Forum Discussion

jukes's avatar
jukes
Explorer
Dec 01, 2017

OR/WA Loop June/July

Trying to narrow down our route and stops. 3 to 4 weeks. Thanks so far to replies of my previous post (David etc)

Family of 5 (3 boys age 5,12,14) will be in 30ft Travel Trailer so we need suitable roads, Campgrounds are pretty much everywhere but special recommendations appreciated.
Starting point is home, Santa Cruz, CA. Ending in Seattle and back down to home. Prefer a loop where we don't back track too much.

Thinking to start with the inland route. and back down the coastal.

Would like some stops to be for a few days, so we aren't driving all the time. Can sit and enjoy the campground and scenery and maybe some fishing.

Prefer to drive no more than 4 hours but if nothing worth stopping for can do longer days.

Ideas so far:
Stop somewhere about 4 or so hours from home?!?!
Crater Lake,
Bend,
Mt. Hood/Columbia Gorge area. Is there a central point here to spend a few days? I see there is a year around activities place on Mt hood kids could enjoy? And then fishing in the Gorge lake?
Then Portland few days.
Seattle few days, campgrounds seem to be outside the city and some may have Ferry access to the city? ??
Would it be crazy to visit the Cascades?
Olympic NP - a good campground to base ourselves to explore for 2/3 days?
Then down the Coast, where to stop next?
Could go inland a little if coastal route becomes difficult for travel trailer or not too exciting. I heard WA coast not as amazing as OR.
Oregon Dunes NP - 2 or 3 days...
Then OR/CA border??
Humboldt Giant Redwoods??? although we have them here, are they more outstanding there?
Then Mendocino (is it boring for kids and a bit fancy) or /Ft Bragg?
then home, probably not Highway 1 have done it from Point Reyes to Santa Cruz before?

There's alot to see and reading the guide book has me stopping a thousand times ha ha, have i missed out anything major? We like easy hikes/walks, good local food (fish or veg no meat), cheap ethnic food. Nice natural scenic campgrounds, wildlife, husband likes fishing (not on a boat), unusual or quirky towns, people watching,cool music festivals. We aren't into wine, art galleries, crazy busy places.

Roads to take, stops to make?

Thank you!!
  • Better start making reservations now!
    Campsites are getting more and more difficult to get, ESPECIALLY for the summer.
    Even off-season campsites are requiring reservations for coastal and popular areas.
  • A good campground near Crater Lake with some first come sites and reservables is Farewell Bend.
  • A list of places.
    Oregon:
    Newberry Vocanic Monument, La Pine, Oregon
    Mount Hood Oregon, skiing, and ski bowl, fishing Trillium lake,
    Columbia Gorge, Multnomah falls
    Crater lake National Park. Open late
    Newport Oregon, Ridleys Believe it or not, Oregon Coast Aquarium.
    McMinville air museum (Spruce Goose)
    Astoria, Fort Stevens bike riding.
    Washington
    Mt St Hellen’s Visitor Center
    Mt Rainier hiking
    Hoh Rain Forest
  • If the North entrance to Crater Lake is closed because of snow, you can still go in the South Entrance. If there still is snow, some roads will still be closed in the park but it will be beautiful with the snow and the BLUE Lake.

    4th of July weekend 2017. (all roads open, but some road construction)


  • Northern CA
    Burney Falls State Park

    299 to 139 to 97

    Collier State Park

    A logging Museum and Crater Lake are close.

    Tumalo State Park

    Bend, Sister and Historic Hwy 242 are near by.

    97 to Shaniko. Historic Ghost Town

    Or 197 to Maupin at raft the river.

    216 to 26 to Mt Hood area.

    That's is far a I will take you. PDX and Seattle have too many people for me to even go there if I don't have to.

    Safe Travels, KEN Springfield, Oregon

    P.S. The Oregon Coast is probably fairly booked already.
    Get reservation very soon.
  • Oh, Donn. Goose Lake...great spot. 395! Just got home from it.
  • 395 north, first night at Goose Lake SP. From there NE to LaPine and LaPine SP. Plan a few days here high desert museum, lava lands visitor center. If you dont mind a drive, from here you might make a day trip to Crater Lake, but June it could still be snowed in. From here you could go over MT Hood, or cross the south side of the mountain to Hood River and the Columbia river gorge, I5 north, be sure to visit Mt St Helens. Return via 101 down the coast. Any place you plan to stop be sure to get reservations. Oregon state parks, especially on the coast fill up early.
  • “Humboldt Giant Redwoods??? although we have them here, are they more outstanding there?”
    Yes...more lush foliage under the Redwood canopy. Larger streams. CA Coast Redwoods are generally taller than your’s.

    I like Ft. Bragg but your kids won’t care. Purple Rose is a great Mex restaurant.