Need Ideas
 

Finally have made my final plans on which way I want to go from Vegas- driving a friend from Chicago to Vegas-I then have a great new SUV, my dog and 13 days. Would like to go from Vegas through Yosemitie to coast and north through Oregon, Seattle and back to Chicago. Can it be done, don't need to spend any length of time anywhere, love to drive but would like to get the most out if it. Help and thanks in advance.

wow, that is a lot of driving. but should be a fun road trip, what could be better a new car and your dog and two weeks vacation.

the only thing i would do is forgo driving to the calif. coast from Yosemite then up to Oregon. I would drive the faster freeway directly from Yosemite up into Oregon. That might save you a lot of unncessary driving.

Yosemite
Redwoods
Lassen Volcano
Oregon Cave
Oregon Coast
Crater Lake
Columbia River Gorge
Fruit Loop
Columbia River Gorge
Mt. Hood
Mt. St. Helens
Mt. Rainier
Olympic National Park
North Cascades
Seattle
Portland

Unfortunately, most of these places aren't very dog friendly. You really do need to spend some time at most of these to really get a good look at them though.

Oregon does have a lot of great State Parks, I'm not sure what there policy is with dogs.

The National Parks are not dog friendly as in they are not allowed on any trails or any buildings. You can of course have them in your car and take them out on a leash at view points, designated campgrounds and sometimes on a designated short nature trail by the visitors center. Check each park individually for regulations.

Oregon SP's are dog friendly as are most towns in OR and WA. You can fine dog friendly motels by doing a Google search.

What month are you planning this visit? If it is summer you would want to avoid Death Valley, if winter , you will deal with some road closures.

Sounds like fun.

Thx so much I think I got lucky, I am dropping friend in Reno. That might give me extrad day right? From Reno to Oregon Coast then to Portland,Seattle? Suggestions

We each like different places - and I would modify SpiroDog's itinerary as follows:

I would go to Yosemite - from Reno - via the 395 and up the Tioga Pass - through Tuoloumne Meadows over to the Valley Floor. That would take half a day or more - but a beautiful drive.

From there - get back out to I 5 and shoot up to Ashland Oregon (6 hours?) - and then either stay there - or press on to Crater Lake (another hour plus or so) - and stay there - or at nearby Diamond Lake. (see other posts in here under Oregon for webpages, etc).

From Crater Lake - take scenic 138 along the North Umpqua River over to the Coast (4 hours?) - and then up the Oregon Coast to wherever you want to stay. Check out some of the parks for Yurts also.

And then - from the Oregon Coast - do the Columbia River Gorge/Multnomah waterfall(s) - etc - and from there/Mt. Hood for a day or two (I love Timberline Lodge but there is camping around there - try Trillium Lake, etc) - you could head up to Mt. St Helens the "back" way through central Washington.

From there - you are on your own as to what else you want to do and then book it back to Chicago. :)

Overall - it should be a great driving experience. Suggest that you also get yourself some pepper spray for protection and a good flashlight/camplight.

"<i>From there - get back out to I 5 and shoot up to Ashland Oregon (6 hours?)</i>"

Yosemite to Ashland is almost 500 miles and easily a 9+ hour drive. (and much longer if passing through Sacramento in either the morning or afternoon)

It's probably doable but you would rush through each stop and ended up taking picture at each sign only to proof that you've set your foot there.

First of all, what would you like to do? Sightseeing in the city won't take as much time as it would exploring each NP even with short hikes. I used to live in Seattle before I ended up in NorCal. We did spend 3 days for a trip to Oregon and that was nowhere near enough. But I do like to explore so 3 days is nothing for me :)