12 Amazing Oregon Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive

The Pacific Northwest is known for a variety of great natural, historic, and cultural venues. Many of these places are within a short distance of the city of Portland and the Portland International Airport. Columbia River Gorge, the Lewis & Clark Recreation Site, and the Dragon Boat Festival, all located less than three hours from downtown Portland, support the natural beauty and charm of western Oregon. From the Oregon Zoo in south Portland, less than 20 minutes from the airport, to Cape Lookout State Park, two hours away in Tillamook, here are a dozen excellent locations that will delight every family member over and over again.

Columbia River Gorge

Just west of Troutdale, less than an hour’s drive from the airport in Portland, the Columbia River Gorge is home to nine majestic waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, one of Oregon's tallest waterfalls. The Columbia River Gorge hosts several autumn-oriented activities as well, yet most of these can be enjoyed at any time. Drive the scenic Columbia River Highway, hike the Oneonta Gorge Trail, or even kayak the powerful waters of the gorge. Some great cultural aspects are also available at Columbia River Gorge, including attending the Columbia Gorge Wine & Pear Fest, held annually in nearby Hood River, and honoring the food and wine of the area.

Timberline Lodge

Timberline Lodge, constructed in 1937, an hour and a half from downtown Portland, is now known best for being the exterior filming site of the movie “The Shining.” This four-story lodge & resort offers a plethora of nature-related activities, like skiing and snowboarding during the winter season and hiking and biking in the summertime. Guests and visitors are welcome to experience several other great amenities and events at the lodge, including Timberline Daydream, which takes place at the beginning of September and includes live music, cold brews, and even an exhilarating downhill bike race on Mt. Hood. If horror and suspense are more to your liking, book a stay at the lodge on Halloween night and watch a special screening of “The Shining,” the classic horror movie adapted from a Stephen King novel by the same name.

Cape Lookout State Park

Along the coast of Oregon, 20 minutes from Tillamook and just under two hours from the airport in Portland, Cape Lookout State Park has a plethora of amenities that encourage visitors to return every year. Guests of the park can experience magnificent wonders along Cape Lookout Trail, which culminates at the point and offers some of the best whale-watching and ocean scenic vista photo opportunities on the Pacific Ocean. Cape Lookout Beach and the Cape Lookout Campground each present their own unique amenities as well, like swimming in the surf and camping in a truly rustic setting. Several annual festivities and events are also available in nearby Tillamook, including the Sinners & Saints Halloween Party in October and the Holiday Bazaar, held at the county fairgrounds each November.

Oregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo is a popular choice for that perfect family day trip. Located south of downtown Portland, less than twenty minutes from the airport, the Oregon Zoo was first established in 1888 and now has over a thousand animals, making it the oldest surviving zoo west of the majestic Mississippi River. There are also a variety of activities at the Oregon Zoo that will pleasantly occupy each member of the entire family. “Keeper Talks” allow for a more intensive knowledge of certain animals within the zoo, including feeding the crocodiles and starting a family farm. The “Cool Creature Crawl,” a scavenger hunt featuring various zoo inhabitants, like the Crocodile Monitor, provides a connection between the animals and children of all ages.

Champoeg State Heritage Area

Situated approximately three-quarters of an hour south of Portland and the airport, just northeast of the town of Saint Paul, the Champoeg State Heritage Area is a natural haven filled with great amenities. Lying along the southern bank of the Willamette River, providing guests with a variety of hiking, kayaking, fishing, and camping options, this majestic location also provides a taste of true history that will astound even the most avid of historians. The Champoeg Visitor Center offers exhibits detailing the time from the early Kalayupa Indians to the settlers of the 19th century, while Manson Farmstead, formerly owned by Donald & Felicitie Manson, displays a late 19th-century barn that was first built with timbers rescued from the flood that destroyed the area in 1861.

Cannon Beach - Clatsop County

Another popular attribute to Oregon and the Oregon coast is that the town of Cannon Beach located an hour and a half away from the airport, has a plethora of outdoor activities and amenities that are perfect for even the most cynic of travelers. Ecola State Park, which is located just north of town and covers nine miles of coastline, offers hiking, nature-watching, and beachcombing, while Arcadia Beach is situated a mile south of town and has several caves, tide pools, and sea stacks to explore with the family. There are also a variety of activities to be enjoyed in downtown Cannon Beach, including the Earth & Ocean Art Festival, held every other year in September, and the StackStock Music Festival, held at Haystack Garden every October.

Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park, a popular attraction in the town of Drake Crossing, is a pleasant haven for those who wish to get far away from the hectic urban sprawl of Portland or Seattle. Located just over an hour away from Portland, Silver Falls State Park is home to a variety of exciting attributes and activities. The Winter Falls Trail allows guests and visitors to see seven different waterfalls. South Falls, also known as Silver Falls and possibly the most popular waterfall in the park, is phenomenal to behold. The Trail of Ten Falls Loop allows for an opportunity to see all ten waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park. There are also several other great activities in the park, including bird watching, picnicking, and staying overnight in a cabin or a yurt.

Sauvie Island

Approximately 30 minutes north of downtown Portland, Sauvie Island is situated on the Columbia River and home to several pristine beaches, such as Walton, Reeder, and Warrior Point. Warrior Point Beach includes a three-plus mile hike through the Sauvie Island Wildlife Refuge and ends with a rest at the Warrior Rock lighthouse, while Reeder Beach and the Reeder Beach Campground offer a choice of great camping options, including tent and R.V. camping. Several other activities can be enjoyed on Sauvie Island. Hiking out to Sturgeon Lake along the Oak Island Loop trail allows for that rare photo of a Great Blue Heron or Bald Eagle, and stopping at one of many u-pick produce farms provides that all-important farm-to-table connection.

Stub Stewart State Park

Stub Stewart State Park, situated around 45 minutes northwest of the Portland airport, covers just over 1,600 acres of land and is known best for having a variety of great hiking trails, including Skidder Row to Hares Canyon and the Bumping Knots Loop. Some of the other prime amenities available in Stub Stewart State Park include horseback riding, mountain biking, and camping overnight. There are also several great cultural and historic attractions in and around the park. The Hilltop day-use area not only provides a great scenic vista of the countryside to the west but also has a 9-hole and an 18-hole, mountain-style disc golf course available to visitors.

Forest Grove - Washington County

Home of the Fernhill Wetlands Park, which includes a nature trail that is just over a mile in length and circles Fernhill Lake, the pastoral town of Forest Grove is a great haven for natural and cultural amenities. Also, home of the Forest Grove Farmers Market, open from May through October, providing local flair to a multitude of fresh produce. Several festivities and events can be enjoyed in and around Forest Grove as well, including an annual sidewalk chalk art festival in September and “ForestGroveUnCorked” in August, commemorating the many vineyards and breweries in and around town. Plus, the Verboort Sausage & Kraut Festival, held on the first Saturday of November each year, showcases a decidedly Dutch heritage to the state of Oregon.

Mayer State Park & Rowena Crest Viewpoint

An hour and a half east of downtown Portland and the airport, on the opposite side of the Gifford Pinchot and Mt. Hood national forests, Mayer State Park is home to a wide variety of great natural attractions. Rowena Crest Viewpoint provides a panoramic vista of the majestic Columbia River, a famous 180-degree curve along the scenic Columbia River Highway, and even displays a hidden lake concealed within the tree-lined countryside of western Oregon. Mayer State Park has a variety of opportunities for hiking as well, including the McCall Point Trail, which begins at Rowena Crest, and the Rowena Plateau Trail, which offers excellent photographic opportunities of the Columbia River and the surrounding area.

Eugene - Lane County

The college town of Eugene, slightly less than two hours south of Portland, is home to some great natural attributes. Spencer Butte reaches an elevation of over two thousand feet, providing an excellent view of the town, while Skinner Butte, just under seven hundred feet higher than sea level, honors the founder of the town, Eugene Skinner. Also home to a plethora of cultural attractions, including the Saturday Market, the Owen Rose Garden, and the Museum of Natural & Cultural History, the town of Eugene draws people from all over the world. The Museum of Natural & Cultural History displays a variety of artifacts, such as a pair of 10,000-year-old sandals, while the Saturday Market, first started in the 1970s, offers a unique collection of commerce through over two hundred different vendors.

Explore the Best of Oregon's Scenic Day Trips

The Pacific Northwest offers a wide variety of attributes that will satisfy anyone, encouraging people to return year after year. Whether it is one of the most pristine beaches, one of the most popular state parks, or even one of the most famous farmers markets, this area of the United States is great for adventure with friends or family. From the majestic waterfalls in Columbia River Gorge to the Ecola State Park to the Saturday Market in downtown Eugene, these twelve trip ideas are just some of the best that can be enjoyed less than a three-hour drive from the PDX (the Portland International Airport) in Oregon.