Summary: We stayed in a “1 Queen + 1 Twin Room” at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, Oregon for one night in July 2025 with our one-year-old. Read on for our take-aways.
Timberline Lodge is an iconic daytrip destination about 1.5 hours from Portland that I had visited dozens of times both in summer and winter, but never stayed at overnight.
According to the lodge’s website: “Constructed in 1937, Timberline Lodge stands on the south slope of Mt. Hood at an elevation of 6,000 feet. This beautiful 55,000 square foot structure rises out of a pristine alpine landscape and is still being used for its original intent – a magnificent ski lodge and mountain retreat for everyone to enjoy. Legendary and awe-inspiring, it’s a tribute to the rugged spirit of the Pacific Northwest. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Timberline Lodge is one of Oregon’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing nearly two million visitors every year.” https://www.timberlinelodge.com/about-us/history
It’s a beautiful structure with custom textiles, carved wood and wrought-iron detailing. Being in the space transports you – the common areas are indeed awe-inspiring and the views are unparalleled. I had never visited without the throngs of daytime visitors pushing me along the little winding staircase, and the thought of being there overnight and getting to see some of the more private spaces was appealing.
Would I recommend staying at Timberline Lodge?
Yes, but given its hefty price tag ($408.50 for one night after taxes in summer), perhaps only if you plan to ski-in/ski-out or think you will truly appreciate staying in a piece of Oregon history. We only stayed one night and that was just right for us. We got to use the lovely new pool, experience the guest quarters, and be in the space before the crowds (well before the crowds, as our crooning kiddo decided to wake up at 6 a.m. and we didn’t want to subject our neighbors to baby cries). I’m glad we went, and I assume (hope!) some of that expense goes to keeping up the historic building, but we’d be most likely return as day visitors in the future.
Would I recommend staying at Timberline Lodge with a baby?
Yes, we had a good time as a family, and there were other babies and little kids around. The staff and other guests seemed welcoming of our baby – even in the pool area. A crib was provided, and there were highchairs at the restaurants (although several of the highchairs did have broken straps).
We were in an triple room, which happened to be ADA-accessible, so there was a curbless shower instead of a bathtub. Our kiddo doesn’t like showers very much, but we definitely wanted to wash him off after all the chlorine and sunscreen from the pool, so we managed.
The curtains did let a fair amount of light in (yay, snow in sunlight!), so it was difficult to get him to go down to sleep, and he also woke up bright and early at 6 a.m. Something to keep in mind if your kids are light sleepers!
A Note on Accessibility. In case helpful – and since I mention the ADA room – I’ll also note that the lodge has been retrofitted to be more ADA compliant, but it’s unfortunately still not the most accessible building. The main entry is reached via a flight of stairs, so those using walkers or wheelchairs would need to enter through a side door where another elevator is located, then head down a long, somewhat confusing, and at-times-narrow, hallway to get to the elevator in the main building.
What is there to do at Timberline Lodge?
Eat, Drink and Enjoy the Views. There are two restaurants and a bar/restaurant and all allowed kids. We ate at the upstairs bar and the Blue Ox pizza restaurant. Both meals were great but pricey. There was free coffee and high-quality tea in the main common area for guests in the morning. We ate our leftover pizza and some fruit we brought on the front balcony for breakfast rather than paying for the buffet. There are also plenty more dining options in Government Camp (Govy), but the prices were similar as at the lodge. We enjoyed a lunch at the Huckleberry Inn in Govy, which included delicious huckleberry pancakes with huckleberry sauce and a malted huckleberry milkshake (we clearly went all in on the theme).
Ski/Snowboard. Timberline is a ski-in/ski-out lodge and they offered us a locker by the front entrance. In July, most of the runs were of course closed, but there were still motivated skiers and snowboarders heading to the glacier.
Hike. There are hiking trails and walking paths around the lodge. Some of the walking paths were still covered in snow in early July 2025, but I have gone at other times when the snow has melted and these trails are a bit easier to traverse. There are many recreational activities and beautiful lakes on Mt. Hood within a short drive. We did an easy morning walk around the lodge and checked out the still sleepy day lodge – which charmingly still feels the same as it did when my husband and I were kids in the 90s. The views were incredible.
Swim, Soak, Sauna. The pool has just been rebuilt – notably with glass fencing so you can take in the mountain and the views – and a much larger hot tub, which I imagine is popular with the apres-ski crowd in winter. In the afternoon, there was a make-shift bar selling canned alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. We slathered on SO MUCH sunscreen and made the baby wear a rash guard and hat the whole time, because the July sun is intense at 6,000 feet! There was also an exercise room and sauna, but we didn’t use them.
Logistics
Reservations. We reserved directly on the website, and it was somewhat confusing. I think the system may have put my query into a shopping basket and then not allowed me choose the same room when I returned to book it a few minutes later. Whatever happened, I ended up just calling the resort. Later, I also needed to shift my dates by a day, and there was no way to do this online, so I called again for that. There seem to be a few folks who manage phone reservations, and you have to leave a message on one of their lines. It works, and everyone was friendly, but it’s not exactly streamlined.
Parking. I was a little nervous about this, as parking on weekends has the potential to get very limited up at Timberline. A standard email that was sent a few days prior to our stay only served to heightened this anxiety: “Parking is available first-come-first-served in our designated overnight guest lot in front of the lodge. If space in the guest lot is not available, please safely park elsewhere and come inside to talk with the front desk so we may guide you toward the next best option. If arriving on the weekends or holidays, please be aware that Timberline Road often closes for capacity between approximately 8am and early afternoon. Please plan your arrival accordingly.” Luckily, we were not arriving on a busy ski day, so we had no trouble finding parking right in front of the lodge! But it sounds like that may not always be the case, even for those with reservations – which would be frustrating – but it’s understandable from the lodge’s perspective given their location and the need to block the road once the ski lot fills up.
Early check-in? Sort of? We arrived early and inquired about early check in, and they took down our number for when the room was ready. So it seems, if you’re lucky, early check-in may sometimes be a possibility. I anticipate we were in a room category with fewer available rooms, which diminished our odds (and with it, the odds of an afternoon baby nap), but it worked out. We stored our bags in a bellman’s closet and ate lunch. We then found out we could use the pool prior to check-in, so we did! We also used the pool after check-out the next day.
Let’s Talk Anxiety
1/5 – Yay! Almost fully in my comfort zone! Perhaps because I’d been to Timberline Lodge previously for day trips and knew pretty much what to expect, my travel anxiety was very low during this quick trip. The 1.5 hour drive up the mountain, the chance of not finding parking, and the worry that baby would wake other guests were probably the most activating moments; but the drive was peaceful, parking ended up being a breeze, and we enjoyed a nice morning walk to move the squawking outside. Not a bad day for anxiety!
Closing Thoughts
Timberline Lodge is a one-of-a-kind, family-friendly destination about one and a half hours east of Portland. Definitely worth a visit, at least for the day! Even if snow sports aren’t your thing, it’s still worth visiting for the history, architecture and views. I suggest adding a stop either on a day trip looping Mt. Hood or as you head east to destinations like Warm Springs or Bend. If you stay overnight, be sure to enjoy the beautiful new pool on a sunny summer day or to relax in the oversized hot tub after hitting the slopes – the pool area was definitely a highlight of our stay! Plan ahead, especially in winter, as the lodge – not to mention it’s parking lot – are in high demand.
Elated Travel LLC is small Oregon-based business designed to help you get the most out of your next trip, big or small.
Elated Travel LLC is an Independent Affiliate of A. S. A. P. Cruises Inc., Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST15578 – CST 2090937-50 – Washington UBID No. 603189022. Services not available to residents of Hawaii.
Copyright © Elated Travel LLC 2024 All Rights Reserved
Elated Travel 