The Good 10-Day Street Journey Itinerary for Oregon in Summer season
Relating to huge epic US street journeys, Oregon won’t be the primary vacation spot that involves thoughts. However the fact is that Oregon is among the most various states within the U.S.
Oregon has a gorgeous shoreline, snow-capped mountains, desert-like landscapes, volcanoes, waterfalls, and even a wine-growing area. And in simply 10 days you possibly can expertise a bit little bit of the whole lot.
Should you’re searching for a novel summer time street journey this yr, here is my suggestion: go to Oregon!
A ten-day Oregon street journey in summer time
This itinerary relies on a street journey I took with my husband Elliot, plus extra journeys to different components of Oregon like Bend and the Oregon Coast. I solely suggest issues I’ve personally finished on this website!
Highlights of this street journey embrace:
- Exploring Portland
- Wine tasting within the Willamette Valley
- Driving/climbing the Columbia River Gorge
- Seeing Mount Hood
- Visiting the city of Bend
- Smith Rock State Park
- The Painted Hills
- Crater Lake Nationwide Park
- The Oregon Coast
And remember you could get a printable version of this itinerary here!
Day 1: Arrival in Portland
Flying in to Portland, Oregon’s cool and funky largest metropolis, is the easiest way to begin your Oregon street journey. Relying on what time you arrive, I like to recommend getting acclimated to town by taking a stroll downtown or maybe by means of Tom McCall Waterfront Park. (We arrived later within the day to Portland, so we did not have a lot time to do something on this primary day!)
To avoid wasting your self some cash in each rental and parking charges, I like to recommend ready to choose up your rental automobile till Day 3. You’ll be able to simply get round Portland on foot, by bike, or by fairly inexpensive Uber rides.
Whole driving time: None
The place to remain in Portland: On our first journey to Portland, Elliot and I wished to be in a extremely central location, and determined to remain at Hotel Rose – A Staypineapple Hotel, only a block up from Tom McCall Waterfront Park and inside strolling distance of nearly the whole lot downtown. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here)
Different good Portland choices embrace, Inn at Northrup Station (an all-suite boutique resort), Hotel Lucia, and The Benson Portland downtown (top-rated).
The place to eat/drink in Portland: A few of our favorites included Blue Star Donuts + Espresso (a fantastic various to Voodoo), lunch at Grassa (which makes selfmade pasta dishes), and dinner at Bottle + Kitchen (proper inside our resort).
Day 2: Portland
That is your day to totally discover Portland. There are loads of strange issues you can do right this moment.
Spend time getting misplaced within the stacks at Powell’s Metropolis of Books, take a soothing stroll by means of the aromatic Worldwide Rose Take a look at Backyard (or possibly the Portland Japanese Backyard proper throughout the road), seize lunch at one in all Portland’s well-known meals cart pods (you may discover extra of them open for lunch than for dinner), and courageous the road to get a well-known Voodoo Doughnut.
Among the finest meals cart pods within the metropolis embrace WonderLove, Hawthorne Asylum Meals Cart Pod, Cartopia, and Third Avenue Meals Cart Pod – however there are tons extra!
RELATED: Which of Portland’s Prime Sights are Really Price It?
Should you’re within the temper for a guided tour to delve even deeper into Portland, listed below are a couple of of the extra widespread and distinctive ones:
Day 3: Willamette Valley
Do you know that Oregon has an award-winning wine area? As a result of it completely does! The Willamette Valley is dwelling to greater than 500 wineries, most recognized for his or her Pinot Noir.
The prime wine-growing area stretches from simply south of Portland by means of Salem and all the way down to Eugene, and the excellent news is that the area makes for a reasonably simple day journey from Portland (Salem is simply an hour away on I-5).
After selecting up your rental automobile this morning, I like to recommend spending the day within the Willamette Valley. Among the hottest wineries embrace the Eyrie Vineyards, Domaine Drouhin, Elk Cove Vineyards, Chehalem Vineyard, Argyle Vineyard, Sokol Blosser, Rex Hill, and Willamette Valley Vineyards. A pair wineries supply excursions, however most simply have tasting rooms you could get pleasure from.
Have to lease a automobile for this street journey? I exploit Uncover Automobiles to check automobile rental costs within the US. Seek for rental automobiles right here. Needless to say you may be capable of get monetary savings by selecting up from a location that is NOT on the airport.
When researching our street journey, I purchased a Fodor’s Travel guide to Oregon, and in it noticed a photograph of a gorgeous vineyard on a hill overlooking the countryside and a vivid crimson farmhouse (see above). I made a decision that this was the vineyard I most wished to go to – besides that the photograph had no caption!
An hour of Googling and visiting numerous vineyard web sites later, I found out that this was the Sokol Blosser vineyard, one of many oldest and most well-known within the Willamette Valley!
We went for a wine tasting and a few nibbles, and it was even prettier than in that information e-book photograph.
Whole drive time: 2-5 hours, relying on what number of wineries you wish to go to
The place to remain within the Willamette Valley: You’ll be able to nonetheless use Portland as your base for Day 3 because the Willamette Valley is not that far-off. OR, in case you’d choose a change of surroundings, there are a number of good B&Bs within the space. Try the La Bastide Bed and Breakfast in Dundee.
Day 4: Columbia River Gorge
*NOTE: The Gorge and a few of its surrounding forest have suffered from forest fires, flooding, and landslides in the previous couple of years. Some climbing trails should be affected by closures, so verify for updates on the Forest Service site when planning your go to.
Put in your climbing sneakers and ensure your digital camera is charged on Day 4 of your Oregon street journey, as a result of right this moment you are going to discover the Columbia River Gorge. This can be a river-carved canyon that stretches for greater than 80 miles, with the Columbia River forming the boundary between Washington state and Oregon.
Highlights of visiting this space embrace driving the historic Columbia River Freeway (which was the primary deliberate scenic roadway in the USA), doing a pair quick hikes, and stopping to see the realm’s well-known vistas and waterfalls.
Seeing Multnomah Falls (a 620-foot double waterfall) might be the spotlight for most individuals who go to the Columbia River Gorge*, although there are many different stunning spots to cease and see, too.
(Bear in mind that the Freeway could be very widespread throughout the summer time months, and parking at viewpoints and trailheads fills up quick – remember to begin your day early, and pack loads of persistence with you!)
*Notice: In 2026, a timed use allow is required between Could 22 and September 7 to entry Multnomah Falls from Exit 31 off of Hwy. 84. These can be found to e-book as much as 14 days upfront, and you are able to do so at Recreation.gov.
Some shorter/simpler hikes you may wish to think about embrace Latourell Falls, the hike into the Oneonta Gorge (beware that you’re going to possible get moist), and the Elowah Falls hike.
You’ll be able to simply spend the complete day simply driving and stopping alongside the Columbia River Freeway.
Whole drive time: 2-ish hours, plus plenty of stops
The place to remain within the Columbia River Gorge: I like to recommend staying in both Hood River or The Dalles, each situated in the direction of the far finish of the Columbia River Gorge from Portland. In Hood River, take a look at Columbia Cliff Villas Hotel or the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn. In The Dalles, think about the Celilo Inn. (I personally suggest staying in Hood River just because it makes for a cooler drive on Day 5.)
Day 5: Bend by way of Mount Hood
Should you keep in Hood River on Day 4, you possibly can take OR-35 south in the direction of Mount Hood and maybe detour to see Oregon’s most well-known volcano this morning. Mt. Hood is taken into account one of many 7 Wonders of Oregon and is dwelling to the one year-round ski resort in North America (yup, on the slopes of a volcano!). You in all probability will not have sufficient time to hit the slopes, however you possibly can nonetheless benefit from the stunning views.
Cease in on the Mt. Hood Cultural Middle & Museum, or maybe take a stroll round Trillium Lake if the climate is nice, which has a number of the finest views of the mountain.
Then it is time to proceed south to Bend, the outside recreation mecca of Oregon. Elliot’s sister lives in Bend, in order that’s been our most important motivation for visiting – however I believe this cool little metropolis positively deserves a spot on any Oregon street journey itinerary.
If the climate is obvious this night, head as much as Pilot Butte – an extinct volcano within the heart of city – for sundown.
Whole drive time: 3 hours
Charges: $10 per automobile per day use price at Trillium Lake
The place to remain in Bend: For a luxurious keep, Wall Street Suites is a top-rated resort in Bend. For one thing extra budget-friendly (but nonetheless highly-rated), go for the Hampton Inn & Suites Bend. If you wish to be proper in the midst of the motion, take a look at The Oxford Hotel, which is true downtown and presently the top-rated resort within the metropolis.
The place to eat/drink in Bend: You may wish to take a look at Deschutes Brewery’s pub in some unspecified time in the future (they serve good meals, too, in addition to native brews). Or if it is world delicacies you want, take a look at Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails for Northwest meals with a Cajun/Creole aptitude.
Day 6: Bend
Begin your day with a scrumptious breakfast at McKay’s Cottage (simply get there early!), or seize espresso at one in all Bend’s many impartial espresso outlets (we actually like Watershed Espresso Roasters and Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe).
Bend (and most of Central/Japanese Oregon) is thought for its sunny days. So in case you hit one, positively spend right this moment open air! Hire a motorcycle, stroll up Pilot Butte, patio-hop downtown, or “float the river” by means of Bend like a neighborhood (this mainly consists of renting a tube and actually floating down the Deschutes River from the Outdated Mill District to downtown Bend).
If the climate is not splendid (it occurs – it was cloudy, wet, and funky the entire time I used to be in Bend in June!), downtown Bend has tons of cute outlets to discover. You could possibly additionally go to the Excessive Desert Museum, or cease in on the final Blockbuster on earth.
And if you wish to hit the street once more right this moment? Set out on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, a 66-mile historic freeway that can take you previous mountains like Mt. Bachelor, Damaged Prime, and South Sister, and 14 completely different alpine lakes. Starting in July every summer time, Mount Bachelor provides scenic chairlift rides from the West Village base space to the Pine Marten Lodge at 7,775 toes.
Whole drive time: 4-5 hours in case you drive the complete Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway; about an hour in case you simply go so far as Mt. Bachelor. And in case you keep in Bend, you may simply be capable of stroll in all places!
The place to eat/drink in Bend: If you will get to McKay Cottage early sufficient, they serve up the perfect breakfast in Bend (go on a weekday in case you can!). In any other case, Watershed Espresso Roasters is an effective way to begin your morning. You additionally might wish to take a look at Planker Sandwiches in case you’re on the town for lunch, and Pine Tavern for dinner, which serves up traditional American fare within the oldest restaurant within the metropolis.
Day 7: Smith Rock and the Painted Hills
On Day 7, let’s head out to some components of Oregon that you just won’t discover on different street journey itineraries. We’ll begin the morning off at Smith Rock State Park, about 40 minutes to the northeast of Bend. This is among the prettiest state parks you’ve got in all probability by no means heard of.
Smith Rock is thought within the climbing neighborhood as “the birthplace of American sport climbing,” although there are additionally some nice climbing trails there if mountaineering is not actually your forte. Elliot and I tackled the Distress Ridge path (it is difficult, however not as terrible as its title makes it sound), which took us about two hours to finish.
If a vigorous hike does not sound like an effective way to spend your morning, there are simpler trails alongside the Crooked River to take a look at, too.
Afterwards, backtrack a bit to seize lunch in Redmond (it is acquired plenty of breweries to select from!).
RELATED: Climbing a Ridge Referred to as Distress
From Redmond, you may maintain going east into Japanese Oregon. This a part of the state is woefully missed by most vacationers (my Fodor’s information dedicates solely 38 pages to the complete japanese half of Oregon!), however the drive is price it. Your vacation spot is the Painted Hills unit of the John Day Fossil Beds Nationwide Monument close to Mitchell, Oregon.
You realize these images of the Rainbow Mountain in Peru that you have in all probability seen all around the web? Yeah, effectively you possibly can see basically the identical factor in Japanese Oregon – however minus the strenuous hike, excessive elevation, and big crowds!
The Painted Hills actually do seem like they’re painted, and are often finest seen/photographed within the late afternoon and proper earlier than sundown. There is a scenic drive to take by means of the park, in addition to a handful of quick trails to hike across the hills*.
*Should you hike right here, please abide by any indicators that ask you to remain on the path/not climb on the hills.
Afterwards, it is nearly 2 hours again to Bend. Take note of Google Maps right here, although, as it’d attempt to take you on some unpaved farm roads – persist with the primary roads/highways!
Whole driving time: 4.5 hours complete
Charges: $12.50 day use price at Smith Rock State Park
The place to remain: I’d suggest spending one other evening in Bend. However if you wish to combine it up (and in case you do not depart the Painted Hills too late), you may wish to spend an evening at Sunriver Resort, which lies within the foothills of the Cascade Mountains simply 20 minutes south of Bend. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here)
Day 8: Crater Lake
You may wish to make Day 8 an early one so you possibly can head to Oregon’s most well-known nationwide park: Crater Lake! It is solely about 1.5 hours from Bend/Sunriver to the northern entrance to Crater Lake Nationwide Park*, so leaving early means you possibly can mainly spend the entire day exploring.
*Notice: The street round Crater Lake is often solely open from late June to early October annually; if the realm has seen loads of snow, the street might not even open till early/mid-July. So in case you positively need the total Crater Lake expertise, you may wish to plan your Oregon summer time street journey in July or August. Should you go to earlier, you may should drive a further hour to the South Entrance to the park.
Coming from the north entrance station of the park, you may skirt Crater Lake for some time in your technique to the Metal Data Middle, the place you possibly can watch a movie concerning the lake and get park data. From there, you possibly can both backtrack the best way you got here to drive the total 33-mile scenic loop drive, or proceed on from the customer heart and go counter-clockwise round Crater Lake.
The highest factor to do at Crater Lake in the summertime is to take a two-hour park ranger-led boat tour across the lake*. You will get tickets on the historic Crater Lake Lodge (which can also be price visiting). However observe that attending to the boat dock requires you to hike down (and finally again up) the Cleetwood Cove Path, which is 1.1 miles one-way and has an elevation change of about 700 toes. That is the one path that leads all the way down to the lakeshore.
*Essential observe: The park is doing main rehabilitation work on the Cleetwood Path and lakeshore amenities, that means the path and boat excursions will probably be utterly closed in 2026 and 2027. There will probably be NO lake entry till in all probability 2028.
If the strenuous hike is not going to be just right for you, don’t fret – there are many lookouts and shorter hikes across the lake you could nonetheless get pleasure from. Try viewpoints like Discovery Level, Phantom Ship Overlook, and Cloudclap Overlook. And simple/reasonable hikes just like the Fort Crest Wildflower Path (finest in July when wildflowers are blooming) and the Watchman Peak Path are additionally price trying out.
Whole drive time: 3-4 hours of precise drive-time
Charges: $30 entry price to Crater Lake Nationwide Park (if you do not have a Nationwide Park Go)
The place to remain at Crater Lake: The historic Crater Lake Lodge could be a fantastic splurge, however rooms e-book up months (generally a yr) upfront. My recommendation could be to remain between Crater Lake and the coast tonight, possibly on the Prospect Historic Hotel in Prospect, Oregon, or the Maple Leaf Motel in Shady Cove.
Day 9: Head to the Oregon Coast
Right now it is time to head to the coast, as a result of no Oregon street journey could be full and not using a day or two spent driving up Oregon’s beautiful shoreline.
Should you keep in Prospect or Shady Cove on Day 8, it will not take you lengthy to fulfill up with I-5. I’d take this north to Sutherlin/Union Hole after which head west to the coast.
This route will spit you out in Reedsport, close to the underside of the Oregon Dunes Nationwide Recreation Space, which stretches all the best way as much as the city of Florence. Spend a while exploring the dunes, after which start your drive north up the coast on the 101.
Some stops you may wish to make this afternoon embrace the Sea Lion Caves in Florence, the small city of Yachats, and the Yaquina Head Lighthouse (the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast) in Newport, which is the place I like to recommend stopping tonight.
Whole drive time: 5 hours with plenty of stops
The place to remain: I like to recommend staying tonight in Newport, a bit greater than midway up the Oregon Coast. Try the Hallmark Resort or the Inn at Nye Beach.
The place to eat in Newport: Newport is usually referred to as the “Dungeness crab capital of the world,” so you possibly can guess they’ve some nice seafood to attempt right here. There are many eating places to select from, with Native Ocean Seafoods and Georgie’s Beachside Grill each coming extremely really helpful.
Day 10: Oregon Coast
Right now will probably be a extra leisurely drive up the remainder of the Oregon Coast, with loads of time to cease at seashores and eat plenty of seafood.
You could possibly truly spend days exploring this a part of the coast, so the place you cease will rely in your pursuits.
Locations you may wish to cease embrace:
- Depoe Bay, which is legendary for whale watching.
- Pacific Metropolis, recognized for its laid-back vibe and good seaside.
- Oceanside, the place you possibly can observe a man-made tunnel from the seaside at Oceanside Seaside State Park to Tunnel Seaside.
- Tillamook, the place you possibly can go to Tillamook Creamery (a fantastic lunch cease, since they’ve a restaurant!).
- Cannon Seaside, with its well-known Haystack Rock and close by Ecola State Park.
- Cute coastal cities like Manzanita and Seaside.
- Astoria, the oldest metropolis west of the Rocky Mountains.
Of those spots, Cannon Seaside and Astoria are actually the must-visits. Cannon Seaside is the seaside you see on all of the postcards, and Astoria was based within the early 1800s and named after John Jacob Astor.
Cannon Seaside has a cute downtown with plenty of outlets and eating places, and the realm round Haystack Rock is nice for tidepooling at low tide. The close by Ecola State Park additionally provides up nice coastal views (however there’s a $5 entry price).
Astoria is a city you may acknowledge from traditional motion pictures like Free Willy and The Goonies (there’s even a small museum referred to as the Oregon Movie Museum), and in addition has a unusual downtown.
You could possibly keep in both Astoria or Cannon Seaside tonight (they’re solely 40 minutes aside).
(In case you have additional time to spend, I’d in all probability dedicate it to the Oregon coast – you can do a complete Oregon Coast street journey, there’s a lot to see. Learn extra about issues to do on the Oregon Coast!)
Day 11: Return to Portland and head dwelling
From Astoria, it is solely a 2-hour drive again to Portland. In case your flight leaves later within the day, spend a couple of extra hours having fun with the coast, or possibly head again to Portland for yet another meals cart meal.
And on the flight dwelling, you can begin dreaming of your subsequent journey to Oregon!
Do not forget to get a printable version of this itinerary to take with you in your journey.
Stuff you may discover helpful in your journey:
When do you have to take an Oregon street journey?
This particular itinerary is designed with summer time in thoughts (June-August, however particularly July-August or early September) just because a number of the mountain locations I counsel you go to won’t be accessible exterior of these months.
If you wish to skip the mountains and Crater Lake, although, and simply deal with Portland, the wine area, and the Oregon Coast, then you can actually do that street journey any time of yr! Actually, the Pacific Northwest within the winter is loads of enjoyable as a result of the climate alongside the coast is usually fairly delicate, however you will not run into many different vacationers.
READ NEXT: Visiting the Oregon Coast in Winter: 13 Distinctive Issues to Do
Have you ever ever finished a street journey in Oregon? If not, are you able to plan one now?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by means of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares suggestions primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!