All of the above are good suggestions . Further :
Hiway 58 is preferred by some truckers as a better alternate route between Eugene OR and Weed , CA .
It is an easy mountain pass as mountain passes go .
We don't need the crowds as Bend has been discovered .
If you are just spending time and going to California from Newport you should stop at Crater Lake .
Bend is one of the fastest growing towns in the USA for good reason .
Too many reasons. Just do a search .
Nobody doesn't like Bend .
Stop in Sisters also .
From Eugene my preferred route is hwy 126 to Bend to get to hwy 97 . Very easy beautiful pass .
Budget some extra time for the Cascades .
Think of northern New Hampshire & Vermont but with real mountains and taller trees .
Klamath Falls is an ugly place compared to Bend .
The town is dying for a reason .