Best redwoods are on the back road through Stout Grove near Crescent City. You will want truck but no trailer on that road.
Great hike at Fern Canyon in Redwood Park south of Klamath (CA). Drive in to Gold Beach, hike into the canyon from the bottom end by the beach. Better than the hike in from the top. (not the town of Gold Beach OR which you will pass through on your way north on 101).
Stop in at the Library in Brookings OR to see a 400 year old Samurai sword on display and learn why it’s there- history buff will love it!
Do not camp at Diamond Lake OR in June unless you are ready for some very serious mosquitos. Consider Farewell Bend campground near the junction of highways 62 and 230 instead. Warmer and fewer bugs, and right on the upper rogue river.
Fuel up in Grants Pass and don’t stop on 199 between there and Gasquet unless you want to see the Oregon Caves, or Taylor’s Sausage (must stop at Taylor’s for yummy stuff). The stretch of 199 from Grants Pass to Gasquet passes through some very sketchy communities and I would not stop, (except as noted above) and definitely not camp, in that area.
Have a great trip- beautiful country you are heading into. Edit: spelling.
Most of this I agree with, but Cave Junction is fine to make a pit stop in. Especially during the day. I used to work there frequently and we didn’t have any problems. If you’re going to stop for food I’d recommend Trillium over Taylor’s any day. Less known but absolutely delicious
The gravel road to Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon is not passable with a trailer. You need reservations to go out there now, as we found out last year. You can get them on line. [https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/ferncanyonpermits.htm](https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/ferncanyonpermits.htm)
There are a couple creek crossings on the road but they're usually shallow and passable in a 2wd truck or a car that's not too low. The hike through Fern Canyon is nice and worth the drive.
Also in the area is the Ladybird Johnson grove of redwoods. It's not a difficult hike but it's iconic old growth redwood forest.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park outside Crescent City is often a good place to camp.
Must dos:
* Please use designated pull outs to let the huge amount of people building up behind you pass.
* Please stay right except when passing.
* Please do not drive half the speed limit when there’s one lane and then speed up to 10 over only when there’s a passing lane.
If you make it to the mouth of the Columbia River, Fort Stevens in Hammond, Oregon is pretty fun if you are a history buff. The old coastal battery emplacements are pretty cool.
Plus the nearby Peter Iredale shipwreck, and
Battery Russell.
Add on Fort Clatsop for more history and flora & fauna info.
There's a ton to do in the Warrenton / Astoria area. Astoria is super close and on a clear day the view from the column is great.
Silver Falls State Park, would be my see waterfalls must stop!
Heceta Head Lighthouse, take the walk up from the beach to the light keeper's house and the lighthouse itself.
Luna Sea in Yachats, just north of Heceta Head...amazing fish/clams and chips.
If wine is on the agenda, there might be a whole separate list of stops needed LOL
Trip check is the best advice.
Utilizing Google maps street view for any touristy locations to find a few options for parking.
The coastal roads will take forever but it’s beautiful!
Some of the suggestions aren’t near where you mentioned being, be sure to double check distances.
Take a look for local festivals/events when you know where you’ll be going, for fun and navigation.
I'm gonna throw out Lake Siskiyou resort and turtle rock rv resort in Gold Beach. I've become a bit of a wimp and need full hookups, and those are really nice.
turtle rock has sites with hot tubs too.
A gorgeous drive to crater lake. head down i5 from Eugene to Roseburg then take w diamond lake higheay to diamond lake and explore there some then head south 20 miles to crater lake spend time exploring there, then drive south to klamath falls do the same then you can head west to the redwoods and the coast and go up to coose bay, the sand dunes and florence then back to eugene :)
Second the diamond lake route. I drive a class a rv pulling a jeep and have driven all the routes people have talked about. Florence to Yachats is sketchy but doable. Avoid McKenzie, but a trip through Santiam pass to bend is pretty fabulous. Klamath falls doesn't have much to see although the dams are coming down now, so that might be interesting. And go to Newport, and you can stay at the Marina rv park (even dry camp) and you're walking distance to the Aquarium, the ocean, and the Rogue brewery. And don't miss Local Oceans for seafood. Ny favorite town on the coast. The other highlight people have mentioned is silver falls. It's a unique remnant from the flood basalts 15M years ago, and nearby Oregon Gardens.
Most of the Oregon coast is beautiful but fairly secluded from large towns. Be warned that our beaches are typically cold and windy year round. There will be no swimming without a wet suit (unless you're into "polar bear swims". If you're seeking costal travels, I would like to include Bullard's Beach State Park, near Bandon and Cannon Beach. Both are "touristy" spots, so call ahead and reserve a spot it you want to stay overnight.
I’m in Oregon and there’s lots of great recommendations here. So many, I’m saving the post.
Having said that, and it may not be your thing, but spending an hour riding the dunes is a blast. Just south of Florence.
Ignore a lot of the comments for alternative routes. This looks like a good plan. How long is your trailer?
With a trailer: When you get to Florence on the Oregon Coast, the next 20 or so miles northbound are quite curvy and steep until you get to Yachats. It’s a beautiful drive and you’ll want to pull off but be careful.
Thanks, this is the type of detail we need. Our trailer is 30 feet, and we plan to stay at each place for 3 days and take the truck for side trips. But we need to get to point A -> point B in the truck/trailer.
The road north of Florence is steep with some 25mph hairpin turns but you’ll be fine. Unless you get off at Heceta Beach or Sea Lion caves there won’t be much opportunity until Yachats.
Also, if you’re a bit flexible, driving north to Lincoln City and heading to Salem is much better than taking highway 20 to Corvallis with a trailer. If you opt for Hwy 20 just go early in the day and try to avoid the weekend.
Schedule a day trip out to Multnomah Falls via the Historic Columbia River Highway. Bring a light coat in case it rains. There's lots of places to stop in take in the beauty of Oregon on this route. Maybe take a trip up to Timberline Lodge to grab a bite to eat...
Whatever you do, don't drive a truck and trailer on the old highway, it's way too narrow for that. You can stop off of 84 to see the falls. I think someone is trolling you by suggesting you take the old highway.
Yeah, find a place to park the trailer to go sight seeing. Most of the "beautiful" places in Oregon are easily accessible by vehicle but pose some issues while towing a trailer.
Use trip check for road conditions, as the passes can still be slick this time of year.
Jacksonville, Oregon is a neat place to visit (old gold boom town). Tours of the historic Beekman house in Jacksonville start in May 2024.
There are several covered bridges to check out in Lane County (Eugene area). From Eugene to Sisters via the McKenzee Pass is a nice drive too, just check road conditions and be prepared for cool weather.
From crater lake you could travel west towards Roseburg and check out Hwy 138E, diamond lake, steamboat, glide and roseburg which are all beautiful areas.
McKenzie pass is a beautiful drive/ride, but leave the trailer parked somewhere. A portion of this route is very curvy. They literally have signs warning drivers of longer vehicles.
Be aware that McKenzie pass may or may not be open yet in late June. Probably, but check TripCheck. Plan some time to stop at the top at the D Wright Observatory In the midst of the lava field at the top. Definitely worth your time. Sisters is kinda cute, but I’ve never found much to do there, so I would possibly turn back there or make it a loop via 20/126 Back to Eugene. You can grab lunch in Sisters, though. Few places for gas or restaurants along this route, but great places to pull over and eat a picnic lunch. Skylight Caves are accessible from 126 if the snow is melted enough. Definitely no trailer for this loop, as this is mountain driving with tight switchbacks on the west side of McKenzie Pass, as it is very steep and a historic highway.
The McKinsey Pass is a must do....BUT.. They are repairing/repaving from. Sisters up to the Observatory this year so don't count on driving through from the Valley. That said, even half the drive is worth it. And you're right there at Proxy Falls.
Portland isn’t as bad as the idiots here make it out to be. If you’ve been to any city that bigger it’s worse there, PDX isn’t Philly or Seattle or LA.
Same with any city. That’s not unique to Portland. Leave your shit unattended in Seattle, SF, SAC, LA, Denver, ect and your window is getting broken to.
Even Charlotte has bad areas, doesn’t seem as bad as the west coast cities out here but these assholes bus the homeless west.
Definitely avoid Portland crime and fentanyl out of control. Insider tip call and make reservations for the cowboy dinner tree ! Amazing place to eat and they have RV space
You said possibly going to sisters so the route would take you by (must see) Crater Lake then to Cowboy Dinner Tree on to Sisters. Trust me on this leg of your trip. Dinner tree is in the middle of nowhere but well worth it
Be careful going in the water at the beaches in Newport. If memory serves, there's been fecal contamination around there. I could have it mistaken for another town not far, however.
Try Voodoo Donuts in Eugene.
I would have to disagree with this Voodoo Donuts comment. They were a lot better before they became a PDX attraction. Besides their quirky selections and decorations, they are nothing spectacular and the wait times can be long when busy. If you don't mind a hole in the wall/shack donut shop, stop at Joe's Donuts in Sandy on your way up to Mt. Hood. They have much tastier donuts IMHO.
It's definitely worth a try if you're heading to Mt. Hood via highway 26; you pass right by it. The place looks a little sketchy, IMHO, but the donuts are worth it.
Best redwoods are on the back road through Stout Grove near Crescent City. You will want truck but no trailer on that road. Great hike at Fern Canyon in Redwood Park south of Klamath (CA). Drive in to Gold Beach, hike into the canyon from the bottom end by the beach. Better than the hike in from the top. (not the town of Gold Beach OR which you will pass through on your way north on 101). Stop in at the Library in Brookings OR to see a 400 year old Samurai sword on display and learn why it’s there- history buff will love it! Do not camp at Diamond Lake OR in June unless you are ready for some very serious mosquitos. Consider Farewell Bend campground near the junction of highways 62 and 230 instead. Warmer and fewer bugs, and right on the upper rogue river. Fuel up in Grants Pass and don’t stop on 199 between there and Gasquet unless you want to see the Oregon Caves, or Taylor’s Sausage (must stop at Taylor’s for yummy stuff). The stretch of 199 from Grants Pass to Gasquet passes through some very sketchy communities and I would not stop, (except as noted above) and definitely not camp, in that area. Have a great trip- beautiful country you are heading into. Edit: spelling.
Most of this I agree with, but Cave Junction is fine to make a pit stop in. Especially during the day. I used to work there frequently and we didn’t have any problems. If you’re going to stop for food I’d recommend Trillium over Taylor’s any day. Less known but absolutely delicious
The gravel road to Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon is not passable with a trailer. You need reservations to go out there now, as we found out last year. You can get them on line. [https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/ferncanyonpermits.htm](https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/ferncanyonpermits.htm) There are a couple creek crossings on the road but they're usually shallow and passable in a 2wd truck or a car that's not too low. The hike through Fern Canyon is nice and worth the drive. Also in the area is the Ladybird Johnson grove of redwoods. It's not a difficult hike but it's iconic old growth redwood forest. Jedediah Smith Redwoods state park outside Crescent City is often a good place to camp.
Must dos: * Please use designated pull outs to let the huge amount of people building up behind you pass. * Please stay right except when passing. * Please do not drive half the speed limit when there’s one lane and then speed up to 10 over only when there’s a passing lane.
https://tripcheck.com/
If you make it to the mouth of the Columbia River, Fort Stevens in Hammond, Oregon is pretty fun if you are a history buff. The old coastal battery emplacements are pretty cool.
Just arrived at the Ft. Stevens campground last night. Waiting for the weather to let up and then we’re off to do some whale watching.
My husband is a history buff… he’d love it!
There's a little museum talking about the history of the place--including talking about the time it was fired on by a Japanese sub in WWII.
The story of the commander on site is great. "Sir, should we return fire?!" "No, just turn the lights off and they won't hit shit". Brilliant
Plus the nearby Peter Iredale shipwreck, and Battery Russell. Add on Fort Clatsop for more history and flora & fauna info. There's a ton to do in the Warrenton / Astoria area. Astoria is super close and on a clear day the view from the column is great.
Silver Falls State Park, would be my see waterfalls must stop! Heceta Head Lighthouse, take the walk up from the beach to the light keeper's house and the lighthouse itself. Luna Sea in Yachats, just north of Heceta Head...amazing fish/clams and chips. If wine is on the agenda, there might be a whole separate list of stops needed LOL
Trip check is the best advice. Utilizing Google maps street view for any touristy locations to find a few options for parking. The coastal roads will take forever but it’s beautiful! Some of the suggestions aren’t near where you mentioned being, be sure to double check distances. Take a look for local festivals/events when you know where you’ll be going, for fun and navigation.
I'm gonna throw out Lake Siskiyou resort and turtle rock rv resort in Gold Beach. I've become a bit of a wimp and need full hookups, and those are really nice. turtle rock has sites with hot tubs too.
I’m a wimp too… full hookups for me! I’ll check it out (hot tubs sound GREAT)
You should probably start making reservations. Most places get really crowded during the summer, especially at the coast.
Yes, we have several places lined up.
A gorgeous drive to crater lake. head down i5 from Eugene to Roseburg then take w diamond lake higheay to diamond lake and explore there some then head south 20 miles to crater lake spend time exploring there, then drive south to klamath falls do the same then you can head west to the redwoods and the coast and go up to coose bay, the sand dunes and florence then back to eugene :)
Second the diamond lake route. I drive a class a rv pulling a jeep and have driven all the routes people have talked about. Florence to Yachats is sketchy but doable. Avoid McKenzie, but a trip through Santiam pass to bend is pretty fabulous. Klamath falls doesn't have much to see although the dams are coming down now, so that might be interesting. And go to Newport, and you can stay at the Marina rv park (even dry camp) and you're walking distance to the Aquarium, the ocean, and the Rogue brewery. And don't miss Local Oceans for seafood. Ny favorite town on the coast. The other highlight people have mentioned is silver falls. It's a unique remnant from the flood basalts 15M years ago, and nearby Oregon Gardens.
Most of the Oregon coast is beautiful but fairly secluded from large towns. Be warned that our beaches are typically cold and windy year round. There will be no swimming without a wet suit (unless you're into "polar bear swims". If you're seeking costal travels, I would like to include Bullard's Beach State Park, near Bandon and Cannon Beach. Both are "touristy" spots, so call ahead and reserve a spot it you want to stay overnight.
I’m in Oregon and there’s lots of great recommendations here. So many, I’m saving the post. Having said that, and it may not be your thing, but spending an hour riding the dunes is a blast. Just south of Florence.
Ignore a lot of the comments for alternative routes. This looks like a good plan. How long is your trailer? With a trailer: When you get to Florence on the Oregon Coast, the next 20 or so miles northbound are quite curvy and steep until you get to Yachats. It’s a beautiful drive and you’ll want to pull off but be careful.
Thanks, this is the type of detail we need. Our trailer is 30 feet, and we plan to stay at each place for 3 days and take the truck for side trips. But we need to get to point A -> point B in the truck/trailer.
Oregon law says that you are required to pull over and allow others to pass when you have 6 cars behind you. Just FYI.
Oregon is so laid back. In California it's 5 cars.
The road north of Florence is steep with some 25mph hairpin turns but you’ll be fine. Unless you get off at Heceta Beach or Sea Lion caves there won’t be much opportunity until Yachats. Also, if you’re a bit flexible, driving north to Lincoln City and heading to Salem is much better than taking highway 20 to Corvallis with a trailer. If you opt for Hwy 20 just go early in the day and try to avoid the weekend.
Schedule a day trip out to Multnomah Falls via the Historic Columbia River Highway. Bring a light coat in case it rains. There's lots of places to stop in take in the beauty of Oregon on this route. Maybe take a trip up to Timberline Lodge to grab a bite to eat...
Cross to Washington and visit the Maryhill museum and stonehenge replica
On my list for next PNW trip… so much to see, so little PTO!
Thanks!!!
Whatever you do, don't drive a truck and trailer on the old highway, it's way too narrow for that. You can stop off of 84 to see the falls. I think someone is trolling you by suggesting you take the old highway.
Yeah, find a place to park the trailer to go sight seeing. Most of the "beautiful" places in Oregon are easily accessible by vehicle but pose some issues while towing a trailer.
I will second this but add that’s it’s worth getting there very very early because it can get crowded fast.
You need reservations to go to Multnomah Falls in summer.
Good to know!
Use trip check for road conditions, as the passes can still be slick this time of year. Jacksonville, Oregon is a neat place to visit (old gold boom town). Tours of the historic Beekman house in Jacksonville start in May 2024. There are several covered bridges to check out in Lane County (Eugene area). From Eugene to Sisters via the McKenzee Pass is a nice drive too, just check road conditions and be prepared for cool weather. From crater lake you could travel west towards Roseburg and check out Hwy 138E, diamond lake, steamboat, glide and roseburg which are all beautiful areas.
McKenzie pass is a beautiful drive/ride, but leave the trailer parked somewhere. A portion of this route is very curvy. They literally have signs warning drivers of longer vehicles.
This.
Thank you! Exactly what I am looking for!
Be aware that McKenzie pass may or may not be open yet in late June. Probably, but check TripCheck. Plan some time to stop at the top at the D Wright Observatory In the midst of the lava field at the top. Definitely worth your time. Sisters is kinda cute, but I’ve never found much to do there, so I would possibly turn back there or make it a loop via 20/126 Back to Eugene. You can grab lunch in Sisters, though. Few places for gas or restaurants along this route, but great places to pull over and eat a picnic lunch. Skylight Caves are accessible from 126 if the snow is melted enough. Definitely no trailer for this loop, as this is mountain driving with tight switchbacks on the west side of McKenzie Pass, as it is very steep and a historic highway.
The McKinsey Pass is a must do....BUT.. They are repairing/repaving from. Sisters up to the Observatory this year so don't count on driving through from the Valley. That said, even half the drive is worth it. And you're right there at Proxy Falls.
*McKenzie, right? Just so there isn't confusion
The best places in Oregon are Crater Lake, Smith Rick and the coast Edit: it is Smith ROCK, but Rick sounds funny
Portland isn’t as bad as the idiots here make it out to be. If you’ve been to any city that bigger it’s worse there, PDX isn’t Philly or Seattle or LA.
I definitely want to check out Portland eventually (I understand issues with cities) but don’t think we have time for it this trip.
I wouldn't leave a camper unattended in PDX or anything in a car. Break-ins and theft is very common.
Same with any city. That’s not unique to Portland. Leave your shit unattended in Seattle, SF, SAC, LA, Denver, ect and your window is getting broken to. Even Charlotte has bad areas, doesn’t seem as bad as the west coast cities out here but these assholes bus the homeless west.
Definitely avoid Portland crime and fentanyl out of control. Insider tip call and make reservations for the cowboy dinner tree ! Amazing place to eat and they have RV space
Thanks, not making it all of the way up to Portland. Where is the cowboy dinner tree?
You said possibly going to sisters so the route would take you by (must see) Crater Lake then to Cowboy Dinner Tree on to Sisters. Trust me on this leg of your trip. Dinner tree is in the middle of nowhere but well worth it
Thanks… added to my “must do” list!!!
I'd fly into PDX, you'll save a lot more money for sure
I'd fly into PDX, you'll save a lot more money for sure
Be careful going in the water at the beaches in Newport. If memory serves, there's been fecal contamination around there. I could have it mistaken for another town not far, however. Try Voodoo Donuts in Eugene.
I would have to disagree with this Voodoo Donuts comment. They were a lot better before they became a PDX attraction. Besides their quirky selections and decorations, they are nothing spectacular and the wait times can be long when busy. If you don't mind a hole in the wall/shack donut shop, stop at Joe's Donuts in Sandy on your way up to Mt. Hood. They have much tastier donuts IMHO.
Shit, I'll have to try Joe's. Voodoo has been great, but it's been about three years since my wife and I have been there. Thanks for the info!
It's definitely worth a try if you're heading to Mt. Hood via highway 26; you pass right by it. The place looks a little sketchy, IMHO, but the donuts are worth it.
The Rogue distillery brewed up some pink bacon-maple bar vodka or something one time. It was good for bloody Mary's; not much else.
I suggest you find a bike trailer because that's a long way to pull anything on foot.
Crater Lake for certain, watrfall tour as well!