Portland International Airport to Hood River: Travel Options

PDX is west of Hood River, and the bus route begins at Gateway Transit Center rather than at the airport.

For the drive east, FlyPDX directs drivers from the airport along Airport Way to I-205 South, then to I-84 East. FlyPDX does not give a driving time from PDX to Hood River, so plan your arrival around current road conditions rather than relying on a fixed duration.

If you are comparing airports, Columbia Gorge Regional Airport is about 30 minutes by car from Sunset Motel, while Portland Troutdale Airport is about 49 minutes by car. The guide to getting from Columbia Gorge Regional Airport to Hood River covers that alternative arrival point.

Driving from PDX follows Airport Way, I-205 South and I-84 East, but the route information does not include a travel time or rental-car details.

Use the FlyPDX directions to follow the eastbound route out of the airport. From there, I-84 East provides the road connection toward Hood River. Check current driving conditions and any rental-car arrangements directly with the relevant providers before setting off.

The Columbia Gorge Express is a Columbia Area Transit fixed-route bus between Gateway Transit Center and Hood River, with a separate connection required from PDX to Gateway.

Stops between Gateway Transit Center and Hood River include Troutdale, Multnomah Falls and Cascade Locks. The Hood River stop for the Portland route is the CAT Transit Center at 224 Wasco Loop. For train-related connections in town, the Hood River Station guide explains the station’s location and local connections.

The one-way fare between Portland and Hood River is $10. You can pay in exact-change cash or purchase a fare online through the Token Transit app; an online fare requires active cellular service when you board.

Portland departures from Gateway Transit Center are at 7:20, 8:50, 10:20, 1:20, 3:50, 5:20 and 6:40, with corresponding Hood River arrivals at 8:23, 9:53, 11:23, 2:23, 4:53, 6:23 and 7:43.

For the return trip, departures from the CAT Transit Center are at 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00 and 5:30; the corresponding Gateway arrivals are 7:10, 8:40, 10:10, 11:40, 1:10, 2:10, 3:40, 5:10 and 6:40.

The Columbia Gorge Express runs year-round. Its Multnomah Falls stop may be bypassed when the parking lot is full and traffic is backed up onto I-84. CAT also offers Dial-a-Ride and ADA Complementary Paratransit in addition to fixed-route transit. Check the official site before you go for current fares, timetables, route conditions and service details.

Driving avoids the bus’s separate airport-to-Gateway connection, while transit offers a fixed-route ride from Gateway Transit Center to Hood River.

Choose the bus if its departure and arrival times fit your plans and you can arrange the connection from PDX to Gateway.

Choose to drive if you prefer to travel directly from the airport by road and can arrange a car. The route details do not provide a comparative journey time for driving, so they do not establish which option is faster.

In Hood River, the CAT Transit Center is at 224 Wasco Loop. From Sunset Motel, Hood River station is about 22 minutes on foot or 3 minutes by car, and the city centre is about 21 minutes on foot or 2 minutes by car.

For your onward plans, Georgiana Smith Park is about 19 minutes on foot or 2 minutes by car from Sunset Motel. Spring Creek Hatchery State Park is about 10 minutes by car, and the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum is about 67 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by car.

Does the Columbia Gorge Express stop at Portland International Airport?

No. The Portland end of the route is Gateway Transit Center, so you need a separate connection from PDX.

Where does the Columbia Gorge Express depart in Portland?

It departs from Gateway Transit Center. The Portland stop’s address is NE 99th Avenue and Pacific.

Can you pay the bus fare on board?

Exact-change cash is a payment option. You can also buy a fare through the Token Transit app, but you need active cellular service when boarding.

Does the bus stop at Multnomah Falls?

Multnomah Falls is a stop, but the bus may bypass it when the parking lot is full and traffic is backed up onto I-84.