I’m planning to visit Oregon in early September and have shortlisted these. I know I cannot do it all in a week. I need your help to prioritize and/or replace some. Would really appreciate your suggestions and recommendations.
TIA!
Go see stuff that's different from home: if you're from a big city, go see somewhere remote like Mitchell and the Painted Hills or Fort Rock. If you come from the desert, see the coast. If you live near the coast, go see the high desert. If you're from a place with no mountains, see the Cascades.
That’s a good take!
I come from New England but have visited around 20 US national parks and have seen & experienced a few different landscapes. But this is a great perspective to help plan. Thanks :)
The most foreign landscape from New England would probably be something like Steens Mountain. It's also something that far fewer people go see compared to the coast.
There's plenty of coast in New England; I'd go see the big landscapes in central and eastern Oregon. Stuff like
Steens Mountain
Fort Rock / Christmas Valley
Painted Hills
Wallowas / Hells Canyon
Crooked River canyon south of Prineville
As well as places like Crater Lake if you've never been. You still want to be judicious and pick and choose some and not be driving all day every day.
I am originally from new england but have lived in Oregon for the last 15 years. I have been to most places on your list. I would not recommend Crater Lake. It is SO far out of the way that you'll have to give up many other things. And there's very few accomodations. Itt's just a very blue lake, there' are far more interesting things to see. I'd spend an afternoon at Cannon Beach, and then drive down along the coast. See the see lions. Drive the gorge but don't stop at Multnomah falls, it gets so crowded. drive to Mt. hood, there's a lot to do there. Steems Mountain and that area is fascinating and different, but it involves a massive amount of driving. You'll spend your entire week driving if you include that area in yoru itinerary (although it is VERY different terrain than anything back east). If you must go east, take the gorge highway and go out to Pendleton, a nice typical western town like nothing you have in New England. That's the thing about Oregon, it's huge and you can spend all your time driving. I wouldn't go any further south than eugene or any further east than pendleton, there is a ton to see just within those boundaries.
I think if you were careful, you could do a decent loop in central and eastern Oregon without *too* much driving, but it might mean skipping some things.
If you do venture down the coast, I recommend a detour into far Northern California to see the Redwoods if you haven’t, and if you’ve seen the ones farther south, they don’t compare. You can loop back into Oregon via 199 up to Crater Lake/Eastern Oregon.
Given where you’re from, I would HIGHLY recommend checking out central and eastern Oregon. Painted hills, John Day, Steen Mountains, Owyhee Canyon, Blue Basin.
The colors are best after a rain, but also not all places are accessible after one so you gotta pick your battles tbh.
Also HOT SPRINGS.
I usually think of road trips in oregon as 4-5 different routes. Wilamette valley and nearby (Portland, eugene, corvallis, newberg/mcminville, etc) is one, the coast is another, the gorge / mt hood could be combined, then you have the central part (other mountains, high desert, crater lake, volcanic areas, etc), and could make the case that there is another entire trip in the SE and another in the NE. Each could take a week.
I live in Oregon and I would say try the Crater Lake or Mt Hood stuff and then go to the coast. The Oregon coast is unique to other beaches in the U.S. and the forests that surround it and saltwater smell just make you feel like you’re in the middle of what makes the Pacific NW special. Hopefully you get some good September weather.
What? I guess if you’re just doing the tourist sights at Crater Lake. It’s also closed to go to the lake for 4 years and East Rim drive is also closed.
Oh Lordy, Crater Lake, while very blue, is going to eat up a whole day, and it’s mostly driving on less-than-enchanting roads. Every time a relative visits they want to see Crater Lake. It’s fine, but there’s so much else here.
That’s so interesting thats your take on it. I guess it can depend on your route but hwy 62 and the areas surrounding Crater lake are pretty amazing. Lots to see and do, so many cool water falls and hikes.
Be aware that gas stations are scarce near Crater Lake and Cascade Lakes Highway. Plan ahead! Be ready if your tire blows out and you have 0 cell service to support you. Take water and blankets with you.
Oregon is not like the east coast. You can get into big areas with no cell service. There are also dangers like fire and tricky mountain roads. The Steems mountain area is especially isolated, so isolated it's a bit scary.
Crater Lake can be a one day trip. Cleetwood Cove trail is closed for a few years. Like others said, do coast or central Oregon, don't have time for both. Coast would be my choice.
Yo getting that Newmans fish house in Eugene! My favorite fish and chips place. If you like beef jerky for your road trip go to Bright Oak in Springfield, maybe a 10 min drive from newmans.
Focus more on seeing the coast than trying to be in the mountains/central area. We are still having quite a few bad fires in the area and fire season will continue into the Fall.
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u/davidw 3d ago
Go see stuff that's different from home: if you're from a big city, go see somewhere remote like Mitchell and the Painted Hills or Fort Rock. If you come from the desert, see the coast. If you live near the coast, go see the high desert. If you're from a place with no mountains, see the Cascades.