RV Rental Portland, OR

Portland, Oregon RV Rentals

Portland is one of the most extraordinary and unconventional cities you’ll ever encounter — and that’s exactly why it should be the destination of your next RV road trip. Part bustling city, part outdoor community, Portland sits on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, right near the towering peaks of Mount Hood. RV rentals in Portland, Oregon give you flexibility and convenience to explore both the natural wonders of this region and the urban experiences waiting in the city. 

Whether you’re hoping to get outdoors and have adventures in nature or you want to try Portland’s famous food, sounds, and sights for yourself, you can do it all with an RV rental. You can explore one-of-a-kind scenery and natural wonders, and there are plenty of cool, unpredictable spots to see in the city itself. Plan your next vacation to include an RV rental in Portland, and you’ll have a ton to see and do.

Popular RV Destinations in Portland Oregon

Columbia River Gorge

One of the must-see destinations in the Portland area is the Columbia River Gorge. As an iconic natural wonder, the Columbia River Gorge is a stunningly scenic area that offers ample camping, hiking trails, and some of the world’s most incredible waterfalls. You can take in the natural scenery or get your heart pumping on awesome trails — it’s all possible in this one location.

At the Columbia River Gorge, you’ll have the chance to get up close to the iconic Multnomah Falls as well as sister waterfalls Latourell, Wahclella, Shepherd’s Dell, and more. You can choose which of the many trails you want to travel to see these stunning falls. Or, you can take in the incredible landscapes at Angel’s Rest or Beacon Rock; with campsites nearby, you can stay a day or longer.

Silver Falls State Park

Want to see even more waterfalls? Head to Silver Falls State Park, a historic spot within the Willamette Valley nature area. You’ll find hiking opportunities here that simply can’t compare to anything else — including the chance to hike behind breathtaking waterfalls. 

Silver Falls State Park spans 9,200 acres of space just 60 miles south of Portland, set in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. When you bring your RV to this state park, you can explore hiking and biking trails, horseback riding, fishing, swimming, and more. You can even camp right in the park, allowing you to access the incredible natural sights as long as you’d like.

Powell Butte Nature Park

If you’re hoping to find something incredible and unique on your RV trip to Portland, plan to stop at Powell Butte Nature Park. An ideal place for any fan of the outdoors and those who simply love scenic spots, you can watch the sunrise or sunset, travel several different hiking trails, and even create your very own adventure throughout some of the coolest landscape in the area. 

Powell Butte Nature Parks features an extinct cinder cone volcano right within Portland’s city limits. It spans 611 acres and is home to crisscrossing trails you can try in any configuration. At its highest point, you can see Mount Hood and all of the other surrounding mountain peaks, creating a seriously stunning vista.

Forest Park

Forest Park is a dense, awe-inspiring forest that’s located right in the heart of Portland. It’s a cool juxtaposition, setting pine trees and local wildlife against an urban backdrop that’s bustling with cars, people, and even public transportation. A haven for those who love adventures in nature, a visit to Forest Park is the perfect idea for any RV trip if you’re jonesing for a bit more natural wonder.

Featuring 70 miles of trails, Forest Park is a great place to run, ride horses, or hike. You can even bring dogs along with you. No matter how you choose to enjoy this city park, you’ll be able to get up close to more than 112 bird and 62 mammal species, and you can even step outside of the park’s boundaries and right back into the bustle of Portland’s streets.

Washington Park

If you’re looking for a place to park your RV that offers plenty of sights to see and activities to experience, you’re going to want to head to Washington Park. It’s a great place to visit whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or with family. In this expansive park that’s considered the “signature park” of Portland, you’ll find beautiful gardens, culture-filled museums, memorials to take in, a zoo to explore, and even a bit of wilderness.

Washington Park does feature shady trees and spacious outdoor areas to lounge, picnic, and have fun. But with 410 acres of space, you’ll also get to check out one of the best Japanese gardens in the world, a beautiful rose garden, and trails that’ll take you right into the wild natural scenery of Forest Park.

Powell’s City of Books

Powell’s City of Books may not be filled with physical adventures, but it’s an absolute must when you’re headed to Portland. It’s the world’s largest bookstore, featuring both new and used books that cover just about every subject under the sun — and it spans an entire city block. It’s so unique and so massive that you need a map to get through its rows and rows of books. 

First founded in 1971, Powell’s is a Portland landmark located in the Pearl District. Whether you’re an avid reader or simply someone who loves once-in-a-lifetime experiences, you’re going to want to step out of your rented RV and into the shelves of this awesome book store. With 68,000 square feet, three floors, nine rooms, and 3,500 sections, you can spend a whole day inside.

Events and Entertainment in Portland Oregon

Beer Week

If there’s one thing that Portland is famous for besides its eclectic vibe, it’s beer — and Beer Week is a can’t-miss event that allows you to try just about every beer made in the city. Officially known as PDX Beer Week, this annual event takes place in June and features 11 full days of beer events and celebrations.

During Beer Week, you can indulge in beer of all different kinds. With limited-edition brews, beer-themed and beer-focused events, and beer specials offered at bars, breweries, and pubs throughout the city, you can sample the best beer Portland has to offer. You can also take part in special events like beer pairings, brewer’s dinners, beer seminars, pub crawls, tap takeovers, and so much more.

Waterfront Blues Festival

One of the best attributes of Portland is its proximity to the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, and during the annual Waterfront Blues Festival, you can enjoy both everything the rivers have to offer and some seriously smooth sounds. This festival brings blues musicians right into downtown Portland at Waterfront Park, with big names like the Steve Miller Band, Taj Mahal Trio, Mavis Staples, and Buddy Guy playing right along the shores of the Willamette River.

The Waterfront Blues Festival spans four days and is the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi. It’s also the second biggest event of its kind in all of the U.S., and you’ll have the opportunity to not only listen to music but participate. You can join festival events like midnight blues cruises on the river, late-night dances, and sunny days on the waterfront while blues bands play.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Spring brings blossoming flowers, and Portland is well-known thanks to its annual bloom of cherry blossoms at Waterfront Park. But cherry blossoms aren’t the only vibrant flower celebrated in this city — the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is all about the tulips. You’ll want to plan your next RV trip to Portland just to participate in this annual spring event, which celebrates the return of freshly blooming tulips.

During the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, you can see the burst of color tulips bring over 40 acres at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. Afterward, you can participate in kids’ rides and activities, buy tulip bulbs, and even join in on rubber duck races and horseback rides. Each year, the festival gets even bigger and better.

The Big Float

Here’s an event you can’t experience anywhere else: The Big Float, an annual gathering of Portland residents and visitors to join together in a massive flotilla right on the Willamette River. That’s right, each July the city heads to the river with inflatable loungers, inner tubes, and inflatable pool toys for some summer fun. You can join the crowd and hop right into the river to cool down, have fun, and enjoy the festival events.

In addition to literally floating in the Willamette River, The Big Float also includes other fun activities. After drifting downstream, floaters can win awards for their costumes and their chosen watercraft. You can also watch a synchronized swim event, inner tube parades, and follow a floating barge with live music — or you can stay dry and watch the event from the Hawthorne Bridge. 

PDX Adult Soapbox Derby

Whether you loved the soapbox derby as a kid or never got the chance to participate, the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby is an event you won’t want to skip. This awesome annual event lets adults — not kids — race in a soapbox derby car. Even better, they get to do it down an extinct volcano in Portland’s Mt. Tabor Park, careening around curves, speeding down straightaways, and zipping right to the finish line.

Teams that participate in the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby design cars and pick their racers. It’s a day full of laughter and fun, and even if you aren’t racing you can watch, visit the beer garden, or participate in other event activities. 

Portland Saturday Market

Immerse yourself in Portland’s city life by stopping at the Portland Saturday Market while you’re camping out for the weekend. The Portland Saturday Market has been around since 1974, and it’s considered the largest continuously operating arts and crafts fair in the country.

You can stop in on any Saturday and browse an array of different vendors, picking up local specialties like apparel, ceramics, home decor, and photography.

The Saturday Market is also a great destination for entertainment. Each weekend, the market hosts live music like bluegrass bands and jazz musicians, along with ethnic food booths so you can try cuisine from around the world and around town. It’s a fantastic way to see what Portland is about, all in one place.

FAQs

Q: What are RV Rentals?

RV rentals are a convenient and easy way to vacation in an RV of your very own, all without making the huge initial investment needed to buy a motorhome. You can rent an RV to travel throughout Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding area. When your vacation is over, you can hand the RV back over to the rental company without having to worry about any costs of ownership, maintenance, or other common RV woes.

Q: How much are RV Rentals?

RV rentals in Portland can vary from company to company and are typically based on the size of the motorhome you rent and the length of your rental period. A small camper typically costs between $75 and $150 per night, while a full-size or larger RV costs between $150 and $250 per night. If you opt for a longer rental — like a week or more — you may be able to score a lower per night cost.

Q: Do I need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Portland Oregon?

Most RV rental companies require you to be 25 years old or older to get behind the wheel. You may, however, find that some Portland RV rental companies allow you to rent a motorhome as young as 21 years old. You’ll just face higher rates and potentially more fees or insurance costs if you are allowed to rent as a younger driver.

Q: Do I need insurance when I rent an RV?

You’ll need insurance to rent an RV — it’s typically required by law. You can purchase extra insurance for a fee directly from your chosen Spokane RV rental company. You can also check with your current auto insurance company to see if perhaps your policy already has you covered while you’re behind the wheel of an RV.

Q: Do I need to return my rental RV with a full tank?

You may need to bring your rented RV back to the lot with a full tank of fuel. It simply depends on what your rental agreement states. Some companies require you to return the RV with the same amount of gas it had when you drove it off the lot. Others will require you to fill the entire tank. You may be able to have the rental company refuel it for you when your trip ends — but you’ll likely have to pay a bit more for this convenience.

Q: Are RVs pet friendly in Portland Oregon?

Portland RV rentals can be pet friendly, but you’ll want to check with your rental company before you make plans to bring your pup along on your travels. Some RV rental companies welcome pets, but others won’t allow them inside the RVs. Ask before heading to Portland so you know for sure what the company’s policy is.