caterinajones

we're planning a road trip from portland, or to san francisco. we'll be spending friday night in portland, and then need to be in san francisco by tuesday morning.

our thought was to spend all day saturday driving along the coast to crater lake (i think a 6 1/2 hour trip). we'd like to stop somewhere along the way for a great lunch on the coast, if anyone has recommendations.

then we would like to spend saturday night near crater lake, then all day sunday exploring crater lake.

then drive sunday evening to the redwood forest, and spend all day monday at the redwood forests.

monday night we'd like to make 1/2 the trip to san francisco and stay somewhere along the coast. does anyone have any ideas for good places to stay half way b/w the red woods and san fran?

then tuesday morning, we'd get up early and drive the final three hours to san fran.

anyway - i'd love recommendations for places to stay throughout the trip - near crater lake, near the redwoods, and then in between the redwoods and san francisco. i'm travelling with one other friend, and we'd love to stay at cute, small bed and breakfasts -- preferably as cheap as possible.

thanks!

traveler24

Going from Portland to "the coast"-means driving west (1-2 hrs)), then south along coast ( 6-7 hrs -not counting lunch)) then east (4-5 hrs)again to Crater Lake.. You can only average 35-40 MPH highway along the coast because of traffic and going through towns.
I know there are many Redwood forests but the most beautiful inmy opinion is on the california coast just below Crescent City. Don't know the exact time required to drive there from Crater Lake
but I quess 3-4 hrs ??
For the trip you want & it is a beautiful plan--realisticly you need 5 days min.
Good luck..

bbqboy

Caterina, It's 5-6 hours on I 5 to Medford alone, and another
2 to CL, and you are talking about the weekend too.
When do you want to take this trip?
You could do part of the coast, say take or6 to Tillamook, down to Yachats, then back on 126 to 5.
Besides the lodge, there are few accomodations up in the Mountains.

janisj

first - get a map. "spend all day saturday driving along the coast to crater lake " Crater Lake is VERY far from the coast. As bbqboy says - just gloing to Crater Lake from Portland is a full day w/o getting anywhere near the Oregon coast.

And I don't understand going down the coast, then driving 1/3 of the way across the state to Crater Lake, and THEN driving all the way back to the coast for Redwoods.

caterinajones

Sorry, we have looked at a map. it said it would be a 6-7 hour trip to crater lake, which we were happy to spend a day doing. But, it sounds like you all are saying it will be 3-4 hours more than that.

The purpose of the trip is to go from Portland to San Francisco - via a scenic, fun route. We haven't spent much time in pacific northwest, and so are interested in seeing crater lake (which we've heard wonderful things about) and the redwoods (ditto). Additionaly looking for a cute town to stop off in half way b/w the redwoods and san fran (any suggestions)?

We're not interested in the most direct route - obviously - just wanted to drive down the coast, which is supposed to be beautiful and see the other sights i discussed. If you think the trip doesn't make sense, i'd love suggestions for what does.

And, of course, what i'm really looking for is suggestions for good places to stay along the trip. We'd love to spend less than $120/night on rooms (the less the better; though we'd prefer b&bs to motels).

thanks so much.

bbqboy

Caterina, folks do the trip (a great route, by the way)all the time, it's just the time frame is off. You won't be doing anything except zipping by every place you should stop. I'd drive from Portland to Yachats, spend the night, get up early drive down to Florence and head east on 126 to I 5.
You'd have a choice of heading up the Umpqua on 138, or keep heading South to the Rogue Valley to head up 62.
the Prospect Hotel
http://www.prospecthotel.com/

is liked on these boards, and there are a few other places too.
I like the drive around the Rim, but you can just visit the Area around the Lodge and visitor's center too. From CL, if you have time, a visit to Ashland would be in Order.
http://www.ashlandchamber.com/

If no time, then head up to Grants Pass to Hit US 199 and over to the Redwoods.

bbqboy

meant to add this:
http://www.abbnet.com/
The other alternative would be to make it from Yachats to Ashland, spend the night in civilization,
get up the next morning to a nice breakfast and head up to CL from there on Dead Indian Road.
Easily doable(the locals route) and a lot of fun.
Here's a couple more of places in the Mountains:
http://www.pinehurstinn.us/
http://www.diamondlake.net/

caterinajones

Wow, these are great suggestions. Thanks so much. The issue is that a friend of mine will be arriving into Portland late on Friday night, and then she's flying out of San Francisco late Tuesday night. So, if the timing is off, what can we fit in with 4 days to travel?

(I'll have been in Portland for a couple of days before, so there's no need to explore the city - we're happy to just get up on Saturday morning and start driving!)

bbqboy

You could skip the coast in Oregon, head down 5 to 58, and be by Crater Lake by Afternoon.
Then hit Ashland and on to Grants Pass and 199.
Or you could skip Ashland, except I think it's what you and friend are looking for.

bbqboy

topping for caterina....