Portland-Troutdale Airport, Troutdale, OR
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Landmarks and the Technical Stuff
Portland-Troutdale Airport (ICAO: KTTD, FAA LID: TTD) is a towered, public airfield located 10 miles East of Portland in Multnomah County, Oregon. Owned and operated by the Port of Portland, it has one asphalt runway in good condition. The elevation is 38.9 ft., with runway 7/25 being 5,399 ft. x 150 ft.
The FBO is Gorge Air Aviation; there is parking (ramp or tiedown), ground handling, hangars, a GPU, a terminal, and a lounge. There is also major airframe and power service with both AVGas and Jet A available 24/7 with a credit card. This airport supports 15 different businesses, including flight training.
Troutdale is known as “The Gateway to the Gorge“. It serves as the western gateway to the scenic Columbia River Gorge via the Columbia River Highway. The airport sits on the south side of the Columbia River and just east of the Sandy River.
Transportation
TriMet buses connect directly to downtown Portland. If you’ve been to Portland at all, you know that TriMet is the least expensive form of travel here, and the buses run at least close to anywhere you need to go. You can also easily switch travel between TriMet buses and the MAX Light Rail. There are usually large commuter parking lots in the suburbs, and a lot of people take public transit to work downtown as parking is elusive and expensive in the city.
There are also rental cars, taxi service, Uber, and Lyft, with very easy access to I-84 and I-205. In addition, Portland has the Portland Streetcar system with about 16 miles of track downtown. It’s lovely in nice weather.
A lot of commuters also use the Portland Aerial Tram, which can be quite crowded during rush hour. However, if you can get there outside of rush hours, the panoramic view is incredible. On a good day, you can see Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. On a bad day, well, you’re still in Oregon.
Places to Stay in Troutdale
Of course, being this close to Portland, you have many choices when it comes to places to stay, so I’ll mention the hotels within a 5-mile radius of the Troutdale Airport. Within walking distance from the airport is the Comfort Inn. It’s right across Gresham Road, the road that runs around the north and east sides of the airport.
Next up is the Holiday Inn Express, which is technically within walking distance, but you would have to cross I-84 on foot, which I don’t recommend. Amenities include a breakfast buffet, indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness center.
The next three closest hotels are the Best Western Cascade Inn & Suites, Motel 6, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott. The Comfort Inn is within walking distance of the Columbia Gorge Factory Outlets, but once again, you have to cross I-84 on foot. It’s also a two-minute drive from the start of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area.
To compare prices and all amenities, go to Hotels.com or Expedia.com. Joining Hotels.com will give you up to 10% off most stays nationwide, and Expedia.com has great deals anywhere you want to go. If you want a more individualized stay, choose VRBO.com.
Where to Eat
The top five rated places to eat are as follows:
- Black Rabbit Restaurant: Located in the McMenamins Edgefield hotel, and offers a variety of American dishes. This place is well known for its ambience, growing its own produce, and buying it from the locals. The grounds are supposedly haunted!
- Ristorante Di Pompello: Authentic Italian decor, great Italian food, and decent prices.
- Sugarpine Drive-In: This American restaurant is known for tasty burgers.
- Riverview Restaurant: Fresh seafood, a nice wine selection, and a great view, anytime of year.
- Shirley’s Tippy Canoe: For a taste of down-home cooking, step into Shirley’s and sign the guest book and put a pin in the map. This place was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives! If it’s good enough for Guy Fieri, it’s good enough for me.
Pubs and Wine!
Ye Olde Pub and Bandit’s Bar & Grill are both right on the Columbia River Highway. The Skyland Pub is a sports bar with great food and outdoor seating. Also, there’s a place called Mr. B’s Lounge for food and drink right across from the airport.
For wine, the above-mentioned McMenamins Edgefield Winery or the Riverview Restaurant would be a nice place for a glass of wine.
Things to Do Around Troutdale
Visiting Multnomah Falls is an absolute must, but on your way, you can stop at the last roadhouse still standing on Historic Route 30 in Corbett, Oregon. It’s called the Historic Springdale Pub and Eatery, and it’s been there since 1923. They host the Annual Winter Steelhead Derby and ask that you NOT bring your fish into the bar. Just tell the bartender, and they will weigh and take a picture of your catch outside on the scale.
If you love waterfalls, you’ve hit the jackpot here. Besides Multnomah Falls, there’s also Wahkeena Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Latourell Falls within driving and flying distance. If you’re not flying yourself, there are lots of sightseeing tours to choose from through Expedia.com
The Caswell Sculpture, the Fred E. Harlow House Museum, and the Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site are some of the more interesting things to see. Visit the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville and stand in awe of the tremendous size of the Spruce Goose housed there. If it’s just a short stop, there’s the Columbia Gorge Outlet Mall close to the airport.
Two of the most beautiful and peaceful places I’ve ever been are The Grotto and Mt. Tabor Park. The Grotto is considered to be in Portland, but as Portland is only 12 miles away, don’t let that deter you. If you have any interest in horticulture, you shouldn’t miss the Portland Japanese Gardens.
It’s a beautiful place. Relax and stay a few days! If you’d like to give us a suggestion for a new destination, sign up for our destinations emails.
Once again, safe travels,
jo@jettreks.com