5 easy day trips from Portland you need to take this summer
In a May 2024 episode of Peak Northwest, hosts Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor share their favorite summer day trip destinations within a comfortable driving distance from Portland. Here are five takeaways from the conversation, highlighting accessible adventures that don’t require overnight stays or extensive planning.
Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian
1. Cannon Beach by bus offers a stress-free coastal experience
While Cannon Beach is one of Oregon’s most popular destinations, Hale and Connor recommend taking the bus from Portland’s Union Station instead of driving. This eliminates parking hassles in the notoriously crowded beach town, dropping off visitors just blocks from the beach and within walking distance of restaurants and shops. Hale described his experience as “super easy,” requiring just day bags with snacks, water and beach towels. For dining, they recommend Ecola Seafood for casual seafood, Crepe Neptune for handheld meals (especially the salmon crepe and strawberry dessert crepe), and Sleepy Monk Coffee, which Hale calls his “hands down favorite coffee shop on the coast.”
A guest relaxes in the warm waters of the Meadow Pools at Breitenbush Hot Springs. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
2. Breitenbush Hot Springs makes for a rejuvenating day escape
About 2.5 hours from Portland, Breitenbush Hot Springs offers day passes for a rejuvenating day trip. The podcast hosts raved about the food quality, with Hale describing it as “the best buffet I’ve ever had.” The clothing-optional hot springs feature multiple soaking pools of varying temperatures, including newly opened individual bathtub-style soaking tubs and a cold plunge. Day passes, which cost $35 per person, allow access from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., making it feasible as a day trip. Spring and fall are good times to visit, as the summer heat makes hot springs less appealing.
The Wilson River Trail runs through the Tillamook State Forest, between Elk Mountain and Kings Mountain in the Coast Range. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
3. Tillamook State Forest provides accessible wilderness experiences
For those seeking forest immersion, Tillamook State Forest along Oregon 6 offers numerous options for outdoor recreation. The Wilson River Trail features multiple trailheads with day hikes of varying difficulties, from challenging summit climbs like Kings Mountain and Elk Mountain to gentle riverside walks. Hale notes that by parking at Kings Mountain trailhead but taking the Wilson River Trail instead of the summit route, hikers can find solitude away from crowds. The Tillamook Forest Center provides educational exhibits about forestry and ecosystems, plus a fire lookout tower with forest views. With picnic areas along the Wilson River, the forest makes an ideal escape on hot summer days, especially for those living in Washington County.
The sun shines brightly over Mount Hood, seen from the fields of flowers at Draper Girls Country Farm outside Hood River. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
4. Hood River Fruit Loop delivers agricultural abundance and activities
The Hood River Fruit Loop features farms, orchards, wineries and food stands that showcase the region’s agricultural bounty. While the hosts note it’s impossible to visit every stop in a single day, highlights include Draper Girls Farm for apple picking, Hood River Lavender Farms, Mt View Orchards for wood-fired pizza featuring fresh-picked ingredients, and several fruit stands that offer affordable produce. Connor recommends visiting on weekdays rather than crowded weekends, and suggests exploring during different seasons to experience various crops — berries in early summer, apples and pears in fall. A visit in September resulted in “a trunk full of flowers, fruit, and baked goods” at reasonable prices.
Vickie Connor, video producer at The Oregonian/OregonLive, treks up Mount Saint Helens on August 23, 2022.Courtesy of Sydney Borum
5. Mount St. Helens offers dramatic landscapes just across the Columbia
Despite being in Washington, Mount St. Helens is only about two hours from Portland, making it a good day trip that Hale says Portlanders often overlook. The volcano offers distinct experiences depending on which side you visit — the south side for climbing opportunities and the north side for easier access to trails around the Johnston Ridge Observatory (though the observatory and its trailheads are expected to be closed until 2027). Hale said that seeing “a Cascade Mountain that has blown up so dramatically, so recently” provides a unique experience unavailable elsewhere in the region, encouraging listeners not to let crossing the Columbia River deter them from visiting this remarkable landscape.
Listen to the full Peak Northwest podcast episode that highlights the five day-trip destinations here: https://www.oregonlive.com/podcasts/2025/06/5-easy-day-trips-from-portland-you-need-to-take-this-summer.html
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