Portland → Cannon Beach
A little coast time
Sea stacks, a sandy stroll, lunch in town, and an optional Ecola viewpoint. A simple escape with room to linger.
Best: All year; best April–September
$4 USD
Scenic drive & harvest · Oregon
Portland to Hood River day trip
Portland to Hood River
A Columbia River Gorge drive with Bonneville Fish Hatchery, Cascade Locks, Hood River waterfront and downtown lunch, plus one harvest-season orchard stop near Parkdale.
- Time
- 9–10 hour day trip
- Driving
- About 170–190 miles; 3½–4½ hours driving
- Best time
- Mid-September to October
- Updated
$4 USD
One-time purchase. You own your guide forever and can return for the latest update any time.
Suggested times, not bookings
Your day at a glance
- 8:00 amLeave Portland
- 9:15 amBonneville Fish Hatchery
- 10:15 amCascade Locks Marine Park
- 11:00 amDrive to Hood River & waterfront walk
- 12:15 pmDowntown Hood River & lunch
- 1:45–2:20 pmDrive OR 35 to Draper Girls
- 3:30–4:00 pmReturn via Hood River & I-84
Highlights
Worth the trip
- Bonneville Hatchery & Cascade Locks
- Hood River waterfront & downtown
- Harvest-season orchard stop near Parkdale
What’s in the guide
Matching HTML and PDF guides, detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links, weather alternatives and phone instructions. See an example guide →
Plan for the conditions
Expected seasonal weather
September is often the drier, milder end of the window, with warm afternoons; through October, cool mornings, rain, fog and brighter breaks become more common. The Gorge funnels strong wind, so exposed riverfront areas can be much windier and colder than downtown, and higher valley stops near Parkdale can feel colder again. Wet pavement, leaves and changing visibility matter on this drive, and mountain views depend on cloud cover. Bring a rain shell, a warm layer and shoes with grip, plus a dry spare layer in the car. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecasts, warnings and road conditions before leaving.
Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.
Another good day
More Pacific Northwest day trips
Tacoma → Mount Rainier
A day above the everyday
Forest trails, waterfall viewpoints, and the glaciers above Paradise. Short walks, a clear route, and a weather backup.
Best: Mid-July to early October
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Portland → Tillamook → Cannon Beach → Astoria
The big north coast day
Cheese and ice cream, iconic sea stacks, and Columbia River views. Three coastal favorites in one ambitious day.
Best: June–September
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Portland → Mount Hood
A mountain day within reach
A lakeside view, a village lunch, and historic Timberline Lodge on an out-and-back from Portland on US 26, with flexible walks and a lower-elevation backup for unsettled mountain weather.
Best: July to early October
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Halloween in Portland · Family day or adult evening
A little spooky. A lot of Portland.
Halloween-season choices in Portland, with two separate plans: a family day built around the Oregon Zoo's Howloween weekends, and an adult evening in Sellwood ending at Scaregrounds at Oaks Park. Includes the Davis Graveyard yard display, costume rules, rain backups and phone routes.
Best: October; best October 15–31
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Portland → Columbia River Gorge
A day worth falling for
Four waterfall stops, forest walks and Gorge scenery. A flexible day with parking guidance, seasonal weather advice and shorter options.
Best: All year; best April–May and October–November
$4 USD
Seattle → Puget Sound shores
A wilder side of Seattle
Forest paths, Puget Sound views and wildlife watching. A shore-based Seattle day plus a separate booked Edmonds whale-trip option; sightings are never guaranteed.
Best: All year; best June–October
$4 USD
Seattle → Pike Place & waterfront → Seattle Center
Seattle City Walking
A Seattle walking day through Pike Place Market, the rebuilt waterfront, Olympic Sculpture Park and Seattle Center, with an optional monorail return.
Best: All year; best June–September
$4 USD
Seattle → Bainbridge Island → Seattle
Puget Sound: A Bainbridge Day
Walk onto the Bainbridge ferry for Puget Sound views, Winslow cafés, Eagle Harbor and a free art museum. No car needed on the island.
Best: All year; best May–September
$4 USD
Seattle → Anacortes → optional Deception Pass
Seattle to Anacortes
A drive-to-island day with Washington Park shoreline views, downtown lunch and Cap Sante, plus an optional Deception Pass detour. Includes a shorter Anacortes-only version.
Best: All year; best May–September
$4 USD
From Forks → Hoh Rain Forest → optional Second Beach
Hoh Rain Forest & Olympic Coast
Two short rainforest loops with time to notice the moss, followed by an optional Second Beach walk. Includes Ruby Beach, Kalaloch and Rialto alternatives, with guidance on bridge and road closures.
Best: Late May to mid-October
$4 USD
Seattle → Stevens Canyon Road → Paradise → Reflection Lakes → Skyline Trail
Mount Rainier: Stevens Canyon & the Skyline Trail
Cross the park the long way: Stevens Canyon Road from the east, Myrtle Falls, a picnic at Reflection Lakes, then the Skyline Trail past Glacier Vista and Panorama Point. Includes a shorter turnaround and a bad-weather plan.
Best: Late July to late September
$4 USD