It’s time to plan an Oregon road trip! Unquestionably one of the most beautiful states in the United States with miles of rugged coast, the snow-capped Cascade Mountain Range, lush forests, pristine alpine lakes, and spectacular wild & scenic rivers, Oregon really has it all.
All of this natural beauty has the makings of an incredible Oregon road trip (or multiple) and we’re here to tell you exactly how to do it and what you need to see.
Oregon is home to a whopping ten National Scenic Byways, including four All-American Roads (the highest designation in the National Scenic Byways program).
I’ll be using these scenic byways, which wind through national forests, parks, and miles of picturesque coastline and countryside, as the jumping-off points for your Oregon adventures in this article.
So let’s start making plans for your next visit to the beaver state!
Planning Your Oregon Road Trip
Things to Know Before Your Oregon Road Trip
Weather: Depending on where you’re traveling in Oregon you could encounter a multitude of climates and various kinds of weather. While the northwestern part of the state sees a lot of rain, the eastern part of the state is very dry. The mountains tend to generate their own weather and forest fires are a problem throughout the state.
Gas: For some strange reason Oregon doesn’t allow you to pump your own gas. Yes, that’s right, you’re actually not allowed to. You’ll have to stay put in your car and wait for the attendant to approach you and take your payment and pump your gas. How quaint…
Sunscreen: Depending on where you’re traveling in the state (like the coast) you may want to bring some sunscreen. We happen to like this one because it works AND it’s not full of a bunch of chemicals.
Leave No Trace: That’s right, as you visit Oregon’s parks and green spaces remember to leave these places beautiful. We’re big fans of Leave No Trace here at MTJP. Want to learn more? Read about the seven principals of Leave No Trace here.
Clothing: Bring you rain jacket! This is the Pacific Northwest.
Insect Repellent: You hope not to need it, but you want to have it. We typically bring an Eco-Friendly Insect Repellent with us just in case.
Mapping Out Your Oregon Road Trip
An Oregon road trip can go any number of ways depending on where you’re starting. As you browse this article and find byways and points of interest that you want to check out we recommend using Google Maps “My Maps” tool to add POI’s, formulate a route, and share it with your copilots – more on this below.
Best Oregon Road Trip Map Tool
We always use google maps for this as the interface is hard to beat. However, they do currently have a 10 destination limit on the regular one.
If you want/need to add more points to your map than the 10 destination limit, google also has a “my maps” tool which is free and even savable right to your google account.
We’ve ranked the 15 BEST Road Trip Planning Tools if you’re looking for more!
Bend to Portland or Portland to Bend
Before I get into the bulk of this article I thought I’d cover the popular Portland to Bend (or Bend to Portland) road trip that’s great for a long weekend away.
Depending on your route you’ll traverse some jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery along the way with plenty of opportunities to get out and stretch your legs in the great outdoors.
Typically your GPS will route you via U.S. Route 26 heading east from Portland and before dipping south and eventually meeting with U.S. Route 97 in Madras, OR en route to Bend.
But by switching your route to the other recommended route (seen above in blue) you’ll get to drive through spectacular forest scenery with the opportunity to stop off at numerous waterfalls, campgrounds, and other scenic points of interest.
Adding the McKenzie Scenic Byway
My favorite way to do the Portland to Bend drive (or Bend to Portland) is via the above route, but also adding the McKenzie Pass Scenic Byway (seen highlighted in green).
This will add another 45 minutes to your drive time, and in all likelihood a lot longer as you’ll want to stop and gawk at the incredible views, but it’s well worth it if you have the time. More on this scenic byway later.
If you’re interested in other National Parks Road Trips, you might want to look over our post ranking the National Park Road Trips. You also might be interested in our ALL 63 National Parks Ranked post that lists all of the national parks. We ranked them from best to worst based on our comprehensive 50 point rating system.
Oregon Road Trip – Camping
There are more camping options along the scenic byways of Oregon than we could possibly have time to mention.
From private RV-friendly campgrounds to primitive tent-only campsites and everything in between, with it’s vast network of federal and state lands Oregon has something for everybody in terms of camping.
Tips to Avoid Camping Headaches
Now I should note that just because Oregon has an embarrassment of riches in it’s camping opportunities doesn’t mean they don’t fill up fast! Believe me, I’ve been on road trips here where I couldn’t find an open campsite to save my life and had to sleep in the car.
- Avoid holiday weekends if possible. You wouldn’t believe how fast and how far in advance campgrounds fill up for holiday weekends. As sad as it sounds it’s best to avoid these weekends if you’re wanting a hassle-free road trip.
- Reserve your campsites ahead of time. Gone are the days of rolling up to Forest Service campgrounds on a summer evening and picking amongst plentiful available sites for a peaceful night under the stars. Use recreation.gov to book your campsites in advance and avoid massive headaches.
- Mount Hood is very crowded. I’m just going to say it, Mount Hood is really crowded and it’s next to impossible to find a campsite there in the summer so maybe just plan a day trip or avoid it all together if you’re intent on camping.
- Don’t forget about privately run campgrounds. A beautiful Forest Service or National Park Service campground sounds postcard perfect for your camping weekend, but the reality is it’s extremely competitive to get a campsite on our federal lands these days. If you’re looking for a place to lie your head down for the night do sleep on private campgrounds!
Getting Gas During Your Oregon Road Trip
For some strange reason Oregon doesn’t allow you to pump your own gas (with a few exceptions in very rural areas at night). Yes, that’s right, you’re actually not allowed to. Why? An excellent question that beats the h…, anyway, I don’t know.
So don’t pull up to the gas station and think you’re going to be in and out in a jiffy. The reality is you have to stay put in your car and wait for the attendant to approach you and take your payment and pump your gas for you.
How quaint… Maybe they’ll throw in a frosted malt and sell you some war bonds while you awkwardly fiddle with your radio.
I should also note that some areas of Oregon, like the McKenzie Pass Scenic Byway, have long stretches without gas stations so be sure to take note of road signs indicating lengths of time without fuel and gas up when you get the chance, despite the inconvenience.
Oregon Road Trip
Oregon Road Trip Overview
National Forests: 11 (yes 11!)
National Parks: 1 (Crater Lake is still the only national park in Oregon)
National Scenic Byways: 10 (including 4 All-American Roads)
Oregon has a whopping 11 national forests spread throughout the state’s diverse regions. That number is second only to California’s 17 and tied with Montana, two states with significantly more land area than Oregon.
Suffice to say Oregon is packed with scenery and you can just about point your car in any direction and know that you’ll be in for a beautiful road trip.
Scenic Byways:
- Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway (3 hours from Portland, OR)
- Pacific Coast Scenic Byway (travels the length of the Oregon coast along Hwy 1)
- Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (4 hours from Portland)
- Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (3.5 hours from Portland)
- Mckenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (3 hours from Portland)
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway (4 hours from Portland)
- Mount Hood Scenic Byway (25 minutes from Portland)
- Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway (25 minutes from Portland)
- Oregon Outback Scenic Byway (3 hours & 45 mins from Portland)
- West Cascades Scenic Byway (45 minutes from Portland)
Oregon Road Trip Map
Above is a map of Oregon with its 10 National Scenic Byways highlighted. Each of these highlighted routes represents a possible adventure taking you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.
Oregon Road Trip Highlights
Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway
- Location: Southwest Oregon
- Drive Time: 5-7 hours
- Distance: 172 miles
- Best Time to Visit: July – October
The Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway is 172 miles of jaw-dropping scenery punctuated by snow-capped mountain peaks, towering forests, and spectacular waterfalls.
There can be no doubt that this National Scenic Byway is more than deserving of its designation and, I would further argue, should be elevated to the rarefied air of an All-American Road.
This Oregon road trip can be started either from Gold Hill (near Medford) or Roseburg depending on where you’re coming from. You can also fly into Medford (just 10 minutes away) and rent a car from there to embark on this trip.
Pacific Coast Scenic Byway
- Location: The entire Oregon coast
- Drive Time: 11-12 hours
- Distance: 363 miles
- Best Time to Visit: Spring
The Pacific Coast Scenic Byway covers 363 miles of breathtaking views as it hugs the entire Oregon coastline. You’ll pass though picturesque beach towns and gorgeous overlooks as you make your way up or down the Oregon coast on this federally designated All-American Road.
The Pacific Coast Scenic Byway is littered with state parks all along the way with plenty of opportunities to camp, fish, and explore.
Can’t miss sights include:
- Oswald West State Park
- Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint
- Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint
- Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint
- Heceta Head Lighthouse
- Sisters Rock State Park
- Humbug Mountain State Park
- Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint
- Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor
- Arch Rock Point
- Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
- Whaleshead Viewpoint
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
- Location: Northeast Oregon
- Drive Time: 7-8 hours
- Distance: 208 miles
- Best Time to Visit: July – October
Situated on the far eastern edge of Oregon, Hells Canyon Scenic Byway follows the Snake River as it winds its way through a picturesque and impossibly deep canyon. Overlooks are abound along this majestic drive and so is wildlife!
Much of the route traverses through the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest offering countless recreational opportunities including hiking, fishing, camping, rafting, backpacking, hunting, and so much more.
This remote part of eastern Oregon sees far fewer visitors than other parts of the state while boasting an incredible array of scenery and recreational opportunities. This means less competition for campsites, trails, and parking!
Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
- Location: Bend, Oregon
- Drive Time: 4-5 hours
- Distance: 66 miles
- Best Time to Visit: July – October (road closed in winter)
I first visited this byway back in 2014 and was absolutely floored by the breathtaking scenery of the Cascade Lakes. Despite numerous devastating wildfires since then, the landscapes and lakes are still awe-inspiring – as evidenced by the picture above.
Timing is everything for your visit to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway as the road is closed seasonally and only opens once things thaw out (which can vary from year to year). Your best bet is planning on later in the summer though you’ll have to contend with full campgrounds.
If the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway looks like an adventure you’d be up for just wait until you see our film on the Deschutes National Forest – which surrounds this scenic byway.
Further Reading: A More Than Just Parks Guide to the Deschutes National Forest
Mckenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway
- Location: Bend, Oregon
- Drive Time: 4-5 hours
- Distance: 82 miles
- Best Time to Visit: July – October (road closed in winter)
Another one of my favorite scenic byways in the country, the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (commonly referred to as the McKenzie Highway) is a spectacular tour of Oregon’s volcanic past and the beauty it has created.
Strangely twisted and scarred landscapes intertwine with vast green forests and rushing streams to create a fascinating beauty here that beckons to be explored.
Now if you’re thinking this is just about a bunch of old volcanic rocks you’d be very wrong, though there are plenty of those and even a historic CCC-built observatory made entirely of them.
The McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway is also home to numerous hiking trails, campgrounds, lakes, and some of the most spectacular waterfalls I’ve ever seen. You can visit the Willamette National Forest website for more information on road conditions, campgrounds, and points of interest here.
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
- Location: Southern Oregon
- Drive Time: 5-7 hours
- Distance: 140 miles
- Best Time to Visit: July – October (road closed in winter)
If you’ve been wondering when Crater Lake was going to be mentioned, wonder no more. The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, a federally designated All-American Road, includes the park’s Rime Drive taking drivers around the entirety of the world famous Crater Lake.
In addition to being a national park and being featured on Oregon’s state quarter, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is the cleanest and clearest large body of water in the world.
The byway continues south from Crater Lake and eventually reaches Upper Klamath Lake, a world-renowned birdwatching destination with plenty of hiking trails and recreational opportunities. Eventually the byway continues on into California taking travelers to the incredibly beautiful Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Mount Hood Scenic Byway
- Location: Northwest Oregon
- Drive Time: 3-4 hours
- Distance: 105 miles
- Best Time to Visit: September – April
This scenic byway traces the base of Mount Hood and offers spectacular views of the lonely mountain that looms over Portland. Mount Hood National Forest offers plenty of recreational opportunities including boating, fishing, biking, hiking, and camping to name a few.
In the winter you can take a slight detour from the byway and head to the summit of Mount Hood to pretend you’re in the 1980 classic horror film The Shining. The Timberline Lodge served as the exterior of the infamous Overlook Hotel in the film.
The Mount Hood Scenic Byway’s proximity to Portland makes it an easy day trip or weekend trip for those looking to escape the city. It also means you can fly in to PDX and start your Oregon road trip from there.
Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway
- Location: Northwest Oregon
- Drive Time: 3-4 hours
- Distance: 70 miles
- Best Time to Visit: May – June
America’s first scenic highway, the Columbia River Highway takes drivers through the spectacular Columbia River Gorge. With its high rock walls, iconic waterfalls, dense forests, and the wide Columbia River, the gorge is a true testament to the beauty and power of nature.
The devastating Eagle Creek Fire of 2017 inflicted serious damage on the forests of the gorge and has resulted in the closure of some recreational areas. But even this reckless destruction cannot overshadow the lasting beauty of this place.
As you can see on the map the byway is dotted with numerous waterfalls that empty into the gorge from various tributaries of the Columbia River. These waterfalls are popular weekend destinations for Portlanders in the summer so plan accordingly and think early in the morning if you want to have them mostly to yourself.
Oregon Outback Scenic Byway
- Location: South Central Oregon
- Drive Time: 4-6 hours
- Distance: 171 miles
- Best Time to Visit: Spring & Fall
The aptly-named Oregon Outback Scenic Byway takes drivers through the remote high desert region of Oregon where you’ll encounter few other tourists or people at all.
Solitude can be hard to find in the outdoors these days, without strapping on the backpack for a multi-day hike, so a trip to Oregon’s outback can be a refreshing change of pace and scenery.
Along this scenic byway you’ll continue to find evidence of Oregon’s volcanic past, including at Fort Rock, a fascinating natural landmark that beckons visitors for a closer look. Fort Rock is also home to evidence of some of North America’s earliest inhabitants as some artifacts here have been dated to nearly 10,000 years ago.
West Cascades Scenic Byway
- Location: South Central Oregon
- Drive Time: 7-9 hours
- Distance: 215 miles
- Best Time to Visit: Fall
Winding through the heart of the Willamette National Forest, the West Cascades Scenic Byway is quintessential Oregon. Gushing waterfalls, vivid green forests, turquoise streams, and plenty of hiking opportunities are the hallmarks of this scenic byway.
Around every bend there’s another view of a beautiful creek or river with places to park and explore the lush forest all around you. The fall is a particularly nice time to drive this byway as the summer tourist season is over and many of the trees along the road are draped in fall color.
When is the Best Time of Year to Plan Your Oregon Road Trip?
The best time to embark on your Oregon road trip is in the late summer. Many of these scenic byways and destinations are closed seasonally and spring comes late here. Late summer gives you perfect weather and the ability to see and experience everything in peak form.
Warning: Climate-fueled wildfires are a serious problem in Oregon and may mean your summer road trip is smoked out. Keep flexible plans and think about visiting in the spring or fall to increase your odds of avoiding wildfires.
How Long Will the Road Trip Take & How Much Time Do I Need?
Next step is determining how much time you have vs how much you “need”. On average, we recommend allowing for at least 1-2 days per major destination on your trip.
That means if you’ve got a week (5-7 days) to do your road trip, the most major destinations you should include is probably about 5.
You want to be able to give yourself time to appreciate and enjoy each destination and not feel rushed.
Choosing a Starting Point for the Road Trip
One of the toughest parts of planning a road trip can be choosing the right starting point. If you’re driving your own car and starting from your residence then feel free to skip on to the next part. For everyone else, especially if you plan on flying to your destination and renting a car, there’s a bit of a decision matrix to consider.
The question we always ask ourselves which makes it easier for us is: what is the cheapest price we can pay combined for rental car + airfare? Price is easily our biggest determining factor when choosing a starting point.
If you’re interested in a National Parks Road Trip, you might want to look over our post on Best US National Parks Road Trips that lists all of the best national road trips.
Getting the Best Price for Rental Car + Airfare
Consider the following example. You’re doing a Utah National Parks Road Trip to see the Mighty 5. The most convenient airport options are Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Say you find amazing flight deals to Salt Lake City – great, we fly into salt lake, right? Maybe.
Sometimes the rental car prices in one airport are so bad that it makes flying into another destination more worthwhile despite a great flight deal and vice versa. Always check both the flight price and rental car price at each destination before booking.
Choosing the Right Lodging Options
We’ve all been there before… arriving at the campsite late at night praying we there’s an open spot only to find nothing. Or pulling into town after a 4 hour cell-service blackout only to find that all the hotels are all booked up.
Or realizing upon arriving to your destination that you didn’t make reservations anywhere and the prices are astronomical (we’re looking at you, Yellowstone). Like way more than a national park should ever cost seeing that it’s a tax-payer funded, publicly owned resource managed for the benefit and enjoyment of the people (all people).
The point is, planning ahead of time on lodging and deciding on the right accommodations for your budget is important. I recommend starting early and scanning what hotel prices are like during the time of year you want to visit (covered below). This will give you an idea of what availability looks like and how expensive it is.
Camping on a Road Trip
If you plan on camping, check out recreation.gov to see if you can reserve a site ahead of time. One pro-tip we recommend is seeing if there are any nearby national forests where you might be able to camp.
National forest campgrounds are amazing for a number of reasons, two of them being price (they’re usually cheaper if not free) and availability (they’re usually way less crowded than national park campgrounds).
With that being said, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan for each night that you are unable to book something in advance.
Road Trip Food Planning
Ah, nothing says US road trip quite like the smell of glistening hot dogs rotating over an open warming pan at Love’s gas station at 2 in the morning… With that being said, planning out your road trip food is absolutely essential.
We’ve all seen the beloved road trip companion turn Mr. Hyde after being forced to miss their self-appointed feeding hour. Avoiding this doomsday scenario can mean the difference between a warm ride home full of fond reminisces or an unscheduled stop at the Twin Falls airport conducted in total silence.
We recommend a budget friendly mix of dining at local eateries and “cooler food”. Feeling the fatigue of too much fast food can tank a day in a hurry so we highly recommend finding a cooler for the trip to pack something on the healthier side.
Pro-Tip #1: We often pack a soft cooler (this is our current go-to) full of clothes on the way over (if flying) that can be removed upon arrival and replaced with ice and lunch food/snacks (sandwich fixings, dips, greens, drinks, etc).
Road Trip Groceries
Typically our first stop after the airport is to a Trader Joe’s (who is not paying us to say so) to stock up on essentials. We often end up in places during dining hours that either have no food options or very limited unhealthy options and so it’s nice to have an alternative in the car.
Making food stops also slows down trip momentum and can mean the difference between “making it there before sundown”.
Pro-Tip #2: A few years back we (finally) started packing a small, inexpensive one burner stove (this one) and it has made all the difference. Having the option to make hot food (we camp/car camp a lot) can make all the difference after a long day in the parks.
Finally, in the dining category of this post, comes the topic of coffee (should’ve been #1, I know). We are hopeless caffeine junkies and need our morning fix. New Mexico piñon coffee is my favorite and I try to always pack some. We use this gadget to heat the water and this metal pour over tin to do the job (usually with good results I must say).
Planning Your Oregon Road Trip Budget
It’s a good idea to come up with an overall budget at the outset of planning your road trip. A budget makes it easy to remove unnecessary stops and keep everyone in check. A sample budget breakdown for one of our trips looks something like this:
Sample Road Trip Budget
- Food – $50/person/day
- Lodging – $150/day if hotels per two people
- Gas – $30/day (this is pretty variable depending on what kind of car you’re driving)
- Rental Car – $70/day (this is fluctuating wildly given the current vehicle shortages)
- Flights – $300 round trip/person (extremely variable)
- Fees/Attractions – $100 total (park pass, etc)
- Miscellaneous – $300 total (the unforeseen expenses)
- SAMPLE TOTAL for 7 Day Trip for 2 People = $3300 ($700/food + $900/lodging + $210/gas + $490/rental car + $600/flights + $100/fees + $300/miscellaneous)
*this is very fungible up or down depending on how many nights are spent in hotels (if any), if you can get cheap flight deals vs gauging prices, driving your own car vs renting, if you eat at nicer places vs average & groceries, how fuel efficient your vehicle is, etc
Flexibility Is The Key To A Happy Road Trip
The whole reason we take road trips is to see new sights, experience new things, and most importantly to have a good time. Being flexible is the most important factor we’ve found in overall trip happiness (and life).
A few tips based on many years of experience and running the whole gamut of trip emotions:
Tips for a Happy Trip
- Don’t plan out every second of your road trip. Leave free space to either leave places early, linger longer, or just relax.
- There’s no such thing as being late on a road trip. If you miss a sunset it’s not the end of the world. If you have to nix a destination there’s always next time.
- Hydrate well and have plenty of snacks on hand. Hungry ≠ happy and neither does thirsty.
- Take time to enjoy the moment rather than always being concerned about making it to what’s next.
And Finally, The Weather
The most unpredictable factor and potentially biggest damper (intended was the pun) on any trip is the weather.
If you have a plan beforehand for how to spend your time or alternative routes if specific places have bad weather you won’t be as disappointed when it inevitably rains on your parade.
We like to check monthly forecasts to see average temperatures and precipitation before making plans.
List of Oregon Road Trip Scenic Byways
- Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway
- Pacific Coast Scenic Byway
- Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
- Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
- McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
- Mount Hood Scenic Byway
- Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway
- Oregon Outback Scenic Byway
- West Cascades Scenic Byway
Summary – Leave us a Comment!
That’s all I’ve got for you to plan your next great Oregon road trip. I hope you’ll let us know what we missed and what else we should include. And please drop us a note if there’s a road trip that we haven’t written about that your interested in knowing more about!
Further Reading
- 10 EPIC Oregon National Parks You’ll Love (+ Beautiful Photos)
- A More Than Just Parks Guide to the Deschutes National Forest
- UTAH National Parks ROAD TRIP: An Epic Guide + Overlooked Spots
- ALL 63 National Parks Ranked from Best to Worst 2021
- 10 Best National Parks Road Trips in America
- 35+ ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS (You’ll Love + Packing List)
- 15 BEST FREE ROAD TRIP PLANNING Tools (& Apps) 2022
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