Coastal Oregon Road Trip Itinerary: 8 to 10 Day Loop From Portland
This coastal Oregon road trip dips into northern California and includes two stunning national parks.
An Oregon coast road trip that wraps in two national parks, a couple of days in northern California, and time for waterfalls outside of Portland? Yes, please!
We just got back from an incredible Oregon road trip that I somehow planned and booked a week before we left. The trip was spectacular – dramatic coastal views, soaring redwood trees, a volcanic crater lake so blue it seems unnatural. You absolutely must do this road trip, and you should definitely book it WAY further in advance than I did.
Which is where this guide comes in. I’ve laid out all the details of our fast-paced Oregon road trip itinerary so that you can use it to design your own adventure. The plan below is for eight days, perfect for using only a week of vacation. But, if you have more time, I’d definitely recommend adding two or three days to spend longer along the coast or in the Bend area. I listed a few extra activities we didn’t have time for that you can keep on your radar.
Oregon is stunning and there is so much to do. We’ve actually spent the past two summers there and are talking about making it an annual thing since there are so many places to explore.
I decided that the theme of this trip would be “seas, trees, cheese and the 90s,” which you’ll pick up on as you browse the stops.
Keep reading for a coastal Oregon road trip you’ll want to repeat every summer!
Oregon Coast Road Trip Map
This map has all the stops we made and a few extra ideas for a coastal Oregon road trip loop. You can save it to make a copy and add your own trip details as you plan!
Coastal Oregon Road Trip Itinerary to California
Here’s a quick overview of the Oregon coast road trip route we drove on a summer trip. We did a loop from Portland since we were flying in and renting a car. This was also the perfect way to explore the coast in one direction and some inland spots coming back. Read on for the details and stops in each location.
Day 1: Portland to Cannon Beach and Oceanside
Day 2: Oregon coast to Northern California
Day 3-4: Redwood National and State Parks
Day 5: Crater Lake National Park
Day 6: Bend and Mount Hood
Day 7-8: Portland and Columbia River Gorge
Day 1: Portland to Cannon Beach/Oceanside
Depending on when you arrive in Portland, you may have time for all of these stops, or not. We actually visited Cannon Beach on a previous trip, so on this Oregon road trip, we headed straight for Tillamook and then ended the day in Oceanside. But, if you haven’t been to Cannon Beach before, it’s gorgeous even for a quick stop to see Haystack Rock.
Drive time: 2-3 hours
Cannon Beach
You’ve probably seen photos of Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach before, even if you didn’t know what it was. This small, beachfront town has a wide patch of sand and a couple little hubs of shops and restaurants in walkable zones.
Our favorite part, though, was the surprise visit from the local herd of elk, who wander through the town munching on plants in house gardens and even wander onto the beach. I’ve seen plenty of elk before, but seeing them in this setting was unexpected and so fun.
Tillamook Creamery
Cheese fans have to make a stop at the Tillamook Creamery while driving the Oregon coast. It’s in the town of Tillamook and is a popular destination. We were surprised at how large it was and how many people were there.
Inside the visitor building, you can watch cheese being cut and packaged, sample a few different slices, snap photos with the Tillamook van, and browse the food and gift shop. This is a great spot to grab dinner or dessert, since there is an ice cream counter and food court with cheese burgers, grilled cheeses, mac and cheese, and more. We tried a grilled cheese (super good) and veggie burger (a little disappointing), but the mac bowl was unfortunately sold out later in the day. The ice cream flights looked really good but the lines were long, and I deeply regret that we skipped it.
Cape Mears State Scenic Viewpoint
This state park has a beautiful lighthouse, a cool Octopus Tree, trails, and incredible views on the coast. We ended up too short on time to go here, but it’s worth checking out while you’re nearby.
Oceanside and Tunnel Beach
We ended our first day at Tunnel Beach in Oceanside. If you park at the Oceanside Beach State Park Wayside and walk to the right along the beach, you can pass through a sketchy looking doorway that leads to a tunnel through the rock. On the other side is Tunnel Beach, a quiet and remote stretch of sand. When we went around sunset, both beaches were pretty quiet and people were setting up bonfires on Oceanside Beach.
Stay in Oceanside Beach, Netarts, or Tillamook
Cannon Beach hotels put you close to the beautiful Haystack Rock, but you’ll be farther north than the Oceanside/Netarts/Tillamook area, so this works better if you have an extra couple of days for Cannon Beach specifically.
Days 2: Drive the Oregon Coast to California
If you have enough time, I recommend stretching this drive into two days or more. Unfortunately, we had to squeeze it into one, but it was worth the fast pace for the incredible views. The drive down the Oregon coast has so many different state parks, lighthouses, scenic lookouts, quiet beaches, and small towns. You could honestly spend a week just on this drive if you wanted to do some hiking or just chill on the beach.
A note on park fees: A lot of the stops along the coast are in state parks where you need to pay a usage or parking fee. You only need to pay this once per day to access all the Oregon State Parks, so save your receipt. Yaquina Head Lighthouse is a Bureau of Land Management property, which requires a different fee at the entry station. If you have an annual America the Beautiful pass through the National Park Service, you can use it at Yaquina Head.
Drive time: 6-7 hours
Cape Lookout Viewpoint
The Cape Lookout State Park viewpoint was our first planned stop of the day, but it was actually super foggy and we couldn’t see anything. Photos from here look stunning though, and you can actually hike a trail all the way out to the tip of the cape if you have time. Check the park status before you plan this, though – it’s closing in August 2026 for park improvements.
Lincoln City Outlets
We made an unplanned stop at the Lincoln City Outlets when we saw the Columbia store there. This was actually a super fun stop, because the mall felt super nostalgic with a Toys-R-Us, arcade, and other 90s coded shops. The Columbia store was a big win and we grabbed a few things for the rest of the trip.
Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint
We got out to stretch our legs at the Rocky Creek viewpoint, where there is a short trail to the Whale Cove vista point. We could see some harbor seals resting in the distance, which was pretty cool. There are restrooms here if you need them.
Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area
Devils Punchbowl is another pretty quick stop to see a cool arch in the water where the ocean rushes in violently. At low tide, it’s a little less dramatic. There are restrooms and a couple of little cafes across from the street from the state park, so you could grab lunch or a coffee here.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Yaquina Head Lighthouse was one of our longer stops of the day, since we popped into the visitor center, ate a picnic, and checked out the lighthouse. A walking trail of about half a mile each way runs from the visitor center to the lighthouse, or you can park right by the lighthouse if there are spots. The lighthouse is beautiful, but we also loved the wildlife watching on the coast from here – we saw tons of birds hanging out on the rocks and a few seals on the beach below.
Cape Perpetua Lookout
There are so many lookouts on this drive that they start to blend together after a while. This is a good one to stop at because it takes you up a side road to a higher elevation for a different and wider view of the coastline and Highway 101 below.
Thor's Well
Thor’s Well was one of my favorite stops with some really dramatic coastal scenery. From the parking area, you walk a short loop on the Captain Cook Trail with waves crashing onto black rocks below. There are a few different inlets, holes, and arches where the water splashes around or bubbles up in interesting ways. Some people were walking down on the rocks, but it’s actually pretty dangerous to be near the thrashing ocean and we saw a couple get blasted by a wave while we were there.
Heceta Head Lighthouse, Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, and Cape Blanco Lighthouse
I had all of these lighthouses marked for a stop, but unfortunately we were running short on time and had to skip them. Heceta Head and Cape Blanco are on the ocean and offers tours and Umpqua is a river lighthouse with a museum and gift shop.
Town of Bandon
Bandon is a cute little town on the coast that I earmarked for a coffee stop. We ended up getting there a little too late and grabbed some fudge from the Big Wheel General Store instead. Depending on what time of day you end up here, you might want to eat at one of the seafood shacks at the pier (they all had pretty good reviews).
There’s also a coast walk, the Bandon South Jetty Park, and a view of the Coquille River Lighthouse across the water.
Kissing Rock
This is a quick photo stop right off the road with massive rock features. It good for a quick get out of the car and stretch stop!
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
This coastal park runs for 12 miles of Highway 101 in south Oregon between Gold Beach and Brookings. There are tons of viewpoints and beaches you can stop at, but we mostly just cruised along enjoying the views.
If you want to make some stops, you can check out Arch Rock State Park, Secret Beach, Natural Bridge, Whaleshead Viewpoint or Beach, House Rock Viewpoint, and Cape Ferrelo.
Dinner in Brookings
We stopped for dinner in Brookings, since we weren’t sure we would make it all the way to our hotel in Crescent City before restaurants were closing for the day. Brookings is just 6 miles north of the California border, so you’ll leave Oregon shortly after this.
We ate at Oxenfrē Public House, which has a sort of upscale gastropub menu but still felt like a locals spot. I finally got to have a mac and cheese bowl that I had been craving since our Tillamook stop (they were out) and it was pretty delicious.
Stay in Crescent City
Day 3: Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood is one of those national parks that you actually can see in about a day, since the tree trails can start to feel a little monotonous after a while. There is plenty to do in the area to fill a few days if you have more time, but we set aside about a day and half to explore different areas of the park.
Redwood National and State Parks is unique in the way it’s co-managed by both NPS and state park agencies. There are actually three different state parks and the national park in this location, but you wouldn’t really know which one you’re in unless you look for the nearest visitor center.
Drive time: 2-3 hours (less if you stay further south in Klamath)
Drive Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
From Crescent City, start the day with a drive down Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. The massive redwood trees loom over this road, so you feel really close to nature. There are a few different trailheads and scenic spots you can stop at along the way, but the drive itself only takes about 20 minutes.
Corkscrew Tree
This is just a quick walk from a parking area to see a huge twisty tree. It’s kind of cool but not a must-do if you want more time for hiking.
Big Tree Wayside and Circle Trail
The Big Tree Wayside is probably the easiest access for a lot of people to see some large trees up close. There’s an example tree (“Big Tree”) with signs and a photo spot, plus a ranger on hand at times to answer questions. From there, you can walk the short Circle Trail for a family-friendly stroll, or wander further off on the Cathedral Trees Trail.
There are actually a lot of trails that branch off from here, so it’s helpful to have an idea of where you want to go.
Cathedral Trees Trail to Prairie Creek Trail
A moderate, 3-mile loop option in this area is the Cathedral Trees Trail to Prairie Creek Trail. You can start this from the Big Tree Wayside or take it from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center to Reach the Big Tree Wayside. We covered a section of the Cathedral Trees Trail out and back from the Big Tree Wayside to experience some of the giants, and it was definitely more immersive than just walking the Circle Trail.
Prairie Creek Visitor Center
Since there isn’t an entrance station to the park, make a stop at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center to grab a map. You can also get a park stamp here as well as souvenirs from the gift shop. The Revelation Loop Trail is a short (0.3 mile) hike you can take from here to see some trees.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail
The Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail is an easy, 1.5-mile lollypop hike in a significant part of the park. When the national park was established in 1968, logging was taking place right up to the boundary just outside this grove. Today, you can see a blend of second growth and old growth redwoods as you wander into the trees.
Parking here is pretty tight, so if you’re arriving midday, you may need to wait for a spot.
Picnic Lunch at Redwood Creek Beach County Park
We brought a picnic lunch for our day in the park, but if you keep heading down Highway 101 toward the coast, you can stop at Mojo Pizza in the teeny town of Orick. There’s also a little coffee shop here (it’s closed some week days so check the schedule).
The Redwood Creek Picnic Area on the beach is the perfect spot to lunch. The beachfront here is pretty quiet and the water is calm enough to stick your toes.
Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center
This is the biggest visitor center for the parks and has a park film, ranger programs, and beach access. There’s also a different park stamp at each of the Redwood visitor centers, so if you like to collect them all, you’ll want to pop in here.
Fern Canyon
Fern Canyon is one of the top destinations in Redwood National and State Parks, but it takes some planning and a drive down a rough road to reach it. The destination is a gorge with walls completely covered in green ferns. The hike is only about a mile long, but a creek runs through it and you’ll encounter wet spots and log jams that may end in a wet feet situation.
A permit is required to access this area from May 15 to September 15 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The permits are released six months in advance and the day before at 9 a.m., and they go quickly. I only planned our trip about a week out, so I tried to get the day before permit, but they were all gone before 9:30 a.m.
If you don’t have a permit, you can pass through the station that checks them before 9 a.m., or wait until after 5 p.m., which is fine in summer when you still have a few hours of daylight. The road to the trailhead is unpaved and rough, with pot holes and stream crossings. I’ve heard they can be 3-4 inches deep, but when we went, they were only 1-2 inches, according to a ranger.
Elk Prairie
If you’re still in the park toward the end of the day, you may spot elk grazing in Elk Prairie, which is at the beginning of the road to Fern Canyon. We weren’t there at the right time, but we did see them in a field and along a road near where we stayed in Crescent City, so there are multiple option for wildlife watching.
Coastal Drive to High Bluff Overlook
We still had daylight on the way back to Crescent City, so we took the Coastal Drive to High Bluff Overlook near Klamath. This is a gorgeous spot for sunset or just to soak up the coastline views.
Day 4: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
This day starts in Crescent City and ends at your lodging for Crater Lake (Fort Klamath for us). We spend the first half of the day in the Jedediah Smith section of Redwood National and State Parks before starting the drive toward Crater Lake.
Drive time: 5 hours
Sea Lion Resting Area at Crescent City Harbor
We loved stopping to watch the sea lions hanging out at the Crescent City Harbor. We actually caught them in the evening, but you could do this before heading out of town for the day, too. There was lots to see here, with sea lions and seals resting on some floating platforms not far from shore, birds circling and fishing, and squirrels scampering around the docks.
Enderts Beach Road to Crescent Beach Overlook
This overlook near Crescent City has a stunning view of dramatic cliffs to one side and a sandy beach to the other. Go in the morning or evening for the best lighting and a chance to spot elk grazing along Enderts Beach Road on the way. We saw a ton!
Howland Hill Road
From Crescent City, head into Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park on the 6-mile Howland Hill Road to get super close to the giant trees. Even though it’s unpaved and very narrow in spots, this was my favorite drive in the park. You drive literally right up on the trees, fully immersed in the setting. There are a few trailheads along the way, and you can tackle all of them or pick a couple, depending on how much time you have.
Boy Scout Tree Trail, Grove of Titans, or Stout Grove
This trio of trails lines Howland Hill Road, starting with Boy Scout Tree Trail on the south end and finishing with Stout Grove on the north end.
Boy Scout Tree Trail is an out and back, and many people hike a 5.5-mile route to Fern Falls that’s rated moderate with just over 1,000-foot elevation gain. We skipped this one for time sake and instead hiked the stunning Grove of Titans, 1.8-mile out-and-back that’s rated easy. This ended up being my favorite hike in the park – the trees are massive and you can see them from a few different perspectives along the short route. The shortest and easiest walk is in Stout Grove, which makes a 0.6 mile loop.
Hiouchi Visitor Center and Jedediah Smith Visitor Center
If you want to collect more park stamps or grab any last-minute souvenirs, these two visitor centers are super close to each other near the northern terminus of Howland Hill Road. We just popped in the Hiouchi one before starting our drive.
Lunch at Historic Hiouchi Cafe
This little diner near the Jedediah Smith Visitor Center dates to the 1930s and is the perfect spot to grab lunch before hitting the road for a long drive. I had a really good veggie burger, but they also had a tempting breakfast menu. Don’t forget to pose with the sasquatch outside!
Drive toward Crater Lake
It’s time to take a road trip back into Oregon toward Crater Lake National Park! This drive takes roughly four hours, depending on where your overnight stop is. The drive on Route 199 from California to Oregon is so scenic, following the Smith River for a while with dramatic views of the rocks and blue water far below. We found a couple of spots to pull over for pictures early in the drive.
After crossing into Oregon, you’ll finally hit a city at Grants Pass and Medford shortly after. We fueled up at the Costco in Medford, since we were heading to the very remote Fort Klamath to stay the night outside of Crater Lake National Park. After passing Medford, it gets very isolated, so I’d recommend grabbing food, hitting a store, and whatever else you need to do before you lose services (and phone service).
Where to Stay Near Crater Lake
I honestly had a hard time figuring out the best place to stay near Crater Lake, since most towns are pretty far outside the park. I found a small and no-frills spot called Jo’s Motel in Fort Klamath that worked well for our route and we ended up loving it. There’s no phone service or WIFI, but they have an extensive DVD library which is super nostalgic. If you can get a reservation at the Crater Lake Lodge or Mazama Village Campground & Cabins in the national park, you’ll definitely be a lot closer for your time in the park, but these fill up months in advance.
Day 5: Crater Lake National Park
While I usually advise at least a couple of days in national parks, Crater Lake actually is one that you can easily see in a day or less. Of course, you could spend more time hiking all the hikes along the rim and up the peaks, but the main attraction is the gorgeous lake that is easily viewable from lookouts along the Rim Road. I earmarked a full day for the park, but we ended up leaving by mid-afternoon to drive on to Bend.
Drive time: 2-3 hours
Steel Information Center
We entered Crater Lake National Park from the south, so the Steel Information Center was an obvious first stop to grab a map and passport stamp and browse the gift shop. This isn’t a must-do if it’s out of the way, since the visitor center on the rim has more amenities and a larger shop.
There’s a very short walk here called the Castle Crest Wildflower Trail that you can stroll for some nature, but we skipped it to head to the rim.
Walk Discovery Point Trail
Even if you’ve seen a million pictures of it like I have, Crater Lake will take your breath away at your first in-person glimpse. It’s impossibly blue, absolutely massive, and just unlike any other lake I’ve seen before.
The Discovery Point Trail from the Rim Visitor Center is the perfect introduction with great views. It runs for about a mile one way on a flat path along the rim, so you can walk as much of it as you wish. We strolled about half a mile before turning around since we knew we’d get more perspectives from different overlooks along the loop drive (details below). Where this trail ends, the longer Rim Trail continues to follow West Rim Drive for a while.
Rim Visitor Center and Cafe
Since there is a cafe and gift shop at the Rim Visitor Center complex, we decided to grab lunch and souvenirs here before hitting the scenic drive. The food wasn’t exactly great, but it was fine and we were tired of peanut butter sandwiches. There’s also a spot to get your national park passport stamped in the visitor center building.
Hike Watchman Peak or Mount Scott
This moderately difficult hike is one of the easiest options for an elevated 360-degree view of the lake and surrounding landscapes. It’s 1.6 miles round trip and climbs 420 feet to a fire lookout. You technically can’t see the entire lake from the top, but I felt like I could. Even the widest angle on my phone camera couldn’t fit it all in, though!
For a longer and more challenging hike where you CAN see the entire lake, try the Mount Scott Trail. It runs to the top of the park’s highest peak (8,929 feet) with about 1,250 feet of elevation gain on a 4.4-mile, round-trip route.
Overlooks on Rim Drive
Crater Lake National Park is one of the most accessible parks to visit if you don’t like to hike, thanks to the Rim Drive full of overlooks. The 33-mile loop offers 30 different lookouts and a handful of picnic areas. If you don’t want to drive it, the Crater Lake Trolley from the visitor center takes you on a two-hour tour with multiple stops.
We drove ourselves, pulling over at several stops, including Merriam Point, the Cloudcap Overlook, and the Phantom Ship Overlook. Normally, you can make a whole loop and end back at the visitor center, but a current construction closure means you have to double back for now.
Cleetwood Cove Trail and Boat Rides
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is worth mentioning even though we weren’t able to do it. It’s actually closed for a few years, which is significant, since it’s the only way to reach the shore of the lake.
The trail is a steep, 1.1 mile drop down 700 feet to the boulders on the lakeshore. There’s no beach, but you can dip into the very chilly water for a swim or hop on a boat tour. Again, this is closed for a couple of years, so it’s best to check the status on the official National Park Service website before planning your trip.
Even without being able to access the shore while the Cleetwood Cove trail is closed, I think it’s still worth visiting Crater Lake for the views from above.
Drive to Bend
After wrapping up Crater Lake hiking and sightseeing in the mid-afternoon, we hit the road to Bend, which is about an hour and half north of the park. The landscape between the two is volcanic, and there are some stops you can make if you have enough time.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Newberry National Volcanic Monument is worth a stop between Crater Lake and Bend, but be aware that you won’t get to see much if you get there later in the day, since visitor facilities close by about 5 p.m. (this varies by season).
The site is part of Deschutes National Forest and has a few different areas to recreate, but the Lava Lands Visitor Center is great if you’re short on time. From there, you can access the summit of Lava Butte, a 500-foot-high cinder cone with incredible views. During the off-season, you can drive to the top with a permit, but in the summer months, you have to either take the shuttle, hike, or bike. The shuttle runs until about 4:30 p.m.
We were there too late for Lava Butte, so we walked the Trail of the Molten Land instead. The 1.2-mile paved interpretive trail winds through the volcanic landscape. We saw tons of golden-mantled ground squirrels (which we kept thinking were chipmunks) scurrying around the rocks.
Where to Stay in Bend
Day 6: Bend
Bend is one of those places we want to come back to to spend more time, but on a fast-paced road trip, half a day there was about all we could swing. It was worth it, though, for a nostalgic visit to the Last Blockbuster and some incredible meals from food carts. If you have more time in your itinerary, I’d recommend spending a couple of nights here to explore further. The Old Mill District, Pilot Butte, and Tumalo Falls are all on my list for next time.
Drive time: 3.5 hours
Breakfast at a Food Cart
We had breakfast at Burrito Sunrise, a food cart in the parking lot of the Campfire Hotel. The burritos were absolutely delicious, so it’s worth heading over here even if you aren’t staying at the Campfire. Even the meatless one was stuffed and flavorful, which I appreciate.
Visit the Last Blockbuster
The Bend Blockbuster has been on my radar since I learned about it in a documentary a few years ago. It’s the last one around and just as nostalgic as you’d hope. It smells like a Blockbuster. It mostly looks like a Blockbuster (with a bit of pop culture museum vibes mixed in). It still has movie rentals and Blockbuster cards. They survive on nostalgia and merch, I’m sure, so of course I helped out by grabbing lots of souvenirs to appease my inner 90s kid. I even bought a used and empty original movie rental case for one of my childhood favorites, “Anastasia.”
Explore Downtown Bend
Downtown Bend is super cute and a good size – walkable and compact but with plenty of shops and things to see. We popped into a couple of stores and then headed to Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe to browse the shelves and grab a coffee.
Walk the Riverfront at Mirror Pond
The river through downtown Bend is really pretty and just a block from the shops. You can walk along the water at Drake Park to see Mirror Pond, where a wooden bridge stretches over the reflective water. It’s very pretty and a peaceful place for a stroll.
Drive to Portland via Mount Hood National Forest
There are a couple of ways to get to Portland from Bend, but I recommend the drive on U.S. Route 97 and 26 to pass right by Mount Hood. The views from the car are breathtaking, but you could spend any extra time in this area hiking as well. Mount Hood National Forest covers 1.1 million acres full of wilderness, lakes, streams, sno-parks, ski resorts, and more.
Where to Stay in Portland
My absolute favorite Portland hotel is the 1927 Heathman Hotel, primarily for the incredible library on the first floor that’s filled with books signed by the authors. The whole place is stunning and it’s right next to Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and the Portland marquee. On my latest trip, I stayed at the Hi-Lo Hotel, which has spacious rooms and a bright and fun lobby with a swing chair. It’s right next to a couple of food cart parks and typically a lower price than the Heathman.
Day 7: Portland
I’ve crunched all of my favorite Portland activities for first-timers into one super busy day on a fast-paced road trip, which is what we did on our second visit. I recommend at least two days in the city, though, plus an extra for day tripping in the Columbia River Gorge.
If you have a second day, you can either explore downtown at a more relaxed pace, add in a couple of museums, or spend more time outdoors in one of the parks outside the city.
Drive time: < 1 hour
Breakfast from Voodoo Donut
OK, so this is super touristy and I’m sure there are other amazing doughnut shops in Portland not yet on my radar, but you have to try the downtown Voodoo Donut once on your first trip to the city. It’s iconic, the flavors are wild and fun, and the street it’s on is a whole vibe that you must check out.
It also happens to be close to the Portland Saturday Market and Skidmore Market, so it’s easy to combine them into one outing. Blue Star Donuts is another spot that everyone talks about, but they were sold out when I tried to go.
Coffee at Stumptown
Portland has so many incredible coffee shops, yet we always find ourselves wandering into Stumptown. It helps that they have a lot of locations, but the coffee is just also really good. Try Stumptown. Try other small coffee shops that you stumble upon. Drink lots of coffee in Portland!
Shop the Portland Saturday Market
The Portland Saturday Market has been around for more than 50 years on the riverfront. It’s an artisan and food market, and it’s one of my favorites to wander around. You’ll find everything from leather, jewelry, woodwork and graphic t-shirts to custom garden gnomes and book cover purses. It’s a hub of creativity and artists living out their dreams. This does only take place on Saturdays, so you’ll have to plan accordingly!
Photo of Portland Oregon White Stag Sign
The Portland Oregon White Stag Sign is on a building across the street from the Saturday Market. The neon sign has been up since the 1940s and is a Portland icon. Snap a picture while you’re shopping or come back after dark to see it lit up against the night sky.
Lunch at a Food Cart
Portland’s food carts are practically a tourist attraction themselves – there are so many that it’s hard to think of the city without thinking about food carts. On our first trip to Portland, we ate almost exclusively from food carts for three days, and this time around was no different.
If you’re looking for spots with several different options, so far we’ve enjoyed the MidTown Beer Garden (it has covered seating and probably a couple dozen carts), the Third Avenue Food Cart Pod (this one leans heavily on Mediterranean and Mexican options), and Pioneer Courthouse Square (fewer options but a nice setting to picnic and watch the Weather Machine).
Watch the Weather Machine at Pioneer Courthouse Square
Another quirky and fun Portland icon is the Weather Machine at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The bronze sculpture does a little song and dance show at noon each day, flashing and trumpeting as it displays one of three symbols used to predict the forecast. The sun means clear skies, a blue heron predicts a bit of drizzle and clouds, and a dragon calls for storms and rain.
Shop at Powell’s City of Books
If you like reading even a little bit, you absolutely have to visit Powell’s City of Books. It’s massive and iconic, with several floors of new and used books in just about any genre you can think of. You could spend hours there just wandering around. I’m pretty sure we still haven’t seen all of it after two trips to Portland.
Explore the Pearl District
The Pearl District extends north, east, and west of Powell’s. It’s filled with indie brands, boutiques, galleries, craft breweries and artisan coffee shops. It’s a fun neighborhood to wander for a couple of hours while picking up some fun stuff to take home.
For souvenirs, we shopped at Hello from Portland, MadeHere, and Tender Loving Empire, which have Oregon-made products.
Visit Washington Park and the Rose Test Garden
The late afternoon is the perfect time to head out of downtown to the hills above the city. Washington Park could fill up a whole day with the Hoyt Arboretum, Japanese Garden, and International Rose Test Garden. We loved strolling the rose garden – it’s way bigger than I expected and there are SO many different types of roses I never even knew existed.
Sunset View of Portland From Pittock Mansion
Before sunset, head over to Pittock Mansion for a beautiful, sweeping view from 1,000 feet above the city. The 1914 mansion is open for tours earlier in the day, if you have extra time in Portland, but the lawn behind it is where you’ll see the city skyline. On a clear day, you may be able to spot five different cascade mountains, including Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier.
Dinner at Mississippi Marketplace
This may surprise you, but for dinner, I recommend checking out another food cart hub. The Mississippi Marketplace food court is across the Willamette River from downtown Portland on the lively North Mississippi Avenue.
There are lots of options, including a super tasty Asian vegan cart and a German restaurant and pub. The food court has seating in the center of the carts, so you can hang out and eat here.
See at Show at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
If you’re up for a late activity, check out the show schedule at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The historic venue has a photo-worthy Portland marquee you’ll want to stop by and see even if you don’t get tickets.
Day 8: Day Trip to Columbia River Gorge
The waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge are my favorite part of a trip to Portland, so don’t leave this off of your itinerary if you can help it! You can see a couple of the big ones in just half a day, but I recommend a full day if you can swing it to cover more of the route and hike a little.
There are SO many different waterfalls you can see on this route, but I’ll list a few below that we stopped at. You can book a guided tour or hop-on, hop-off trolley to take you to some of the best ones if you don’t want to navigate the driving and parking yourself. The parking lots at many of these are super small and stay full, so sometimes you can’t get a spot (this happened to us).
Drive time: 1-2 hours
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls is the darling of the Columbia River Gorge. She’s tall. She’s gorgeous. She’s extremely popular.
The 600-foot-tall waterfall has several layers, a cool bridge, and hiking trails up to the top, so you can spend a couple of hours there if you wish or just snap pictures and soak in the view from a few vantage points.
This is one that you must see, but you also must carefully plan to see it. If you’re driving, you’ll need to reserve a timed use permit during the summer season (late May to early September). They are released in batches two weeks and two days in advance, and I recommend going during the first time slot of the morning to make sure you get a parking spot. We actually got there before the permit time window starts at 9 a.m., so we didn’t need to show one to walk in.
Horsetail Falls
Horsetail Falls is a tall and thin waterfall you can see from a lookout right off the road. You can also follow trails to get up closer to this one and the nearby Ponytail Falls. Despite a lot and roadside spots, parking fills up fast here on weekends. I’d recommend heading to this one right after Multnomah in the morning.
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil is a tiered waterfall accessed via a short loop trail. There’s a parking lot and restroom building near the 100-year-old, bed-and-breakfast lodge at the start of the trail, but it does fill up, so you may have to circle and wait for a spot.
Shepperd's Dell Falls
Shepperd’s Dell State Natural Area features a two-tiered waterfall – 42 feet at the top and 50 at the base. There’s a historic bridge over the road on the creek, but you have to walk about a quarter of a mile roundtrip to see the waterfall. Parking here is super tight, but it’s also not as popular as some other falls, so you may get lucky with a spot.
Latourell Falls
The third tallest cascade in the Columbia River Gorge, Latourell Falls drops dramatically over a basalt cliff into a pool. You can see most of it from a lookout near the parking lot, take a short walk to the base, or hike a 2-mile loop across wooden bridges to the Upper Falls.
It’s in Guy W. Talbot State Park, with a small parking lot and basic toilet facilities.
Vista House at Crown Point Overlook
This day trip may be all about the waterfalls, but there are also incredible views from the Historic Columbia River Highway. The Vista House at Crown Point makes the perfect final stop for an elevated lookout over the river with mountains in the background.
Eat in Troutdale
Stop in Troutdale to eat before heading back to Portland. The city has a compact and walkable downtown zone near the Sandy River and the Columbia Gorge Outlets. We randomly decided to try Lolo’s Boss Pizza, a locally owned spot that has special farm-to-pizza and forest-to-pizza selections. It was super good!
If you have extra time, Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site is just across the river with trails and swimming spots.
