Oregon Road Trip Itinerary - 5 Days

Hello Friends, we hope you all are doing well.

We planned the trip to Oregon, USA, in June 2021. It was our first travel after the Covid-19 restrictions, and we enjoyed every moment of our journey. Oregon has everything a traveler wishes to see with the splendid coastline, natural forests, lakes, and mountains.

We want to share our five-day itinerary; we hope it will help you plan a perfect Oregon trip.

Transportation

We took a flight from DFW to Portland International Airport(PDX) and then rented a car for our road trip.

Day 0 - Flight from DFW to PDX

We booked an evening connecting flight from Dallas(DFW) to Seattle(SEA) to Portland International Airport(PDX). The flight experience was something different, so we must have to tell. Our flight from DFW to SEA to PDX was booked through Alaska Airline; since alaska DFW flights were cancelled that day, so they rebooked us on American airline.

We boarded the American Airlines flight on time, and everything was fine till the plane reached the runway. We were told there is some technical issue with Air-conditioner and it should resolve quickly. After sitting for hours on a hot without Air-conditioning flight, they finally asked to get down and board a different American airline flight and that too from an other terminal.

While we were waiting on the flight, we saw the cockpit and talked with the pilot and crew members. They were very polite and caring; the pilot gave us a private tour of the cockpit. We reached Seattle airport at around 3 AM, and there was no more flight available to PDX; we had to sleep at the airport to catch the next available flight of 6 AM to Portland.

Quite a start of the adventurous trip ahead :)

 

Day 1 - Columbia river gorge National Scenic Area & Mount hood

We decided to visit falls at Columbia river gorge National Scenic Area. There are several mesmerizing falls along the Columbia river gorge National Scenic Area; the ones we liked are:

If you have to select only one, the best option will be Multnomah Falls. However, it remains a little crowded but still worth visiting there. There is an easy walking trail that will take you to the viewing deck, and from there, the falls view is stunning. You can continue on the trail and go to the top of fall for spectacular views if you wish. More details about the trail: Alltrails - Multnomah Falls

If you want to grab a quick bite or want to go to the restroom, the Multnomah lodge is nearby. It has restrooms, gift shop and remains open to public.

Tip: There are very few parking spots available right by Multnomah Falls (If you are reaching there using google maps/GPS), you won’t find a spot available even midday on weekdays. Instead, park in the larger lot by the highway exit and take the walking trail to the falls.

 

Next stop Tamanawas Falls trail, our initial plan was to pack the lunch and eat at the end of the 4-mile hike tail with gorgeous views of Tamanawas falls waterfall, but we had to skip it as we spent a good amount of time at Multnomah Falls. If you get the chance, try including this stop in your itinerary.

After that we head over to Trillium lake, we drove pretty much to the lake and then hiked around the lake which was around 1-1.5 miles. We were able to capture gorgeous reflections of Mount Hood.

 

The next stop on our list was Timberline Lodge. If you are an enthusiast in ski/snowboarding, this is a must-go. Timberline Lodge is one of the iconic lodges and was constructed in 1937. If you plan to call it a day after long walks, it is a good place to stay & recharge.

Things to do near Timberline Lodge:

Accommodation
  • If you are planning to spend more time at Mount Hood area, then stay at Timberline Lodge is the best option.
  • Village of Government Camp, lots of good lodging options are available here.

Day 2: Little crater lake, Smith rock state park & Painted Hills

A quick stop at Little crater lake. It is hidden treasure in Mount Hood National Forest. There is a small trail that is easy & calming, leading directly to the little crater lake. Give a visit if you are passing through.

After that, we moved towards our next destination Smith rock state park.

Things to do at Smith rock state park :

  • Trails and hikes. You can select easiest to more difficult to most challenging trails and spend quality time.
  • Rock climbing - Smith Rock State Park is one of the best routes in the country to rock climb, both sport, and trad.

Tip: There is a day-use fee of $5 per vehicle at Smith rock state park. If you plan to go to multiple state parks, it is better to get an annual day-use parking pass for $30. Purchase it here Oregon Parks

Next stop Painted Hills, if you want to see a natural wonder then see Painted Hills. It is part of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Park, and as the name suggests, hills look like painted by nature itself. It is breathtakingly beautiful. There is a small trail at Painted Hills overlook, which gives terrific views of painted hills.

Note: Summers can get pretty hot, so make sure to wear a hat, put on sunscreen and drink plenty of water when exploring the area. Only restroom facilities are located at the Painted Hills overlook trail head, so plan accordingly.

 

Accommodation
  • After long hikes at Smith rock state park and Painted hills, we decided to call to take rest near Prineville, Oregon. Lots of good restaurant & hotel options are available here, and it is between Smith rock state park and Painted hills.

Day 3 - Deschutes National Forest & Crater lake

The next stop in our journey was Deschutes National Forest, it has a lot of beautiful trails that you can choose. We selected Deschutes River Trail and had a fantastic time there.

 

After spending a good time at Deschutes National Forest, we moved ahead to Crater lake. Crater lake is no doubt the most beautiful lake we have ever seen.

Tip: The entrance fee for Crater lake National Park is $30. You can save some $ if you have annual $80 national park pass.

Due to heavy snow during the winter season, there is a good chance multiple Rim Drives remain closed. You can get the latest updates on what is open there before heading there.

Things to do at Crater Lake:

  • Drive in clockwise direction as most of the pull-offs will be on the right & the best place to go for a walk with a view of Crater Lake is along the East Rim Drive.
  • Watch the beautiful sunset at Watchman Peak.
  • Explore several trails.
Accommodation
  • If you want to stay closer to Crater lake, then the best options are Crater Lake Lodge and The Cabins at Manzana Village. You can book them online here.
  • If you don’t get a booking there, you can stay at the nearest town Chemult, Oregon.

Day 4 - McKenzie River Trail Falls, Sea Lion Cave & Oregon Coastline

A new beautiful day began by visiting falls at McKenzie River Trail. It was pretty refreshing; trails were marked correctly & easy to walk.

 

The next stop was famous America’s largest Sea lion cave; we reached just 5 mins before closing time and could get in. It’s a natural cave, and sea lions are free to come and go anytime. We found some sea lions were inside the cave, and others were resting outside. Overall it was a fun place to spend time and see sea lions in their natural habitat.

 

After that, we finally arrived at the splendid Oregon coastline. The first stop was Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint and the nearby beach area. When we reached Heceta Head Lighthouse, it was closed, so we had over to the beach and had a wonderful time there. The water was so clean and cold; every moment we spent there was mesmerizing.

We ate our packed dinner at the Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint, watching the Sunset. It was the best moment of our trip.

Tip: Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint is one of the best places to see the Sunset. Significantly less crowd, clean beach, and perfect full view of Sunset make it breathtaking.

Accommodation
  • After a beautiful day, we spend the night at Dublin House Motel -Yachats, Oregon. There are multiple good hotels on Yachts, and all of them are near beaches.

Day 5 - Oregon Coastline scenic points, Coast Aquarium & Canon Beach

So we finally reached the last day of our trip. We enjoyed every bit of the previous four days and wanted to make the last day memorable. We started the day by visiting the popular scenic points.

  • Thor’s Well
  • Cape Perpetua Overlook
  • Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area

After that, we head over to Oregon Coast Aquarium; it is home to many aquatic animals like Sea Otters, Harbor Seals, Sea Lions, and even sharks. We had a great time there, and if you are with kids, it is a must place to visit. A quick video that I capture of jellyfish. Do you know jellyfish is not a fish :)

The last stop was Canon beach, where we spent most of the time just walking on sand. It is a crowded beach but still lovely. We had fun there.

After that, we headed over to PDX airport and found again that Alaska Airlines flight was canceled. They rebooked us on American Airlines; luckily, American Airlines flight was not canceled or delayed, and thus we safely returned to our hometown Dallas.

We hope you find this post useful. See you on the next adventure!!
Raunak and Pinky Kapoor