Hi All!We are on an 8 week tour of Oregon, 2 weeks into it. This is our first big trip in our 1966 Restored Airstream. The first week was spent at Nehalem Bay State Park, exploring Astoria, Manzanita and Cannon Beach Areas. Wonderful! And a great state park. Now we are at Tillicum Beach near Yachats and have enjoyed it immensely. Not as nice a park as Nehalam, but a great site on the ocean.We are leaving here and headed to Florence, Harbor Vista Park, and then onto Diamond Lake RV Park, near Crater Lake. Our final reservation is at Emigrant Lake near Ashland.We will have another 3 weeks to spend in Oregon, and I thought I would seek out the advice of you knowledgeable folks, as to where you would spend those last weeks.We like to move slowly, no more than 4-6 hours driving. We have pets, and we love water. No kids, and we love small towns and country roads. We can dry camp and have some limited solar. The only restriction we have is that we must be able to have cell phone reception (verizon) for staying in touch with work and family. What is on YOUR do not miss list in this beautiful state?

I would suggest coming north on US 97 from Crater Lake. Area around Bend/ Sisters is different then what you have seen.Continue north to Madras then west on US 26 to visit Mt. Hood/ Timberline Lodge.Eastern Oregon is a drastic change from western Or.

Is it after Emigrant Lake (Ashland) that you then will have some time? If so, you may want to head west from Grants Pass and visit the redwoods around Jedidiah Smith State Park. Then maybe a Rogue River boat cruise out of Gold Beach?

You could go north from Ashland to Portland and head up the Columbia Gorge, my old home,great water falls, dams, hiking, wind surfers and veiws. At Hood River could swing up to MT Hood area. Then maybe over to Pendleton and see some of Eastern OR which has lots of back roads and small towns and fewer people.

Cape Lookout State Park is a nice spot. Spent hours walking the beach last year. The hike at the top was a highlight for us,great scenery. Also checked out the air museum and the cheese factory in Tillamook, great stuff.

Itinerary Suggestions for Oregon? | Good Sam Community

enblethen
Nomad
Jul 08, 2014
I would suggest coming north on US 97 from Crater Lake. Area around Bend/ Sisters is different then what you have seen.
Continue north to Madras then west on US 26 to visit Mt. Hood/ Timberline Lodge.
Eastern Oregon is a drastic change from western Or.
korbe
Explorer
Jul 08, 2014
Is it after Emigrant Lake (Ashland) that you then will have some time? If so, you may want to head west from Grants Pass and visit the redwoods around Jedidiah Smith State Park. Then maybe a Rogue River boat cruise out of Gold Beach?
rbtglove
Explorer
Jul 08, 2014
You could go north from Ashland to Portland and head up the Columbia Gorge, my old home,great water falls, dams, hiking, wind surfers and veiws. At Hood River could swing up to MT Hood area. Then maybe over to Pendleton and see some of Eastern OR which has lots of back roads and small towns and fewer people.
fly-swatter
Explorer
Jul 08, 2014
Cape Lookout State Park is a nice spot. Spent hours walking the beach last year. The hike at the top was a highlight for us,great scenery. Also checked out the air museum and the cheese factory in Tillamook, great stuff.
fireman93514
Explorer
Jul 08, 2014
Oregon caves are worth a look.
donn0128
Explorer II
Jul 08, 2014
Stop for a couple of days at valley of the rogue state park. Historic Jacksonville, Oregon caves, Oregon Vortex are but three must sees.
After Crater lake, north on 97. Collier state park for the logging museum. Then Lapine state park forLava river caves, Lava lands visitor center,the old McKenzie highway (no RV's), Belknap hot springs resort, headwaters of the Metalous river. From Redmond, head east on 26 stopping to visit the John Day fossle beds and the old chinese pharmacy in John Day. Sadly you do have to understand that Oregon State Parks are on a reservation system and the likelyhood of getting kore than one or two nightsis slim to none without a reservation
rugermark2
Explorer
Jul 08, 2014
donn0128 wrote:
Stop for a couple of days at valley of the rogue state park. Historic Jacksonville, Oregon caves, Oregon Vortex are but three must sees.
After Crater lake, north on 97. Collier state park for the logging museum. Then Lapine state park forLava river caves, Lava lands visitor center,the old McKenzie highway (no RV's), Belknap hot springs resort, headwaters of the Metalous river. From Redmond, head east on 26 stopping to visit the John Day fossle beds and the old chinese pharmacy in John Day. Sadly you do have to understand that Oregon State Parks are on a reservation system and the likelyhood of getting kore than one or two nightsis slim to none without a reservation

I just spent a little over a week doing this exact trip. Well worth the it. When I went to LaPine there was a lot of 1 night available camp spots, if you don't mind moving everyday its worth visiting these places.
old_guy
Explorer
Jul 08, 2014
there is a lot to see in Oregon. more behinds the scenes stuff than you will see in a life time. I've been here 71 years and haven't seen it all yet. I love all of Oregon from the coast to the rural eastern Oregon
luvztheoutdoor1
Explorer
Jul 10, 2014
My first ever camping trip was in the back of my Chevy Blazer, traveling along the Columbia River GOrge and then down the coast on my way to San Francisco. I was astounded by the beautiful scenery and will never forget Oregon!
4runnerguy
Explorer
Jul 10, 2014
As noted, the Columbia River Gorge has quite a bit to see. The link describes some interesting things along the old US highway through the gorge. From there, one can also head to Mt. Hood, or (gasp) into WA and visit Mt. St. Helens.

The area around Bend also has lots to see. Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument is a way to expand on your Crater Lake experience. There are some interesting CG's in the crater, which is somewhat akin to camping on the shores of Crater Lake. Don't know about cell service in there however.

Also near Bend is the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. We've been to Bend for several week-long vacations and never run out of things to do or places to go. On one or two occasions, we've gotten to Bend and never made it all the way to the coast!