Vancouver, WA Road Trips

Vancouver is the fourth largest city in Washington (and is more populous than all cities in Oregon with the exception of Portland), but is obscured by its close proximity to and economic reliance on Portland, OR. City of Vancouver website

1 Pearson Air Museum, 1115 E 5th St, ☏ +1 360 694-7026. W-Sa 9AM-5PM. The museum is on historic Pearson Field, the oldest active airfield in the United States. The museum is also home to the country's oldest wooden hangar. Built in 1918 as part of the U.S. Army Spruce Division, it has been used as an airplane hangar since 1921. It even housed Italian prisoners of war during W.W.II. The museum is the first step in a three-phase project to recreate a pre-WWII Army Air Corps Field that existed at Pearson Field in the 1920s and 1930s. Free. (updated Jun 2023) 2 Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 612 E Reserve St, ☏ +1 360 816-6230. 9AM-5PM Summer, 9AM-4PM Winter. Built in 1825, Fort Vancouver was a fur trading outpost and home to the Hudson's Bay Company. It's right outside Downtown Vancouver and next to the Pearson Air Field and Museum. It's a great spot to stop and have a picnic or just to look at the handful of old buildings and displays. Also, on the 4th of July be sure to check out the amazing firework show, said to be the biggest west of the Mississippi River. $3/person, $5/family. (updated Jun 2023) 3 Water Resources Education Center (Water Center), 4600 SE Columbia Way, ☏ +1 360 487-7111. M-F 10AM-5PM. Enjoy the hands-on, interactive activities in the Exhibit Hall. View the nature-inspired art in the White Sturgeon Art Gallery. Take in the panoramic view of the Columbia River from the Center's balconies.

1 Big Al's, 16615 SE 18th St, ☏ +1 360 944-6118. Big Al's is a local family entertainment center with bowling alleys, billiard tables, arcade and a sports bar & grill themed restaurant. (updated Jun 2023) 2 Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), 1300 NW 139th St, ☏ +1 360 735-7278. Plays at Skyview Concert Hall. 3 Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St, ☏ +1 360 737-3161. Newly renovated 1930s movie theatre showing second-run movies. Grab a drink before the show in the upstairs lounge. $4+. (updated Jun 2023) 4 Alderbrook Park, 24414 NE Westerholm Rd (Take I-5 to exit #4. Travel East. Stay straight on Padden Pkwy, which becomes Ward Rd. Ward Rd becomes 182nd Ave. Turn right on 184th St, which becomes 189th St. Turn on Westerholm Rd), ☏ +1 360 882-4444. Seasonal (11AM-dusk). A family friendly, magical forest hidden in the foothills of Larch Mountain. A variety of activities are available for all ages: trackless train, pedal boats, catch and release fishing, bounce houses, mini-golf, horses and pony rides. Discover the enchanted children's area where lies a life-size, beached pirates ship. Amenities include swimming pool, bath houses, picnic pavilions and guest houses. $5/person. (updated Jun 2023) 5 Battle Ground Lake State Park, 18002 NE 249th St, Battle Ground, ☏ +1 360-687-4621. The state park is covered by an evergreen forest that surrounds a crater lake of volcanic origin. The park includes a swimming area, boat launch, campground, and cabin rentals. Hiking and bridle trails ring the lake and criss-cross the summit area.

1 Burgerville, 7401 E Mill Plain Blvd, ☏ +1 360 694-4971. 7AM-11PM daily. Founded in 1961 and still based here in Vancouver, the NW's own fast food chain with a decidedly NW flavor promoting sustainable practices and fresh, local ingredients. Great burgers and traditional fast food fare. Amazing seasonal items including sweet potato fries, asparagus, strawberries, blackberries, onion rings and more. The original Burgerville USA was actually in the building next door to this location. 2 Sushi Hana, 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd, ☏ +1 360 944-9659. Sushi World is one of the best and cheapest places in the Portland/Vancouver area to get sushi. It's clean, friendly, but sometimes crowded, especially on nights when they're offering a discount. Plates travel around to booths and bars while staff in the kitchen and in the hub of the restaurant replenish stocks. Options vary from nigiri or rolls to noodles to dessert items. Offerings are invariably fresh, and special items are available from the sushi chefs on request. It is very possible to eat your fill here and get out the door for $10 per person. 3 Sakura of Japan, 8010 NE Highway 99 # A, ☏ +1 360 573-3883. Looking for the best Japanese food in Vancouver? A 5 minute drive north of the Downtown area will bring you to the suburb of Hazel Dell where Sakura of Japan is located. The staff is friendly and the food is amazing. The restaurant prepares many Japanese dishes, including Teriyaki Chicken, Yakisoba Noodles, and Miso Soup. The servings are generous and there's always some left over to bring home.

1 McMenamins on the Columbia, 1801 SE Columbia River Dr, ☏ +1 360 699-1521. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM. Not only do they have fantastic food, but they also have a full-service bar. Located along Vancouver's water front on the Columbia River, the pub is known for the many beers it makes and serves. The atmosphere is very relaxed and appealing. McMenamins is a great place to visit and enjoy drinks, food, and an incredible view. (updated May 2025)

1 Vancouver Hilton, 301 W 6th St, ☏ +1 360 993-4500. Just opened in 2005. 2 The Heathman Lodge, 7801 NE Greenwood Dr, ☏ +1 360 254-3100. The Heathman Lodge offers a mountain-like retreat. 3 AC Hotel Vancouver Waterfront, 333 W Columbia Way, ☏ +1 360-993-8895. The rooms are clean and comfortable, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the view of the river is gorgeous. There is a restaurant and bar on-site with an amazing view. 4 DoubleTree by Hilton (formerly Phoenix Inn Suites), 12712 SE 2nd Cir, ☏ +1 360 891-9777. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Indoor pool, fitness center, high speed internet, and 24 hr. business center. (updated Nov 2020) 5 Best Western Vancouver Mall, 9420 NE Vancouver Mall Dr, ☏ +1 360 256-0707. Complimentary breakfast. Pool, spa and fitness center.

Vancouver is closer to the Portland International Airport (PDX IATA) than most of Portland. From Portland Airport, take I-205 north across the Columbia River to reach Vancouver, then follow SR 14 west to downtown, about a 20-minute drive. By local bus, from Fisher's Landing in the east part of town, the #65 bus goes down to the Parkrose/Sumner Transit where passengers transfer to the MAX Red Line train to the airport. However, in the afternoon and at night on weekdays, the #65 bus is superseded by the #67 bus, connecting to the airport instead of Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center. Interstate 5 (I-5) passes north-south through the city, from most major cities in western Washington and western Oregon. Interstate 205 (I-205) serves as an auxiliary highway around the east side of Vancouver through Camas, East Portland, Gladstone, Oregon City and back into I-5 south of Portland at Exit 282. Washington State Route 14 (SR-14) provides access through the Columbia River Gorge along the Washington side of the Columbia River. SR-14 begins/ends in downtown Vancouver. 1 Vancouver station, 1301 West 11th Street. (updated Jul 2018) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. (updated Mar 2022) Routes stopping in Vancouver: Amtrak Cascades operates between Vancouver, BC and Eugene via Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia, Kelso (Longview), Vancouver, WA, Portland, Oregon City, Salem, and Albany.

C-TRAN is Clark County's public bus system. Buses runs throughout the area, serving riders as far north as Ridgefield/La Center, as far east as Camas/Washougal and south across the river to Portland. In addition to routes within Clark County, C-TRAN operates express buses to downtown Portland, Lloyd Center &/or Marquam Hill (routes 105, 134, 157, 190, and 199), as well as regional service to Parkrose/Sumner MAX station (route 41 from downtown Vancouver to Fisher Landing; route 65 from Fisher Landing to NE Portland and MAX Red Line to downtown Portland or the airport) and to Delta Park/Vanport MAX Station (route 60 to N Portland from downtown Vancouver and MAX Yellow Line to downtown Portland). Fares on C-Tran are $1.80 for trips within Clark County; $2.50 for regional service (C-Tran service to Vanport and Parkrose/Sumner MAX stations in Portland); and $3.85 for express C-Tran service to downtown Portland. Regional and express fares can be used to transfer to TriMet. The regional Hop FastPass smartcard works on C-TRAN as well as on TriMet in Portland and can be purchased at Fred Meyer and Safeway stores in Clark County. See the Hop FastPass section under Portland for more details.