Portland/Crater Lake
 

Can Crater Lake be driven and seen in 2 days time starting from Portland? Will hotel reservations be hard to find for the first week in Sept.? Is it worth all the driving? Any comments will be appreciated.

From Portland to Crater Lake is 250 miles. So the answer is yes. <BR>You could drive to Crater Lake, have time to see it, and then head over to the Oregon Coast and drive northwards via McMinnville back to Portland. <BR>I like the section north of Florence to Lincoln City. <BR>When I was at Crater Lake, I took the boat ride on the lake. I think I would not do it again because you are looking up from a hole and cannot see much. <BR>The loop around the lake gives a much better perspective. <BR>

Having been to Crater Lake far more times than I ever wanted to go (visitors to where we used to live always wanted to see CL as they had read about it) I can tell you that part of one day is certainly enough time to spend at CL. There just isn't that much to see really. And we are hikers but even the hiking isn't interesting for long near the rim (short trails). Get reservations for the lodge there ASAP as it is popular. IMO the Oregon coast is like 10000000000000000 times more interesting than CL.

Crater Lake is a sight to see, BUT you can see it in one day. As noted above, there's really not much to do there (unlike Yosemite or Yellowstone.) I wouldn't do the hike down to the lake for two reasons, 1) it's a brutal hike, and 2) the view from above the lake is better than being at lake level. Let me also mention that though it is do-able in two days from Portland, that's going to be a LONG drive. If you're talking about THIS September, then I think getting a room at the Lodge overlooking the lake might be tough. And if you can't stay there, then you'll have to stay about 10 miles away, on a winding road which will just increase the driving you'll have to do.

Thanks for your message. I just got back into this site and reviewed all the responses I received. We had a wonderful trip to CL over Labor Day weekend, spending the nite at Diamond Lake Resort - a beautiful place and has a wonderful dining room which was a complete surprise. As I was advised, it didn't take much time to view Crater which was awesome (but I agree, nothing like Yellowstone and Yosemite). We had driven the coast on last year's visit so went directly back to Portland stopping at very beautiful waterfalls along the way. In retrospect, I'm glad we didn't take the boat ride on the lake.

Thanks to all who responded. I just got back into this site and thought I should respond even tho it's been months since I posted my question. We had a wonderful trip to Crater Lake from Portland on Labor Day Weekend spending the nite at Diamond Lake Resort, a lovely spot with a wonderful fine dining restaurant. Crater was awesome but all of you were right in that it doesn't take much time to see it. We are glad now that we didn't opt for a boat ride. On our last visit to Portland, we drove the beautiful coast, so we drove straight back to Portland from CL stopping at the wonderous waterfalls along the way. Our daughter lives in Portland so we are sightseeing there every year now. A beautiful state.

Linda, do you know Bob? <BR>Bob, do you know Linda? <BR> (I am sooo confused.)