Portland is a beautiful city, with plenty of things to do between its beautiful gardens, plentiful breweries, and so much more. Oregon and the whole of the Pacific Northwest(PNW) are known for their outstanding landscapes and natural beauty. It is ideally located in that you can get to the coast, the mountains, the desert, waterfalls, and the forest, all within an hour from the city. Often road trips are a great way to explore the PNW at your own pace and to see a lot more of these off-the-beaten-path landscapes and hard-to-reach places. But what if you’re only in the city for a day?
With that thought in mind, we have some great day trips ideas from Portland that still capture the beauty of the PNW. You can book a rental car to make the most of your trip. You can start all these trips from Portland, Oregon, and discover why so many people love this beautiful part of the United States. In this post, we have rounded up the details on the best day trips you can do from the city if you’re visiting the city for a quick getaway.
5 best day trips from portland, oregon
Portland has it all when it comes to proximity to various topographies. In just a few hours, you can get to the mountains, the ocean, wine regions, river gorges, waterfalls, and other urban areas. Keep reading to know more about our top picks of places to go.
01 The Oregon Coast
The Oregon coast runs through the entire length of the state, and one could spend days exploring its many beach towns. While the water here is usually too cold for swimming, you’ll find plenty of places to surf and do other water sports. The Oregon coast is beautiful, whether you visit in scorching sunshine or on a stormy day, the coast is so dramatic that it’s beautiful whatever the weather.
Also, driving to this location is great because you can take a completely different route on the way there and the way back. Along with it you can get to experience the popular spots of Ecola State Park and Cannon Beach, as well as the scenic views of beautiful Oregon Coast Highway.
The city of Astoria often gets combined with the coast, which should be in your coastal excursion. However, it does not sit on the Pacific Ocean but the Columbia River. Some major attractions include here are the Astoria Column, a hilltop monument, and the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
02 Cannon Beach
While part of the Oregon coast, Cannon Beach gets its shout-out thanks to the plethora of things to do there. Here, you can go for a long walk, admire the coastline and ocean views, spot a multitude of crabs and other critters swimming around in thousands of tide pools. It’s home to some dramatic scenery, long sandy beaches, and rock formations, including the towering and iconic Haystack Rock. One of the best views you’ll find here is at Ecola State Park, which is just a few minutes’ drive away from the beach. This gorgeous, sweeping panorama is a delight to watch.
After leaving the beach, stroll the quaint streets of the town with multiple coastal cafes and local stores. You can head into Bill’s Tavern and Brewhouse for lunch and a craft beer and Suzy’s Scoops for ice cream. Also, fill up at one of Cannon Beach’s candy and fudge stores before going back home.
03 Mount Hood
On clear days, you can see Mt. Hood from all over Portland, but getting up close to it is a special experience. This is a great trip that you can easily take in a day from the city. This mountain stands 11,250 feet tall and is covered by 11 glaciers. It’s also home to Timberline Lodge, where you can eat, drink, admire the view or sit by fire before or after hiking, skiing, or snowboarding.
There are plenty of things to see and do in the surrounding area, including lakes, boundless fruit farms, and wildflowers. For excellent views of Mt. Hood, try the easiest hike of the Tom Dick and Harry Mountain Trail.
If you are a keen skier or snowboarder, then it is a perfect day trip for you as it is home to the only year-round ski resort in North America. Even if you are not a snow sports fan, no one can deny the beauty and awe of Mount Hood and the surrounding areas.
04 Columbia River Gorge
Just a few minutes away from Portland, I-84 will take you through the scenic Columbia River Gorge. The canyon stretches for more than 130 km and gets up to 1200 m deep. Don’t miss out on checking the Multnomah Falls, which is the most famous waterfall in the area. Millions of visitors stop by every year to see the water from underground springs cascade down the mountain. It is also a great place to go hiking, with hundreds of trails available of every length and difficulty. One of the popular moderate-level hikes with great views is Angel’s Rest.
It’s a great place to take family and friends who are new to the area. The stunning views of the gorge and the iconic waterfalls make it a must-see place for anyone visiting Portland.
05 Hood River
You might not have heard of this small city on the Columbia River, but those into wind sports almost certainly have. Hood River, with a population of approximately 7806, holds the title of windsurfing capital of the world, and it’s gunning for the kiteboarding title, too. The consistent wind here makes this city a great place to go sailing.
And just because you’re on a strict schedule in Portland for the day that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the breweries behind. Check out one of the great breweries in the city as Hood River packs a big punch for its small size; 13 breweries dot the gorge, and you can also sample some of them—including Full Sail and Double Mountain—in Hood River proper. You can also visit pFriem or Double Mountain Brewery for lunch, where they have some great pizzas.