Road Trip from Portland to San Francisco
 

Looking to take a road trip from Portland to San Francisco. We have 5 days to do this so we can take our time. Should we go up to Astoria and go down coast? Go down to Beaverton and work way to coast? I read the other postings and have noted a couple of hikes and the dunes which are great recommendations. No one noted hotels to stay at...anyone got any recommendations? Would you cut over to I-5 at any point to make it down to Big Sur?? Should we even try that or just enjoy Oregon?? I am open to any ideas you guys have. There are so many options. We live on the east coast and have Monday through Friday to ourselves....One thing is for sure...we have a flight leaving SFO Friday night ...unless we change it *wink wink*..... Just out to have a great time with spouse and reconnect.

Looking to travel in couple of weeks.
I appreciate all of your advice!!!
thank you.

Geez... so many temptations.


I'm inclined to answer based on what sort of area you live in... if you are very much near to the <b><I>coast</i></b> itself, then perhaps the Oregon Coast wouldn't be AS appealing as might be Mount Hood and/or the Columbia Gorge for a start. Yet if you are far enough inland at home so that you don't get regular doses of the actual coast, then maybe the Oregon Coast IS the right move.

I was near Bend, Oregon a few months ago, and from one spot I could see 10 or 11 large <I>mountains</i> which I'd seldom viewed all at the same time before.

It wouldn't even be <i>wrong</i> to try to tackle the Columbia Gorge, Mount Hood, <b>AND the Oregon Coast</b> on a zig-zaggy path, which would later require you to zip through Northern California to <I>catch-up</i> with your schedule.

(I'm gonna hope that you have more time IN Portland, and are just looking for help with this small window of travel time to the south... because it is obviously a shame to miss out on seeing some of Portland along with)

But OK...

First offering:

Leave to the EAST, seeing the Columbia Gorge as far as Hood River

(in a perfect world, you'd cross into Washington, and go 43 miles further east to Maryhill, and the authentic <b>Stonehenge</b> monument there) (great views included)

From Hood River... go South on Hwy #35 and west on #26 to Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood... then backtrack a bit before staying on hwy #26 toward Madras... then toward Redmond, before going west to visit <b>Sisters</b>, and then farther west on Hwy #242 which is a slow and impressive path over McKenzie Pass. Lots to see there.

Still farther west to Bend, and then due west again toward the Oregon Coast.

Many on this board rave about the southern Oregon coast, so hopefully that will afford you the very best of what's there, as you move farther south toward California.


There just won't be tiiiiiiiiiiiii-IME to soak-up all that the Northern California coast has to offer, but the Redwoods come along fairly early on the path, and it's likely you'd have to haul ass to reach your destination on time, amid so many other <b>ideas</b> which will beckon your thoughts along the way.


So again, IF (true) <I>Mountains</i> (of these sizes) are more unusual to you than is the ocean, then I think you should entertain getting a full dose of Oregon's mountains on your brief trip.

<i>(the dumb website wouldn't let me paste the entire entry with the following included with that first, long part)</i>

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I think the planning will be easier once you declare one or two MUSTS... (which will eliminate 10 or 17 other mere <I>possibilities</i> for their being largely incompatible, path-wise)


Good luck in planning!

Come see us in Ashland.

Should we just plan to stay in the Oregon area? Or make some sort of big circle back up to Portland? I am beginning to think maybe this trip is just focused on Oregon and maybe just a touch of the big Redwoods?? and the next San Fran / Big Sur area?? It is nothing to change our return flight other than the fee of course....beginning to think it *may* be worth it.

the trip NorthwestMale is outlining sounds more like an Oregon trip than a trip from Portland to SF. I have done a Portland to Sf driving trip. We drove to Seaside and then down the coast staying at a couple of B&B. Took a boat ride on the Rogue, visited the Oregon Caves , and then on into CA driving along 1 through the redwoods, Eurkea, and eventually cutting over to 101 and continued our way down to SF. It was lovely and leisurely

<b>IF you are from far away, and seeing Oregon for the first time</b>, with the freedom to change your travel to/from destinations...

then to just <i>stay in Oregon</i> is much better use of 5-ish days than is to drive onward to San Fran.


The Oregon coast is great, as is the Oregon inland path (east of the peaks of the Cascade Mountain range)... and since both run north-to-south, you <b>can't</b> easily cover them <U>while en route to somewhere else</u>.

A "circle" trip would be far more effective in truly <I>seeing Oregon</i>.


That really IS what I'd do... especially as you didn't mention ANYthing in the way of a true <I>must-see</i> in Northern California.


Besides, the calendar for <I>seeing the best of Oregon</i> is much smaller than is the calendar for seeing California (even northern). (do it when you CAN!)

Shar....would you mind sharing the B&Bs you stayed at?

thanks!