portland to mt st helens--worth the drive?

is this a worthwhile side trip? how long would it take? whats the weather the end of May?

portland to mt st helens--worth the drive?

Mt. St. Helens is more than a ';side trip.'; It%26#39;s a day trip and well worth it. From Portland, it%26#39;s about 2 1/2 hours to the Johnston Observatory, plus whatever time is spent at the various other visitor centers.

As for the weather in May...that%26#39;s a more difficult question to answer.

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/

The observatory doesn%26#39;t reopen for the year until mid-May. So, there may still be some snow around and you should be prepared for cold weather and rain. On the other hand, it could be warm and sunny. Keep checking the website for current conditions.

If the weather is bad and visibility is poor, this would not be such a great trip. The first visitor center just 5 miles east of I-5, however, would still be worth a ';side trip.';

portland to mt st helens--worth the drive?

With fair weather, this is a very worthwhile daytrip. We visited in early August and had a beautiful day, but I%26#39;m sure May weather could be much more iffy as Oregonpoppa said.

If you do go, be sure to visit all 3 visitor%26#39;s centers. Johnston Ridge is the closest to the base of the mountain and the most impressive, but each one provides interesting exhibits on the devastation that occurred.

Honestly, Mt. St. Helens was my favorite part of our 11 day vacation last year that mainly focused on Oregon. I hope the weather is fair for you!

The month of May is probably the most unpredictable weather here in the Pacific NW. Could be rainy and cloudy or sunny and warm, several days at a time or could change daily. It might also be rainy in the morning, but clearing by afternoon.

However, if the weather is reasonably clear, Mt. St. Helens is really a worthwhile trip. You can make it a day trip from Portland or a side trip between Portland and Seattle. Be sure to drive all the way to the Johnston Ridge Observatory and see the theater presentation. Stop at each of the other two visitor centers (Mt. St. Helens at Silver Lake and the Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center) each offer something different.

If you are staying in Portland, try to be flexible in scheduling a trip to Mt. St. Helens. If it is clear enough in Portland to see Mt. Hood, that would be a good day to drive to Mt. St. Helens.

In any case, even if you get no good weather, do make the drive up to Castle Rock and stop at the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center. It is just 5 miles from the freeway and you will learn much about the mountain and its eruption.