If you’re planning a West Coast road trip and Oregon isn’t on your radar, it should be! One of three states generally comprising the Pacific northwest, Oregon boasts gigantic volcanic craters, ancient old-growth forests, dramatic sea stacks, hundreds of waterfalls, and towering rock formations along some of the most scenic highways in the country. It’s an adventure-lover’s dream and it definitely deserves a spot on your road trip bucket list!
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If you’re working with limited PTO, don’t mind a lot of driving, and love a jam-packed day, this itinerary is perfect for you! Covering 1,000+ miles of western Oregon in just 7 days, this road trip itinerary hits some of the most iconic spots along the Oregon Coast and in western Oregon.
The Itinerary at a Glance
Portland & the Columbia River Gorge — Days 1–2
Portland
For this itinerary, flying into PDX makes the most sense. Portland is the largest city in Oregon and is a great starting point for this road trip. Portland has a quirky, eco-friendly culture, with a thriving coffee and craft beer scene and a reputation as one of the most bikeable cities in the U.S. If you have time, Portland is definitely worth a stop before you hit the road.
Mount Hood
Mount Hood is Oregon’s highest peak, and the third most-climbed mountain in the world (after Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire)! It is part of the Cascade Range — a chain of volcanoes running through the Pacific Northwest — and its prominent snowcapped summit is hard to miss.
Just an hour from Portland, the Hood River Fruit Loop is known for its berry fields, orchards, farm stands, wineries, breweries, cideries, and flower fields. Be sure to pack your appetite!
Tamanawas Falls
Tamanawas Falls wasn’t even on our radar, but our local tour guide (my cousin Brandon) recommended it, and we’re so glad he did, because it was our favorite waterfall of the trip! The trail is 3.4-mile out-and-back with 557 feet of elevation gain that ends at a thunderous 110-foot waterfall that you can scramble behind. The name Tamanawas comes from a Chinook word referring to a friendly guardian spirit.
Multnomah Falls is one of the most iconic natural sites in the Pacific Northwest. Fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, the two-tiered falls drop a combined 620 feet, making it the tallest waterfall in Oregon. It’s a popular spot, and timed use permits are required if you’re visiting between late May and early September from 9am–6pm.
The Oregon Coast — Days 2–3
Highway 101 — also known as the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway — traces the entire Oregon coastline and is recognized as one of Oregon’s 7 Wonders. Here are just a few stops worth making along the way:
Astoria
Begin your coastal drive in Astoria, the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, and a true gem. Victorian-age homes overlook the port, and the 6.4 mile Riverwalk is lovely for a stroll or bike on a sunny day.
The Astoria Column — a 125-foot monument and the highest point in Astoria— offers a bird’s-eye view of where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, and of the Astoria-Megler Bridge that connects Oregon to Washington. Parking is $10 per vehicle and is good for a year. You can also visit the iconic Goonies House in Astoria. HEY YOU GUYS!!
Ecola State Park stretches along 9 miles of dramatic coastline with cliffside viewpoints and a long-abandoned lighthouse visible offshore (also featured in the Goonies). The drive into the park meanders through a lush Sitka spruce forest before opening onto sweeping views of the Pacific.
Things to note: The $12 Oregon State Parks day-use fee is good all day at any participating state park, so if you're hitting multiple state parks in a day, you only pay once! Just put the receipt on your dashboard.
Cannon Beach is just south of Ecola State Park, and is the crown jewel of the Oregon Coast. The wide sandy beach, the iconic Haystack Rock and Needles sea stacks, the tidal pools at low tide, the glorious sunsets… it’s all amazing. You might even catch a Roosevelt elk on the beach like we did! Campfires are allowed on Cannon Beach, just bring your own firewood and be sure to follow all safety regulations!
Fun fact:
Oregon's Beach Bill passed in 1967 guarantees free unrestricted public access to all the state’s beaches. Hawaii is the only other U.S. state that can boast the same!
Cape Meares State Park is one of the Three Capes in the northern Oregon Coast. A quick detour north will lead you to the old Cape Meares lighthouse, and the famous Octopus Tree — an ancient Sitka spruce with no central trunk and enormous limbs sprawling in every direction. Planning a visit in December or March? Cape Meares offers some fantastic whale watching, with migrating whales frequently visible from the coast.
Tunnel Beach seems like the type of beach that would be featured as a secret passageway in a fantasy novel. In the 1920s, someone had the idea to blast a 90-foot tunnel through a coastal cliff to access a hidden beach. Though it’s not exactly hidden anymore, walking through the dark tunnel and emerging onto an otherwise inaccessible stretch of coast still feels like a secret adventure and it’s worth a quick stop.
Tillamook Creamery is the perfect stop for lunch or a snack. They offer self-guided tours of the cheese-making process, free cheese samples, and the creamiest ice cream! We had to try the butter-dipped ice cream with sea salt flakes (because we are weird and like weird things), and it was surprisingly delicious (though probably not great for our arteries).
Devil’s Punchbowl is a collapsed sea cave that churns and foams with every wave during high tide, apparently reminiscent of a “devil’s punchbowl”. You can explore the tidal pools within the cave at extreme low tide by taking the Marine Gardens Trail down to Otter Crest Beach (only attempt this during the lowest tides of the year on completely calm days, as sudden surges can be dangerous).
Bandon Beach was a highlight of our coastal drive. It’s a lot like Cannon Beach but quieter and less crowded and with more sea stacks. It’s also the perfect spot to catch a sunset (as evidenced by the 15 photographers with tripods we saw trying to capture the best shots of the sea stack silhouettes against the setting sun).
Umpqua National Forest & Crater Lake — Days 3–4
The drive from the coast to Crater Lake through Umpqua National Forest was part of the itinerary that surprised us the most. The North Umpqua River corridor is lined with some of Oregon’s best waterfalls and you could spend several days trying to visit them all.
These were the three we managed to visit over the course of just a few hours:
Susan Creek Falls is a short 1.4-mile out-and-back trail perfect for stretching your legs after driving a few hours from Bandon. The trail passes through an interesting mix of previously fire-damaged pines with vibrant new growth before leading to the 50 foot falls.
Toketee Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in Oregon — the two-tiered falls drop a combined 113 feet over graceful columnar basalt formations into a churning pool below. The trail is less than a mile round trip and the picturesque falls can be appreciated from a viewing platform above.
Watson Falls is the third-highest waterfall in Oregon, and definitely our favorite of the three we visited along the North Umpqua River corridor. The trail is less than a mile round-trip and leads to a spectacular 293-foot single-drop waterfall that plunges over a cathedral-like basalt amphitheater. We’d say this is a “can’t miss” stop!
Crater Lake National Park
Formed 7,700 years ago when Mount Mazama collapsed after a violent eruption, the Crater Lake caldera filled over thousands of years to become the deepest lake in the United States. At 1,943 feet deep it is the eleventh deepest lake in the world. The electric blue color comes from the lake’s extraordinary clarity and purity.
A road called the Rim Road circles the entirety of Crater Lake but typically remains fully open to vehicles for only a few months each year due to heavy snowfall — the lake averages an impressive 43 feet of snow annually. You can still walk or bike portions depending on the snowpack, but if a complete rim drive is on your bucket list, time your visit for late June through mid-October for the best luck. We visited in May and caught only a portion of the driving route, but still found plenty to fill a day and a half.
The highlight of Crater Lake National Park for us was the Garfield Peak Trail — a 3.5-mile out-and-back trail leaving directly from the Crater Lake Lodge parking lot and leading 1,072 feet up to epic views of the lake, Wizard Island, Phantom Ship, and the surrounding Cascade peaks.
The America the Beautiful Pass grants access to over 2,000 U.S. federal recreation sites including all U.S. National Parks. At $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for nonresidents, it covers entrance for the passholder and all passengers in a single private vehicle for 1 year.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument — Day 5
On the drive north from Crater Lake to Smith Rock State Park, Newberry National Volcanic Monument is a worthwhile detour that many people aren’t aware of. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service (use your America the Beautiful Pass here too!), Newberry is a massive shield volcano with a caldera at its summit containing two lakes, hot springs, and one of the most recent lava flows in the continental United States.
Paulina Falls is a quick stop with a big payoff — a short walk leads to a viewpoint overlooking twin waterfalls dropping 80 feet into the Paulina Creek canyon. You can also hike down a short path to get a view from the bottom of the falls.
The Big Obsidian Flow trail winds through a sweeping field of volcanic obsidian — a naturally occurring glass formed when molten lava cools so rapidly that crystals never get a chance to form. The result is a jet-black, glossy, razor-sharp material that, at just 1,300 years old, is remarkably young in geological terms. Interpretive signs along the trail explain the science behind the landscape, which is so unique. A quick stop here is well worth it.
Smith Rock State Park — Day 5
Smith Rock State Park was our favorite stop on this entire road trip. The landscape is comprised of a series of towering volcanic rock formations that rise above the Crooked River in central Oregon, with views that make you feel more like you’re in the Southwest than the Pacific Northwest.
We chose the Misery Ridge Trail — a 2.5-mile out-and-back with 1,154 feet of elevation gain — which leads sweeping views of Oregon’s high desert, the Cascades, the Crooked River, and the famous Monkey Face rock formation.
Silver Falls State Park — Day 6
Silver Falls State Park is Oregon’s largest state park and home to one of the most unique hiking trails in the country. The Trail of Ten Falls is a 7.6-mile loop with 1,184 feet of elevation gain that passes — as the name promises — TEN separate waterfalls ranging from 27 to 178 feet (four of which you can walk directly behind!). It takes about four hours at a comfortable pace and is very well-maintained.
It’s a busy, well-loved trail and feels a little more developed and commercial than some of the other stops on this trip, but the waterfalls are spectacular and it absolutely earns its popularity.
Tips for Doing This Trip Right
This itinerary involves a lot of driving. We averaged roughly 150 miles per day with some long stretches between stops. If you have limited PTO like we do, want to fit in as much as possible, it absolutely can be done in a week. But if you have 10–14 days and a more relaxed pace, you’ll be glad for the extra time.
Download offline maps before you go — cell service gets spotty in the more remote areas. Download AllTrails trail maps and Google Maps of the area before you go.
Book Crater Lake accommodations early. Staying inside the park is very convenient, but the rooms at Crater Lake Lodge and Cabins at Mazama Village fill up fast.
Get the timed use permit for Multnomah Falls. Don’t miss out because you don’t have a reservation! Timed use permits are required if you’re visiting between late May and early September from 9am–6pm and are available in two waves: 14 days before and 2 days before your visit.
Pack layers. Oregon’s weather is famously unpredictable. Be sure to pack rainjackets and layers. We ended up swinging by Goodwill so I could get a fleece to wear under my jacket. I also forgot to pack socks. Learn from my mistakes.
Coffee Huts Oregon is filled-to-bursting with the cutest little roadside coffee huts. We stopped at as many as we could and recommend you do the same if you love delicious specialty coffee!
Where to Stay
- Cannon Beach: The Wayside Inn — comfortable rooms, easy and free beach access with free beach gear available to use
- Bandon: b.side Motel — super cute motel and a great location for the Bandon Beach sunset
- Crater Lake: The Cabins at Mazama Village — convenient, comfortable, and inside the national park
- Smith Rock area: SCP Redmond Hotel — sustainable, comfortable, great base for exploring Smith Rock
- Portland: Hyatt House Portland/Downtown — simple and perfect if your PDX flight arrives late or leaves early. Also free breakfast is a plus!
Our week in western Oregon exceeded our expectations, and as first-time visitors to the Pacific Northwest, we can say with certainty it won’t be our last!
From the rugged sea stacks of Cannon Beach and Bandon to the surreal blue of Crater Lake, the striking desert landscapes of Smith Rock, and the region’s seemingly endless waterfalls, western Oregon offers an extraordinary range of scenery in a single trip. Use this 7-day itinerary as your guide or simply as inspiration for a choose-your-own adventure — either way, we hope it convinces you to experience this remarkable corner of the country for yourself. Oregon is calling!
