4+ Great Day Trips from Portland

Despite what some recent news might lead folks to believe, Portland, Oregon is a great spot to visit (or in my case: live). Yes, Portland has experienced a few issues the last several years including some things that made dramatic headlines, but there’s still plenty of wonderful sights, bites, and things to do with a reality different from the sensational events that make national news.

Then again, some of the best things about Portland involve getting out of Portland. Within a couple hours of the city are some amazing day trips. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Oregon’s long, dry summer days. But even in cooler (and wetter) months, there are some great place so close to the city. Here are a few of my favorites:

Hood River

Just about an hour east of Portland, Hood River is a favorite of kite and windsurfers taking advantage of the Columbia River and winds along the Gorge. It’s also a favorite of mine. With a backdrop of the river to the north and Mt. Hood to the south, it’s a beautiful spot where the hustle of the city slows down and begs you to just chill out a little.

Perhaps my favorite part of Hood River is the Waterfront Park neighborhood. The park itself is nearly six acres of picnic, swimming, and play areas, as well as launch sites for the kite and windsurfers and ideal viewpoints to watch them. Oh, and there’s also food and drink, including breweries Pfreim and Ferment (which has one of the best patios anywhere) and Camp 1805 which has nachos with some of the most delicious avocado crema I can recall. Adults 21+ are allowed to have open containers in the park too, so if you want to grab your brew in a can and enjoy it in the park, go for it! Oh, and a #protip for RV campers: there’s a free dump station at the west end of Waterfront Park too.

Just on the other side of the freeway is Hood River’s downtown. As much as I love the waterfront, it would be a shame to miss a stroll through downtown. It is Oregon, so obviously there’s beer—both Full Sail and Double Mountain have breweries here, and Spinning Wheels Brewing Project is a new small brewery tucked below one of the local taco shops (when we were here last, we had beer, but not tacos). There’s plenty of good restaurants as well, regardless of what meal you’re craving. And the weekend farmer’s market is modest but lovely—including live music.

Just outside Hood River is the famed Fruit Loop. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never taken the opportunity to explore the loop, but it’s on a short list of things I’ve yet to do. Summer and fall are prime times when pears, cherries, apples and everything else in the orchard is at it’s peak, but early season means strawberries are ripe, and wine and cider are in their prime all year round, obviously. As well, the Columbia River Gorge offers amazing views, hikes, waterfalls, beaches, and more.

Astoria

Astoria, as well as Cannon Beach and Tillamook (more on those below), are each about two hours west of Portland. Any one of them would make a fine day trip by themself, but if you’re willing to make a full day of it or a weekend, the trio make for an epic loop from Portland to the Oregon coast and back.

In and around Astoria, it may be no surprise to read that Buoy Brewing and Fort George Brewing are regular stops on my itinerary. Both have great beer and food. Buoy used to get extra credit for a taproom with a riverfront deck outside and inside, a glass floor panel to view the seals hanging out on the piers below, but the roof of their building suffered an unfortunate collapse in June 2022. While their new/replacement taproom is only about a block away, it lacks the ambiance of the riverfront space (although the beer and food are still good). Astoria Brewing is nearby, Portland’s Breakside Brewing now has an location in Astoria, and Reach Break Brewing is a new option in town. All are relatively easily walkable from one to the other.

Besides beer, there’s a lot more to see in and around Astoria too. The Astoria Column, for one. As historians will tell you, it’s “a monument to the natural riches of the Pacific Northwest and the people who settled there.” Go early to avoid traffic and parking hassles. You will need to buy a parking pass, but it’s only $5 and good for a year, in case you make it back again within 12 months.

Even if you’re not a beer fan, the waterfront is a beautiful spot for a stroll. There’s a nice pedestrian path from just west of the Astoria-Megler Bridge all the way to the Maritime Museum. Speaking of the Maritime Museum, it’s a fun excursion for an afternoon, especially if it’s a rainy day and you’re looking for indoor activities to dry off.

Just outside Astoria is one of my favorite places to camp: Fort Stevens State Park. The campground is large, but seldom felt to me to be overwhelming due to its layout and the relative privacy given to campsites since it’s pretty heavily wooded. Cabins are also available for non-campers. Bring clothes to hike along miles of trails and wander to beach (but remember, the beaches in Oregon are cool and not the sunscreen-and-swimsuit type) to check out the historic Peter Iredale shipwreck. Or bring your bike and ride (or otherwise explore) the miles of roads and trails from the campground to batteries, fort, or jetty.

Cannon Beach + Tillamook

About an hour south of Astoria is Cannon Beach, and Tillamook is about an hour south of that. Both are great spots to visit, and the drive between the two is dotted with a number of towns that are also worth a stop, if not a longer stay.

Cannon Beach is home to the iconic Haystack Rock (many folks will recognize it from the Windows wallpaper). Aside from Instagram-perfect backgrounds, there’s a ton of wildlife here to observe, including stunning tide pools at low tide. There’s also a quaint, walkable downtown with a good assortment of restaurants (and a brewery or two) and a number of beautiful hotels (many of them dog-friendly) for a laid-back, relaxing excursion.

Tillamook is altogether different than Cannon Beach. It’s slightly inland for one, but that shouldn’t limit you from venturing out to Tunnel Beach (near Oceanside) or Netarts Bay (The Schooner restaurant there is a good spot too). If you’re in Tillamook, the Pelican Brewery is worth a visit for their food and beer. And The French Cheese Company is a fan favorite for Harvest Host boondockers. But the real draw here is the Tillamook Creamery, where you can check out the factory, pick up souvenirs, and snag all sorts of dairy goodies—most importantly, a wide selection of their namesake ice cream.

Willamette Valley

Oregon’s Willamette Valley (pronounced will-LAM-ette) probably deserves its own post, but that’s a task for another day. Still, sitting just about an hour south of Portland, it’s a nice contrast to my other favorites in Sonoma and makes a great day trip for wine lovers and others. Local celebrations for Wine Country Pride are held throughout the year as well and help with a welcome-for-all atmosphere (notably, the organization is headed up by the now-mayor of McMinnville, Remy Drabkin).

Many (though hardly all) of my favorite wineries are close to one another in Dundee. Purple Hands makes some of my favorite Pinots (and consistently has some of the best release parties), Four Graces is also pretty delicious (though it’s now part of the larger Foley Family wine group), and Argyle has a beautiful tasting room that’s likely to be a hit with fans of bubbles. Red Hills Market, located conveniently between Purple Hands and the other two, cooks up remarkable sandwiches and pizzas to accompany the local wine (or even without any wine). On busy weekends, ordering online will save you a long wait in their queue. And if you’re up for a kitsch and convenient overnighter, check out The Vintages and stay in one of their vintage trailers. Ensure it’s one that has its own bathroom if you don’t want to venture to the clubhouse in the middle of the night, though.

A little bit past Dundee is McMinnville, which can be a great place to stay if you’re making a weekend of it. Crescent Cafe is a delicious place to get breakfast to fuel your adventures; it’s also right in the midst of downtown, so it’s a great spot to start your exploration of shops, galleries, and other restaurants nearby. Just a few miles away is the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, home to the Spruce Goose and a lot of other interesting and historical aerospace-themed stuff. In the summer, there’s also a waterpark with slides descending from a decommissioned 747 jumbo jet.

Honorable Mention

The notes above are hardly an all-inclusive list. It’s just the tip of the glacier, as it were. Mt. Hood and its glacier is also soooo close, as is the historic Timberline Lodge, stunning Trillium Lake (with perhaps the most perfect views of Mt. Hood) and miles upon miles of hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing opportunities.

Across the river in Washington, there’s Vancouver’s beautifully redeveloped waterfront, quaint Stevenson, and Skamania Lodge with its spa, zip lines and golf course. And one of my favorite (but demanding) hikes: Dog Mountain.

Chime in with your favorites in the comments, or just get out there and enjoy!