughly 14 miles east of Vancouver, WA.
- Before you go: Confirm hours and event dates with individual businesses and the Downtown Camas Association (downtowncamas.com).
