Going to Gold Beach in August - how long is the drive from Eugene and Medford to Gold Beach? What are the most scenic routes? Should we fly into Eugene or Medford for the nicest, most scenic drive to Gold Beach? We only have 1 night at an inn on the coast and don't want to spend our time on an expressway.
Is there anything much to see in Eugene or Medford?
Thanks!

Cyndy, My husband and I drove the Medford-Gold Beach route last year.
The drive takes longer than it appears on the map, because you pretty much have to take the circuitous route 199 south through Crescent City and Brookings. The more direct looking route going east from Grant's Pass, we werre told by natives, is slow, steep and difficult, and they advised driving it only with a 4-wheel drive.
I can't tell you the exact time it takes to do the 199 route, because we had a reservation with a jet boat company, and I think that we broke the sound barrier to make it! [we had planned on the direct-looking route}. Perhaps 2 1/2 - three hours at a normal pace?
We didn't go to Eugene. I know that Medford has Harry and David and Jackson and Perkins which may be worth visiting, but beyond that I don't think I'd waste a stop if time is an issue. We only stopped in Medford briefly,so can't fully comment.
Good luck and have fun!

Thanks so much. We arrive Medford by plane about noon and have to drive over to GOld Beach for our one night before we head down to Mendecino, CA. We were hoping to see something along the way. Is Gold Beach a good choice for our one night, or should we head on down to California? Thanks -

Cyndy,
Hi again - I need to correct a statement I made in my earlier post: we actually started our trip from Grant's Pass, which adds maybe 45 minutes to your trip. Still, starting out 12-1 will allow you a leisurely drive to Gold Beach by dinner hour.
I can suggest several worthwhile stops, but with little time, you might want to skip the longer ones, and just head to Gold Beach, where you can arrange to take a jet-boat tour of the Rogue River the next morning, if this interests you.
Other ideas: The aformentioned catalog stores in Medford.
"Wildlife Images", a wonderful wildlife refuge near Grant's Pass. They give free tours. {Located in the town of Merlin, if I remember correctly - they have a good web site, just search under their name}.
Ashland, a very nice medium-sized town with an excellent {I hear} Shakespeare festival, lovely Lithia Park, and good restaurants.
Jacksonville, a very picturesque, quaint small town with a downtown right out of a wild-west movie. A great stop to stretch your legs and refresh with an ice cream.
Keep in mind that you have a 3-4 hour drive ahead of you, so you prob. can't stop anywhere for very long, unless you don't mind arriving later in Gold Beach.
I can't really answer your question about accommodations, as we stayed near Grant's Pass and Crescent City. Both were stops of convenience as opposed to desirable destinations.
There are a couple of people on this site who are exceedingly knowledgable about this area and can better advise as to lodging choice, routes and time allotment; hopefully one of them will see this and respond! Of course, if I can be of any further help with my rather limited knowledge {1 trip} of the area, just "holler"! Molly

Here's what I posted for you yesterday Cyndy.

Message: It's about 5 hours drive from Eugene and nearly 4 hours drive from Medford.

From Medford you have to cut across 199 which wil take yo into CA through Crescent City and then up 101 through Brookings (which is nice.)

Though a longer drive I would definitely take the Eugene route cutting over on 126 and then straight down the coast. Very nice drive.

New Today:
Driving down the coast would be so much better than going south to Crescent City and then up. Though the section north of CC would be nice the rest of the drive is only ok.

We lived in Ashland (near Medford) for years so I know all the roads to the coast quite well. What one poster here says about the road from Grants Pass to Gold Beach is not accurate. We often drove that road and have a regular car...no 4 wheel drive or high clearance. The road is paved and we never had any problems. However that said some people don't like it cause it goes for a long way through unpopulated areas. No town, houses etc for many many miles. That can spook people used to urban living. We've even driven this road at night. Very little traffic ever.
But like all roads to the coast it's twisting and curvy and certainly you can't drive fast.
Insofar as coastal towns as you ask, Gold Beach is not the nicest on the south coast. Our favorite is Bandon and the beach there is much more scenic too. If you are flying into Medford and heading to Ca as your post says and only have 1 night at the Oregon coast I suggest you go from Medford to Brookings or Bandon instead. Easier drive and the scenery is nicer than the quite flat featureless beach at Gold Beach.