Season guide · Portland · United States
Portland in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cacophony, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cool, grey and wet with occasional snow or ice; quiet and lower-priced, with ski season on Mount Hood. Expect highs up to 11°C (52°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 51 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 51
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C (48°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 18 | 9.1 h | 1/5 |
| February | 11°C (52°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 15 | 10.3 h | 1/5 |
| December | 8°C (46°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 18 | 8.7 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 9°C (48°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 51 of the year's roughly 147 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 1/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Portland Winter Light Festival (usually February)
- December: Christmas Ship Parade on the Willamette and Columbia rivers (usually December)
Good choices for winter
Landmark · Pearl District
Powell's City of Books
Pick up a free store map at the entrance; it is easy to lose an hour in a single room.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Garden · Downtown
Lan Su Chinese Garden
A walled Ming dynasty-style garden built by artisans from Suzhou, Portland's sister city, filling a city block in Old Town Chinatown with pavilions, a lake, rockeries and a teahouse.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Couples
- Nature
- Rainy day
Museum · Central Eastside and Lloyd
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
Book the submarine tour on arrival; times are limited.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Willamette Valley wine country (About 45–60 minutes by car) — Rolling hills of vineyards around Dundee, Newberg and McMinnville produce Oregon's celebrated Pinot Noir.
- Hood River (About 1 hour by car) — A small town in the Gorge known for windsurfing and kiteboarding on the Columbia, and the Fruit Loop of orchards, farm stands and cideries in the valley below Mount Hood.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Portland?
It is a trade-off: Cool, grey and wet with occasional snow or ice; quiet and lower-priced, with ski season on Mount Hood. The best months overall are June–September.
+What is the weather like in Portland in winter?
Highs of up to 11°C (52°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 51 rainy days over the season.