Scenic Day Trips from Portland, Oregon

Looking for scenic and adventurous day trips from Portland, Oregon? Road trip to one of these 10 gorgeous day trips in Oregon and Washington to spend a day away from the city. There are so many amazing hikes, towns, and coastal sites to see nearby!

The Pacific Northwest has some of the most beautiful destinations in the United States. From the Columbia River to Mount Rainier National Park. Anyone who visits or lives in Portland should make it a priority to take each of these trips at least once!

If you have more time, you can also camp or book a hotel room and extend any of these day trips to weekend trips from Portland.

How Far is a Day Trip from Portland?

girl in a car on an Oregon Road Trip day trip from Portland

Everyone will have their own definition of what consists of a day trip from Portland. For the purpose of this, I am considering it a trip that is less than a four-hour drive from the city. However, most of these day trips are less than 2 hours from Portland.

Two hours or less is the perfect amount of time to leave early and still have the whole day to explore your destination. Most of these destinations are fairly well known, so by leaving early you can also beat the crowds and enjoy your trip in solitude.

The Columbia River Gorge

girl looking at Wahclella Falls in Columbia River Gorge near Portland — Wahclella Falls is one of the best hikes near Portland

Distance from Portland: 30 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 33 minutes

You can’t visit Portland without taking a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge. Well, you can but it would be a waste! The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is one of the most beautiful places near Portland and in all of Oregon. The canyon is over 80 miles long, with hundreds of waterfalls, giving you plenty to explore.

Head East from Portland on I-84. You can take this road through all of the canyon or turn off onto the Historic Columbia River Highway for a slower, drive. For a quick day adventure stop by the Vista House, for unparalleled views of the gorge, and then continue onto Multnomah Falls.

Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest waterfall, at 620 feet, and has a bridge going between the tiers of the falls. Grab a coffee or even lunch at the lodge at the base of the Falls or hike up to the top of Multnomah Falls. If Multnomah Falls is too crowded, continue onto one of the other many great waterfall hikes near Portland in the Columbia River Gorge.

Best Hikes in the Columbia River Gorge

girl in white coat and purple backpack on bridge looking at Upper Latourell Falls — Latourell Falls trail has 2 waterfalls in a short loop

Latourell Falls– 3.0 miles, 728 feet, Moderate– Latourell Falls is a short loop hike in the Columbia River Gorge that leads to two impressive Oregon waterfalls.
Beacon Rock Trail– 1.5 miles, 574 feet, Moderate– This is a quick hike on the Washington side of the gorge up to the top of an ancient volcano core. The trail mostly takes place on boardwalks with a railing.
Wahclella Falls– 1.9 miles, 223 feet, Easy– Wahclella Falls is another great hike in the gorge that leads to an impressive waterfall. This goes into a canyon and past several other smaller waterfalls in the winter.

Mount Hood National Forest

mount hood is the perfect day trip from portland — Mount Hood National Forest is one of the scenic day trips from Portland

Distance from Portland: 44 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 53 minutes

Mount Hood stands tall above Portland, visible far and wide on a sunny day. It is hard to see it without wanting to travel even closer and hike around the shadow of the volcano! Take a day trip from Portland to Mount Hood National Forest to get up close with the mountain and see some of the best views in Oregon.

Pass through Sandy in the morning and grab some donuts at Joe’s Donut Shop before continuing to your morning hike (or grab some after for a post-hike snack)! There are many amazing hikes around Mount Hood including the Timberline Trail, which is a multiday hike encircling the mountain, but you can also hike just a portion for a day trip. Below are a few more amazing hikes near Mount Hood that lead to waterfalls and views of the mountain!

Of course, Mount Hood National Forest is not limited to just hiking. Bring a kayak or paddleboard to Trillium Lake and have a fun day in the water with a view of Mount Hood! In the winter ski or snowboard at several spots around the mountain, including the Timberline Lodge. The Timberline Lodge is a historic 1930s lodge that has been featured in movies like The Shining.

Best Hikes in Mount Hood National Forest

view from hike near Portland — Hiking in Mount Hood National Forest leads to amazing views

Tamanawas Falls– 3.4 miles, 580 feet, Moderate– This trail is open year-round to hike or snowshoe to a magnificent waterfall.
Ramona Falls– 7.1 miles, 1066 feet, Moderate– This is another waterfall hike in Mount Hood National Forest. This is a longer hike to one of the best waterfalls in Oregon.
Lolo Pass– 6.7 miles, 1489 feet, Moderate– Drive on Lolo Pass Road to reach this trailhead. If coming from Portland, you will see amazing views even on the drive, as well as the hike.

Hood River

Distance from Portland: 62 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 1 hour 3 minutes

Hood River is only a little more than an hour from Portland, making it the perfect one-day getaway from the city. There are plenty of great hikes around Hood River, as well as wineries, orchards, and breweries to visit!

Begin your visit with a trip to Panorama Point. I found this overlook entirely by accident, and I’m so glad I did! It is only a 10-minute detour from the center of town and well worth the trip. This viewpoint has a magnificent view of Mount Hood and the surrounding countryside, no hiking required!

Afterward, make a trip to one of the dozens of wineries and orchards that make their home in Hood River, due to the ideal fruit-growing climate. The Gorge White House is a popular family-owned spot that serves fresh fruit, wine, and cider out of a historic 1906 house. If beer is more your thing, Hood River has no shortage including pFriem Family Brewers and Ferment Brewing Company.

More Things to Do Near Hood River

apple picking in hood river, oregon — Apple picking is the perfect fall activity in Hood River

Fruit Picking– There are many farms and stands in the summer and fall that have a variety of fruit for sale or to pick straight off the trees. There are many great options, but one of the best is Kiyokawa Family Orchards, with over 150 varieties of fruit.
Lavender Farms– From June to September, visit Hood River Lavender Farms to pick your own lavender, or just wander the fields and gaze at the magnificent view of Hood from the farm.
Rowena Crest– For even more hiking, and great views of the Columbia River Gorge, head to Rowena Crest Viewpoint on the Rowena Plateau. There are several hikes here, and in the spring this area is coated in a super bloom of yellow and purple flowers.

Silver Falls State Park

North Falls State Park view from behind waterfall — North Falls is one of the waterfalls you can walk behind

Distance from Portland: 54 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 1 hour 10 minutes

On a quest for waterfalls? Take a day trip from Portland to Silver Falls State Park. This state park is unlike any other and hosts 10 magnificent waterfalls, all visible from a single trail. If you want to extend your day trip, book a campsite inside the park for a fun weekend camping trip.

The Trail of Ten Falls is a moderate, 9-mile hike that reaches all ten of the waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park. Of course, if you don’t have the time to hike all 9 miles, there are several ways to shorten the hike as well, and still get your fill of waterfalls. In fact, two of the best waterfalls, North and South Falls, are less than half a mile from the trailheads and you can even walk behind them!

It is important to know that dogs are not allowed on the majority of the Trail of Ten Falls, but they are allowed in other areas of the park. Also, there is a $5 fee per car, payable at most trailheads.

Best Hikes in Silver Falls State Park

Lower South Falls viewed from Trail of Ten Falls — Lower South Falls as viewed from the trail

Trail of Ten Falls– 9 miles, 1404 feet, Moderate– The Trail of Ten Falls will take you to all 10 waterfalls in the park.
North Falls- .5 mile, 26 feet, Easy– North Falls is only a quarter of a mile from North Falls Trailhead and you can walk behind it!
South Falls- 1 mile, 193 feet, Easy– South Falls is 0.5 miles from the South Falls Trailhead. There is both a lookout and a trail leading behind the falls.
Upper North Falls- .6 miles, 62 feet, Easy– Upper North Falls is a short side trail from the North Falls Trailhead.

Cannon Beach

Distance from Portland: 79 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 1 hour 26 minutes

If you are visiting Oregon for the first (or hundredth) time, you need to make a trip to the coast! Cannon Beach is one of the closest coastal towns to Portland, about an hour and a half away. It is also one of the prettiest coastal towns in Oregon!

Take a walk on Cannon Beach and gaze at the magnificent Haystack Rock. While your walking, you can also look for and explore the many tide pools that can be found around the base of the Haystack Rock. The beach is wide and miles long so there is a lot of room to hike, have a picnic, or bring your dog!

After having your fill of the beach, head into the town to grab some seafood or check out a brewery. Ecola Seafood Restaurant and Market has some delicious seafood you can eat at the restaurant or take to go. If you are visiting in the right season, and willing to splurge try Oregon’s famous Dungeness Crab!

Read More: Things to Do on the Oregon Coast

Things to Do Near Cannon Beach

view of rocky cliffs with sandy beach and the Pacific Ocean reaching the base — Short Sand Beach is the perfect place to spend a beach day

Ecola State Park– Just North of Cannon Beach is even more scenic coastline. Ecola State Park has 9 more miles of beautiful coast with rocks and sea stacks jutting into the ocean.
Wildlife Watching– The Oregon Coast is a great place for wildlife viewing. Along the coast, you can find Grey Whales, Roosevelt Elk, and Tufted Puffins which like to nest on Haystack Rock.
Oswald West State Park– To the South of Cannon Beach is Oswald West State Park. There are many great hiking trails here, one of which leads to a small cove, Short Sand Beach.

Willamette National Forest

blue pool hike near portland oregon — Blue Pool is one of the most unique hikes in Central Oregon

Distance from Portland: 136 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 2 hours 24 minutes

The Willamette National Forest in Oregon is one of the more underrated destinations near Portland in my opinion. Sitting in the mountains between Portland and Bend the many trails and views in this area often get passed over on the drive to the city.

One of the best trails in this area is Tamolitch Blue Pool from the McKenzie River Trail. This trail leads to the most striking blue pool in Oregon! Nearby is another amazing trail to Koosah and Sahalie Falls on a 3-mile loop. Next to this trail is a campground you can stay at to make a weekend trip, Ice Cap Creek Campground.

There are several other campgrounds in this area including Cold Water Cove and Limberlost Campground. Like many National Forests, there is also dispersed camping inside the National Forest outside of the main campgrounds. If you decide to camp in dispersed areas, obey any signs, leave no trace and be respectful to your fellow campers.

Other Trails in Willamette National Forest

proxy falls in Willamette National Forest — Proxy Falls in Willamette National Forest

Clear Lake– 4.9 miles, 239 feet, Easy– Similar to Blue Pool, Clear Lake has strikingly blue (although not quite as blue) water. However, it is much larger than Blue Pool and closer to the road.
Proxy Falls– 1.6 miles, 147 feet, Easy– This short loop goes by 2 waterfalls, Upper and Lower Proxy Falls.
Salt Creek Falls– 1 mile, 223 feet, Easy– This trail leads to an overlook of the falls, but there is also an accessible viewpoint near the trailhead.

Seattle

Distance from Portland: 175 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 2 hours 40 minutes

If you want to enjoy big-city attractions on your day trip, head to Portland’s bigger sibling city, Seattle. The drive from Portland to Seattle may take anywhere from 2 and a half hours to over 3 hours depending on the traffic and time of day.

Take a stroll down Pike’s Place Market, one of the oldest continuous Farmer’s Markets in the country! Here you will find fresh flowers, seafood, and delicious local eats. If you want to make sure you see the best of the market, tours like Show Me Seattle will take you to both the famous spots and hidden gems. Pike’s Place is also where you will find the famous Gum Wall and the first Starbucks!

Save time and reserve your spot online if you want to ride up the Space Needle! This 1960s Worlds Fair icon is the most iconic landmark in Seattle. Ride to the top of the 520-foot tall tower and see Seattle in a one-of-a-kind way! You can even eat at the restaurant in the lookout tower if it is within your budget.

Things to Do in Seattle

Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, day trip from Portland — Chihuly Garden and Glass is a great attraction near the Space Needle

Sky View Observatory– For a view even better than the Space Needle’s, the Sky View Observatory is on the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center, with views over the whole city.
Gas Works Park– Gas Works Park is a 19-acre park, near Capitol Hill with leftover equipment from a coal plant and sweeping views of Lake Union.
Chihuly Garden and Glass– This museum is only steps from the Space Needle and you can even get tickets for both at the same time. Admire Washington native, Chihuly’s brilliant glass art, and the surrounding gardens

Sand Dunes Recreation Area

hiking on sand dunes in Oregon — The Oregon Sand Dunes Recreational Area is a beautiful destination

Distance from Portland: 175 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 3 hours

The Oregon Sand Dunes Recreational Area is another one of my favorite less visited places in Oregon. Heading to the Oregon Dunes from Portland you can even make a whole mini road trip out of the drive!

On your way to the dunes, check out some of the coast’s roadside stops such as the Devil’s Punchbowl. This first stop is a little South of Lincoln City, 100 miles from Portland. The Devil’s Punchbowl is a natural arch that formed on the coast, where large waves wash into the bowl at high tide.

Next head to Thor’s Well and watch the water be sucked into this hole at high tide, looking like a drain in the Ocean. Also on the way to the sand dunes is Heceta Head Lighthouse. You can get close to the lighthouse, or view it from a roadside viewpoint. Sea lions also frequent this area!

Below see a list of some of the best attractions and things to do once you reach the Oregon Dunes.

What to Do at the Sand Dunes

Hecta Head Lighthouse viewed from the Hecta Head Lighthouse overlook near the Sea Lion Caves — Hecta Head Lighthouse can be viewed on the way to Oregon Sand Dunes

Hike– There are a few designated hikes around the sand dunes, along with miles and miles of sand dunes to walk on. John Dellenback Trail and Three Mile Lake Trail are just two of the trails in the area.
Rent an ATV- Renting an ATV has to be one of the most popular things to do on the dunes. There are several rental companies between North Bend and Florence.
Camp– There are a few campgrounds on and near the sand dunes if you want a weekend getaway. If you have 4WD you can even drive your camper or van onto the sand in many places.

Mount Rainier National Park

Skyline is filled with amazing views of Mount Rainier

Distance from Portland: 156 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 2 hours 59 minutes (to Paradise)

It’s hard to make a list of places to take a day trip in the Pacific Northwest without mentioning the most striking feature in the area. Mount Rainier National Park is my favorite place to take a day trip from Portland. Yes, it is not as close as some of the other destinations on here, but at 3 to 4 hours, it is a close enough drive for the occasional visit.

Mount Rainier National Park is full of amazing hiking trails and scenic viewpoints. However, my number one trail recommendation for one day is Skyline Trail. The Skyline Trail is 6 miles long with around 1800 feet of elevation gain, making it a moderate hike. The trailhead is located in the Paradise section of the park, which is the side closest to Portland.

You will hike through meadows and past waterfalls with the magnificent Mount Rainier visible almost every step of the way. If you do not have the time, or endurance, to hike the entire trail, there are several destinations on the way that make great turnaround points such as Panorama Point, 2 miles from the trailhead. Myrtle Falls Viewpoint is also a popular destination, less than half a mile from the parking lot.

Read More: Fall Day Hikes in Mount Rainier

Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park

view from high lakes loop in Mount Rainier National Park — High Lakes Loop leads to a beautiful overlook of the Cascades

Mount Fremont Lookout– 5.7 miles, 1118 feet, Moderate- This is one of the most famous hikes in Mount Rainier, near the Sunrise area.
High Lakes Loop– 3.2 miles, 557 feet, Moderate- This trail starts near Reflection Lake and continues up to even more alpine lakes and meadows
Naches Peak Loop– 3.3 miles, 636 feet, Moderate- Also near Sunrise, this trail is a little shorter than Skyline but with equally majestic views.

Olympic National Park

Distance from Portland: 231 miles
Drive Time from Portland: 4 hours 5 minutes (to Port Angeles)

Last but not least, is Olympic National Park. This is the farthest destination from Portland on this list at 4 hours or more, and better suited for a 2 or 3-day trip to see the entire Olympic Peninsula (which I have a whole guide for below), but I wanted to mention it anyway for people who don’t mind a long drive!

If you want to see some epic mountain views, head for Hurricane Ridge near Port Angeles! The road in the park winds up and up to over 5,000 feet of elevation and is one of the best overlooks in the country. There are several hikes near here, one of the best being Hurricane Hill (3.4 miles).

For rainforests and ocean views, head to the southern part of the Olympic Peninsula, The Hall of Moss (1.1 miles) is one of the most popular hikes in Olympic National Park through the Hoh Rainforest. From the Hoh Rainforest, drive to Rialto Beach to admire the sea stacks and a rugged Pacific Northwest coastline.

Things to Do Near Olympic National Park

girl hiking in Olympic National Park — Hurricane Hill is a must hike in Olympic National Park

Whale Watching– The Olympic Peninsula is one of the best places in the US to spot whales. Island Adventure Whale Watching is located in Port Angeles, and Puget Sound Express takes whale watching tours from Port Townsend. There are also a variety of other whale watching tours all along the Puget Sound that will take you to see the orcas and other whales found in the Sound.
Mount Storm King– 5.3 miles, 2,076 feet, Difficult– This is a hard trail with over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in under 3-miles. This hike is no joke and rated as difficult. It has a scramble at the top with ropes for assistance, so be wary of this trail if you are afraid of heights. If you do ascend Mount Storm King, you will witness one of the best views on the Olympic Peninsula.
Watersports– If you visit the Olympic National Park in the summer when the air is warm, you can also rent or bring your own kayaks, paddleboards, and more to spend the day exploring the ocean and lakes of the Olympic Peninsula by water.

Tips for Taking a Day Trip from Portland

Leave early! A lot of popular hiking trails fill up early at the trailhead, so leave early to beat the crowds and be able to spend the whole day at your day trip from Portland.
Check if you need a permit. Many trailheads require an America the Beautiful Pass or Northwest Forest Pass. You can buy a day pass online.
Fill up on gas before you go. Some of the more remote destinations do not have gas stations nearby, so it is best to have a full tank before you go if you aren’t familiar with the area.

SAVE IT FOR LATER

Scenic Day Trips from Portland, Oregon

How Far is a Day Trip from Portland?