Season guide · Portland · United States
Portland in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: EncMstr, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Showers, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons and full-flowing waterfalls; it warms and dries out through May. Expect highs up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 46 rainy days across March–May.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 4°C (39°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 46
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 14°C (57°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 18 | 11.8 h | 2/5 |
| April | 17°C (63°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 16 | 13.5 h | 2/5 |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 12 | 14.9 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 17°C (63°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 46 of the year's roughly 147 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Cherry blossoms at the Japanese American Historical Plaza (usually late March)
- March: Portland Saturday Market season opens (usually March)
- April: Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest near Woodburn (usually late March to April)
- May: Portland Rose Festival events begin (usually late May)
Good choices for spring
Landmark · Pearl District
Powell's City of Books
Powell's occupies a full city block on West Burnside with new and used books shelved side by side in colour-coded rooms.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Garden · Downtown
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Stop at the teahouse in the two-storey tower for tea and dumplings overlooking the lake.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Couples
- Nature
- Rainy day
Museum · Central Eastside and Lloyd
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
A large hands-on science museum on the east bank of the Willamette, with interactive halls, a planetarium, a large-screen theatre and the USS Blueback, a decommissioned US Navy submarine that visitors can tour.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Day trips in spring
- Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls (About 40 minutes by car) — A dramatic river canyon east of Portland lined with waterfalls; Multnomah Falls drops about 189 metres in two tiers below a stone footbridge.
- Mount Hood and Timberline Lodge (About 1.5 hours by car) — Oregon's highest peak has year-round skiing on its upper slopes and summer hiking through wildflower meadows.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Portland?
It is a trade-off: Showers, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons and full-flowing waterfalls; it warms and dries out through May. The best months overall are June–September.
+What is the weather like in Portland in spring?
Highs of up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 46 rainy days over the season.