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Major city · United States

Mount Hood

Base in Government Camp or Welches for 2 nights: 1 day for Timberline Lodge and Trillium Lake, 1 for a hike or the ski area.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jul–Sep for hiking and lake views; Dec–Mar for skiing
avoid Nov (rain at low elevation, thin snow), Aug weekends at Trillium Lake (full lots by 9am)
Airport
PDX
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Mount Hood is a 3,429 m volcano about 80 km east-southeast of Portland, reached by US-26 through Sandy and the national forest. It is a day-trip mountain for most visitors and a 2-night base for hikers and skiers. Timberline Lodge runs lifts year-round; the other resorts are winter-only. A car is the practical way in.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Mount Hood, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, per person$20–40
  • Street or quick mealBurger or sandwich$12–20
  • BeerDraught beer$6–9
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$20–40
  • Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedMotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$250

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Timberline Lodge (WPA-era National Historic Landmark)Year-round skiing on the Palmer snowfieldTimberline Trail and Pacific Crest TrailTrillium Lake views
Airports
PDX Portland International (About 1 h 15 min to Government Camp by car via I-84 and US-26; no rail link to the mountain)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mount Hood: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

1°C

−6°C

17 rd

Feb

2°C

−6°C

15 rd

Mar

4°C

−4°C

17 rd

Apr

7°C

−2°C

15 rd

May

12°C

1°C

12 rd

Jun

16°C

4°C

9 rd

Jul

21°C

7°C

4 rd

Aug

22°C

8°C

4 rd

Sep

18°C

5°C

7 rd

Oct

11°C

1°C

13 rd

Nov

4°C

−3°C

18 rd

Dec

1°C

−6°C

18 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is effectively required: US-26 is the main road, Timberline Road branches off at Government Camp, and there is no rail or bus network on the mountain. Winter storms can require chains or traction tyres on US-26 and Timberline Road. Fuel up in Sandy or Hood River; services on the mountain are limited.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Government Camp

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min from Portland

Drive US-26 east from Sandy, about 30 min past Welches

Village base for Timberline Road; eat and fuel here.

Hood River

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive OR-35 north around the east side of the mountain

Columbia Gorge town with the best food and lodging on the north side.

Cascade Locks

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Drive OR-35 north to I-84, then west

Gorge base for waterfall and river stops.

The Dalles

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Drive OR-35 north to I-84, then east

Worth it as a Gorge loop stop, not as a Mount Hood day.

Dufur

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Drive US-26 east past Government Camp, then north

Dry-side town; pair with The Dalles, not with a mountain hike.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Government Camp

Closest village to Timberline Road and Ski Bowl; walkable core, short drive to the lodge.

Welches and Rhododendron

Lower elevation on US-26, 20–30 min from Government Camp; more cabins and resort condos.

Timberline Lodge

On-mountain rooms at about 1,800 m; book far ahead for ski season and summer weekends.

Hood River

North side, 45–60 min around the mountain; better food and lodging choice, different access roads.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–200 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or lodge double room1 × 2 nights × US$180US$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$130US$520
Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
Timberline Lodge day-use parking1 × US$0 · checkUS$0
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$25US$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$100
Trip total≈ US$275 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,100

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Burger or sandwich$12–20
Sit-down dinner, per person$20–40
Draught beer$6–9
Ski-area day lift ticketcheck$100–160
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$20–40

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The mountain is the risk, not crime: winter storms close or restrict US-26 and Timberline Road, weather turns fast above the tree line, and cell coverage is patchy on trails — carry chains in winter and a locator beacon for backcountry trips.
  • Winter driving: chains or snow tyres can be required on US-26 and Timberline Road — carry them and check road conditions before setting out.
  • Weather changes fast above the tree line; snow can fall in any month at higher elevations.
  • Cell coverage is patchy on trails; a personal locator beacon is advised for backcountry trips.
  • Trillium Lake and Timberline parking fill early on summer weekends — arrive before 9am.
  • Altitude at Timberline (about 1,800 m) can affect people arriving straight from sea level.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Clackamas County Sheriff (non-emergency)
503-655-8211
Mount Hood National Forest, Zigzag Ranger District
503-622-3191

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

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Mount HoodMount Hood

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Clackamas County Sheriff (non-emergency)503-655-8211
  • Zigzag Ranger District503-622-3191

Embassy

No embassies on the mountain; consulates-general are in Portland and Seattle, embassies in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Rental car, one day: about $70 (check)
  • Ski-area day lift ticket: $100–160 (check)
  • Timberline Lodge day-use parking: check posted rate

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Do I need chains? — Do I need chains?
  • Is the road open? — Is the road open?
  • How far is Timberline Lodge? — How far is Timberline Lodge?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the nearest fuel? — Where is the nearest fuel?

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mount Hood. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jul–Sep for hiking and lake views; Dec–Mar for skiing · avoid Nov (rain at low elevation, thin snow), Aug weekends at Trillium Lake (full lots by 9am) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PDX: rental-car pickup times, US-26 winter chain rules, last fuel before the mountain.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Government Camp, Timberline Lodge, Trillium Lake, Hood River.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Timberline Lodge, Trillium Lake, Timberline Trail, Ski Bowl) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources