Best Day Trips From Portland to Take This Summer
Whether you are looking to explore the mountainous terrain along Oregon’s coast, the sun-kissed landscape and the vast, empty spaces of central Oregon, or the Willamette Valley, surrounding Portland are many day-trip options. While all the gloom and doom of Portland’s winters make it difficult to venture out, nature sets pleasant conditions for adventure when summer eventually comes knocking. However, the best part of being in Portland is that nature — in its most pristine — is just a few minutes away.
Columbia River Waterfalls
If you want to escape the rat race for a while, for the stillness and comfort of nature, Waterfall Alley should top your to-do list. Prepare to marvel at almost vertical cliffs, striped with cascades of sparkling waterfalls, and all in an environment whose sylvan charm will leave you completely blown away. While there are attractions you will want to glue your eyes to for days, including the wildflowers and the greenery, many first-time visitors relish exploring the numerous spectacular waterfalls in this area. Multnomah Falls, for instance, conveniently located right on 1-84, is almost criminal to miss. While the hike to Multnomah Falls can set fire to your legs, the views are awesome, and the falls ethereal. You will want to drive on the Historic Columbia River Highway, reputed to be the first paved highway in the Pacific Northwest.
Sauvie Island
Tucked away about 40 minutes from Portland, Sauvie Island is another Portland day trip option worth experiencing. For starters, Sauvie Island is the largest island on the Columbia River. A day trip that involves setting foot on a pristine island, is an adventure no one should let pass. Besides enjoying the water, a thrill comes with wandering through the woods, soaking in the sun, and inhaling awesome 360-degree views. As a matter of policy, any land on Sauvie Island is a wildlife-protected area, unless it is dedicated to farming. This means you will have more nature to explore.
Cannon Beach
The rugged coastline of America’s Pacific Northwest features a landscape that is among the grandest, the most majestic, and the most spectacular. While it is a little farther from Portland, you only need about one hour and thirty minutes to pull up at Canon Beach. To reach Canon Beach from Portland, take US-26 East until it connects to US 101, around an 80-mile drive. Boasting miles of white, sparkling sand, first-time visitors enjoy strolling on this beach, catching a glimpse of the sunset, and winding down. Other attractions include the 72-meter Haystack Rock and the waterfalls that tumble to the beach. And if sated with this blue-space gem, you may still enjoy exploring the eclectic art galleries and the many boutiques that line Canon Beach’s downtown area.
Tillamook
If your idea of a day trip involves wandering through a woody forest, treasure-hunting in tide pools, paddling on the waters of a peaceful river, or strolling through the uncrowded streets of a charming, small town, then you will want to consider Tillamook. Boasting a population of approximately 5,300 residents, this Oregon charmer will enchant first-time visitors with its acres of untamed forests, miles of sandy beaches, and pristine rivers. While Tillamook presents an impressive outdoor scene, including the chance to hike Munson Creek Falls, the town is best known for its cheese industry with Tillamook Creamery often acting as the star-of-the-show. After savoring the flavors of ice cream cones, or other delicacies at the Tillamook Creamery, you may want to check out Tillamook Air Museum to sample the impressive range of fighter planes on display. Only 70 miles west of Portland and resting in Tillamook Bay, Tillamook is a great option for the day or weekend.
Vista House at Crown Point
While you can include Vista House at Crown Point in your trip to Waterfall Alley, a better option is to make a stand-alone dash to maximize the experience. Fortunately, since Vista House is only 25 miles from Portland, it is a short 30-min drive. Considered among the most scenic points on the Historic Columbia River, Vista House was built in 1917. To history buffs, setting foot in a structure that boasts such incredible history will be worth every dime. First-time visitors will enjoy learning about the building’s gorgeous architecture, fascinating facts, and factoids concerning the Historic Columbia River Highway, a dash of local history — as well as the ecology of the area. The views from this spot are such as you cannot exchange the world for it.
Hood River
Home to about 8,400 residents, Hood River is another Oregon charmer that will leave a first-time visitor hopelessly enamored. Located where the Hood River and Columbia Rivers meet — right in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge — and set in the backdrop of snow-capped Mt Hood, Hood River has all the natural elements that can make any place beautiful. You will enjoy strolling through what has often been called America’s best little beer town — to sample a beer scene that does not align with the town’s size. If in doubt, set your Google Maps to Full Sail Brewing Company and enjoy ridiculously tasty beer and several other mouthwatering delicacies. Then again, Hood River boasts several inviting restaurants known throughout the state for their fresh, farm-to-table offerings.
Carlton
Many consider this town as Oregon's Wine Country Capital. Wine countries often feature some of the most heart-melting views one will ever see, and fortunately, Carlton does not buck the trend. Playing host to a population of only about 2,200, Carlton, on the flip side, boasts what could be the highest tasting rooms per capita in the United States. Spending a day exploring downtown with about 22 tasting rooms will offer a feast to the eyes — as it will to the tongue. Camera in hand, you can also click an afternoon away, gasping at the picturesque vine-covered hills that are nothing less than heart-melting. That should not surprise you, however. Carlton forms part of the world-renown Yamhill-Carlton American Viticultural Area.
St. Helens
The prospect of wandering through parks, and strolling through walking trails along the St. Helens riverfront — should make one turn off the computer, fill the car tank, and turn the windshield in the direction of St. Helens. Fortunately, St. Helens is only about 28 miles from Portland. This means you will only need about 38 minutes to announce your arrival. Outdoor lovers will enjoy the adventure opportunities in a town located at the confluence — not of two rivers — but four rivers. St. Helens also features awesome views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River. Aside from sampling the shopping landscape of the town’s riverfront district, a first-time visitor may want to steel himself and explore St. Helen’s paranormal attractions — concentrated in the historic Olde Town area.
McMinnville
Located in Oregon wine country, approximately an hour southwest of Portland is a cute, vibrant town that can make for a great Portland summer day trip. McMinnville plays host to about 35,100 residents — drawn by the allure of small-town charm — hard to find anywhere else in the state. If you are making a day trip, you may not get to stay at the Atticus Hotel, located just off Main Street, which many consider among the best in the state. Still, options abound. A good starting point could be exploring the culinary landscape, especially the wineries in and around McMinnville. Besides wine, Grain Station Brew Works offers many local and signature beers and some delectable delicacies.
Framed by breathtaking mountaintops and known for its expansive parks and forests, there is no doubt that Portland is chockful of outdoor attractions. Oregon’s largest city is also hands-down stunning, partly because of its huge expanses of green space. But dashing out for a few hours to be in a slightly different environment can often be therapeutic. If you are tempted to try this in summer, you may want to consider options such as Sauvie Island, Cannon Beach, and Hood River.
