San Diego to Oregon road trip itinerary

Old Jan 16th, 2017, 03:46 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
San Diego to Oregon road trip itinerary

Hi everyone!

First time poster here! (But a long time fodor forums browser)

We are a family of 3 from San Diego and we love driving and going on road trips. We have been on several 1500 mile trips around California, Arizona, NV and UT and this April first week, we are planning to drive to Portland/Astoria in Oregon and back to San Diego.

For this trip - We are mainly interested in covering the Oregon coast, lighthouses, Columbia Gorge area and of course the spring flowering (cherry blossoms, tulips) in Portland/Salem area. We want to spend most of our time exploring nature, maybe some easy hikes in the coastal and gorge area as opposed to exploring restaurants, museums and city spots. We are also interested in Crater Lake, but you will see that I haven't devoted a lot of time to it just because it will be too snowy there in April and the area will be mostly closed.

Fri - Stay at Sacramento - Drive from San Diego to Sacramento
Sat - Stay at Medford - Drive from Sacramento to Medford
Sun - Stay in Salem - Drive to Crater Lake, then follow Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway to see Diamond Lake and Watson Falls drive to Salem
Mon - Stay in Portland - Spend some time in Oregon State Capitol to see the cherry blossoms, then drive to Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, then to Portland
Tue - Stay in Portland - Mt. Hood and Historic Columbia River Highway loop, main stops at Trillium lake, Multnomah Falls, Women's Forum
Wed - Stay in Astoria - Visit Portland Japanese Garden for more cherry blossoms, Chinese garden if time allows, then drive to Astoria. Astoria column, then Astoria Oregon Riverwalk for sunset.
Thu - Stay in Coos Bay - Follow coastline to Coos Bay. Main stops will be Ecola SP, Cannon beach, Yaquina lighthouse, Cape Perpetua, Oregon Dunes. If time allows, Cape Meares and Devil’s Punchbowl
Fri - Stay in Eureka - Follow coastline to Eureka. Main stops - Bandon, Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.
Sat - Stay at Los Banos - Drive to Los Banos, stop at Napa Valley for lunch
Sunday - Back to San Diego

So. 10 days and 2500+ miles. I am well aware that 2-3 days of it is boring i-5 drive through California (below Redding) but we decided we were okay with that.

Since we have never planned anything on this scale before, I am quite nervous and I would love to hear thoughts on our itinerary. My main worry right now is if the Mt. Hood loop and Rogue-Umpqua scenic byway will be accessible when we visit - any idea?

Abbie
abbie379 is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2017, 04:07 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
The first week of April the north entrance of Crater Lake NP will still be closed by snow. There is more snow at Crater Lake than any of the past 6 years. The south entrance should be open.
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is worth several hours so you might want to Stay near Salem or Sublimity.
Consider staying in Hood River instead of Portland.
If you must see Astoria, drive US 26 to US 101 and go north through Seaside. Don't drive US 30 west of Portland. It is dangerous with too much traffic and not scenic at all IMO.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2017, 04:09 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,549
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
The Crater Lake rim drive won't be open.

So, you are driving 2500 miles and devoting more nights to very meh locations than nice ones (Sacramento, Medford, Eureka, and Los Banos)

If you want a mileage run -- why not at least stop over in better places?

If it was me and wanted to do this, I'd dash up I-5 to Portland (skipping I-5) w/ one overnight -- maybe in Mt Shasta. Then take more time driving back down the coast?
janisj is online now  
Old Jan 16th, 2017, 04:44 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
Sorry about the ads but you might want to see the picture of the main visitor center at Crater Lake NP. http://registerguard.com/rg/news/loc...risks.html.csp
You can get there from the Klamath Falls side but not from Medford.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2017, 04:57 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,549
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
oops -- don't know how I did that but I meant to post >>If it was me and wanted to do this, I'd dash up I-5 to Portland (skipping Crater Lake) . . .
janisj is online now  
Old Jan 16th, 2017, 06:07 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for your replies!

Our plan is to enter thru south entrance at Crater Lake, stop for a couple of hours to play in the snow and take a few pictures and leave for Salem via 62 --> 230 --> 138 --> I-5. It allows us to cover part of the Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway. Unless the south entrance to the lake is closed due to bad weather when we visit in April.

@tomfuller After thinking a bit after reading your post, I decided to stay at Seaside or Cannon beach, skipping Astoria. This allows us to see Ecola SP on Wednesday and spend more time at Cape Perpetua and the lighthouses on Thursday.

@janisj We are staying at Medford just to be able to see Crater lake with its snow covered rim. We will probably book hotel in Medford at the very end, just a week before our travel once the weather forecast is out. The other cities are just conveniently located on the way to our destinations (considering the max we will drive in a day is 8 hours). No sightseeing there, just need a comfortable bed and a decent breakfast.
abbie379 is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2017, 06:43 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,549
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
IMO/IME Crater Lake is much too much of a detour for your very short time especially w/ most of the park closed.

But it is your trip . . .
janisj is online now  
Old Jan 16th, 2017, 07:51 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
If you do go for Crater Lake, try for the Prospect Hotel.
That way you can see the Lake earlier in the morning.
The ranger led snowshoe hikes start from the parking lot of the Crater Lake Lodge.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2017, 06:08 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,358
Received 79 Likes on 8 Posts
You can have a terrific day in the snow at Mount Hood the same day as you're visiting the Columbia Gorge. In fact April in the Hood River Valley is fabulous, with the many orchards in bloom.

Look, this is your trip but you did ask our advice, so here goes:

The problem with Crater Lake at that time is not only snow blocking the roads (and so far this is a much snowier winter than usual in the Northwest) it's visibility. I've been to Crater Lake in the spring several times and only once have I actually seen the lake; the rim is usually covered in clouds and/or fog. In my view the detour isn't worth it given the poor odds.

However, if that's a non-negotiable part of the drive, then here's how I'd handle it:

Hustle north on I-5 past Redding and peel off on US 97 toward Crater Lake. If you can get up the road to the rim and the weather's okay, fine. But then continue north on US 97 to US 26 and visit Timberline Lodge on the side of Mount Hood, where they'll definitely still be skiing.

Then head north down the Hood River Valley to Hood River. Use Hood River as a base to explore both the eastern and central parts of the Gorge - out to Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge, orchard or winery visits in the valley, maybe go see Herman the Sturgeon at the Bonnneville hatchery.

Then west along the historic highway past the waterfalls and vista points to Portland (I used Troutdale 'cause I'm a big fan of McMemanins Edgefield, but really anywhere in the area.) Do your visit to Woodburn and/or Salem from there as a day trip.

Then I'd head to the coast, but I'd head all the way to Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia. It's a spectacular setting, with lighthouses, surf against cliffs, a terrific Lewis and Clark interpretive center, and Waikiki Beach (the other one.)

Then just head south along the coast for the rest of your trip. Coos Bay would not be my choice for overnight spots; I find Bandon to be more pleasant. Spend a night around Eureka and have a meal at the Samoa Cookhouse; visit the Avenue of the Giants on the way south through the redwoods, then cut back to I-5 at the Bay Area for a high-speed day of sensory deprivation on the road home.

Map - https://goo.gl/maps/9ShYn7FNxWC2

Using US 97 as a means of getting to Mount Hood and the Gorge is a much more attractive northern route through Oregon than I-5, and if Crater Lake is accessible it gives you an easy shot without requiring long detours or zigzags.
Gardyloo is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2017, 06:17 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
Very good plan Gardyloo. Both Mt. Bachelor and Timberline now have more than 100" of snow.
I had to clear about 2 feet of snow off my roof. I stomped a path to the ladder with my snowshoes.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2017, 08:03 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Before you leave either I-7 or US-97 for Crater Lake, check out its webcam to see how the visibility is:

http://www.craterlakelodges.com/webcam/
Bobmrg is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2017, 03:49 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I hear you guys about staying in Hood River!

The following does sound very appealing - Sacramento to Crater Lake, stop for photo ops if weather is good and stay at Sisters or Bend (instead of that stop in Medford). Next night stop in Hood River instead of Portland. The stop near Bend because we need to keep the driving time per day to 8 hours or less.

Now my question is this - is it wise to stick to US 97 instead of I-5 (and staying in Hood River/Bend instead of Salem/Portland) just in case the weather is bad? We are travelling with a toddler so safety is a major concern. I feel sure I-5 will be safe to drive on but I have no idea about 97. What are the road conditions like in April?

@Gardyloo Huge thanks to you for mapping out the route for me on Maps! And also for the Cape Disappointment suggestion, I did some googling and it looks amazing! I will post my itinerary again over here once it is final.
abbie379 is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2017, 04:37 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,358
Received 79 Likes on 8 Posts
You shouldn't have any troubles on US 97 in April, or on any low-elevation road in the region for that matter.

But you're not going to encounter a shortage of accommodations anywhere at that time of year, so the quick answer is just to play it by ear, and if for some reason travel conditions aren't to your liking on one route or the other, just switch in real time.

I do this drive (well, LA not SD) pretty often at all times of the year and I just don't like the inland routes especially. Using US 101 from SF north to the Willamette Valley - through the redwoods and up the Oregon coast (I usually cut over to I-5 on OR 38 from Reedsport - a gorgeous little road) adds around 3 hours to the overall drive, but to me those three hours are really worth it. In fact taking 101 north from LA to SF only adds a couple of hours over taking I-5 through LA, down the Grapevine and along the big rig drag strip through the west valley (hair raising at times). Life's too short to spend it in sensory deprivation land as an unwilling participant in a truck race.
Gardyloo is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2017, 09:53 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Gardyloo, my wife has trouble with the rapid changes in terrain elevation on I-5 through the Siskiyous (ears), so we decided to try US-97. This is what Wikipedia says about 97:

"While the town of Weed has an elevation of 3,467 feet (1,057 m), a section of US 97 in California is above 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in elevation with two significant summits."

So we experienced a higher elevation than Siskiyou Pass but with a more gentle increase and decrease.
Bobmrg is offline  
Old Jan 20th, 2017, 03:09 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You mention visiting Cannon Beach. We love it (we're big fans of Ecola Seafoods Restaurant & Market's salmon fish & chips) but rather than hanging in town you might be more interested in going just a little south to Oswald West State Park. A short (1/2 mile?) walk along a creek through rain forest (old growth, I think) takes you to a beach popular with surfers. There are also longer trails through the park. It's really nice and I think worth a stop.
Patty503 is offline  
Old Jan 21st, 2017, 06:20 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
There is a rest area in California along US 97 that would be a good pit stop to adjust to the elevation. There is also a rest stop about 5 miles into Oregon.
Much of Crater Lake NP is above 5500 feet.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Jan 25th, 2017, 01:25 PM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
@tomfuller @Bobmrg @Gardyloo We found this link where you can check the road conditions (and even a few road webcams!!) -
https://tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp#

The prospect of having to drive on icy roads for long stretches in the dark is making us nervous. So while the Bend/Sisters/Hood River plan via US 97 is great, we'll probably make those bookings at the very end (else rush up on i-5, skipping Crater Lake and spending more time in the Gorge area and on the coast).

@Patty Thanks for the Oswald West State Park suggestion, we will definitely stop to check it out!
abbie379 is offline  
Old Jan 25th, 2017, 07:40 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
April should pose no problem on Hwy 97. We live outside Sacramento and have a vacation home in Sunriver (just south of Bend). We are in Sunriver now. While we have over three feet of snow around our house (some places are almost five feet), Hwy 97 is plowed and there is no problem as of today.

Gardyloo gives a great itinerary. I love the Maryhill area. The Maryhill Winery has fabulous views over the the Columbia River.

We have visited Crater Lake in June and there has been snow.

On the return, please do not stay in Los Banos. Take your time from Eureka and visit Richardson Grove State Park, drive the Ave. of the Giants. Just south of Leggett is the drive thru Redwood. If you want to venture south of Sacramento on I-5 there are a few hotel/motels at Santa Nella. The Harris Ranch & Inn is a wonderful stop for a meal or to pick up one of their yummy pies.

Have fun!
BarbAnn is offline  
Old Feb 1st, 2017, 01:00 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
After reading the original layout, I was most inclined to emphasize Gardyloo's simple suggestion that is: "Hustle North".

It becomes so easy during trips like these to spend too much time (improvising) early in the trip, and then not experiencing the things you really want to experience.

It all is set-up somewhat well for you to hustle north... and to deal with Crater Lake on the way north is an appropriate consideration (yay or nay).

But I would say be sure to keep emphasizing getting up here at a pace that will let you cover much of the Columbia Gorge, Mount Hood, a little of Portland, and most of the northern Oregon coast.

As you return south along the coast, you will have various opportunities to opt away from the remaining ocean-side path and inland to faster roads. The more time you save early, the longer you can stay on the coast as you return south.
NorthwestMale is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ranarama
United States
8
Jul 13th, 2019 09:17 AM
SuzieMac
United States
10
Apr 19th, 2017 03:40 PM
Peter_Roh
United States
5
Feb 2nd, 2012 02:27 PM
buddd
United States
18
Jul 20th, 2011 07:03 AM
jnet56
United States
4
Jul 14th, 2008 02:40 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -