Located beneath the shadow of Mt. Hood, Portland, OR is a beautiful city known for its open green spaces, riverfront views, and indie vibe. While there are plenty of fun activities to do in Portland, you may be looking for a change of scenery outside of the city limits. If this sounds like you, you’re in luck. We compiled a list of the 10 best day trips from Portland that you can take today. From wine tasting to waterfall exploring, there are a ton of unique and exciting day trips that are sure to keep you occupied.
1. Mt. Saint Helens
Approximate distance: 75 miles
Estimated travel time: 2 hours
Mt. Saint Helens is an active stratovolcano located in the Cascade Range in southwestern Washington. The volcano erupted on May 18, 1980, one of the largest recorded in North American history. Today, Mount St. Helens is a National Volcanic Monument filled with numerous activities to do and explore. Some favorites include Johnston Ridge Observatory, Ape Cave, and Spirit Lake.
2. Seaside, OR
Approximate distance: 80 miles
Estimated travel time: 1.5 hours
Known for its lively beachside atmosphere, Seaside, OR offers many exciting activities, such as checking out Ecola State Park, a state park filled with sweeping views of Oregon’s coastline; walking the Historic 1.5-mile Promenade, or going golfing at Gearhart Golf Links. It takes roughly 1 hour, 30 minutes to get to Seaside, OR, and is about 80 miles from Portland making this the perfect day trip from Portland.
3. Willamette Valley
Approximate distance: 50 miles
Estimated travel time: 1 hour
Willamette Valley is a wine-producing area and is located roughly 50 miles from Portland. The area became an ideal place to produce agriculture due to the Missoula Floods which carried rich soil from Eastern Washington to the area. To get to Willamette Valley from Portland, you can drive about 1 hour, 20 minutes south. There are many things to do such as wine tasting at Beaux Frères, Brooks Vineyard and Winery, or Colene…