We make the trip from Newport over to Corvallis several times a year with our 43' motor home and toad....it's really not a problem and it's the shortest route.
However, Hwy 18 (just north of Lincoln City) is a much better highway; but, you will have to connect to Hwy 22 and go through Salem. Not that big of a deal, but a little more traffic lights to negotiate and contend with.
We will be heading out of Newport to attend the FMCA rally in Redmond in a couple of weeks, and I think I will do the Lincoln City, 18, 22 route to Sisters and then 26 over to Redmond. Change of pace.
Ron