Waterfall · 50 min east
Multnomah Falls
Oregon's tallest waterfall, 620 feet in two tiers, with a bridge across the middle.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- Timed-use permit for the I-84 lot in summer (2026: May 22-Sept 7, 9 am-6 pm)
Day Trippin' › Washington › From Vancouver
Day trips from Vancouver
Just across the river from Portland, Vancouver has the Columbia Gorge, Mount St. Helens and the beaches of the Oregon Coast all within an easy drive. Here are the best day trips from Vancouver, Washington, by drive time.
93 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Vancouver
- Vista House and Crown Point 43 min east
- Multnomah Falls 50 min east
- Beacon Rock State Park 1 hr east
- Hood River and the Fruit Loop 1 hr 27 min east
- Trillium Lake 1 hr 43 min southeast
- Timberline Lodge 1 hr 45 min southeast
- Silver Falls State Park 1 hr 48 min south
- Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock 2 hr 2 min west
- Ecola State Park 2 hr 9 min west
- Maryhill Stonehenge 2 hr 17 min east
Within an hour from Vancouver 13 spots
State park · 1 hr east
Beacon Rock State Park
A switchback trail up a huge rock core over the Columbia River.
- 2 hrs · Moderate
- Year-round
- Discover Pass
Viewpoint · 43 min east
Vista House and Crown Point
A stone observatory high above the Columbia River at the start of the waterfall road.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
History · 41 min south
Oregon City and Willamette Falls
The end of the Oregon Trail, a free municipal elevator and a view of the big Willamette Falls.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Museum admission
Wildlife refuge · 50 min north
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Drive or walk past wetlands full of ducks, cranes and herons.
- 2 hrs · Easy
- Fall-spring
- Refuge entrance fee or America the Beautiful pass (Discover Pass not accepted)
Farm · 50 min northwest
Sauvie Island
Farms, U-pick berries, pumpkin patches and river beaches minutes from downtown.
- Half day · Easy
- Summer-fall
- ODFW Wildlife Area Parking Permit; a separate Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit is needed at Walton, Collins and North Unit beaches on summer weekends and holidays
History · 55 min south
Champoeg State Heritage Area
Where Oregon's first government was voted in, with river trails and bike paths.
- 2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Oregon State Parks day-use parking permit
Waterfall · 45 min east
Bridal Veil Falls (Oregon)
A short trail down to a two-step falls in the Gorge.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
1 to 2 hours from Vancouver 34 spots
Farm · 1 hr 27 min east
Hood River and the Fruit Loop
Orchards, farm stands, cideries and wineries with Mount Hood in view.
- Half day · Easy
- Spring blossoms through fall harvest
- No pass or fee needed
Historic lodge · 1 hr 45 min southeast
Timberline Lodge
A 1930s stone and timber lodge high on Mount Hood, with year-round snow above.
- 2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Sno-Park permit Nov 1-Apr 30
State park · 1 hr 48 min south
Silver Falls State Park
The Trail of Ten Falls, including a path behind 177-foot South Falls.
- Half day · Moderate
- Year-round
- Oregon State Parks day-use parking permit
Lake · 1 hr 43 min southeast
Trillium Lake
A small lake with the classic reflection of Mount Hood and an easy loop trail.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Summer-fall; snowshoe in winter
- Day-use fee May-Nov (annual NW Forest Pass accepted, other passes not); Sno-Park permit in winter
Town · 1 hr 4 min east
Cascade Locks
A small river town at the Bridge of the Gods, with sternwheeler cruises.
- 2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- None; cruise extra
Viewpoint · 1 hr 42 min east
Rowena Crest
A loop road and plateau with spring wildflowers above the eastern Gorge.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy to moderate
- Spring wildflowers
- No pass or fee needed
Trail · 1 hr 6 min east
Wahclella Falls
A short canyon hike to a two-tier falls in a mossy box canyon.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- NW Forest Pass or day-use fee
Wildlife · 1 hr 40 min northwest
Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area
Roosevelt elk graze in the meadows, best seen in fall and winter.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Late fall-spring
- Wildlife area parking permit
2 to 3 hours from Vancouver 43 spots
Town · 2 hr 2 min west
Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock
A walkable beach town with the 235-foot Haystack Rock and tide pools at low tide.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
State park · 2 hr 9 min west
Ecola State Park
Forested headland trails with big views of the coast and Haystack Rock, plus Indian Beach for surfers.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- Oregon State Parks day-use parking permit
Historic site · 2 hr 17 min east
Maryhill Stonehenge
A full-size concrete Stonehenge built as a WWI memorial.
- 30 min · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
Viewpoint · 2 hr 33 min southwest
Cape Kiwanda and Pacific City
A giant sand dune above a sandstone cape, with dories launching off the beach.
- 2 hrs · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- Tillamook County parking pass
Viewpoint · 2 hr 14 min northeast
Coldwater Lake and Johnston Ridge
The west-side view straight into Mount St. Helens' blast zone.
- Half day · Easy
- Summer-fall
- NW Forest Pass
Park · 2 hr 49 min north
Point Defiance Park
A huge Tacoma park with old forest, beaches, gardens, a zoo and an aquarium.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free park; zoo has a fee
Wildlife refuge · 2 hr 12 min north
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
A boardwalk out over the delta with herons, eagles and huge flocks of ducks.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; birds best fall-spring
- Refuge entry fee or America the Beautiful pass (Discover Pass not accepted)
Waterfall · 2 hr 13 min west
Munson Creek Falls
The tallest waterfall in the Coast Range, a short walk from the parking area.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
Get a day trip idea every Friday
Three ideas for the weekend, one each for Washington, Oregon and Arizona, with a link to plan the day. Free. Unsubscribe any time.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 98660 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.