First Road Trip (Portland, Bend, Grants Pass: camping, live in, safer)

[willcut]

My husband and I are taking our first road trip. We are kind of thinking of going to the Redwoods. We live in Portland and have 10 day. We are leaving this coming Friday. Do you have any suggestions?

[hymalaia]

Steens Mtn and Alvord desert. Well that's what I'd do if I had 10 days. Instead though I'm thinking of checking out the Newberry Caldera and Glass Buttes, which isn't quite as far. There are some scenic byways through the cascades I'd like to take on the way back. I hope I can make the trip while there is some clear days so I can see the mountains!

I already did Crater Lake but that's obviously a must as are the WA natl parks (Rainier and Olympic). Can't go wrong with the Redwoods, Coast or Southern Oregon either though. That's the problem with this state. Too many damn choices!

[PNW-type-gal]

Avoid the Crater Lake area right now - there is a large fire just inside the park and the air is very smoky and thick and the visibility is poor.

[coosbaytv]

What about heading over to the Coast from Portland and then take your time all the way down the coast to the Redwoods and then back up I-5?
This really is the best time of year for good weather on the Coast.
Something I hear a lot from Portland folks is that they never make it further South than Florence.

I agree with the Bend problem right now as to the fires but if you check it out and the reports are clear go for it!

[tiffela74]

Im gonna go with the taking the coastal route down....its a beautiful drive!!!
I hope you can get lucky enough to get into the redwoods after a light rain...the smells are divine!
Enjoy your roadtrip!!

[Terryj]

If you drive the coast route to Crescent City there is a wonderful route through the Redwoods, its called the Howland Hill Rd. it's a one lane road that takes you through the Redwoods and exits out on hwy 199. You can the take hwy 199 north into Grants Pass, from there you can drive into Central and Eastern Oregon. A road trip through Oregon wouldn't be the same without visiting the other side of the Cascades.

[StealthRabbit]

south bound on coast (safer for viewing and pull-offs)

Will you be camping? there are some nice state and federal campgrounds right on the beach in southern OR

Samoa Cookhouse near Eureka (on island of Samoa), good museum, fun experience for dining if you have a crowd at your table (family style). Call ahead for menu, try to make it for a 'french toast' breakfast (about twice / week). It might be too spendy for 'cookhouse' food, but the museum section and the drive around the mill town is educational.

We like Ferndale, a small quaint town south of Eureka -

Take the scenic routes through the redwoods (usually just off the main Highway) do a lot of day hikes

head east (scenic, and very curvy) to Lassen Nat'l Park, (extraordinary 'alpine' park , call ahead to check road conditions) then come north through Lava Beds National Monument. Be sure to check out the petroglyphs to the NE of the main park on a rock out-cropping that were apparently carved from canoes !! (it is pretty dry and high now)

on to Klamath Falls, then Crater and Diamond Lake, I would take the route back down to Roseburg for good hiking and camping enroute (hot springs and Falls are short day hikes), then on up I-5 to Rice Hill for Ice cream, or... for more educational and less fattening.... you can stay eastside from Diamond Lake and do the High Desert museum, Bend, & Sisters