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First trip to Oregon - Logistics help
Posted on 7/13/26 at 4:11 pm
Posted on 7/13/26 at 4:11 pm
I see the other thread below has a lot of good places to hit, but my questions concern efficiency of travel. My wife and I fly in to Portland late on a Thursday and leave early on a Monday, so that gives us 3 full days and nights. My rough draft itinerary currently looks like this:
Day 1: Leave Portland early and drive down to hike Silver Falls State Park then drive down to Bend and stay the night.
Day 2: Drive down early to Crater Lake before heading to the coast. Looking at staying in Florence for night 2. (Will make a quick pit stop in Eugene, if possible, because wife has a thing with her father about getting pictures on different campuses around the country.)
Day 3: Take the PCH up the coast making stops at notable coastal spots (Cape Perpetua, Haceta Head lighthouse, etc.) Shooting to get back to Portland around 2 or 3 where we'd walk around the city for the rest of the afternoon/evening/night.
We like driving in new places, and see it as part of the fun, so time in the car isn't too much of an issue. Does this sound doable?
Day 1: Leave Portland early and drive down to hike Silver Falls State Park then drive down to Bend and stay the night.
Day 2: Drive down early to Crater Lake before heading to the coast. Looking at staying in Florence for night 2. (Will make a quick pit stop in Eugene, if possible, because wife has a thing with her father about getting pictures on different campuses around the country.)
Day 3: Take the PCH up the coast making stops at notable coastal spots (Cape Perpetua, Haceta Head lighthouse, etc.) Shooting to get back to Portland around 2 or 3 where we'd walk around the city for the rest of the afternoon/evening/night.
We like driving in new places, and see it as part of the fun, so time in the car isn't too much of an issue. Does this sound doable?
6
Posted on 7/13/26 at 4:26 pm to facher08
My daughter is in college out there just West of Portland, so we have been there a lot over the last few years.
To answer your question, this is very doable as you have it laid out. People will tell you to pick one spot and spend your time there, but I understand wanting to see, even if briefly, all the state has to offer.
When we were visiting colleges, me and my daughter left the college she ended up at after noon one day, drove south to hit Corvallis and Eugene before turning north again to our hotel in Portland where we had plenty of daylight left to eat a nice dinner and walk along the river.
To answer your question, this is very doable as you have it laid out. People will tell you to pick one spot and spend your time there, but I understand wanting to see, even if briefly, all the state has to offer.
When we were visiting colleges, me and my daughter left the college she ended up at after noon one day, drove south to hit Corvallis and Eugene before turning north again to our hotel in Portland where we had plenty of daylight left to eat a nice dinner and walk along the river.
This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 4:32 pm
Posted on 7/13/26 at 4:36 pm to facher08
Seems very doable if you are the type to move daily like that and you will maximize your time to view the state. Sleep when you get home is one of our mottos on these type trips!
Posted on 7/13/26 at 5:16 pm to facher08
quote:
Day 3: Take the PCH up the coast.
It’s 101. PCH is California State Route 1.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 7:08 pm to facher08
Have family in Eugene. Go out there once/year or so. You'll have a great time. So much to see and do. You have to have the perspective "I'll be coming back" because it's an expansive state. Some thoughts...
The plan looks totally doable. It’s a lot of miles, but Oregon is one of those places where the driving is half the fun, and your route hits the best parts without wasting time doubling back. Day 1 is easy — Silver Falls and then over to Bend is a solid start. Day 2 is the long haul, but Bend, Crater Lake, Eugene, Florence/Yachats is very manageable if you get moving early. Crater Lake will slow you down a bit just because everyone stops for photos, but that’s part of the experience.
Day 3 up the coast is the payoff. That stretch from Florence/Yachats through Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head is one of the prettiest drives in the state, and you’ll still make it back to Portland with time to walk around and grab dinner.
It’s an ambitious loop, but nothing in it is unrealistic — especially for people who enjoy exploring by car.
Bend
Put in other thread, but highly recommend you look into staying at the Sun River Resort!
Yachats
Yachats is absolutely worth considering. It’s small, laid-back, and sits right in the middle of the best stretch of the central Oregon coast. If you’re already planning to hit Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head, staying in Yachats puts you minutes from both. The coastline there is more dramatic than Florence — lots of rugged basalt, big surf, and great viewpoints — and the food scene is surprisingly solid for a tiny town. Florence is fine if you want dunes or cheaper lodging, but for the classic Oregon coast feel, Yachats is the better stop.
The plan looks totally doable. It’s a lot of miles, but Oregon is one of those places where the driving is half the fun, and your route hits the best parts without wasting time doubling back. Day 1 is easy — Silver Falls and then over to Bend is a solid start. Day 2 is the long haul, but Bend, Crater Lake, Eugene, Florence/Yachats is very manageable if you get moving early. Crater Lake will slow you down a bit just because everyone stops for photos, but that’s part of the experience.
Day 3 up the coast is the payoff. That stretch from Florence/Yachats through Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head is one of the prettiest drives in the state, and you’ll still make it back to Portland with time to walk around and grab dinner.
It’s an ambitious loop, but nothing in it is unrealistic — especially for people who enjoy exploring by car.
Bend
Put in other thread, but highly recommend you look into staying at the Sun River Resort!
Yachats
Yachats is absolutely worth considering. It’s small, laid-back, and sits right in the middle of the best stretch of the central Oregon coast. If you’re already planning to hit Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head, staying in Yachats puts you minutes from both. The coastline there is more dramatic than Florence — lots of rugged basalt, big surf, and great viewpoints — and the food scene is surprisingly solid for a tiny town. Florence is fine if you want dunes or cheaper lodging, but for the classic Oregon coast feel, Yachats is the better stop.
This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 9:26 pm
Posted on 7/13/26 at 10:12 pm to facher08
Dtive along I-84 along the river. Beautiful scenery. Mount Hood is nice or head north to Mt. Saint Helens or Mt Ranier. Safe travels!
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