Columbia River Cruise Ports
Every port from the Pacific to the Snake, at a glance.
Get Columbia River Cruise QuotesColumbia River Cruise Ports at a Glance
Here are the Columbia river cruise ports from west to east, with what each is best known for. Your sailing will visit some, not all.
| Port | River | Best known for |
|---|---|---|
| Astoria, OR | Columbia (mouth) | The Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Astoria Column, Victorian houses, Fort Clatsop |
| Portland, OR / Vancouver, WA | Willamette and Columbia | Embarkation city; gardens, food, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site |
| Kalama and Longview, WA | Lower Columbia | Excursions toward Mount St. Helens |
| Stevenson, WA | Gorge | Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center; Skamania County outdoors |
| Hood River, OR | Gorge | Wind sports, orchards, wineries, Mount Hood views |
| The Dalles, OR | Eastern Gorge | Discovery center, Fort Dalles, Maryhill across the river |
| Umatilla, OR | Columbia Plateau | Gateway to Pendleton and its woolen mill and Round-Up heritage |
| Richland / Pasco / Kennewick, WA | Columbia–Snake confluence | Wine country, Hanford history, Sacajawea Historical State Park |
| Clarkston, WA / Lewiston, ID | Snake and Clearwater | Hells Canyon jet boats, Nez Perce history |
Astoria, Where the River Meets the Sea
Astoria sits where the Columbia meets the Pacific, beneath the 4-mile Astoria-Megler Bridge to Washington. The maritime museum tells the story of the Columbia River Bar, one of the most dangerous river entrances in the world, and the bar pilots who still guide ships across it. Up on Coxcomb Hill the Astoria Column has a spiral frieze and a staircase to a panoramic view; down by the water, old cannery buildings now house hotels and breweries.
Plan more time with Travel Astoria. For Astoria’s place in the Lewis and Clark story, see ColumbiaRiverCruising.com.
Hood River and The Dalles, Up Close
Hood River and The Dalles sit less than an hour apart but feel different. Hood River is outdoorsy and lively: sailboards and kites on the river most summer afternoons, a compact downtown of cafes and tasting rooms, and orchard country climbing toward Mount Hood. The Dalles is a working river town with a long history as a meeting and trading place, and the jumping-off point for the Discovery Center and, across the river, Maryhill. Some sailings stop at one, some at both; if one matters to you, tell us before we quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Columbia river cruise ports are best for walking around on my own?
Astoria, Hood River and The Dalles all have compact downtowns close to the landing, good for exploring at your own pace. Kalama and Umatilla are mainly bases for coach excursions to sights farther away.
Do all Columbia river cruise ports have a pier in town?
Most stops have a landing close to the town center, and lines provide coaches for sights farther away. A few calls, such as Kalama for Mount St. Helens or Umatilla for Pendleton, are mainly bases for coach excursions.
Ask Which Ports Your Sailing Visits
Stops vary by departure. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will check the port list for every date you are considering.
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