I spent 5 days in Portland, Oregon, for less than $600. Here's what I did and how I spent my money.

• I took a five-day trip to Portland, Oregon, that cost me a total of $577.67.
• Staying in a sprinter van, which we also used for transportation, helped cut down costs.

Portland is known for "keeping things weird," and it has so much to offer visitors of all types.

Filled with parks, microbreweries, and coffee shops, Oregon's largest city has been hailed as one of the US's most eco-friendly destinations and best places to eat for people with plant-based diets.

I've been to Portland a few times and was excited to return during a 10-day road trip with my friend in her parents' sprinter van.

We spent five days exploring Portland before driving down the Oregon Coast on our way back to California. I kept track of my expenses during our stay, which ended up costing a total of $577.67.

Here's what I did, and how I spent my money, during my five days in the City of Roses.

Day one: We ate Vietnamese food, played in the park, and had a cookout — $35.90

I woke up around 10 a.m. on our first day in Portland. Luckily, parking was free since my travel partner's cousin let us keep the van outside their home.

After some of my friends arrived, we walked through the Roseway neighborhood to the bustling Sandy Boulevard for lunch at the Vietnamese eatery Mekha Restaurant.

I ordered fresh spring rolls ($8.95) for the table as well as Phnom Penh tofu noodle soup ($13.95). I also got the Sandy Drink cocktail ($8) and Thai tea ($5). In total, the meal cost me $35.90.

From there, we walked to the nearby Wellington Park, where we frolicked through the grass, made flower crowns, played games, and took photos.

On our walk, we stumbled upon a couple of boxes containing free items. I found hiking boots that fit me perfectly. The discovery was perfectly timed considering I hadn't brought my boots, and the group made a spontaneous decision to explore Mount Hood the next day.

That evening, we had a cookout in front of the van using the groceries we all brought. We ended the night with a game of Jenga.

Before bed, I noticed that my face had started breaking out, which was likely caused by a combination of stress, hormones, exposure to a different climate, and nights spent sleeping in the van.

Day 2: The group drove to Mount Hood for the night — $174.18

Around 11 a.m., my friend cooked us a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, grilled onions, bell pepper, and kale.

We needed a quick caffeine kick, so we packed up our vehicles and drove back to Mekha Restaurant for Vietnamese coffee and Thai tea ($6).

Safeway was across the street, so we walked over to buy groceries and divided our list to minimize our time in the store.

My focus was protein, so I grabbed eggs ($3.79), refried black beans ($3.29 per can), and Impossible meat ($7.99). I also needed toiletries, like travel-size toothpaste ($2.19), mouthwash ($2.49), face moisturizer ($21.99), and pimple patches ($7.99) for my breakout.

Then, we stopped at Rose City Liquor to replenish our booze supply with two pints of whiskey ($29.90). In total, I spent $88.92 on groceries and alcohol.

There was one more stop to make before driving up to Mount Hood: the gas station. At Fred Meyer, we used my friends' fuel points and spent $85.26 for a half-tank of diesel.

We made our way to Mount Hood, the highest point in Oregon, around 3 p.m. Within an hour, we were looking for the perfect campsite and eventually found a beautiful open space with a fire pit and a view of the summit.

We tried to have an early night, but by the time we had dinner, finished dessert, and played a round of a game called "We're Not Really Strangers," it was already 1 a.m.

Day 3: We spent the day hiking before heading back into the city — $22

My friends needed to get an early start on their drive back to northern Washington, so we were awake before 7 a.m.

We wanted to do an easy hike before heading back into the city and ended up on the Tamanawas Falls Trail, located on Mount Hood's eastern slope, by 10 a.m. We set out on the moderate route along Cold Spring Creek, and I finally made it to the end after about an hour and a half of walking.

We took a lunch break to eat the almond butter and huckleberry jam sandwiches we packed before spending another hour and a half completing the trail.

By that point, we were exhausted so we headed to our home base around 4 p.m. to relax for the rest of the evening.

We were tempted to go out for dinner, but neither of us had the energy. Instead, we ordered burgers from Vegan Junk Food ($22) and made it to bed before midnight.

Day 4: We worked during the day and then had a night out on the town — $125.09

I'm a professional tarot reader, so I spent the fourth day of our trip working from the van.

My friend and I started getting hungry around 1 p.m. but since we had plans to go to happy hour, we didn't want to eat too much beforehand. The verdict was fish tacos from Muchas Gracias Mexican Food ($10).

Following a busy work day, we left for happy hour at Victoria Bar around 4:15 p.m.

At the restaurant, I ordered vegan "chicken" strips with Parmesan-herb fries ($11) and the Inigo Montoya cocktail ($13). We ended up splitting the bill evenly between three people, so I paid $27.

I also discovered a pop-up vending machine called Magic Box and couldn't resist getting a mystery magic bag ($7.10) as well as a witchcraft kit ($10). I preferred the latter, which contained a tealight, incense, herbs, crystals, and matches.

After happy hour, we dropped off the van and took an Uber to downtown Portland ($18.91) for another round of drinks.

We were ready for a light snack and another cocktail, so we started walking and came across Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen, where we shared coconut prawns ($8.25) and garlic string beans ($7.50) and each ordered a cocktail ($11).

We split the bill evenly, so my total came to $18.88 (plus a $3 cash tip). I got one more drink ($13.20) before we moved on, so all in all, I spent $35.08 at Luc Lac.

After we left the restaurant, we didn't want the night to end and also needed to use the restroom, so we set out in search of a bar.

We ended up at Yamhill Pub, a quiet dive bar where we promised to get a round of beers ($17 for three drinks) in exchange for access to their bathrooms.

It was a late night, and we didn't get back to the van until 2 a.m.

Day 5: I splurged on a facial and edibles — $220.50

Since my skin was breaking out, I booked a 60-minute custom holistic facial ($120) at Blooming Moon Spa, which offers organic skincare services using cruelty-free products.

I also bought a small red calcite crystal ($5), which I placed on my chest during the treatment for its grounding energy, and a sticker ($4).

After tipping my esthetician, I spent a total of $155, which I thought was well worth it.

From the spa, I walked over to Mississippi Avenue and popped into Paxton Gate, a store that carries ethically sourced taxidermy, fossils, bones, and crystals. I didn't end up purchasing anything, but one of the most intriguing displays I saw was a two-faced calf.

Mississippi Marketplace, a food center with various food trucks, was right across the street. I opted for a latte from Bloodbuzz ($5.50) and a sushi burrito from Teppanyaki Hut ($12).

Marijuana has been legal in Oregon since 2015, so we made a final stop at Nectar, a dispensary that sells locally grown cannabis. There was a sale on edibles that day, so I ended up buying four packages of Wyld gummies ($12 each).

At that point, our time in Portland had come to a close. We hit the road around 2:30 p.m. to start driving down the Oregon Coast.

My trip total came out to $577.67 — here's the breakdown

Accommodations: $0

Food & drinks: $218.74 (including tips)

Activities: $220.10

Transportation: $104.17

Toiletries: $34.66

Highs: Home-cooked meals, Mount Hood, facial

Lows: Gas prices, my skin breaking out

I budgeted $100 per day, so I ultimately did spend a little more than I anticipated (only by about $14 per day). And that's without paying for accommodations.

An Airbnb or hotel would have cost at least $500 for the five days we were there, so I'm grateful that my friend's parents let us borrow their sprinter van for free.

The van was also our main mode of transportation to and from Portland. So even though gas was expensive, we balanced out the cost by walking a lot and only driving when it was really necessary.

Additionally, we saved money by bringing groceries with us and cooking a few meals. Though I rarely regret spending money on food and drinks, I would've liked to spend less money on alcohol.

My biggest expense was the facial, but the cost was worth it to leave the city feeling rejuvenated after breaking out early on in the trip. I'll undoubtedly return next time I'm in Portland.

Looking back on my time in Portland, my favorite moments were all free, like our day at the park, our camping excursion, and the quality time we spent with friends. That will always be priceless.