Bend is three hours from Portland, over the Cascades into the high desert, and the drive past Mount Hood is half the point. The 20 weekend getaways here run from Tacoma, 2h 15m north, to Joseph in the Wallowa Mountains at 5h 25m. They fall into five groups: Central Oregon, the central and south coast, Washington's cities and islands, the national parks and mountains, and the wine and ranch country to the east.
Go to the mountains and Crater Lake from July to September, Central Oregon and the high desert in spring and fall, and the coast in late summer. Cannon Beach, Hood River and Mount Hood are within two hours, so they sit with the day trips from Portland.
All costs are in US dollars for two people: fuel there and back, two nights in a comfortable hotel, food and activities. Drive times are one-way from downtown Portland in typical traffic.
The short list
| Destination | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma | ~2h 15m144 mi | Culture | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| Newport | ~2h 20m132 mi | Beach | $1,000–$1,400 | August |
| Mount Rainier National Park | ~2h 20m138 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| Sisters | ~2h 45m153 mi | Hidden gems (offbeat) | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| Seattle | ~2h 50m173 mi | Culture | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| Smith Rock State Park | ~2h 50m142 mi | Adventure | $1,000–$1,400 | May |
| Yachats | ~2h 55m156 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | August |
| Florence | ~2h 55m171 mi | Beach | $1,000–$1,400 | August |
| North Umpqua River | ~3h 5m189 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | September |
| Yakima | ~3h 5m186 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | September |
| Bend | ~3h 10m163 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | September |
| Pendleton | ~3h 15m209 mi | History | $1,000–$1,400 | May |
| Lake Quinault | ~3h 15m181 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | June |
| Walla Walla | ~3h 50m242 mi | Food | $1,100–$1,400 | September |
| Painted Hills | ~3h 55m200 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | May |
| Whidbey Island | ~4h208 mi | Hidden gems (offbeat) | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| Port Angeles | ~4h 5m230 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | September |
| Crater Lake National Park | ~4h 20m248 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | August |
| Leavenworth | ~4h 40m288 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | December |
| Joseph | ~5h 25m330 mi | Nature | $1,100–$1,400 | July |
Under three and a half hours, two nights is plenty. Past four hours, take three nights; the mountain passes and the ferry add time.
Best for Central Oregon
Bend
Bend is the outdoor town of the high desert. Float or paddle the Deschutes River, hike the lava flows of Newberry National Volcanic Monument, and try the breweries.
Don't miss
- Deschutes National Forest
- Deschutes River
- Deschutes Brewery Public House
- Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Bend
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 10m drive · Best in September
Deschutes River winds through high desert landscapes dotted with Ponderosa pines
Top sights
Deschutes National Forest
Deschutes River
Blockbuster Video
Deschutes Historical Museum
Drake Park and Mirror Pond
Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock is a canyon of volcanic tuff above the Crooked River. Hike the Misery Ridge Trail for the view, watch the climbers on the walls, and look for golden eagles.
Don't miss
- Smith Rock State Park
- Misery Ridge Trail
- Crooked River
Smith Rock State Park
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 50m drive · Best in May
Hike the Misery Ridge Trail above the Crooked River canyon, watch climbers on the volcanic tuff walls, and look for golden eagles.
Sisters
The offbeat pick. Sisters is a small Cascade town with western storefronts and quilt shops. Drive the McKenzie Pass road to the lava fields in summer, and fish the Metolius River.
Don't miss
- Black Butte
- Hoodoo Ski Area
- Metolius River
- Deschutes National Forest
Sisters
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 45m drive · Best in July
Browse the western storefronts and quilt shops of this small Cascade town, then hike to the lava fields at McKenzie Pass.
Top sights
Black Butte
Three Sisters Mountains
Painted Hills
The Painted Hills are red, gold and black banded clay hills in the John Day Fossil Beds. Walk the short boardwalk trails, then see the fossils at the Sheep Rock visitor center.
Don't miss
- Painted Hills Overlook
- Sheep Rock Unit
- Clarno Palisades
- Wheeler County Courthouse
Painted Hills
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 55m drive · Best in May
Walk the short boardwalk trails through the red, gold and black banded hills of the John Day Fossil Beds, then see fossils at the Sheep Rock visitor center.
Best for the Oregon coast
Newport
Newport is the harbor town of the central coast. See the Oregon Coast Aquarium, climb the Yaquina Head lighthouse, and eat fresh crab on the bayfront.
Newport
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 20m drive · Best in August
Yaquina Head Lighthouse stands watch over the turbulent rocky coastal shelf
Yachats
Yachats is a small town where black lava rock meets the surf. Walk the 804 Trail, drive up to the Cape Perpetua overlook, and watch the water drain into Thor's Well at high tide.
Don't miss
- Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
- 804 Trail
- Thor's Well
Iconic eats: Oyster, Clam Chowder
Yachats
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 55m drive · Best in August
Basalt lava rock meets the crashing tide at the town edge
Top sights
Smelt Sands State Recreation Site
Florence
Florence is the town of the Oregon Dunes. Ride a dune buggy or walk the sand of the national recreation area, and see the sea lion caves north of town.
Florence
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 55m drive · Best in August
Sand dunes stretch for miles along the wild and rugged Pacific coast
Top sights
Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
Best for Washington's cities and islands
Seattle
Seattle is three hours north. Eat at Pike Place Market, go up the Space Needle, watch the boats at the Ballard Locks, and walk Discovery Park.
Don't miss
- Pike Place Market
- Space Needle
- Seattle Ferry Terminal
- Discovery Park
Iconic eats: Seattle-Style Coffee, Smoked Salmon Bagel
Seattle
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 50m drive · Best in July
Hiram M Chittenden Locks offer a view of salmon ladders and maritime traffic
Top sights
Pike Place Market
Space Needle
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Kerry Park
The Museum of Flight
Tacoma
Tacoma is the glass city. Watch glassblowers at the Museum of Glass, cross the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, and walk the waterfront at Point Defiance Park.
Don't miss
- Museum of Glass
- Point Defiance Park
- Ruston Way Waterfront
- Proctor Farmers Market
Iconic eats: Smoked Salmon Chowder, Pacific Cod and Chips, Wild Salmon
Tacoma
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 15m drive · Best in July
Watch glassblowers at the Museum of Glass, cross the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, and walk the waterfront trail at Point Defiance Park.
Top sights
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Museum of Glass
Chihuly Bridge of Glass
Point Defiance Park
Tacoma Art Museum
Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island is a ferry ride from Mukilteo, and the drive time includes the crossing. Browse the galleries in Langley, walk the bluff at Ebey's Landing, and eat Penn Cove mussels in Coupeville. Deception Pass bridge is at the north end.
Don't miss
- Deception Pass State Park
- Coupeville Historic Waterfront
- Goose Rock Trail
- Whidbey Island Center for the Arts
Whidbey Island
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
4h drive · Best in July
Ride the ferry to browse the galleries of Langley, walk the bluff trail at Ebey's Landing, and eat Penn Cove mussels in Coupeville.
Best for national parks and mountains
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is the glacier-covered volcano south of Seattle. Walk the Skyline Trail through the Paradise meadows in July and August, and see the old-growth trees at Grove of the Patriarchs. Summer weekends can need a timed-entry reservation.
Don't miss
- Skyline Trail
- Paradise Inn
- Grove of the Patriarchs
- Longmire Museum
Mount Rainier National Park
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 20m drive · Best in July
Walk the Skyline Trail through the Paradise wildflower meadows under the glaciers of Mount Rainier, and see the old-growth giants at Grove of the Patriarchs.
Top sights
Reflection Lake
Skyline Trail
Narada Falls
Grove of the Patriarchs
Comet Falls Trail
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake fills the caldera of a collapsed volcano and is the deepest lake in the US. Drive Rim Drive and look down from the overlooks. Check whether the Cleetwood Cove trail and boat tours are running, and go between July and October.
Don't miss
- Sinnott Memorial Overlook
- Cleetwood Cove Trail
- Crater Lake Boat Tour
- The Pinnacles
Crater Lake National Park
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
4h 20m drive · Best in August
Drive Rim Drive around the deep blue caldera lake, hike down the Cleetwood Cove Trail for a boat tour to Wizard Island, and stay at the lodge.
Top sights
Watchman Observation Station
Port Angeles
Port Angeles is the gateway to Olympic National Park. Drive up to Hurricane Ridge, swim or paddle at Lake Crescent, and walk the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Don't miss
- Hurricane Ridge
- Lake Crescent
- Olympic Discovery Trail
- Feiro Marine Life Center
Port Angeles
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
4h 5m drive · Best in September
The gateway to Olympic National Park, with the drive up to Hurricane Ridge, a swim or paddle at Lake Crescent and the Olympic Discovery Trail by the water.
Top sights
Olympic National Park
Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center
Marymere Falls Trailhead
Madison Falls
Sol Duc Falls
Lake Quinault
Lake Quinault is in the rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula. Walk the Quinault Rain Forest trail among giant spruce, and stay at the old lodge on the lake.
Don't miss
- Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail
- Lake Quinault Lodge
- Copalis Beach
- Hoh Rain Forest
Iconic eats: Smoked Salmon Chowder, Smoked Salmon
Lake Quinault
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 15m drive · Best in June
Bunch Creek Falls pours into the temperate rainforest near the lake shore
Top sights
Quinault Rainforest Nature Trail
World's Largest Spruce Tree
Lake Quinault Museum
North Umpqua River
The North Umpqua is a river corridor, not a town. Drive the North Umpqua Highway east from Glide to the short hikes at Toketee and Watson Falls, and fish the steelhead water.
Don't miss
- Watson Falls
- Tioga Segment
- North Umpqua River
- Lemolo Lake
North Umpqua River
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 5m drive · Best in September
Follow the North Umpqua Highway east from Glide to short waterfall hikes at Toketee Falls and Watson Falls, and fish for steelhead in a famed fly water stretch.
Leavenworth
Leavenworth is the Bavarian-style town in the Cascades. Walk Front Street, hike Icicle Creek, and come in December for the lights.
Don't miss
- Front Street Park
- Icicle Creek Trail
- Leavenworth Ski Hill
Iconic eats: Pretzel, Bratwurst
Leavenworth
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
4h 40m drive · Best in December
Bavarian architecture lines the streets surrounded by the jagged Cascade Mountains
Top sights
Leavenworth Ski Hill
Icicle Creek Trail
Best for wine and ranch country
Walla Walla
Walla Walla is Washington's wine town, with more than a hundred wineries around a small downtown. Taste in town and out among the vineyards.
Don't miss
- Leonetti Cellar
- Liberty Theater
- Bennington Lake
Walla Walla
≈ USD 1,100–USD 1,400
3h 50m drive · Best in September
Sun-drenched vineyards stretch across the rolling plains of eastern wine country
Top sights
Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center
Kirkman House Museum
Whitman College
Whitman Mission National Historic Site
Yakima
Yakima is the valley of hops, apples and wineries. Taste at the cellars, hike Cowiche Canyon, and shop the farmers market.
Don't miss
- Gilbert Cellars
- Yakima Valley Museum
- Cowiche Canyon Conservancy
- Yakima Farmers Market
Yakima
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 5m drive · Best in September
Orchards and hop fields blanket the valley floor under the bright sun
Top sights
Yakima Valley Museum
The Capitol Theatre
Yakima Area Arboretum
Yakima Sportsman State Park
Pendleton
Pendleton is the cowboy town of eastern Oregon. Take the Pendleton Underground Tour, visit the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, and come in September for the Round-Up rodeo.
Don't miss
- Pendleton Underground Tours
- Tamastslikt Cultural Institute
- Hamley and Company
- Roy Raley Park
Iconic eats: Fry bread, Huckleberry pie
Pendleton
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 15m drive · Best in May
The Pendleton Underground Tours expose a series of hidden basement rooms reflecting early twentieth-century prohibition era history.
Top sights
Tamastslikt Cultural Institute
McKay Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Pendleton Center for the Arts
Pendleton Round-Up
Pendleton Woolen Mills
Joseph
Joseph is a small town under the Wallowa Mountains. Ride the tramway up from Wallowa Lake, and walk the bronze sculptures on Main Street. At 5h 25m, take three nights.
Don't miss
- Wallowa Lake State Park
- Wallowa Valley Arts Council
- Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland
- Wallowa Lake Tramway
Iconic eats: Huckleberry Pie, Marionberry Crisp, Steelhead Trout
Joseph
≈ USD 1,100–USD 1,400
5h 25m drive · Best in July
Wallowa Lake reflects the jagged snow-dusted peaks of the Eagle Cap Wilderness
Top sights
Josephy Center for Arts and Culture
Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland
Wallowa Lake State Park
Wallowa Lake Tramway
Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site
Which to skip, and when
Skip Crater Lake and the high Cascades before July, when snow closes the roads. Skip the Painted Hills and Pendleton in a July heatwave. In winter, choose Bend or Leavenworth for snow, or Seattle and the coast for storms.
See a real example
Common questions
What's the best weekend getaway from Portland, OR?
Bend, about 3h 10m southeast, is the strongest weekend getaway from Portland: the Deschutes River, Newberry volcano country, breweries, and Smith Rock and Sisters close by. Crater Lake, at about 4h 20m, is the national-park pick.
What's the closest weekend getaway from Portland, OR?
Tacoma, about 2h 15m north, is the closest of the 20 weekend getaways on this page, with the Museum of Glass and Point Defiance Park. Newport on the coast and Mount Rainier National Park are next at about 2h 20m.
How much does a weekend getaway from Portland, OR cost for two?
A weekend getaway from Portland costs about $1,000 to $1,400 for two people on this page, covering fuel, two nights in a comfortable hotel, food and activities. Walla Walla and Joseph start at about $1,100.
Where are Cannon Beach and Hood River?
Cannon Beach, Astoria, Hood River, Mount Hood and Silver Falls are on the day trips page, since all of them sit within two hours of Portland. Book a night there if you want one; the planner prices it.
When can you visit Crater Lake from Portland?
July to October, when Rim Drive is open. Crater Lake is about 4h 20m from Portland; the north entrance and most of Rim Drive close under snow for much of the year, so check the park's road status before you go.
What's the best wine weekend from Portland, OR?
Walla Walla, about 3h 50m east in Washington, is the wine weekend, with more than a hundred wineries around a small downtown. Yakima, at about 3h 5m, is the valley of hops, orchards and wineries closer in.
The bottom line
Book Bend and Smith Rock for the high desert, Crater Lake or Mount Rainier in summer, and Walla Walla for wine. Plan your weekend trip free and the planner ranks these for your dates and budget.
Browse more weekend getaways by city, or keep it to a day with the day trips from Portland.
Drive times are routed by road from downtown Portland in October 2026, ferry crossings included. Costs come from the same pricing the planner uses. Check park road status and reservations before you go.
Written by Namrata · Editor
Related reading
USA travel guide
17 Weekend Getaways From San Francisco, by Drive Time
Seventeen weekend getaways from San Francisco, each with a routed one-way drive time and an all-in cost for two. Nevada City and Big Sur are under three hours, and the national parks of the Sierra and the far north fill the rest.
15 Weekend Getaways From Phoenix, by Drive Time
Fifteen weekend getaways from Phoenix, each with a routed one-way drive time and an all-in cost for two. Saguaro National Park is 2h 10m away, the Grand Canyon 3h 30m and Zion about six hours.
13 Weekend Getaways From Washington DC, by Drive Time
Thirteen weekend getaways from Washington, D.C., each with a routed one-way drive time and an all-in cost for two. Harrisonburg is 2h 10m out; Happy Valley and Lewisburg, West Virginia, hold the far edge at about four hours.