The Ultimate Oregon Road Trip Itinerary: Exploring Portland, the Coast, & Mt. Hood
There are so many places to explore in Oregon it can be overwhelming. In this blog post, I have put together an Oregon Road Trip Itinerary based on my latest trip to the Pacific North West. In this guide, I’ll break down where to stop along the beautiful coastline, which Mt. Hood hikes you should do, where to find endless waterfalls, lakes, and more!
I’ve been meaning to plan a trip to Oregon ever since my best friend moved to Portland two years ago. In summer 2020 I had flights booked and my entire Oregon road trip itinerary planned but unfortunately, that trip got canceled due to Covid. Now, a year later, the trip finally happened! My family and I just got back from a week-long vacation exploring Oregon. We spent time driving along the coast, eating delicious food in Portland, hiking in the Mt. Hood area, and visiting wineries with stunning views.
I’ll admit I had high expectations for this vacation seeing how much I loved our Washington vacation back in 2018. But nothing could prepare me with how much I fell in love with Oregon. If you’re considering planning a trip here I hope my ultimate Oregon Road Trip Itinerary shows you how much this state has to offer.
Below you will find an itinerary map for your time in Oregon. It features pins for Portland, the coast, and Mt. Hood locations including scenic stops, hiking trails, and places to eat.
PORTLAND: What to Do + Where to Eat
Gravey
(North Portland, Breakfast & Brunch spot, $$) – The Challah French toast + Biscuits and Gravey are a favorite amongst locals.
Case Study Roasters
(Mult-Locations, Coffee, $$) Trendy coffee shop with four locations around the city, nuff said.
Powell’s City of Books
(Mult-Locations, Bookstore, $-$$) Powell’s City of Books is a book lover’s paradise. The downtown location is the largest used and new bookstore in the world!
Salt & Straw
(Mult-Locations, Ice Cream, $$) – This is one of my favorite ice cream creameries in the entire U.S! You can’t go wrong with any of their flavors, but the seasonal ones are always a hit!
Harlow
(Mult-locations, Breakfast/Lunch, $$) Great gluten-free, organic, and vegan/vegetarian options. They also have a ton of smoothie and juice options.
Hollywood Vintage + House of Vintage
(East Portland, Shopping, $$) Large scale thrift stores with multiple vendors. You could spend all day here if you wanted!
Pine Street Market
(Downtown, Lunch/Dinner, $$) Pine Street Market, the city’s first food hall, is located in downtown Portland at Second Avenue and Pine Street.
OREGON COAST: Stops Along the Coast
Ecola State Park & Ecola Point
Between Seaside and Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park stretches along 9 miles of coastline and offers outstanding sightseeing and hiking. The park’s network of trails include an 8 mile segment of the Oregon Coast Trail, and a 2 1/2 mile historical route called the Clatsop Loop Trail. We just stopped to take some photos and walk the small loop trail with the best views.
Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach is a cute little town that’s become quite popular due to Haystack Rock, which was featured in the movie The Goonies. This is a great beach to watch the sunset… it’s definitely one of Oregon’s coastal gems. Make sure to visit during low-tide so you can see all the marine life in the tide pools.
SleepyMonk Coffee
Organic coffee roasted on the Oregon Coast. Cozy coffee shop, fresh pastries baked daily!
Pelican Brewing
A nice stop along the coast. Take a break from driving and enjoy a local beer!
Hug Point State Recreation Site
Between Manzanita and Cannon Beach sits a gorgeous slice of Oregon Coast called Hug Point. This was one of our favorite stops thanks to all the caves you can explore. At low tide, you can make your way around the cape to see the arch and explore tidepools.
Oswald West State Park
The park stretches for 4 miles along the coastline. Some easy trail options are the 0.5 mile Short Sand Beach Trail and the 0.2 mile Old Growth Forest Trail.
Tillamook Creamery
If you’re an ice cream or cheese lover then I suggest you stop by Tillamook Creamery. You can see first hand how Tillamook makes their famous cheeses and ice creams… and pick up an ice cream cone for yourself!
Oceanside
Oceanside has clear ocean views, peaceful cafés, and a beautiful beach. It’s everything you’d expect and more from a place with a name like Oceanside. The famous Three Arch Rocks off the shore are a national wildlife refuge, visible from most places in town.
Blue Agate Cafe
The Blue Agate is owned by twin brothers Jerald and Joseph Ellison. They have great food and are only steps from the beach. I’d suggest you get your meal to-go and walk along the ocean.
MT. HOOD: Hiking Trails, Wineries, and More!
Latourell Fall’s
Latourell Falls Trail is a 2.1-mile loop trail that features a picturesque waterfall. The hike is rated as moderate and is dog + family-friendly!
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls Trail is a super popular 2.4 mile out and back trail located near Bridal Veil that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. Go early to avoid crowds!
The Gorge White House
This place has it all! At the Gorge White House we sampled a hard cider flight, wine flight, ate farm-fresh food from their on-site food truck, and picked fruit & flowers! We had a blast roaming through the fruit orchard picking raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and cherries. (Note: great gluten-free, and dairy-free food/drink options!)
Stave & Stone Winery
Stave & Stone Winery is the only winery on our list that we didn’t have time to visit. Enjoy a glass of wine while you take in the view! (Note: reservations required for outdoor seating, ages 21+)
Grateful Vineyard
This winery has great views of Mt. Hood. You can make a reservation for indoors (21+) or sit outdoors (all ages.) They have cider and beer options along with their wine. If you’re hungry try one of their brick oven pizzas!
Old Salmon River Trail
Old Salmon River Trail is a 2.7 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail that was just down the road from the Airbnb we stayed at. The hike is alongside a river and is good for all skill levels. This was one of the more peaceful, secluded hikes we did during our time in Mt. Hood.
Tamanawas Falls
Tamanawas Falls Trail is a 3.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mount Hood. It features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is best used from May until October. Get there early to avoid crowds!
Trillium Lake Trailhead
Trillium Lake Loop Trail is a 1.9 mile loop trail that goes around the lake and has great views of Mt. Hood. This easy trail is great for families. Visit May until October for the best hiking conditions.
Thanks for taking the time to look over this Oregon road trip itinerary! Let me know in the comments or email me at brookesiena@gmail.com if you have any questions about planning a trip to Oregon. I would love to hear from you!
The Comments
Sofie Johnson ;)
This was an awesome guide for our Portland trip 2021!
sienaneal
Sofie Johnson ;)So glad it was helpful. Enjoy your trip!