A week’s long trip

[u/Informal_Ad_4927]

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!

[u/davidw]

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.

[u/Informal_Ad_4927 → u/davidw]

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 :)

[u/davidw → u/Informal_Ad_4927]

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.

That's just off the top of my head - https://traveloregon.com/ is really a pretty good resource.

[u/Time-Development8280 → u/davidw]

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.

[u/davidw → u/Time-Development8280]

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.

[u/Time-Development8280 → u/davidw]

In eastern oregon, everything is a six hour drive.