Campervan Rental near Portland

Campervan Rental Portland

Portland, Oregon, is the largest and most popular metropolis in the state with a rich history. Located on the Northwest side of Oregon, where the Columbia and Willamette rivers meet, the city is like a big recreational playground with so much to see and explore. The vibrant, scenic city is most famous for its wild west past, breathtaking natural marvels, incredible weather, livability, arts, culture, food, and drink.

Once you land in the city, take time and visit some of its most popular destinations like the Grotto, Oregon Zoo, Oaks Amusement Park, Portland Japanese Garden, microbreweries, or enjoy some tax-free shopping. There are various campsites strategically placed all around the city, where you can pull up your RV rental and set up shop. Portland has charming neighborhoods and is a haven for hipsters, cyclists, artists, vegans, and eco-activists.

A drive to this town is not only guaranteed to fulfill your expectations but also reveal some hidden gems that will keep you wanting to visit again for more. It takes one hour from the city to drive to the ocean on the west or mountains on the east.

Getting to Portland

A road trip to Portland, Oregon, is an epic one. Rent an RV and hit the road via the scenic Interstate 5 highway that runs from Mexico to Canada, parallel to US Route 99 and the Pacific Ocean. The highway passes through California, Oregon, and Washington. There is also Interstate 84 that runs along the Columbia River as the East-West connection. It is approximately 2911 miles from NY to Portland, a distance that takes 45h 23m to cover by car, or 3-days 4h by bus.

Portland’s main train station is the Portland Union Station on 800 NW Sixth Avenue. This historic station is a regional landmark, popular for its glowing neon sign encouraging people to “Go By Train.” It is conveniently located near several mass transit options like the city tram, metro, and buses. It is approximately 2438miles from NY to Oregon city, which takes 2-days and 18h to cover by train from NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station.

Three Amtrak passenger trains serve Union Station: Amtrak Cascades (links to British Columbia and the Pacific NorthWest), Coast Starlight (links to popular West Coast cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco), and Empire Builder (Links to Portland to Chicago).

If you wish to travel to Portland by air, you will likely land at the Portland International Airport (PDX). This is the busiest and the largest airport in the city where most international and domestic flights land. There are over 100 direct flights to over 47 destinations worldwide, with the major airlines being American, Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, and Condor airlines. It takes five hours on average to get to Portland from New York.

Points of Interest in Portland

• Oxbow Regional Park: 25 miles east of downtown Portland lies the Oxbow Regional Park with the Wild & Scenic Sandy River. The cool, clear waters are an oasis for rafters, swimmers, floaters, and kayakers. There is a well-equipped campsite with all the basic amenities.
• Willamette River: Lovers of outdoor activities will love visiting the Willamette river in summer. There is a waterfront in the downtown area beside the river where you can chill and watch the sunset over Portland's skyline over some locally brewed beer. Alternatively, you can opt for a pedal-powered brew barge afternoon trip and enjoy your beer in the water.
• Downtown: Downtown Portland is easy to get around, thanks to its cheap and reliable public trams and buses transport system. Here, you get to sample unique boutique stores, art galleries, vintage shops, and many other small businesses and thrift stores.

Parking in Portland

Finding a parking spot in the city isn't hard; what is hard is finding those free parking spots downtown. There is 1-2-hour free hour parking, but nothing like all-day free parking downtown. Check out Cumberland Avenue behind City Hall for the free hours parking offer. However, there are many other metered spots, lots, and garages around the city where you can park your car for $1.75/hour.

The city-owned public parking garages charge $3/hour and $28/day, but where private companies run these lots, be prepared to pay $5/hour and $40/day. Flat parking lots owned by Unified Parking Partners charge a flat day rate.

To enjoy free parking all day, drive to the outskirts of downtown to the Waterfront, Somerset Street, Deering Avenue, or Danforth Street on the West End. The city also has free parking over national holidays.

Annual Events in Portland

• Portland World Naked Bike Ride: Held in June. Naked bike riders cruise through the city streets commando to protest the global dependency on oil. People join the parade for free.
• Reel Music Festival: Runs from Jan-Feb. A winter festival is held at the Portland Art Museum to celebrate music on film. It features concerts, film showings, and speakers. The Admission fees vary.
• Chinese New Year: Celebrated from Jan-Feb. A 15-day festival to usher in the Chinese New Year in style. The event is held at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden and various venues across town at no charge.
• Chocolatefest: Held in March. This festival is dedicated to savoring and sampling everything chocolate from exhibitors and lasts for a whole weekend. A single day’s pass goes for $20, and $30 for two days.
• Oregon Brewers Festival: Held in July. The event is held at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park to celebrate and sample craft beer. The entry is free, but beer mugs go for $1.

Camping in Portland

• Silver Falls State Park RV: a 1-hour drive from Portland to Silver falls, Oregon State Park System's crème de la crème. The fall is nested in the Cascade Mountains, where a 177' South Fall sheet of water cascades over a cliff, giving you a rare treat to walk behind the waterfall. There are accommodation trails on the equestrian sites, beautiful grounds where you can pitch a tent or park your RV rental. It costs between $21-$40 to camp here.
• Champoeg State Heritage Area: Get the best RV Rental Portland deal and head down to this medium-sized campground 27.3 miles from Portland and along the Willamette River. It is surrounded by wetlands and a gorgeous forest, offering a mix of recreation, history, and nature. Camping costs between $5-72.
• Trillium Lake Campground: This campsite offers a vantage point serving extraordinary views of Mt. hood. A trail ideal for bikers and hikers circumvents the lake, a boat ramp, and a pier. The site is RV and pet-friendly, charging between $21-$40.