# Portland, Oregon with a day in Columbia River Gorge

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/north-america/single-base-plus-day-trip/portland-oregon-with-a-day-in-columbia-river-gorge-z0392/>)

Add a nearby city or landscape while keeping one overnight base

- Region: North America
- Trip format: Single base + day trip
- Nights: 6
- Interests: Food & Drink, Literature, Nature, Arts & Theatre

## Route and nights

- Portland, Oregon · 6 night(s)

Tradeoff: A day trip avoids repacking. Check the last return option and whether the travel time is worth the outing.

Compare: Local transit, rail, ferry or road for the outing as applicable

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Portland, Oregon

- 14:30 to 15:20 · Check in or drop bags · The Paramount Hotel, Portland, Oregon
- 15:40 to 16:45 · Walk the South Park Blocks · South Park Blocks, Portland, Oregon
- 17:00 to 18:00 · See Pioneer Courthouse Square · Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, Oregon. Keep the walk optional on a late arrival.
- 18:15 to 19:40 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown Portland, Oregon
Overnight: [The Paramount Hotel](<https://www.hotels.com/ho164021/the-paramount-hotel-portland-united-states-of-america/>) · Portland, Oregon

### Day 2 · Portland, Oregon

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Coffee and breakfast near the hotel · Downtown Portland, Oregon
- 09:45 to 11:20 · Walk the Park Blocks and visit the market if it is operating · Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Check the Portland Farmers Market calendar and move this outing to a market day if it matters to you.
- 11:40 to 13:10 · Choose lunch at a food cart pod · Portland, Oregon. Check current cart locations and hours before choosing a pod.
- 13:30 to 15:00 · Walk Tom McCall Waterfront Park · Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon
- 15:20 to 16:40 · Browse a neighborhood food shop or take a coffee break · Downtown Portland, Oregon
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner in the Pearl District · Pearl District, Portland, Oregon
Overnight: [The Paramount Hotel](<https://www.hotels.com/ho164021/the-paramount-hotel-portland-united-states-of-america/>) · Portland, Oregon

### Day 3 · Portland, Oregon

- 08:40 to 09:25 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown Portland, Oregon
- 10:00 to 11:55 · Browse Powell's City of Books · Powell's City of Books, Portland, Oregon. Pick two sections and check for an event if that would fit the trip.
- 12:05 to 13:10 · Lunch near Burnside · West Burnside Street, Portland, Oregon
- 13:25 to 14:05 · Travel to Southeast Portland · Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, Oregon
- 14:15 to 16:00 · Choose an independent bookstore or literary event · Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, Oregon. Check current locations and hours before heading over.
- 17:40 to 19:10 · Dinner in Southeast Portland · Southeast Portland, Oregon
Overnight: [The Paramount Hotel](<https://www.hotels.com/ho164021/the-paramount-hotel-portland-united-states-of-america/>) · Portland, Oregon

### Day 4 · Columbia River Gorge

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown Portland, Oregon
- 09:00 to 10:25 · Travel to the Columbia River Gorge · Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. Check Oregon transportation and land manager notices, parking, permits, and return travel before leaving.
- 10:35 to 12:20 · Visit an open waterfall viewpoint · Multnomah Falls, Oregon. Verify access and permit rules for your specific approach. Use a public roadside viewpoint if trails are closed.
- 12:35 to 13:35 · Lunch at a permitted stop or in Cascade Locks · Cascade Locks, Oregon. Bring food if you need a predictable schedule.
- 13:45 to 15:05 · Choose one short open riverfront or viewpoint walk · Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. Skip this if daylight, weather, or road conditions make it impractical.
- 15:20 to 16:55 · Return to Portland · Downtown Portland, Oregon
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown Portland, Oregon
Overnight: [The Paramount Hotel](<https://www.hotels.com/ho164021/the-paramount-hotel-portland-united-states-of-america/>) · Portland, Oregon

### Day 5 · Portland, Oregon

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast near the hotel · Downtown Portland, Oregon
- 09:30 to 10:20 · Travel to Washington Park · Washington Park, Portland, Oregon. Check the operating shuttle or transit routes and plan for uphill walking.
- 10:30 to 12:30 · Visit the Portland Japanese Garden · Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon. Check opening hours and the admission policy.
- 12:40 to 13:35 · Lunch near the park or a packed meal · Washington Park, Portland, Oregon. Check food availability before relying on it.
- 13:45 to 15:20 · Explore the International Rose Test Garden and nearby park paths · International Rose Test Garden, Portland, Oregon. Check path and weather conditions and keep the route short if needed.
- 15:40 to 16:35 · Return downtown · Downtown Portland, Oregon
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · Downtown Portland, Oregon
Overnight: [The Paramount Hotel](<https://www.hotels.com/ho164021/the-paramount-hotel-portland-united-states-of-america/>) · Portland, Oregon

### Day 6 · Portland, Oregon

- 08:45 to 09:35 · Breakfast near the museum · South Park Blocks, Portland, Oregon
- 10:00 to 12:35 · Visit Portland Art Museum · Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon. Check current exhibition hours and which galleries are open.
- 12:50 to 13:55 · Lunch downtown · Downtown Portland, Oregon
- 14:10 to 15:30 · Walk the South Park Blocks and the cultural district · South Park Blocks, Portland, Oregon
- 15:45 to 16:50 · Choose a gallery or a quiet coffee stop · Downtown Portland, Oregon. Check gallery hours and avoid squeezing in an extra visit if the museum ran long.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner downtown · Downtown Portland, Oregon
Overnight: [The Paramount Hotel](<https://www.hotels.com/ho164021/the-paramount-hotel-portland-united-states-of-america/>) · Portland, Oregon

### Day 7 · Portland, Oregon

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast downtown · Downtown Portland, Oregon
- 09:25 to 10:10 · Take a last short walk through the South Park Blocks · South Park Blocks, Portland, Oregon. Skip this if you need to leave early.
- 10:20 to 10:50 · Check out and collect bags · The Paramount Hotel, Portland, Oregon