Portland and Crater Lake Road Trip

Road Trip: Take a beautiful drive along the Oregon coast and then east through wooded scenery to Crater Lake National Park and south to Redwood National Park in California.

Mileage: Approximately 991 miles.

Main Points of Interest: Drive along the Oregon coast, Crater Lake National Park, Redwood National Park.

Suggested Start and End for this Road Trip: Portland, Oregon

What to Expect Along this Road Trip

Start your trip in Portland, Oregon
Start your trip in Portland, Oregon. Portland is a bustling local scene, offers sumptuous dining and welcoming accommodations. All of Portland is effortlessly accessed thanks to the famous light-rail system. If you have yet to visit Portland, Oregon, take some time during this road trip to explore this wonderful city.

Oregon Coastal Drive
The Oregon coastline is one of the most beautiful coastlines in the United States offering a multitude of state parks up and down the coast. Quaint coastal towns, beautiful ocean scenery, national forests and more. There is a multitude of small towns to stay in up and down this coastline so you can take your time enjoying the scenery.  From Coos Bay, Tillamook, Bandon, Reedsport, Florence, Cannon Beach, Seaside and Newport to name just a few.

Tillamook, Oregon
After a drive along the coast, a nice place to stop would be Tillamook, Oregon. Why Tillamook? Any cheese lover has likely heard of Tillamook Cheese. Dairy Farming, Timber, Tourism, and Fishing have become Tillamooks" major industries, but this lush, green valley nestled between the Coast Range and the Pacific Ocean is perfect for nearly any business, firm, or family.

Crater Lake National Park
After you have completed the scenic coastline portion of this road trip, we start heading to Crater Lake National Park. Crater Lake National Park is most famously known for its beautiful rich blue color and spectacular views. If you are visiting in the summer, you can take the Rim Drive around the lake. Other opportunities in Crater Lake include activities such as; boat tours on the lake surface, stay in the historic Crater Lake Lodge, camp at Mazama Village, or taking a hike on some of the park"s various trails including Mt. Scott at 8,929 ft. If you are unable to stay inside the park at Crater Lake Lodge, you might want to consider some of these towns outside of the park: Klamath Falls (approx 50 miles), Medford (approx 54 miles), Ashland (approx 60 miles) or more.

Redwood National Park
Moving along with our journey, we arrive to Redwood National and State Parks.  These parks are home to some of the world"s tallest trees, the old-growth coast redwoods. They can live to be 2000 years old and grow to over 300 feet tall. Plan your route through Redwood park as there are several routes you can take. Don"t forget to visit the shoreline area for an evening walk along the beach. You may want to stay an extra night here to fully explore the park. There is no lodging inside Redwood National Park so some towns to consider would be Crescent City (approx 38 miles), Trinidad (approx 12 miles) or McKinleyville (approx 20 miles) or Arcata Lodging (approx 21 miles).

End of the Portland and Crater Lake Road Trip
We have concluded the Portland and Crater Lake Road Trip. If you hadn"t taken any time to explore Portland, Oregon at the beginning of this trip, you might want to take the opportunity now. Portland has been considered one of the best small cities in the United States and well worth the visit.

What Should I bring on my Trip?

Depending on what time of year you are planning on taking this route, you might want to consider some of these items:

Summer Travel:

Shorts
Hats
Shirts :: Performance Short Sleeve
Shoes: Hiking Footwear
Soft Shell Jackets (Temperatures will vary day and night in these areas.  Be prepared with layers!)
Pants: Soft Shell Pants :: Trek Travel Pants

Winter Travel:

Shirts: Fleece :: Performance Long Sleeve
Jackets: Fleece :: Insulated Jackets :: Down Jackets
Shoes: Hiking Footwear
Pants: Fleece Pants :: Insulated Pants :: Rain Pants
Gloves and Mittens

Spring and Fall will also vary in temperatures so using any combo with the summer and winter ideas would be suitable.  Plan for layers to keep up with the temperature changes in the course of a day.

Road Trip Details