Here we go through the best day trips from Portland, Oregon. The Pacific Northwest has something for everyone and with these different day trips you can see a plethora of places. Don't miss visiting the mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches all within one day starting from Portland, Oregon as your hub.
Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Day Trips from Portland to the Oregon Coast
If you have an extra day while visiting Portland, and want to do your own Oregon Coast road trip then check out my blog post. Here I detail all the best places to stop and enjoy. As far as beaches go, whoever said "If you've seen one, you've seen them all" has obviously never been to the Pacific Northwest. After living my life along the east coast, I was not prepared for there to be such a major difference. But the Oregon Coast is majestically beautiful, and so different from the east coast. It is an absolute necessity to visit the Oregon Coast on one of your day trips from Portland. Here are some great excursions to see some of the most iconic Oregon Coast locations.
Day Trips from Portland to Colombia River Gorge
Colombia River Gorge is known for being a hub for kitesurfing and wind boarding, among many other adventurous outdoor activities. This beautiful Oregon canyon runs along the border of Oregon and Washington and has plenty to keep you busy, most especially if you like the great outdoors. There is so much to do in this area. Most of the excursions provide transportation to and from Portland to the destination you are visiting, which is wonderful. If you are renting a car and want to keep costs down, you can definitely do your own Oregon road trip. If you want day trips from Portland with free or low cost places to stop that are kid-friendly then be sure to read all the details in my blog post.
Day Trips from Portland to Multnomah Falls and More
If you love waterfalls, then we've got you covered. Multnomah Falls by far is the waterfall you'll hear about the most about and rightfully so, it's a sight to behold. At over 600 feet, it's the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon. With 3 viewing locations, one at the base, one at the lower falls, and one at the upper falls, there are plenty of ways to see the beauty of this waterfall in action. While Multnomah Falls is the most popular of the Oregon waterfalls, there are actually quite a few waterfalls that you can stop to see in the Columbia River Gorge area. Check out these excursions below which include a stop at Multnomah Falls and other waterfalls along the scenic Historic Colombia River Highway.
Day Trips from Portland to Mount Hood
Mount Hood is the highest peak in Oregon. If you are staying in Portland, then on a clear day you may even catch a glimpse of this iconic peak from the city. Many of the tours we've gone through above actually take you up to Mount Hood for a tour of the Timberline Lodge. Timberline Lodge has many historical displays of art within it's walls to the point that there is a self-guided art tour you can take while inside. If you want to spend a more adventurous day at Mound Hood then check out the link for lift information, summer passes, rentals, and more.
Day Trips from Portland to Bend, Oregon
In this small city about 3 hours outside of Portland, Bend, Oregon has no shortage of adventurous things to do and beautiful sights to see. As far as day trips from Portland go, you can realistically do at least one half day tour and still be back in Portland, Oregon. But to truly get to experience all the fun excursions offered in this area, you may want to stay a few days, so you don't feel rushed.
Day Trips from Portland to Eugene, Oregon
At just under 2 hours from Portland, Oregon's second largest city, Eugene has much to recommend itself. With trails, markets, parks, and museums, there is no shortage of things to do for day trips from Portland. Here you can explore the city by scavenger hunt or you can take a more adventurous way and tour the city by bike. Either way, you'll find there's a lot of fun to be had in Eugene, Oregon.
Day Trips from Portland to Tacoma, Washington
On my summer trip to the PNW (Pacific Northwest), these were the places that I got a chance to visit. Tacoma is a very beautiful city situated along the bay and one of the best places in Tacoma that I visited was Point Defiance Park. With tons of free things to do, and some of the most beautiful viewpoints of the city, this is a must visit location. If you have more time, then there are so many more things to do in Tacoma, Washington. Check out my blog post for all the details.
Day Trips from Portland to Seattle, Washington
There are so many things to do in Seattle, Washington, the trouble will be deciding what to fit into just one day. I would say this is one of those places, that to really see the sights, you will need more than one day. But if one day is all you have, then this should be on your list of day trips from Portland. Seattle is also one of the cities that is part of the CityPass family. If you want to explore some of the main city attractions, then use this pass to get discounted prices.
In the Air
You know I love a sky perspective which is probably why I like droning so much. But I tend to not recommend helicopter excursions very often for two reasons. The first is that it can be pretty pricey to begin with and that cost only goes up when you are traveling with kids and family. The second reason is because helicopter excursions scare me since my littles are still really little. If these reasons are not a hinderance for you, then here are some great helicopter excursions. Like seeing the glaciers on an Alaska cruise excursion, these Oregon locations are just insanely gorgeous and to get to see them from above will truly be an experience.
A Special Day Trip for my Gluten Free Folks
Bob’s Red Mill - World Headquarters
13521 SE Pheasant Ct Milwaukie, OR 97222
(800) 349-2173
Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Store & Restaurant
5000 SE International Way Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 607-6455
A must stop for all my gluten-free folks is a visit to Bob’s Red Mill. I love getting to visit places like this that are so interesting and educational. At the time of my visit, they gave mill tours and we even got to see the main man himself, Bob! Covid has put a wrench in things, and they stopped mill tours, but they may offer them again in the future. The mill tours are offered at their world headquarters and then you will need to make another stop to the big red mill to eat at the restaurant and stock up on your gluten free supplies at their store. They are both right down the street from one another.
By going on this mill tour, I learned so much about the food industry and how companies like Bob’s Red Mill are really set apart. Did you know that your traditional white flour is steel milled? You may be thinking what does that even mean? Well, the steel mills used to grind the grain to make flour typically produce a lot of heat in the process. Through the immense heat as well as the multiple grinding steps, it strips the grain of its natural nutrients. Typically, that’s why flour is called “enriched” because they try to add back some of the nutrients lost artificially, but they can’t put all of them back.
Bob’s Red Mill uses the technique of stone grinding, similar to that used in ancient Roman times. By using the stone mill at slower speeds and with cooler temperatures, they are able to keep the natural nutrients of the grain intact for the flours they sell. So, no need for “enriching” here. During the tour, we learned how they sourced the grains from their local farms in the area, so they could ensure the quality, and how they used all the parts of the grain during the process for different things to keep waste to a minimum. I really was so impressed with everything I learned about this company.
Check to see if they are holding mill tours when you come to visit and if you get the chance definitely go on one. If you can’t then be sure to stop into the store and restaurant. At the store, every single Bob’s Red Mill product is present for purchase, so be prepared to stock up. The restaurant offers gluten free fare and accommodates other allergies as well (like vegan options).
Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
