Crater Lake National Park
The Oregon Coast

1/2

Crater Lake National Park's Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States.

Newport
The Oregon Coast

2/2

Near Newport, OR, Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is home to Oregon's tallest lighthouse.

National Parks and the Oregon Coast

The Oregon Coast is 363.1 miles long and filled with some of the most dramatic shoreline found anywhere in the world. in this itinerary, you will be traveling most of the length of it, with some great inland stops along the way.
Prepared By:

James Wynn

Adventurer & Photographer

National Parks and the Oregon Coast

Start / End

Portland, Oregon

States Covered
National parks

Redwood, Crater Lake

Total Distance

1,600

Suggested Days

At least 14

Suggested Seasons

Year-round

#ThisIsMyRoute

Overview

The only problem you are going to have on this trip is to figure out how you are going to spend your time. But that’s a good thing. The Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley are filled with one thousand things to do. We are going to take you across the highlights, and give you some great advice on the best way to see these remarkable areas, but this trip can be endlessly adapted to your specific tastes. If you want to spend more time visiting the coast, you can do that. If you want a brief overview on the coast and head inland to the great wineries in the valley, you can do that too. Oregon is your oyster, and there are pearls everywhere. The trip will take you in a oval, landing in Portland, heading to the coast and down, before crossing into the eastern part of the state to the Columbia River Gorge and back up to Portland. Now, speaking of Portland, there is so much to do in this town, you should plan to spend at least a few days here. But we would recommend you do it on the end of your trip. This will give you a few days to relax and enjoy all there is to do before heading back home.

Preparation

We recommend at least 14 days to accomplish everything there is to do in the trip. This trip takes you through two states and you will have a lot of driving. The bigger towns are well worth the stops and can offer you many opportunities for nightlife, but the smaller towns have a charm to them that is well worth an overnight stop and will add a uniqueness to your trip. This itinerary is full of suggestions of some of the best places to stop, especially during your longer days on the road. So plan your trip accordingly so that you can experience the places that spark your interest the most. These areas can be crowded in the summertime, and for good reason. There are multiple events and the weather is beautiful. If you want to avoid crowds we suggest traveling at the end of spring or the beginning of fall. If you can’t make that happen then we suggest visiting the smaller towns on the weekends and the national parks, monuments and bigger towns on the weekdays. Wintertime is still beautiful in these places, however, you will need to pay attention to any road closures there might be.

Itinerary

ARRIVAL IN PORTLAND

2 HOURS/97 MILES

On landing in Portland you will need to collect your things, rent a car and head north on the 5. This route will take you along the Columbia River to the delta and is a beautiful drive. But if you are looking for a scenic drive along a highway, we recommend taking Hwy 30 to Hwy 202. This route will take you through the beautiful forests and farmlands of Oregon. Upon arrival in Astoria, find a place to stay and get ready to stretch your legs after a long flight. 

 

 

Most fun museum ever:
MUSEUM OF WHIMSEY
Best place to learn about the Corps of Discovery:
LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
Best Short hike:
CATHEDRAL TREE TRAIL
Best place to shop local:
DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT
Best swimming hole:
YOUNGS RIVER FALLS
Best place for seafood:
SILVER SALMON GRILLE
ASTORIA TO TILLAMOOK

1.5 HOURS/65 MILES

From Astoria and Seaside, you will head south down the coast through Bay City to Tillamook. Driving along the coast on the celebrated Pacific Coast Highway, you will have plenty of photo opportunities, but one place that is not to be missed is Cannon Beach. This is a world famous area and if you have ever seen the movie “The Goonies” you will instantly recognize it. From there it’s on to Bay City and a stroll around town before arriving at your overnight destination, Tillamook. Tillamook is a fun place to stay and there are a multitude of things to do and places to see, but if you want an absolutely fun tour, head to the Tillamook Creamery. It is a free and self-guided experience where you can watch cheese being made.

 

 

Best photo opportunity:
HAYSTACK ROCK-CANNON BEACH
Best seafood straight from the ocean:
THE FISH PEDDLER AT PACIFIC OYSTER-BAY CITY
Best forest stroll:
TILLAMOOK FOREST CENTER
Best lighthouse stroll:
CAPE MEARES LIGHTHOUSE AND WILDLIFE REFUGE
Best place to watch the sunset:
NETARTS BAY
Best local brew on the beach:
PELICAN BREWERY AND TAP ROOM
TILLAMOOK TO NEWPORT, VIA DEPOE BAY

1.5 HOURS/70 MILES

Are you ready to see some whales? Because today is the day to do it. Your route will start away from the coast as you travel through the coastal woods of the Siuslaw National Forest before picking the coast back up again at Lincoln City. Again, there are a million and one things to do on the Oregon Coast, and we will give you plenty of suggestions, but seeing whales in the ocean is a trans-formative experience and we would recommend dedicating a big part of your day to making that happen at Depoe Bay. Known as the “Whale Watching Capital of the Oregon Coast”, there is a resident pod of Grey whales which makes its home off Depoe Bay from March through December. Visitors from everywhere come to whale watch either from the new Whale Watch Center, the many shore observation spots or you can take a charter out for a closer look. From Depoe Bay, it’s a short jaunt down the coast to the larger town of Newport.

 

 

Best place to shoot the sunrise:
SILETZ BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE-LINCOLN CITY
Best way to see a whale up close: 
WHALE RESEARCH ECOEXCURSIONS
Best place to grab some Crab Cakes:
TIDAL RAVES
Can’t miss it:
YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA
Best place to people watch:
NEWPORT HISTORIC BAYFRONT
Best place for seafood:
LOCAL OCEAN
NEWPORT TO EUGENE, VIA CORVALIS

2 HOURS/100 MILES

Today you leave the coast behind for a few days while you head inland to the exquisite southern end of the Willamette Valley. You head due east on Hwy 20 over the Central Oregon Coast Range. Once you do, you will be in wine country. There are a multitude to choose from but we will give you some of our favorite options. Once you get to Corvalis, before heading south to Eugene for the night, take a quick detour to visit the Historic Carousel and Museum in Albany. It’s a short detour but well worth it. Once you get to Eugene, be prepared for some city life. Eugene is Oregon’s second biggest city and you should take advantage of that fact.

 

Best shopping:
5TH STREET PUBLIC MARKET
EUGENE TO CRESCENT CITY, VIA COOS BAY

4 HOURS TO CRESCENT CITY/221 MILES

Today it’s up early and back to the coast. This is a longer driving day, but it will take you through some of the most beautiful inland scenery Oregon has to offer. You get back to the coast via Hwy 38 as it takes you back over the Coastal Range and the Elliot State Forest. Once you get back to the coast, take a few hours to stretch your legs in Coos Bay. This little town on the bay has a lot to offer and a walk around its downtown area is a great way to spend some time. Make sure not to miss the serenity of the Japanese landscaping at Mingus Park. Stop by the Fisherman’s Seafood Market on the Coos Bay Boardwalk for some straight from the ocean seafood. You won’t regret it. From Coos Bay you dip down into California and a visit to the majestic redwoods and Crescent City.

 

 

Best place to get your sugar fix-Coos Bay:
CRANBERRY SWEETS
Best place to shop local:
COOS BAY FARMER’S MARKET
Best place to get a little history of the area:
COOS BAY HISTORY MUSEUM
Grab a little pick-me-up:
SO IT GOES COFFEEHOUSE
LAVA BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT

4 HOURS/184 MILES

Its back into Oregon today and to the east side of the Coastal Range and Klamath Falls. Klamath Falls is known as Oregon’s City of Sunshine for its 300 days of sun a year. Once you arrive in Klamath Falls, we would recommend finding a place to stay, and heading south again back into California for the hour and a half drive to Lava Beds National Monument. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. More than 700 caves, Native American rock art sites, historic battlefields and campsites. This is a landscape like no other, and it’s not to be missed.

Best place for a picnic:
MOORE PARK
Best hike:
LINK RIVER TRAIL
Best place to see a bald eagle:
BADGER CREEK WILDLIFE REHAB
Best place to grab a little history:
KLAMATH COUNTY MUSEUM
Best place for dinner:
THE RUDDY DUCK
Best place to grab coffee and a quick breakfast:
THE DAILY BAGEL
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK

3.5 HOURS/165 MILES

Crater Lake National Park is amazing. That is really all there is to it. We would recommend planning on spending most of your day here before heading up to Bend. The Rim Drive is a spectacular scenic drive and a great way to see the whole of the park, but there are many side adventures to be had here, and we have some excellent suggestions for you. One recommended stop, however, is the Visitor’s Center. You will pass by it on your way into the park and it’s a great way to get some information on the park. Once you get to Bend you will be in a great college town, home of the Oregon State University’s Cascade Campus. You should plan on spending the whole of your next day enjoying Bend and the myriad of things to do in the area, before continuing up north on your Oregon road trip.

Best place for a picnic:
STEEL BAY PICNIC AREA
Best hike:
PLAIKNI FALLS TRAIL
Best photo opportunity:
WATCHMAN PEAK
Best scenic drive:
RIM DRIVE
Can’t miss it:
SINNOTT MEMORIAL OBSERVATION STATION
Best place to swim/cliff jump into Crater Lake:
CLEETWOOD COVE
BEND

Bend sits on the eastern edge of the Cascade Range along the Deschutes River. The pine trees and high alpine features of the mountains transition here to the high desert, which means as an outdoor destination, Bend has every opportunity you could hope for. But the town itself is alive with culture and hums with activity. In 2015, Men’s Journal ranked Bend as one of The 10 Best Places to Live Now, and its not hard to see why. One recommendation we have is to stop by the Bend Visitor Center, located right downtown. They have a friendly and knowledgeable staff and will help you on your way to enjoying all that Bend has to offer. They can also clue you in to the Bend Riddle Routes, which is a scavenger hunt around town, and a great way to see the town.

Best place to shop:
OLD MILL DISTRICT
Best place for a stroll:
DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL
Best spot for a picnic:
RIVERBEND PARK
Best place to stay with friends:
BUNK AND BREW HOSTEL
Largest Ale Trail in the west:
BEND ALE TRAIL
Can’t miss it:
HIGH DESERT MUSEUM
Best night out:
TAKE YOUR PICK-BEND HAS OVER A DOZEN BREWERIES AND A NUMBER OF WINERIES AND DISTILLERIES
Where the locals get coffee:
LONE PINE ROASTER
BEND TO LA GRANDE, VIA OREGON’S HIGH DESERT

6 HOURS/325 MILES

Today is more of a road trip day, as it is the longest driving time of your trip so far. But worry not, get your favorite playlist ready and prepare to drive through some of the most solitarily beautiful landscape the United States has to offer. This is classic East Oregon High Desert country. On this leg of your journey, we will send you through two great smaller Oregon towns before ending in the Grande Ronde Valley and the town of La Grande, nestled at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

Soak your cares away:
CRYSTAL CRANE HOT SPRINGS – BURNS
Can’t miss it:
NATIONAL HISTORIC OREGON TRAIL INTERPRETIVE CENTER – BAKER CITY
Best Hike:
MERA LOOP/MOUNT EMILY RECREATION CENTER-LA GRANDE
Best place to catch the sunset:
MORGAN LAKE
Stock up on gear:
BLUE MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS
Can’t miss it:
PERRY SWIMMING HOLE ON THE GRANDE RONDE RIVER
Best place for dinner:
MAMACITA’S
Where the locals get breakfast:
JOE BEANS
LA GRANDE TO THE DALLES

3 HOURS/176 MILES

Today will take you over the Blue Mountains and down into the Columbia River Gorge. The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest and the fourth largest river in the United States. The scenery along this drive is simply majestic, so don’t be shy about pulling over to snap some photos. You should also take some time to stop at the Deschutes River State Recreation Area. It’s a great little park and will give you a chance to stretch your legs at the confluence of the Columbia and Deschutes River. Once you get to The Dalles, one recommendation we have is to head over the Columbia for a quick jaunt into Washington and the Yakima Reservation.

Best Drive:
OLD HWY 30 SCENIC DRIVE
Grab a quick bite:
PETITE PROVENCE
Best place to watch the sunset:
SOROSIS PARK
Best place to catch a little history:
COLUMBIA GORGE DISCOVERY CENTER
Best pace to grab dinner:
SPOOKY’S
Best place for a local brew:
RIVERTAP
Where the locals get breakfast:
MOMMA JANE’S PANCAKE HOUSE
PORTLAND

Ahh, Portland. The city of Roses. This is truly one of America’s great cities. With a population of around 650,000, Portland is a big city with a small town feel. The cultural experiences here are not to be missed. From the Downtown area to the eclectic neighborhoods and districts, there is nothing but fun to be had. But Portland is also on outdoor town, with places like Forest ParkTyron Creek State Natural Area and Mount Tabor Park. The easiest way to get around is the city’s centerpiece, the MAX Light Rail. Our recommendation is start your adventure off by heading to the Portland Visitor’s Center. Located in the heart of downtown, it’s a great way to begin your stay.

Best way to learn about Portland:
BEST OF PORTLAND SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Best way to have a beer and see a ghost:
HAUNTED PUB TOUR
Best place for a stroll:
DOWNTOWN PORTLAND
Best way to keep Portland Weird:
OLD TOWN
Best place for a picnic:
WASHINGTON PARK
Best place to find dinner:
PINE STREET MARKET
Can’t miss it:
PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDENS
Best place for a selfie:
MILL’S END PARK, THE WORLD’S SMALLEST PARK

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Photo courtesy of @Ronakp967 via Instagram.

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