Our Top Road Trip Spots In Oregon For The Summer

Oregon is arguably one of the most beautiful States to travel to. Between its breathtaking lush landscapes, and endless tiny cities to visit, it is definitely worth your time visiting! In our 48-ish hours spent in Oregon, we packed in three beautiful main attractions to visit. Feel free to read along and gain inspiration for when you’re here next. To see details about the route we decided to take, view our interactable map HERE or view our YouTube video on this trip below!

Oregon Road Trip Tips:

Weather & Road Conditions:
Summer is the peak season in Oregon. In these months, the temperature averages around 75°F (24°C) in most parts of the State or with some slight variability. On the coast, expect to find temperatures slightly below the average with grayer skies and some possible moisture. In Central Oregon, temperatures can reach up to 100°F (38°C) with the risk of wildfire spread. As always, make sure to double-check ongoing road closures before your trip! 

Where to Stay:

Summer holiday weekends can be the hardest times of year to find hotel or campsite accommodations. If you’re looking to travel for Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Labor Day weekend, consider booking your stay in advance to secure a place to rest your head.

We are a self-sustained vehicle and utilize free, public lands to find places to stay. We love using FreeCampsites.Net and similar resources to find overnight spots. If you’re interested in where we specifically stayed in Oregon, check out our list of West Coast Van Life & SUV Camping Overnight Parking Spots. 

Other Logistics & Tips:

We took this trip over the span of two nights and 2.5 days and traveled approximately 500 miles (804 km)! Keep in mind the cost of gas and food in the places you’ll be planning on visiting. Compared to our normal rates in southern California, we were pleasantly surprised by cheaper gas and food prices. Gas averaged $3.15/galon and per Oregon law, attendants were so kind in pumping it for us. Thanks!

Places we Visited:

Brookings and Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor:

Brookings and Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is located on the Southwestern coast of Oregon - located only about 20 minutes from the California-Oregon border. We wished we had more time to explore the Oregon coast and all of its wonders, but these areas were a beautiful glimpse of its stretching range along Highway 101. 

Megan and Sam on the Natural Bridges hike at Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.

We visited the Natural Bridges Viewpoint and the Lone Ranch Picnic Area. The Natural Bridges were first on our agenda where we sat at the viewpoint benches and overlooked Mother Earth’s wonderfully sculpted creation. We have never seen such an expansive and lush area quite like these. From a distance, we could see couples and other travelers walking over the bridges, and so we thought we’d give it a go. We went on the South trail and looped through the trees hanging on the cliffside. The ocean below us was roaring through our chests as they hit the precipice. We quickly learned that I (Megan) developed a fear of heights. I stopped in my tracks as Sam was eager to keep going. If you may have a fear of heights or a fear of falling, you might want to consider just looking at this geological feature from a distance. On the way back from the trail, we talked to some locals who were discussing how just a week prior, a person had fallen to their death at this site. Use your best judgment and know your personal limits when exploring!

Crater Lake National Park:

Crater Lake National Park is one of the older Parks in the National Park System. Since its foundation in 1902, this area has long attracted the wonderment of people from all over the world. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is known for its mirror-like clear waters. The lake is entirely fed by rain and snow and its features have bewildered scientists since its discovery. In the summer months, the perimeter of the lake opens and you’re able to cruise along the historic Rim Drive. The Rim Drive is 33 miles (53 km) with enthralling panoramic viewpoints, hidden forests trails and other stunning scenery.

One of the main reasons why we came to this beloved National Park is for Cleetwood Cove Trail! Cleetwood Cove Trail is a steep and strenuous hike down to the rim of its crystal blue waters where you’re able to swim, fish, boat, and cliff jump. If you are not experienced with hiking steep mountain terrain, we recommend going with somebody else for your safety and bringing extra water, a hat that provides you with extra shade, and sunscreen. The drop in elevation is no joke, it drops 700ft and the trail is about 1.1 miles long. Cleetwood Cove Trailhead is located on East Rim Drive, about 5 miles from North Junction (where North Entrance Road meets West Rim Drive). Like much of the rest of the Park, this trail is only open during safer, warmer conditions. It is usually open from mid-June to late October which makes it a perfect Summer trip if you are up for a challenging yet rewarding hike. We got to cliff-jump when we got all the way down to the bottom of the trail at the edge of the lake and it was so incredible! It was truly a one in a lifetime experience and we recommend it to anyone who's willing to take the plunge into its frigid waters. 

Silver Falls State Park:

Silver Falls is considered to be the “crown jewel” of Oregon State parks with more than a million visitors flocking to see its wonders & year-round waterfalls. What was once a small logging town filled with entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and lumberjacks in the late 1800’s, quickly became one of Oregon's most beloved State Parks after FDR’s presidency. 

This park is located about 1.5 hours away from the city of Portland and costs $5 for an all day parking pass. There’s a total of ten roaring waterfalls to visit that are present year-round. The time of year you choose to go might affect how many total waterfalls you will get to see based on recent rainfall and snowmelt! The park has a well thought out trail-system that connects all of the falls on an 8 mile hiking loop. When we visited, we took our time exploring four waterfalls in about 3 hours. The South Fall waterfall is the main attraction of the park. It’s near a visitor center, café and gift shop. The hike to South Fall takes about 15 minutes from the parking lot. This area of the park undoubtedly had the most visitors since it was well-paved (accessible for most) and because it was near the park's services. Don’t let the crowds discourage you! At this fall, and a few others, you’re able to walk behind its 177-foot tall wall of water-mass. 

Portland:

Cheese & Crack Snack Shop’s iconic Chocolate Cowboy Hat Ice Cream Topper.

Portland is the largest and most populous city in Oregon. It is a metropolitan unlike we have ever experienced before. It’s an interesting blend of high office buildings surrounded by lush pockets of nature. When we visited, we were meeting up with a childhood friend who also happened to be in the area. We got some gyros at a popular food truck hub near 333 S. 5th Ave and later got desserts at Cheese & Crack Snack Shop. To end our time in Oregon, we visited Overlook Park to take in the sites of the city.

TL;DR

Oregon is one of those magical places that you must see, especially during its lively summertime. On our 2.5 day trip, we drove by its stunning cliffsides, the deepest lake in the United States at Crater Lake National Park, and what seemed like endless waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park. Have you visited these places before? Drop your other favorite Oregon spots we might have missed!