Fly from Tucson International Airport on Alaska Airlines Flight 2337 at 10:37 AM, arriving at Portland International Airport at 1:50 PM. Allow roughly 1–2 hours for baggage, walking to the rental-car area, and picking up your car from Payless Car Rental. From the airport, take I-205 north across the Columbia River to Camas—normally about 25–35 minutes, though afternoon traffic can slow the crossing. Check in at your Camas accommodation on NE 5th Avenue, unpack, and keep the evening easy.
After settling in, walk through Downtown Camas, where the compact historic center is pleasant for browsing independent shops and stretching your legs after the flight. Most shops close around 5 or 6 PM, so think of this as a relaxed stroll rather than a shopping outing. For your first drink and casual meal, stop at a local Camas taproom downtown; expect approximately $20–35 per person depending on food and drinks. Keep it low-key tonight—grocery stores and pharmacies are nearby if you need supplies, and an early night will make tomorrow’s sightseeing day much more enjoyable.
Start at the Camas Farmers Market in downtown Camas, browsing local produce, pastries, flowers, and handmade crafts for about an hour. Market hours can vary by season, so check the 2026 schedule before leaving; arrive early for the best bakery selection and easier parking. Afterward, drive roughly 10 minutes to Lacamas Lake Regional Park. The park has free walking access, though parking may require a Discover Pass; allow about two hours for an easy lakeside stroll through forest and wetland scenery rather than attempting one of the longer, hillier loops.
Return to downtown Camas for a slower indoor break at the Camas Public Library. Spend an hour browsing the local-history displays and cooling off with a book or coffee from a nearby downtown café. This is a good time to keep the schedule flexible—downtown Camas is compact and easy to explore on foot, with independent shops along Northeast Fourth and Fifth avenues. Check the library’s Tuesday hours before heading over, as public-service hours can differ from building hours.
Have dinner at the Camas Hotel, a historic downtown restaurant and one of the town’s best atmospheric stops. Expect roughly $25–45 per person before drinks and a relaxed pace rather than a quick meal; reservations are sensible if your group is larger or prefers an early dinner. Afterward, take a short walk around downtown’s old brick storefronts before returning to the VRBO, keeping the evening quiet after the morning outdoors.
Leave Camas around 7:00 AM and drive south via I-5 to The Grotto in Northeast Portland, allowing roughly 35–45 minutes with morning traffic. The upper gardens and chapel are especially peaceful early in the day; plan about 1½ hours, including the elevator or walk up to the overlook. The sanctuary generally opens in the morning, but confirm 2026 hours and admission before leaving—garden access is typically paid, while parking is usually available on-site for a fee.
Continue into Old Town Chinatown and park once for a stroll through the Portland Saturday Market area. Although the market’s main vendor days are normally weekends, the surrounding waterfront, historic streets, food carts, and independent shops are still worth exploring on this Tuesday. Allow about an hour, and keep valuables out of the car; downtown parking garages are preferable to leaving luggage visible.
Head east on I-84 into the Columbia River Gorge, stopping at Multnomah Falls. From downtown Portland, the drive is about 40–50 minutes, but timed-entry requirements or parking restrictions may apply in September, so check the official reservation system before the trip. The lower viewpoint is an easy walk from the parking area and gives you the classic waterfall view; allow 1½ hours, including time for the visitor area and photos. If parking is full, do not stop along the freeway shoulder—use the designated lot or a shuttle option if operating.
A short drive farther east brings you to Bridal Veil Falls, where a brief forested walk leads to the waterfall viewpoint. Spend roughly 45 minutes here; the trail can be damp and uneven, so shoes with good traction are useful. This quieter stop balances the busier atmosphere at Multnomah Falls and makes a natural break before returning west.
On the way back, stop in Troutdale for a casual dinner at Burgerville, a Northwest favorite known for regional ingredients and seasonal shakes. Budget about $15–25 per person. After dinner, return to Camas via I-84 and I-205, generally 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. Keep the evening easy—this is a full day on your feet, and the Gorge can be tiring even when the walks are short.
After arriving in Seattle, leave the car at Homewood Suites by Hilton Seattle-Downtown if your room and parking are available; otherwise use a nearby garage and walk or take a short rideshare downtown. Spend about two hours wandering Pike Place Market, beginning around the main arcade and fish counters before drifting through the lower levels and quieter side lanes. The market is generally open from morning through late afternoon, though individual vendors keep different hours. Go easy on shopping—the market is compact but wonderfully distracting, and the waterfront viewpoints near Victor Steinbrueck Park are a good place to pause.
For lunch, stop at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese inside the market for its signature mac and cheese or a grilled cheese, usually about $15–25 per person. Expect a line at midday, but it moves steadily; if seating is full, take food to one of the nearby public viewpoints. Allow roughly 20 minutes to return to the hotel, collect luggage if needed, and continue to Seattle Center by rideshare or car. Driving takes about 10–15 minutes without heavy traffic, while walking from the market is possible but takes around 30 minutes uphill.
Spend the afternoon at the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass, which sit directly beside one another at Seattle Center. Reserve timed admission in advance, especially for the Space Needle, and allow about 1½ hours at each attraction. The Needle’s observation decks are best when visibility is good; look south toward Mount Rainier, west over Elliott Bay, and north toward the Olympic Mountains. Chihuly Garden and Glass is more immersive than its name suggests, with dramatic indoor installations and a colorful outdoor garden—take your time in the central glasshouse, where the suspended sculpture is especially striking. Combined admission commonly runs about $60–75 per adult, depending on the date and package.
Have an early dinner near Seattle Center or downtown, then head to the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle at 99 Union Street. Arrive by 7:30 PM for the 8:00 PM Sinister Sites: Scandal and Shadows of Seattle Guided Ghost Tour. From Seattle Center, a rideshare usually takes 10–15 minutes, though evening traffic and event crowds can slow the trip; public transit is also possible, but a rideshare is the least stressful way to protect your check-in time. The walking tour lasts about two hours, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a light rain layer—Seattle evenings can turn cool quickly, even in September. Afterward, return to the hotel for a well-earned rest, keeping the morning departure for Mount Rainier in mind.
Leave Homewood Suites by Hilton Seattle-Downtown around 6:30 AM for the drive south toward Mount Rainier National Park, taking SR-7 through Tacoma and Eatonville before entering at the Nisqually Entrance. Allow roughly 3½–4½ hours from Seattle, including a quick coffee and fuel stop; traffic around Tacoma can add time. Check the park’s current reservation and road-status requirements before leaving, and bring food, water, layers, and a full tank—services inside the park are limited. Parking at Paradise fills quickly, so an early arrival is worthwhile.
Begin at Paradise, the park’s main high-elevation visitor area, with about 30 minutes to check conditions, use the restrooms, and speak with rangers about snow, visibility, and trail closures. Then hike the Skyline Trail, allowing three to five hours—or simply turn around when the weather or your energy suggests it. The route is strenuous in places, with steep grades and potentially icy or muddy sections even in late September, but the views toward Mount Rainier, the Nisqually Glacier, and the surrounding valleys are exceptional. Pack a lunch to eat along the trail rather than waiting for a restaurant, and stay on marked paths to protect the fragile meadows.
After the hike, drive downhill to Longmire Museum for about 45 minutes. It is a compact, worthwhile stop covering the park’s geology, wildlife, and early visitor history, and it provides an easy chance to stretch before the longer drive. Aim to leave Longmire between 3:30 and 4:00 PM, continuing toward Camas via SR-7 and I-5; expect another 2½–3 hours depending on Tacoma and Portland-area traffic. Keep dinner simple after arrival—this is a demanding day—and download directions in advance because cell service is intermittent in the park.
Leave Camas around 8:00 AM and drive to Portland Japanese Garden Washington Park, allowing 30–45 minutes for I-205 traffic and city streets. Give yourself about 1½ hours for the peaceful paths, koi ponds, maples, and hillside views; the garden generally opens at 10:00 AM, so check the 2026 schedule and reserve timed admission if offered. Parking in Washington Park can fill quickly and may involve a fee, so a rideshare from central Portland is often easier than moving the car later.
Drive or rideshare down into the Pearl District to Powell’s City of Books at 1005 W Burnside Street. Two hours disappears easily here—pick up a store map and leave time for the rare-book room and travel section. From Powell’s, walk or take a short rideshare to Kells Brewery downtown for an Irish-style lunch; budget about $20–35 per person, and expect a relaxed meal rather than a quick stop. Check the day’s kitchen and brewery hours before heading over.
After lunch, walk about 10 minutes toward Tom McCall Waterfront Park for an easy 45-minute stroll along the Willamette, with especially good skyline views from the paths near the bridges. Keep the afternoon unhurried, then confirm the exact boarding pier and check-in time for the Portland Spirit Dinner Cruise—the departure location and schedule can vary by sailing. Plan to arrive 30–45 minutes early; the cruise usually lasts 2½–3 hours. Since you will be returning to Camas after dinner, designate a driver and avoid over-ordering drinks, or arrange a rideshare in advance for the trip back across the river.
Leave Camas around 7:00 AM for Cannon Beach, taking US-26 west through the Coast Range; the drive usually takes 2–2½ hours. Park in one of the public lots near downtown—street parking fills quickly on weekends—and walk toward Haystack Rock. Spend about 1½ hours along the beach, checking tide tables before you go if you want to see the tide pools. Keep a safe distance from seabirds and marine life, and remember that the beach can be breezy even when it feels mild inland.
Walk back into central Cannon Beach for lunch at Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge, a longtime local choice for seafood, chowder, burgers, and Pacific Northwest comfort food. Budget roughly $25–45 per person, and expect a wait during the midday rush. After lunch, allow a little time to browse the galleries and small shops along Hemlock Street before continuing north to Seaside, about a 15-minute drive on US-101.
Spend roughly 1½ hours on the Seaside Promenade, walking the oceanfront path and beach around the historic downtown area. If you want a quick treat, the shops near Broadway offer ice cream and snacks, but keep the visit flexible so you can reach Astoria in the late afternoon. Continue north on US-101, then visit the Astoria Column for wide views over the Columbia River; the grounds are usually open from dawn to dusk, with a small parking fee and an additional fee to climb the tower’s stairs. Finish at The Goonies House, 368 38th Street, viewing the exterior quietly from the public street—do not enter the property or block the driveway. From Astoria, return to Camas via US-30, I-5, and the Portland-area bridges; allow about 2–2½ hours, with a possible stop in Longview or Kalama if you need fuel or coffee.
Ease into your final full day with a walk on the Camas Heritage Trail, allowing about 1½ hours for the wooded sections and occasional views toward the wetlands. Go in comfortable shoes and bring water; the trail can be damp underfoot in shaded areas, even in late September. Afterward, continue to Lacamas Lake for a quiet shoreline break or simple picnic. Pack something from a local grocery or bakery, since the lake is more enjoyable when you are not trying to rush off for a restaurant reservation. Allow about an hour here, and keep an eye out for ducks and herons along the water.
Head into downtown for coffee or a light lunch at Tender Bar, budgeting roughly $10–20 per person. It is a good place to linger rather than turn lunch into another timed stop; check the current hours before setting out, as independent cafés sometimes adjust schedules during the week. Then spend about 1½ hours wandering the Downtown Camas shops and galleries along Northeast Fourth Avenue and the surrounding blocks. This is an easy, compact area for browsing antiques, gifts, clothing, and locally made pieces, with plenty of chances to pause without getting back in the car.
Keep the last evening deliberately simple with a casual farewell dinner in Downtown Camas. Choose a well-reviewed restaurant on or near Northeast Fourth Avenue, with approximately $25–45 per person for dinner before drinks and tip, and make a reservation if you want a specific table. After dinner, take a short stroll through the quieter downtown streets and return to the rental early enough to finish packing. Set out clothes and travel documents tonight—the next morning’s Portland International Airport departure is at 7:00 AM, so plan to leave Camas around 4:45–5:00 AM, allowing about 30–40 minutes for the drive, rental-car return, and airport security.
Leave Camas around 4:30 AM for Portland International Airport (PDX) via I-205; at that hour the drive is usually 25–35 minutes, but allow extra time for construction, fueling, and returning the car. Top off the tank before arriving if required by your Payless Car Rental agreement, then follow the rental-car return signs and take the airport shuttle or walkway to the terminal. With a 7:00 AM departure, aim to be at the airline area by about 5:15 AM; this gives you time for baggage drop, security, and a coffee or quick breakfast. Confirm your gate in the Alaska Airlines app, since early-morning gates can involve a longer walk.
Board Alaska Airlines Flight 2336 for the flight from Portland to Tucson, scheduled to depart at 7:00 AM and arrive at Tucson International Airport at 9:57 AM. Keep travel documents and medication in your personal item, and expect the one-hour time difference to work in your favor when you land in Arizona. After collecting luggage, follow airport signs for ground transportation, rideshare pickup, or your arranged ride home.