Tourist attractions near Portland, Oregon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon has a variety of nearby tourist attractions which are suitable for a day trip based from the Portland area, in addition to about 80 within the metropolitan area (see Tourism in Portland, Oregon).
Generally, there is no public transportation to these destinations, though exceptions are noted in descriptions. The communities have at most small airports serving only general aviation; scheduled airline service is available only to Portland and Eugene.
| Driving distance |
Travel hours (each way) |
Direction | Type(s) | Attraction | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 mi (14 km) | 0.25 | N | historical | Fort Vancouver National Historic Site | pre-pioneer exhibits, history, reenactments |
| 135 mi (217 km) | 2.8 | SW | nature | Oregon Coast Aquarium | Oceanic wildlife, flora, and fauna, intertidal, touching pond, kelps, jellies, etc.; adjacent to Hatfield Marine Science Center and close to Yaquina Head Light |
| 62 mi (100 km) | 1.5 | E | nature, historical, sport | Timberline Lodge | skiing/snowboarding year round, 1930s Cascadian architecture, easy access to wilderness and mountain climbing |
| 61 mi (98 km) | 1.25 | E | nature, historical | Hood River | professional and amateur windsurfing/kiteboarding on the river, also follow the "Fruit Loop" for a 20+mile tour of 30+ farms and wineries |
| 31 mi (50 km) | 0.75 | E | nature | Multnomah Falls | impressive waterfalls; Historic Columbia River Highway |
| 109 mi (175 km) | 2 | NE | nature | Cascades Volcano Observatory | Mount St. Helens eruption history, exhibits, education, and convenient viewing of the volcano |
| 37 mi (60 km) | 1 | SW | nature | Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum | |
| 200 mi (320 km) | 6 | S | event | Hood to Coast relay race | late August team charity fundraising race, among longest major relays and the largest with 20,000+ participants, 322 kilometres (200 mi) course from Timberline Lodge to Seaside on the Oregon Coast |
| 17 mi (27 km) | 0.5 | E | event | Mt. Hood Jazz Festival | mid-August celebration of Jazz music, usually with live notable performers |
| 17 mi (27 km) | 0.75 | W | event | Oregon International Air Show | largest civilian air show on the U.S. West Coast, July or August |
| 13 mi (21 km) | 0.5 | W | historical | Washington County Museum | |
| 15 mi (24 km) | 0.4 | W | nature | Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals | |
| 72 mi (116 km) | 1.7 | W | nature | Saddle Mountain State Natural Area | challenging five mile (round trip) hike to scenic panaroma of the Pacific Ocean, Columbia River, and dozens of miles of state forests covering NW Oregon and SW Washington |
| 69 mi (111 km) | 1.75 | SE | nature | Bagby Hot Springs | natural hot springs with rustic private tubs, requires three mile (round trip) forest hike |
| 60 mi (97 km) | 1.5 | E | nature | Trillium Lake | quiet mountain lake with view of Mount Hood, camping, fishing, and boating in summer, Nordic skiing in winter |
| 44 mi (71 km) | 1.0 | E | nature | Wildwood Recreation Site | picnicking, hiking, guided nature in Mount Hood National Forest, view Salmon River |
| 142 mi (229 km) | 3 | SE | nature | Smith Rock State Park | rugged scenery, rock climbing, hiking, picnicking |
| 58 mi (93 km) | 1.5 | S | nature | Silver Falls State Park | zero to ten miles of hiking to see up to seven spectacular and varied waterfalls; Oregon Garden is on the way |
| 87 mi (140 km) | 2 | SW | casino | Chinook Winds Casino | Oceanfront Native American casino with gambling, food, live entertainment; bus service available |
| 62 mi (100 km) | 1.5 | SW | casino | Spirit Mountain Casino | Native American casino with gambling, food, live entertainment; bus service available |
| 70 mi (110 km) | 2.25 | SW | culture | Sitka Center for Art and Ecology | artist/ecological colony; advance arrangements required; day workshops or multi-week residency obligation |
| 102 mi (164 km) | 2.5 | SW | nature | Whale Watching Center | staffed state park facility assists visitors see and understand passing whales and other sea life; Depoe Bay also has whale watching cruises |
| 75 mi (121 km) | 1.5 | W | agriculture | Tillamook Cheese | self-guided cheese factory tour; restaurant |
| 75 mi (121 km) | 1.75 | W | historical | Tillamook Air Museum | top-rated private World War II aircraft collection housed in a WW II blimp hangar |
| 79 mi (127 km) | 1.5 | W | cultural | Seaside | small tourist-focused coastal city with the Seaside Aquarium, arcades, many motels and rental houses, a 1.5 mile promenade (sidewalk) along the seawall, Miss Oregon Pageant (early July) |
| 97 mi (156 km) | 2 | W | cultural | Astoria | small historical city with the Astoria Column, Fisher Poets Gathering, Riverfront Trolley; close to Fort Stevens |
| 285 mi (459 km) | 5.5 | S | nature | Crater Lake | Oregon's best known National Park and one-of-a-kind natural feature |
