10-Day Oregon Road TripOregon is one of the best states in the USA for a road trip! You can see SO much in a short amount of time. This trip is best in the summer or early fall months to avoid snow and bad weather. Authorsthetravelingdans
DestinationsOregonItinerary

Day 1 & 2 The Oregon Coast

Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters
After you arrive in Oregon, the drive from Portland International Airport to Cannon Beach is about an hour and a half. This is a great place to go for coffee and breakfast before you start your adventures.
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Ecola State Park
When we go to the popular Cannon Beach, this is our favorite place to escape the crowds. There are a bunch of hiking trails here, and actually our favorite time to go is at sunrise.
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Elk Flats Trail
This is another off the beaten path spot near Cannon Beach. The trail is about a mile and a half to 2 miles and the ground can be slick so make sure you wear proper footwear.
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Haystack Rock
If you have never been to the coast, you have to watch sunset at Haystack Rock once in your life. There’s a lot of parking along the main drive and once out on the beach, it is super open. You’ll have plenty of room to enjoy the colors.
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Pelican Brewing – Cannon Beach
We love this brewery as either a midday lunch or a dinner spot after sunset. The fish tacos and beer always hit the spot.
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Hallmark Resort & Spa Cannon Beach
If you want to stay in Cannon Beach, we recommend this hotel. It’s a great location in fairly affordable.
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Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area
On day two we suggest you just drive south on the coast as far as you want to go and explore the different cities. Tillamook and Pacific city are some of our favorite places. This spot is in Pacific city and is a great place to go on a unique outdoor adventure - climbing a beach dune!
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Pelican Brewing – Pacific City
If you didn’t have a chance to try Pelican Brewing in Cannon Beach, there is a Pacific City location. This location is actually on the beach so we highly recommend coming here even if it’s just for food.
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Day 3 The Columbia River Gorge

Multnomah Falls
The morning of day three, start to make the drive back to the Portland area. From the Oregon coast to the start of the Columbia River Gorge is about a 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive. The best thing to do in this area is chase waterfalls. We suggest driving the waterfall corridor to see as many as possible but below we have listed and explained a few of our hikes that we love in the area. A great place to start is Multnomah Falls as it is one of Oregon’s Seven Wonders! It is beautiful and worth seeing if it is your first time here but it can get very busy. Try going early and make sure you look up timed entry tickets prior to your visit.
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Wahclella Falls
This waterfall is one we take anyone who visits us to in Oregon! It’s a short 2 mile trail. Most people and children can do it. The trail is always so green and lush. There are numerous bridge crossings, waterfalls on the cliffs in the spring months, and you end at a stunning waterfall. Dogs are allowed on this hike!
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Latourell Falls
This waterfall is great for people who are unable to walk far distances or walk on uneven terrain. The trail to the overlook is only a couple hundred feet and paved. You can opt to do the Latourell Falls Loop that takes you to another waterfall further back in the gorge. Dogs are allowed on this hike!
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Dry Creek Falls
Our favorite Columbia River Gorge hidden gem! To reach this waterfall is about a 4 mile hike round trip. It is not too steep and once back at this waterfall, you can typically escape the crowds. Dogs are allowed on this hike!
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Solstice Wood Fire Pizza & Bar
After chasing waterfalls, head to Hood River. This is one of our favorite towns in Oregon. The beer and food scene is incredible, the views of the river are beautiful, and there are a lot of boutique hotels to stay at. This spot is one of our favorite places to eat at in Hood River. The pizza has won numerous awards across the Pacific Northwest and their cocktail list is so fun and yummy.
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Riverside
If you wanna river view and a little bit of an upscale dining experience, this is the place for you.
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Columbia Cliff Villas Hotel
We love to stay at this hotel in Hood River when we visit. It’s super affordable and they actually offer more condo like units if you’re traveling with a group. The other hotel we love is Hood River Hotel and that is located more in the downtown area.
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Day 4 Mount Hood

McNeil Point
Today we are going into the mountains! When you flew in, you probably noticed a huge mountain in the Portland area. That mountain is Mount Hood. The best trail to hike for views of this mountain is McNeil Point. This trail is actually about 9 to 10 miles round-trip however to get to the actual viewpoint, it is only a mile or two. If you are looking for more of a full day adventure, this is the hike you want to do. If you are looking to just get out for a quick hike, you can do the beginning of this trail. Dogs are allowed on this hike!
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Trillium Lake
If you are looking for a day on the water, you definitely will want to visit Trillium Lake. You can rent kayaks and paddle boards here for a few hours or a full day, pack a cooler, and enjoy the sun. There is a hike that goes around this lake if you’re interested. Dogs are allowed here!
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Mt. Hood Brewing Co.
Since you are in the mountains, there are not a ton of dining options however, you will pass this place going to Trillium Lake and it is a great stop for lunch and a drink.
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Timberline Lodge
If you are able to make a reservation here, we highly recommend staying here. This is the lodge that was featured in the iconic movie The Shining. It is beautiful inside and once you are up at the lodge, you are so close to Mount Hood, the views are incredible!
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Day 5 Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park
This is Oregon’s most iconic state park! The one thing you can’t miss here is hiking the trail of 10 Falls. This trail takes you to 10 waterfalls in about 7 miles. This trail does have quite a few stairs so be prepared for that. It is a loop trail and we advise starting the loop from South Falls and working your way around from there. There is a day use fee to hike here and you can buy a pass at most trailheads. Dogs are not allowed.
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Day 6-8 Bend, Oregon

Bend Brewing Company
Welcome to Bend - AKA heaven in earth! This mountain town is incredible and worth seeing over a few days. Trust us, once you are here you won’t want to leave. One thing Bend is known for is their beer scene. This is one of our favorite breweries in the area!
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Crux Fermentation Project
Another incredible brewery! They have a large outdoor sitting area with food trucks, lawn games and more.
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Tumalo Falls
Central Oregon actually has some awesome waterfalls to see. This is a fairly popular one because it is easy to get to. It is great to see but if you hike the trail here, you will find quite a few more worth seeing further along the river!
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Smith Rock State Park
One of the best hiking destination in Central Oregon! If you are able, hike Misery Ridge! It is a hard and steep hike but takes you to some of the best views in the park. If you are a rock climber, this place is very well known for that.
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Deschutes River
During the warm summer months, you can float down the Deschutes River! This is such a fun activity! You can bring your own float or rent from a local company. There are some rapids you go over but it is not scary - it is so fun!!
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Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Bend has the most incredible outdoor amphitheater. When you are planning a visit, check the concert lineup - they actually have some HUGE names come here!
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Old Mill District
The Old Mill District is a fun place to walk around and shop. It is near the River Walk as well which is a beautiful, flat path that takes you along the Deschutes.
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Green Lakes
If you want to spend a full day adventuring, we recommend driving the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and hiking to these lakes! It is about an 8-9 mile hike but it is not too steep. You do need permits to hike here and there are rangers checking but if you can snag one, it is one of the prettiest hikes in Oregon!!
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Campfire Hotel
For an affordable stay, we love Campfire Hotel. The rooms are comfortable, dog friendly, and the hotel always has things going on - whether thats a bonfire, live music, etc.
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Day 9 Crater Lake National Park

Cleetwood Cove Trail
Time to explore Oregon’s only national park! Most people don’t know you can swim in this lake! If you head down the steep Cleetwood Cove Trail you are able to! The water is veryyyy cold but worth it to say you swam in the deepest lake in the USA!
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Vidae Falls
A waterfall in the park most don’t know about. This is a nice stop when here.
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Crater Lake
The other thing we recommend is driving the Rim Road! This 33 mile road wraps around the lake and offers great views. If you are unable to hike or just want to have a relaxing day, this is definitely what you want to do.
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Crater Lake Lodge
There are not many hotels nearby the park. Most people actually day trip from Bend to visit. If you want to stay in the park, check out Crater Lake Lodge!
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