I am telling you actual drive time between Corvallis and Seattle as of 1 week ago When my sister visited

Both directions (north on Friday and south on Monday) took her over 7 hours, sticking to the freeway, not making a bunch of stops, and she is not a pokey driver!

Haha I meant to make that an agreement with you on the drive time I way underestimated it. I trust you and your sister completely!

Regarding Crater Lake, we have no idea what snowfall this coming winter might be like. However most years the full rim road around the lake is not open until sometime in July, and it's also very possible that the lake will be nearly invisible because of clouds and fog. It might be great or it might not, but you're taking a big gamble and spending a lot of hours on the road for an outcome that might be unsatisfactory.

This is in the context of there being so many other things you could do with the same amount of hours. Given your limited time, I for one would be looking at alternatives for those nights.

i know i know -haha- we're both just mad because we used to be able to make it a LOT more quickly between our two homes, and that doesn't seem to happen very often any more!

"This is in the context of there being so many other things you could do with the same amount of hours. Given your limited time, I for one would be looking at alternatives for those nights."

I scrapped the Crater Lake part. You guys were really helpful in that just like you've been so far with everything.

Working on a flight to Portland w/the train...hopefully that will be an option.

I will have all day upon returning on July 14th to explore Seattle some if I don't get to do so on July 6th--we get back to port at 7AM and will not fly out until the following day.

I am really looking forward to the Avenue of the Giants and want to keep that if at all possible despite the logistical problems that arise. That means that we would be going through the Avenue on the 2nd almost assuredly and stay north of there closer to Bandon. I know it will be a lot of driving, but honestly I grew up going on long car road trips and car time doesn't bother my wife and I.

What are some good locations to check on to fill in these gaps for the nights of the 30th, 1st, and 2nd from Seattle knowing that I would like to be back to Bandon by early afternoon of July 3rd?

Same question and dates if I can get a flight to Portland?

Here's what I'd try to arrange.

Fly into Portland. There's an early morning departure (AA) that gets you to PDX in the early afternoon. Get a car and hit the road south to Grants Pass. This is around 5-6 hours and given your east coast internal clock, is about as far as you want to get that night.

The next day, drive down US 199 to Crescent City, stopping en route at the Jedediah Smith redwoods right before the junction with US 101. Continue down US 101 to the Eureka area for the night. Look at Trinidad or Ferndale.

On Monday drive down to the Avenue of the Giants; consider taking the "Lost Coast Loop" - http://redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=3870 - for a glimpse of the last remaining coastal wilderness area in California. Back to Eureka for the night.

On Tuesday drive up to Bandon, stopping at various redwood groves or Oregon state parks and beaches.

On Wednesday return to the Portland area using SR 38 from Reedsport over to I-5 (it's the fastest and most scenic corridor from the coast) and back up to Portland.

Spend Thursday driving around the Columbia Gorge and Hood River Valley, including a drive up to Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.

On Friday drop the car and take one of several trains up to Seattle. Info, schedules and fares - http://www.amtrakcascades.com/

Summary (overnight points listed)

Sat 6/30/2018 Arr. PDX, overnight Grants Pass
Sun 7/1/2018 Eureka
Mon 7/2/2018 Eureka
Tue 7/3/2018 Bandon
Wed 7/4/2018 Troutdale
Thu 7/5/2018 Troutdale
Fri 7/6/2018 Seattle
Sat 7/7/2018 Sail

Map - https://goo.gl/maps/MBffCDcwA6R2

You are step for step with what I was looking at. Looks like a United flight can put us in to Portland lunchtime with same cost as Seattle. I looked at Grants Pass as well with two nights in a row in either Eureka or Mckinleyville. Thought in the event of a mild winter it also left th door open for Crater Lake but I like your idea better. I can't tell you how helpful all of you are. I look forward to being an active member of the board to help people traveling through NC for the first time

>>Eureka or MckinleyvilleFerndale or Trinidad

Meant to underline both towns . . .

What's the benefit of those two janisj?

I was on a treadmill and missed the part clarifying not ACTUALLY Eureka. Applogies

Both Ferndale and Trinidad are attractive little towns off the main highway. Trinidad is set on a pretty cove north of Eureka, while Ferndale is a picturesque Victorian village south of Eureka. Many people find Eureka itself to be a little blah, but it's not terrible. Arcata, just to the north of Eureka, is a college town with plenty of motels located near US 101.

If you want cheap and a place to sleep -- then Arcata maybe. But Ferndale or Trinidad are much nicer places to stay.

Ended up going with the itinerary suggested by Gardyloo. I ended up with a room for the 1st and 2nd in Arcata. We really just need a place to lay our heads. Thanks for all of your help!

One last question: It seems Portland is easy to get around via public transportation. We should drop our car on the 5th upon arrival in Portland and rely on that to get around the city right?

The east end of the TriMet red line light rail is right outside baggage claim at PDX. You can't beat $5/day for access to light rail, bus and a streetcar.