Mount Hood, a dormant volcano, is an unmistakable landmark you will see on clear days in your rented RV in Portland, OR. But there is plenty of places to visit in the city, from iconic shops to lush gardens. It’s also a foodie paradise with more than 500 food carts, giving you nearly endless options as you explore in your RV. This guide can help you plan for the Portland RV trip.
A rented RV will make your two days in Portland easy and flexible. It will function as your hotel, portable patio, and mobile kitchen all at the same time. You can pick a luxurious RV resort within the city limits or a boondocking opportunity nearby.
Search RV rentals in the Portland area.
Preparing for Your Portland RV Trip
You can find upwards of 700 RV rentals within 50 miles of Portland, OR. Options include massive Class A motorhomes with kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms, toy haulers with built-in garages, Class B campervans for a cozy trip for one or two, and Class C motorhomes with slide-outs or tip-outs. You can also choose a fifth wheel or trailer if you have a truck or SUV that can tow. RVshare makes finding an RV to rent that perfectly matches your needs easy.
Check out tips for renting an RV, courtesy of RVShare:
• Renting the RV
• Picking an RV of the right size
• What to pack
• Parking tips for your RV
Booking your RV campsite before you begin your Portland itinerary is just plain smart. You can search for campgrounds with the amenities you want, from resort-style settings to primitive, one-with-nature sites. Roamers Rest RV Park, Columbia River RV Park, and Jantzen Beach RV Park are three excellent choices right in the city of Portland, OR.
Find other campground options in our comprehensive list of top-rated campgrounds in Portland,.
Day 1: Beginning your Pacific Northwest Adventure
Morning: No Sales Tax Shopping
Oregon is a shopper’s paradise because it is one of the few states that does not have a sales tax. There are about 50 vintage clothing shops in Portland, OR. House of Vintage clothing store specializes in clothing from the 1920s until the turn of the 21st century. Laundry Vintage Clothing features sports jerseys from leagues all around the world, along with other vintage clothing.
Lunch: Fabulous Food Trucks
The city is famous for its food trucks, and one of the most popular and unusual trucks is 808 Grinds, which provides Hawaiian food. Another fine food truck is Yoshi’s Sushi. Both of these food trucks are near the Midtown Beer Garden.
Afternoon: Peace and Relaxation
The Portland Japanese Garden provides quiet strolling, nature appreciation, and themed art exhibitions. If you have a specific time slot when you can visit the garden, it’s best to get your ticket in advance. You can also make a reservation for the traditional tea house, Umami Café.
Setting up Camp
It’s a smart idea to make a reservation at one of the local RV campgrounds before leaving on your trip. Having paid reservations will simplify checking in when you get to your campground. Remember to level your RV using the included equipment. After that, chock the wheels in the interest of safety. Then, it’s safe to connect your RV to any available hookups. When choosing your rented RV, check each listing to see if the owner provides delivery and setup service. It might be nice to have someone else do those chores for you.
Dinner: Eat at Camp or Enjoy Mediterranean Victuals
Since you’re at your campsite, you can choose to make your own dinner in our RV. If you want to go out, hamachi crudo, beef-and-bacon wrapped dates, and fasolakia hummus are all sublime appetizers at the Mediterranean Exploration Company. The entrees, which include hanger steak and Greek lamb chops, are just as delicious. Finish off with baked strawberries with feta and honey for dessert.
Day 2: Further Adventures in Portland
Morning: Hiking With a View
On every day but Wednesday, the park atop Mount Tabor opens at 5 a.m. Getting there early means you and your family can hike to the top of this 636-foot prominence and see the sunrise over Mount Hood some 35 miles away. In some places, the rocks are cut away so that you can observe and learn from the exposed layers. Your pets are welcome in Mount Tabor Park, and there is even an off-leash area for your dogs.
Lunch: The Mexican Munchies
Another of Portland’s famous food trucks, Tito’s Taquitos, serves fabulous taquitos of various kinds, tacos, and even Mexican brownies covered with assorted berries, caramel sauce, and whipped cream. Taquito toppings include pickled onions, queso fresco, shredded cheese, cilantro, and radishes. The tacos are hand-pressed, and the taquitos are hand-rolled.
Afternoon: A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet …
Right in the middle of the city, the International Rose Test Garden at Washington Park contains more than 10,000 roses that comprise more than 600 species. The trails through the garden are pet-friendly too. The history of the garden dates to World War I, when rose gardeners from all over the world sent different hybrids and other rose species to the garden for testing, and that work continues to this day.
Evening: A Romantic River Cruise
Climb aboard the Portland Spirit, which is a river-cruising vessel that will take you on a 2.5-hour cruise up the Columbia River. The cruise includes a plated three-course dinner that includes gluten-free and vegan options upon request. You’ll be able to dine at a private candlelit table. Headphones are available for educational, historical narration during the river cruise.
Day 3 and Beyond in Portland
Have you thought about extending your trip to Portland? There are still hundreds of food trucks and other food places to try, renowned places to explore, and half-day trips to Mount Hood and other places surrounding the city.
• Mount Hood National Forest gives you terrific birding opportunities during the day. At night, if you decide to stop for some boondocking, then you can break out the telescope to stargaze under Class-3 Bortle Scale conditions.
• No trip to Portland is complete without visiting Powell’s Books, the largest independent bookstore that offers both new and used books, including rare and vintage books. The downtown location is a multi-story building covering an entire city block. It’s so large they have fold-out maps to guide you to the different sections.
• If you have a sweet tooth, you must visit Voodoo Doughnut! Their creative inventions, such as the namesake voodoo doll doughnut, have been featured in newspapers nationwide and on several Food Network shows. The memorable pink box has even appeared in prime-time TV shows.
Seasonal Activities
Every winter, the award-winning Portland Winter Light Festival takes place throughout the city. It’s a family-friendly event where you can participate as an artist, dancer, or volunteer to help put up the lights.
Fall in Portland is the best time to visit the Shemanski Park Farmer’s Market. You can get locally grown produce and goodies to take back to your RV for a fine family meal.
Indoor Activities
Even though Portland is not among the rainiest locations in the United States, there are still fun indoor activities for families, such as visiting the Pittock Mansion. The mansion belonged to Henry Pittock, who lived there while overseeing the development of the newspaper called “The Oregonian,” which is still in print today.
The Portland Art Museum features both permanent and traveling collections of famous artists from all over the world. From Matisse and Monet’s paintings to Sir Paul McCartney’s photography, you can find something to enjoy.
When you rent an RV, both Portland and all of the Pacific Northwest are yours to explore on one grand adventure. So, get going, and enjoy the good times.
