Why You Should Add Seeing a Concert at The Gorge to Your Bucket List

During the nine years I've lived in Washington state, I've heard people talk about "The Gorge." It's considered the ultimate concert venue, with the Columbia River Basin as its backdrop.

While I've always been interested in going, the opportunity never came up — and I never really went out of my way to make the opportunity. After all, I live about an hour from Seattle. Bigger artists play at T-Mobile Park, and there are several small venues in the city (like the Showbox SoDo, where I saw M83 in March of 2023, or WAMU Theater, where I saw Lana Del Rey in 2019). So while The Gorge was on my radar, it just never happened.

Then boygenius announced their tour in March, and I saw they'd be playing at The Gorge. The venue didn't really matter to me — I just wanted to see boygenius live. I bought pre-sale tickets immediately, and the fact that I would finally see a concert at The Gorge was just an added bonus. For my partner, on the other hand, The Gorge was the reason for him to go.

We drove three and half hours, from Anacortes to Quincy, and I spent the whole car ride wondering what it would be like. I've been to outdoor concerts before, but after hearing so much about it, I was worried The Gorge wouldn't live up to my expectations. Was it worth the seven-hour round trip? Was it going to live up to the hype?

Trust me when I say, it does.

THE VIEW IS BREATHTAKING

Seriously. I cannot emphasize this enough.

I purchased general admission tickets to save some money, but the closer we got to the concert, the more I worried that we'd be too far away to really see anything. Once we got there, I realized my fears were completely unfounded; while we were further from the stage, we could see everything.

We brought a couple of beach towels and found a spot at the very top of the lawn. From the top of the hill, the Columbia River Gorge was a magnificent sight: sun reflecting off the winding river, rolling hills and gentle rock cliffs stretching as far as we could see.

The stage itself has several large screens, so trading in a closer view of the performers for a view of the landscape is worth it. Plus, you'll hear everything (shout out to the acoustics!) without hurting your ears. Even after the sun sets and you can no longer see the river, the stage — lit up in the dark — is a sight to see.

PARKING IS A BREEZE

Not sold on the view alone? Parking at events is usually a nightmare, but parking at The Gorge is actually really easy. Inevitably, you'll run into some traffic getting into the venue, but they have a system that makes it smooth. I was extremely impressed, especially since I'm used to the madness of event parking in Seattle.

Staff is all over the parking lots, keeping the flow of traffic moving steadily by directing everyone to the correct lot and into a parking spot. After the show, they're there helping everyone get out as quickly and efficiently as possible. It alleviates any pre- or post-show stress, so you can just focus on the experience.

THE FOOD IS REAL FOOD

What are you in the mood for? Tacos? Burgers or chicken? Pizza? No frozen pretzels with lukewarm "cheese" or $12 hot dogs that only come with ketchup, mustard, or relish. Though it's not exactly gourmet food, The Gorge serves real food - and it's good.

We scoped out a few different eateries — Volt Burger Smash, Bad Ass Nachos, Trejo's Tacos (as in, THE Danny Trejo) — before settling on Art Bird Chicken. Unfortunately, I was a little too preoccupied watching my favorite band perform live to snap a pic of the food, but the garlic parmesan tenders and fries we ordered ended up being the best food I've ever eaten at a concert.

The drinks definitely cost more than the food, but they're boozy. On our way to find a spot to sit, we stopped at Whiskey Dick's Saloon for beer on tap and a huge mason jar cocktail, as well as a couple of pre-packaged lemon drop shots. There were a couple places selling alcohol directly behind where we were sitting, too, so it was easy to go and get a refill.

(Another benefit to lawn seating, especially at the top of the hill? It's super convenient if you need to use the restroom, or need something to snack on!)

I won't lie to you — like any venue, the food and drinks are still expensive. But at The Gorge, you at least get your money's worth.

YOU CAN CAMP OUT

The Gorge Campground lets you turn a concert trip into a weekend experience. There are several levels of camping, from standard tent campsites to terrace camping with stunning views, and even glamping in furnished cottages!

If you're camping at The Gorge, you'll have access to free WiFi, a general store, and restrooms and showers. Though it's definitely pricier to reserve a campsite or hookup your RV, it's a great alternative to making a long drive to the middle of the state for a single night.

While we opted to get a hotel room in the nearby town of Ephrata, WA, I'm adding camping at The Gorge to my Summer 2024 bucket list!

Washington isn't short on beautiful landscapes, or fun things to do, but attending a concert at The Gorge is one of the best experiences I've ever had here. Whether you're Washingtonian or from out-of-state, this needs to be added to your bucket list ASAP. You won't regret it.