Oregon Cruise from Portland to Clarkston — 9 Days

Portland OR, USA

Portland follows the Willamette River, with the Columbia to its north and Mount Hood on the eastern horizon. Begin downtown at Powell’s City of Books, a landmark independent bookstore spanning an entire city block. Visit the Japanese American Historical Plaza beside the waterfront, or head to Washington Park’s International Rose Test Garden. Food carts, craft breweries and seasonal produce give the city its distinctive taste. Allow time for the Columbia River Gorge, whose waterfalls and trails lie east of town.

Stevenson WA, USA

Stevenson sits on the north bank of the Columbia River, beneath the forested walls of the Columbia River Gorge. Its compact downtown makes an easy starting point for exploring the region’s waterfalls, viewpoints and historic routes. The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum explains the river’s history and communities. Follow the waterfront, or drive to Bonneville Dam. Across the river, Oregon’s towns and trails lie close at hand.

Camas-Washougal WA, USA

At the Columbia River’s edge, Camas and Washougal offer a quieter Washington gateway east of Portland. Explore Camas’s historic downtown, shaped by its long paper-making heritage, then stroll Washougal’s riverfront. The Columbia River Gorge lies close by, with waterfalls, basalt cliffs and scenic drives within reach. Choose local history or a day on the water; this port rewards an unhurried pace.

• Land Tour (Land Tour)
• Land Tour (Land Tour)

Astoria OR, USA

Astoria stands where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, at the edge of Oregon’s rugged north coast. Its steep streets climb past Victorian houses and traces of a working port shaped by fishing and shipping. At the Columbia River Maritime Museum, exhibits bring the river bar’s dangerous reputation into focus. For broad river and coast views, drive or walk to the Astoria Column. Nearby Fort Clatsop recalls the Lewis and Clark expedition’s winter on the coast.

Kalama WA, USA

Kalama, Washington, sits on the Columbia River, where forested hills frame a working waterfront. The town grew around the Northern Pacific Railroad in the 1870s, and its railway roots remain part of the story. At Marine Park, stroll the riverfront and see the towering carved totem pole. Nearby, the Kalama Heritage Center traces local history. Portland lies about 35 miles south, making Kalama a quieter gateway to the region.

The Dalles OR, USA

The Dalles stands on the Columbia River at the eastern gateway to the Columbia River Gorge. Celilo Falls nearby drew Indigenous peoples for generations to fish and trade. The falls disappeared beneath the reservoir after The Dalles Dam was completed in 1957. Walk the historic downtown and visit local museums for a closer look at the town’s past.

Columbia River Gorge (Scenic Area)

Richland WA, USA

Richland sits where the Yakima River meets the Columbia, in Washington’s sunlit Tri-Cities region. River paths, broad skies and vineyards offer an inviting counterpoint to the area’s profound history. Follow the Sacajawea Heritage Trail, sample local wines, or discover how the Manhattan Project shaped this once-secret community. Beyond town, the Hanford Reach protects one of the Columbia River’s last free-flowing stretches.

Clarkston WA, USA

Clarkston sits where Idaho’s Clearwater River meets Washington’s Snake, amid the Lewis-Clark Valley’s vineyards and orchards. From its waterfront, riverboats head into Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest river gorge, carved by the Snake. Explore Nez Perce history at nearby sites, or follow the Lewis and Clark Trail through landscapes that shaped their expedition. This quiet river town offers a rewarding pause, with big country close at hand.