Due to the very low airfares now published for spring, we are considering a trip to Portland with a drive down the coast to San Francisco. Have been to SF before, will only be there a couple of days to visit son. Due to big dropoff charges for car will probably make roundtrip drive back to Portland as long as we can see something different on way back

I checked on Mapquest and it is +600 miles. We have never been to Oregon and only as far north as Mendocino in California.

My questions
1.Would ten days be enough for such a trip without being crazy?

2. Would three days be enough to see highlights of Portland? Any recommendations on places to stay?

3. Mapquest would route us down I-5. I am sure that is the fastest but we want to see things on the way. How long would it take us to drive down coastal highway? Would really appreciate any advice on where to stop and what to see?

4. We both enjoy hiking and nature. Also like to eat at inexpensive local places. I love art and craft galleries. Any advice?

5. Are we crazy to consider going in winter/early spring?

Thanks so much for any advice!

Pam

I will be doing almost the same trip in mid June,instead I will be renting one way from Portland to sacramento,I got a preamiun car from Hertz for$538 which I thought was good.I also understand the need to save at resturants.
you may want to look under the "Oregon"
section .
I still have a lot of planing to do also. Good Luck!

I may be in the minority here, but I've done Oregon several times going down the coast and following the interstate. To be honest, while the scenery was beautiful along the coast, I actually enjoyed our stops on the inland route more. The towns along the coast seemed so, well, touristy and tacky. Maybe that's because I'm from Florida and used to those types of towns. The traffic through all those towns was also very busy and slow, detracting greatly from the enjoyment of it simply as a scenic drive. But we really enjoyed our overnight stop in Eugene and thought Salem was very interesting. And you can't beat Crater Lake area for scenery and hiking. We did an all day driving/hiking waterfall route to the north and west of Crater Lake using the lodge at the lake as our base.

The drive along the California coast from Mendocino to San Francisco was one of the hairiest rides I've ever done, and that includes the famous Amalfi Coast road in Italy. The redwoods on the coast along the very northern parts of California really are spectacular -- an early morning hike among them in the mist is simply breathtaking!

With the limited time, you might consider going from Portland to Crater Lake the fast way, then head through Grant's Pass and to the Oregon/California border on the coast then follow that coast down at least part way, maybe heading inland for a faster route once you passed Mendocino.

Need some claification - does the 10 days include 2 days in SF and 2 or 3 in Portland, or is the 10 days strictly for the round trip drive?? If 10 days is the total you would only have about 5 days for the roundtrip - not a lot of time to see anything.

The drive all the way down the coast is gorgeous - but it is SLOW and does take concentration. If you want to drive the whole coast route and actually want to see anything you need to allow a minimum of 3 days - 4 or 5 would be much better.

Unless the drop off charges are absolutely HUGE - I would not do a round trip. But if you decide to - go down I-5 all the way -- Crater Lake, Mt Shasta, Lassen, etc are on he route. And then go back north via the coast. The reason being it is easier and less stressful to a lot of folks to be on the inland side of the road heading north rather than the cliff side of the road heading south. The driver can have much harder time in places where there is a huge drop off down to the water.

Hi Pam!! You are in for a real treat. Oregon is one of my favorite places! Three days in Portland would be great. I would suggest the River Place Hotel located directly on the waterfront. It is a luxury hotel with all the amenities. You are literally treated like royalty here from the minute you pull up on the property and the location can't be beat. We usually get in under the Romance Package that comes with valet parking, access to the health club down the street, champagne and strawberries and a full breakfast in their waterfront restaurant Lucere. (Try the Portland scramble made with fresh salmon.) You can walk to all the shops down the weaterfront and I would recommend the Harborside and Newport Bay for delicious fresh seafood.

In Portland make sure you see the Rose Gardens, Japanese Gardens and we enjoy a side trip to Sauvie Island where you can see some beautiful scenery. Pioneer Square is a must for world-class shopping. Jake's Crawfish is a Portland classsic also not to be missed.

You could take a day trip over to Cannon Beach, Seaside, Astoria if you leave early in the am. It is only an hour and a half drive from Portland. This whole area is my favorite part of the coast. If you do decide to see this area, I could offer you specifics on places to see and great places to dine.

Another area you may want to explore is the Columbia River Gorge. It is beautiful. We like the Columbia Gorge Hotel for lodging. We just did the drive from Astoria to central CA in less than fourteen hours last week in rain and high winds. Everything went fine.

One more thought on Portland is the Saturday Market. You will love all the arts/crafts there. We ride our bikes from the River Place over to the market after breakfast. Have a great time!! Oregon Coast magazine would be a good reference for you to view places on the coast to see what interests you.www.riverplacehotel.com and www.astoriaoregon.com are two websites to check out. Happy New Year!! ***kim***

First, regarding the driving time, that's entirely up to you and your style. Going via the coast route (US 101, not Calif. SR 1), the drive - not counting stops - is around 6 or 7 hours longer by the clock than using Interstate 5. In "late winter - early spring" (when?) the difference might actually be less, owing to potential snow delays in the Siskyou Mountains on the Oregon-California border on I-5. By the same token, the coast can be slower due to storms and driving rain, while the inland route is clear and fast (albeit, IMO, largely boring by comparison.)

My suggestion, especially if it looks like an early spring, is to take I-5 south from Portland to the junction of SR 38 a little south of Cottage Grove, Oregon. Take SR 38 out to the coast, the road hugging the lower Umpqua River for the last few miles, a gorgeous drive. Go on through the Coos Bay area and overnight in Bandon, one of the most attractive towns on this part of the Oregon coast. (In many people's opinion, the southern part of the coast is the most scenic, so staying around Bandon gives you a good starting point for the next day, which will be through mind-blowing scenery.)

The next day, head south, stopping when you want for stunning coastal scenery all the way to the California state line, then hold on to your goggles, because almost right away (just south of Crescent City) you enter the Redwoods. Stop and wander through the groves, drive along the "Avenue of the Giants" scenic byway, take a picture of world-class kitsch at the Trees of Mystery (Paul Bunyon and Babe) and just go gaga over the big trees. The coastal scenery on this route is grand, but the Redwoods are unique.

You can overnight in some place like Willits, or if you want to cut over to the coast on SR 1 you can do that at Willits too. Either way the next day gets you to SF, either quickly on the freeway or slowly on the coast.

Returning, you can reverse your steps, or just jump on I-5 and you're in Portland 9 or 10 hours later. I frankly wouldn't recommend detouring to Crater Lake at that time of year; either it will be snowy and hard driving, or (my experience on several spring trips) so foggy at the lake rim that you can't see anything except the lousy souvenir shop at the lodge. If it's volcanoes you want, then arrive an extra day early in Portland and head up (2 hours) to Mt. St. Helens for the real deal.

And as others have said, the Columbia Gorge - especially in early spring when the waterfalls are waterfulls, is smashing. Check out the valleys south and north of Hood River and White Salmon (WA) respectively if apple blossoms have appeared, or else take a couple of extra hours and go on out to the Maryhill Museum on the Washington side of the river near The Dalles (OR). This little detour will expose you to the "east side" of the Cascades (with no mountain driving required - what a deal) to see how dramatic the shift in landscape is, plus the museum will throw in a little Rodin with the deal.

If you don't mind unusual and funky (but comfortable) accommodations, or if you like micro-brews and/or old movies, think about staying on the Portland end of the Gorge at McMenamin's Edgefield (www.mcmenamins.com) - a novel hotel/resort complex crafted from the Multnomah County Poor Farm.

If you do go through Cottage Grove, take a bit of time to do the covered bridge tour. It's very scenic also. If you decide to go through Ashland or Grant's Pass, I have some good suggestions on lodging and good places to eat there. If you could push the trip to early spring that would be the best weather-wise. Any specific questions about a certain area? Would be glad to help you!! ***kim***

We recently flew into San Francisco, then drove to Portland and used National- no drop off charge! There is a National location at the convention center- very easy access to the bay bridge if you're going that way. Only have a few minutes right now and wanted to let you know about the rental car- will check back later and see if there's anything I can contribute to your trip planning.

MD4, I won't argue with you, but in checking for next summer I got very excited when on the phone National told me there was no drop off fee for picking up in San Francisco and dropping off in Ashland, Oregon. There isn't, exactly. But instead there is a much higher daily fee. In fact a 10 day rental costs $350 more if I drop off in Ashland than if I drop off in Redding or Sacramento. They don't call it a drop-off fee, but I DO!

As a former resident of both the North Bay and Portland, who used to travel between them quite frequently, I have little to add to Gardyloo's excellent advice above--right on the mark on everything I know about. Let me particularly emphasize that you should not miss the trip down the Columbia River Gorge (at least to The Dalles)as a side trip from Portland)and that Crater Lake the time of year you are planning is very chancey as to both accessibility due to snow and quality of the experience (since its fabled, spectacular blue color is produced by the combination of its great depth and bright sunlight.) I also endorse the Bandon area as perhaps the most beautiful on the Oregon coast, with some of the best accommodations and an easy one-day trip from Portland.

I usually figured the I-5 route as 14 hours and the coast route 19 hours (counting only rest and snack stops.) If you follow Gardyloo's route cutting inland at Coos Bay (which I wouldn't do if the weather along the coast is good and you aren't pressed for time, but it's good advice otherwise)probably the time differential would be less. Weather permitting, I would unquestionably not duplicate the same route on the drive back more than absolutely necessary. Definitely you should leave 101 for the Avenue of the Giants scenic alternative through the redwoods, and enjoy at least a short walk among them. The Lady Bird Johnson trail in the National Park is a good one of that type.
Also, remember that if you have been to Mendocino already, you have been along the scariest part of the coastal drive, which occurs in Sonoma County just south of the Mendocino County line. Nothing north of Mendocino all the way to Portland is nearly so hair-raising. And also, that one of the reasons why one of your routes should be the I-5 one is that if it is at all clear, spectacular views of Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen will entertain you for literally hundreds of miles.

I'd love to hear about your impressions after your trip!

I found Bandon to be pretty, but there isn't much to do there. It's about an eight hour drive from Portland. Where are these great accomodations? I think there is a Best Western Bandon by the Sea there. I'm curious as to what else is there? We may take this route next time!!

Gold Beach was nice. We stayed at a Sand N' Sea motel that was oceanfront. Where is the Tu Tu Ton Lodge from there? I've heard great things about that place on the Southern Coast. ***kim***

Kim, you and Pam (the original questioner) might try www. bandon. com/ webfront/merchants/?catid=8 for lots of lodging options in Bandon. Among those which would be appropriate for the one-night stay I think Pam is contemplating, I can testify that the Best Western Inn at Face Rock, the Sunset and the Windermere all have terrific ocean views.
The Tu Tu Tu'un Lodge is indeed widely praised but is not on the coast. It is in a fairly remote location well up the Rogue River from Gold Beach. Also, it is a pricey destination resort designed for lingering, and so may not meet Pam's need for this trip.

Pam,
Gardyloo is right, if you're in the area, you've gotta go out to Troutdale to see Edgefield--this place is unbelievable!

The dilapidated old Poor Farm was bought by fearless entrepreneurs, the McMenamin brothers. After fixing up the buildings, it still had quite an institutional feel to it, so they commissioned a group of talented artists to come in and paint murals all over. Some are huge, wall-sized, like one that's a collage of very expressive faces of some of the residents who lived at the Poor Farm. There's one of a 5-foot black rabbit, standing up, which was known to live on the property. Dozens more, each more creative and touching than the next, down to tiny 2 inch square whimsies that you notice where you least expect them. What an amazing art gallery!

We spent several hours exploring the place: micro-brewery (excellent beers, I love their India Pale Ale), classic movie theatre, interesting gardens, their own winery (the wines we tasted were very good) and an excellent lunch at the Black Rabbit restaurant.

My favorite discovery was the Little Red Shed, an out-building, which was less than 300 sq. ft.-- it felt like a playhouse, with an old brick fireplace and a tiny working, stocked bar. Absolutely charming!

I'm not sure if I would stay there overnight, although it's clean and nice, I was a bit overwhelmed by the feeling of the place. Imo, this place is one of the most interesting things to see in the Portland area.

I also agree that Maryhill Museum is another very unusual/amazing place to see. I've used up so much space here, maybe gardyloo will tell about it?

Winerycat, leave it to you to find another great place to eat for us!! I have never heard of the Black Rabbit, but googled it and it sounds very good. This sounds like a very interesting place to explore on our next trip to Portland in the Spring. It's about 20 minutes east of Portland, correct?

This sounds like a great place to stop on the way to the Gorge area. Thanks for this info!! ***kim***

Kim,
Yeah, I do think this would be a great place for you guys to stop in the Spring. It's out in the country, but only about 20 minutes east of downtown Portland (out I-84)and just 5 minutes from the Gorge scenic area.

Have you been to Maryhill across the river and "Stonehenge" near it? What a beautiful/unusual place started by Sam Hill, as in "what in Sam Hill?" No kidding! For more info, check out maryhillmuseum.org. Have a great trip!

Thank you so much for all of your replies. Now we are starting to think we should just stay in Oregon and the northernmost part of California. My son may just have to fly up for the weekend. I always get so much help from this forum - thanks!
Pam

The other McMenamin venue you might consider is the Kennedy School in Portland. Located in a residential neighborhood, this is an old elementary school they bought and turned into a hotel/brewery/cinema/restaurant complex, not as complex as the Edgefield but more conveniently located for Portland. Cool touches like blackboards in the bedrooms (converted classrooms), pubs called the "honor bar" and "detention", cheap second-run movies with beer in the former auditorium, and the same whimsical art on all the surfaces, as with the Edgefield and other McMenamin places.

No, I have not been to the Maryhill Museum of Art of Stonehenge. I looked at the Maryhill website and it sounds like something we would really enjoy.

I think we may schedule a couple of days to see the Gorge and stay at the Columbia Gorge Hotel and see this on our way back over to Astoria/Seaside. I always look forward to seeing new things to report and advise on. Have you ever stayed at the Columbia Gorge Hotel? It's quite a place!! ***kim*** And of course a meal at the Black Rabbit!! Mmmmm....

Kim,
We lived just south of Portland, in Lake Oswego, so the Gorge was always a day trip for us, but we did visit the Columbia Gorge Hotel while seeing Hood River. We walked around the hotel, inside and out and it was really beautiful. We had planned to try their famous breakfast, where they traditionally hold up the syrup high like a waterfall and say something special as they pour it over your pancakes! But we never did get around to doing it. That would be a great place to overnight.

Our family spent time at Multnomah Falls Lodge, though. That waterfall is the most spectacular I've ever seen in Oregon and we liked to visit it often. We loved the warm, rustic stone lodge and enjoyed a few brunches in the windowed back area that allows you to watch the falls as you eat. This was a few years ago, but at that time the food was good, in an old-fashioned way. Hearty soups, breads, etc. You'll have a great time in the Gorge area.

Actually I think the syrup thing is to "mimic" Multnomah Falls. That's what our server told us. They even treated our Vizsla puppy like royalty at that hotel, wrapping up scraps for her in the shape of a tin foil bird since she's a bird dog. ***kim***