We are planning a trip from Minnesota to Oregon area this fall (mid September to early October) Plans are to stop at Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, then head to Bend area, over to coast and travel down Highway 101 for a bit, head inland to Crater Lake National Park. Finally then head home. You all have been so helpful in past so thought I'd ask for your help again. Does any of this make sense? Should we plan to leave the camper (30 foot 5th wheel) and drive down the 101 without it? Same goes for Crater Lake NP. On trip to Alaska, we left camper in Whitehorse and traveled to Skagway and it worked great. Any advice and suggestions of good campgrounds would also be helpful. Thanks in advance for your help.

You need to remember, mid Sept on it going to start getting cold, many of the parks east of the Cascades will start closing.Now, best to see the coast north to south.Central Oregon is best enjoyed July to mid September.Crater Lake, early September at the latest. Again cold, park attractions start closing after Labor day.my suggestion, come maybe a month earlier, take I80 to Reno, 395 north. First stop maybe Goose Lake state Park, NW out of Lakeview on 31 past the reminants of the vast inland lake that covered the west from central Oregon to Death Valley some 10,000 years ago. Visit LaPine state Park where we will be hosting. You can get a few nights no problem after Labor day. 97 north to I84, through the Columbia river gorge. Visit Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood. In Portland take I205 north to I5 to Longview, WA. Cross the river joining US30 to Astoria. Here you can join US101 south.

I just came up the Oregon coast from the Ca. Border to Newport. The far southern coast is much more scenic and just breathtakingly beautiful. I would go all the way to Redwood Natl park in Northern Ca on 101.We found most of the Oregon state parkswe stayed in were open all year or had portions open all year so I dont think fall will be a problem. Oregon State Parks has a great web site...go there and look.The Oregon state parks are very nice and many have elec and water hookups and some have full hookups and they are very reasonable. We have paid between $22 to $29 with hookups. We particularly enjoyed Humbug Mountain SP, Harris Beach SP in Brookings Or. and Sunset Bay SP near Coos Bay.I highly recommend them but dont miss the far southern coast it is by far the most beautiful part. Truly dramatic in its scenic splendor.

Oregon and the Oregon Coast are great that time of year, but August is a big camping month and the coast weather is usually the best of the year as far as sun goes. So many sites get reserved, you need to book any Coast sites NOW! There are some outstanding Oregon State parks along the cost, nearly all of them are great. But some better then others IMHO. I used to run a Y trip from Eugene to Florence (camping at Honeyman State Park), down 101 to Humbug State park, then into the redwoods camping at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (California not Oregon) or a nearby Fed Campground, then we’d route up to Diamond Lake State Park with day trips to Crater Lake. If you’re coming in via I84, you can have a great camp at Mary Hill State Park on the Washington site of the Columbia River, you can cross at Hwy 97. The Maryhill Museum and Winery are both good stops if you’re into that. A few great State Campground areFt Stevens State Park, Astoria (far north 101)Beverly Beach State Park, Newport Honeyman State Park, FlorenceHumbug Mountain State Park (far south 101)You really can’t go wrong with most Oregon State parks.Private CampgroundsWe really enjoy Sea Peach RV ResortThe Hatfield Science Center & Aquarium in Newport are great, so is the Rogue Ales Brewery. The Rogue River Jet boats in Southern Oregon are a good time too, takes off at Gold Beach. Four Seasons RV Resort is up river a few miles and we were able to camp there and the Jet Boat picked us up right from the dock.You’re RV will be fine along 101 and at the Campgrounds. The Oregon Coast changes pretty dramatically between North & South, if you can driving the whole 101 is a lot of fun and doesn't take that long.

Your plan sounds like a zigzag to me, as Columbia River Gorge is closer to the coast than Bend is. I'd do Bend first, then work your way up north to I-84 and get to the Gorge from there, then go down the coast.

donn0128 wrote:You need to remember, mid Sept on it going to start getting cold, many of the parks east of the Cascades will start closing.Now, best to see the coast north to south.Central Oregon is best enjoyed July to mid September.Crater Lake, early September at the latest. Again cold, park attractions start closing after Labor day.my suggestion, come maybe a month earlier, take I80 to Reno, 395 north. First stop maybe Goose Lake state Park, NW out of Lakeview on 31 past the reminants of the vast inland lake that covered the west from central Oregon to Death Valley some 10,000 years ago. Visit LaPine state Park where we will be hosting. You can get a few nights no problem after Labor day. 97 north to I84, through the Columbia river gorge. Visit Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood. In Portland take I205 north to I5 to Longview, WA. Cross the river joining US30 to Astoria. Here you can join US101 south.I'd second Don's plan, except leave Minn. Sept. 1 st or so.

Oregon Holiday | Good Sam Community

TUCQUALA
Explorer
Aug 23, 2016
The Gorge does have train tracks on both the OR and the WA side, but none of them go right through the campgrounds!!! Tracks are close to some sites, and not so close in some campgrounds.

Look at Plymouth Park (Corps of Engineers), Crow Butte Park, Maryhill State Park, all on the WA side. On the OR side are Boardman City Park, LePage COE Park, Memaloose State Park, Viento State Park, Marine Park Campground in Cascade Locks. All are listed from east to west and are personal picks, and not private campgrounds. Most if not all have reviews you can find.

Where in Minnysoda are you leaving from??
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 23, 2016
From Collier to Boise, ID I'd recommend going north on 97 and take hwy 20 east to Ontario, Oregon then I-84 south through Boise to Hwy 20 east again to Sun Valley, ID. Across Oregon on Hwy 20, drive on the top half of your tank. Fill up when you see a station. The towns will have them.

Sounds like a great trip! Have fun.
J_herb
Explorer
Aug 23, 2016
j'sgypsybuggy wrote:
Hi again for one last time. We are leaving Collier Memorial State Park heading home to Minnesota with a stop at some friends house in Sun Valley, ID. Good Sam mapping puts us on some backroads that we kind of question. They recommend we take #97 no. to Silver Lake Road (gray road on map)then road name changes to Bear Flat Lane (still gray)then on to OR 31, Old Lake Rd, Christmas Valley Hwy, finally reaching US20/US395. Anybody familiar with these roads? We will be towing a 32 ft. fifth wheel. Wondering if there are lots of hairpin turns or if there is a better way to I84 into Boise? Would be interested in hearing any opinions. Thanks again.

Every time we go to Idaho we go that way, it's a two lane country road but is good for RVs, see several DP towing and some big rigs too.
Have a full tank when you leave Collier SP. as the last time we were in Silver Lake their was no gas or fuel. Their is a station in Christmas Valley. As you head north watch for the sign to Silver Lake could be hard to see if the sun is real bright,at the end you will make a Rt. to Silver Lake go past the cemetery on your left a few miles watch for the sign to Christmas Valley ( make a left ) and in to Christmas Valley than head to 395 and go left to 20 than Rt. to Burns and than into Idaho. If DW doesn't have to have hand surgery in Sept. we will be going that way to Idaho and be on, we really enjoy that ride. Have a good trip, Jay

Forgot! lots of stations and eating places in Burns and Ontario.
j_sgypsybuggy
Explorer
Aug 22, 2016
Hi again for one last time. We are leaving Collier Memorial State Park heading home to Minnesota with a stop at some friends house in Sun Valley, ID. Good Sam mapping puts us on some backroads that we kind of question. They recommend we take #97 no. to Silver Lake Road (gray road on map)then road name changes to Bear Flat Lane (still gray)then on to OR 31, Old Lake Rd, Christmas Valley Hwy, finally reaching US20/US395. Anybody familiar with these roads? We will be towing a 32 ft. fifth wheel. Wondering if there are lots of hairpin turns or if there is a better way to I84 into Boise? Would be interested in hearing any opinions. Thanks again.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
May 14, 2016
BTW On our return AK trip we went from Haines Jct to Haines where among other things took the Fjord Express passenger ferry to Juneau. Then the Ferry to Skagway and headed back from there.

Yes, both of those ferry trips are expensive but very enjoyable for us.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
May 14, 2016
Visit the Maritime Museum in Astoria - excellent for all ages. Then take the $2 riverfront trolley ride and the volunteers will tell you about the waterfront history. Recommend Rogue Brewery and there is one at the east end of the trolley. Stay at Ft Stevens if you can but otherwise visit the coast through the park.

With this start the entire coast is ahead of you. Almost all of the turnouts are on the ocean side on a curve. Easier access than north bound where you cross the often blind traffic.

Go as far south as you want and don't miss the CA redwoods. Then backtrack and take 199 to Crater Lake. 299 is more of a challenge so read about it first.

Note for others: 199 in CA is prohibited for MHs over 40'.

There is no reason to leave your rig behind, all of the above roads are good 2 lane roads.
Lauren
Explorer
May 14, 2016
We leave July 13 for two plus months - heading to the OR Coast for our 5th time and for 5 weeks there. We stay in FHU private parks. And we have been through most of OR at one time or another.

My 2 cents FWIW.

Anything on the Coast - make reservations NOW. We booked some a year in advance just to get a spot. Will be on on the Coast 5 weeks.

We will be staying at Boardman and then the KOA at Cascade Locks on the way over. Have been to the KOA before and use it for Mt. Hood and Multnomah Falls, etc.

We love Cannon Beach for several reasons - Ecola State Park and the beaches just south of town (away from the crowds). Then Newport and then Bandon.

Bend / Sisters area is fine but not much to our personal interests.

LOVE Collier MSP !! And the lumbering museum is huge - many acres of equipment and even a village of restored cabins of all kinds. We stop there on the way back. You can do Crater Lake from there or stay at Diamond Lake - not a big fan of the private RV park at Diamond Lake anymore (have stayed there three times and then bailed on that one).

If you can, stop at Silver Falls State Park; love it.

Want pictures? Go to

www.LaurenBarbara.com

Click on Wanderings link on the left, then to Oregon and then either Coast or Inland or both.

Feel free to PM or email me if you would like.

Be safe - enjoy.

Lauren
sweetnoni
Explorer
May 14, 2016
We did that trip 2 years ago. We left Aug.14th and got back home on Oct. 1st.Started out Mo. to MN., then to ND through MT. On to ID , to Columbia Gorge, then to Astoria and down the coast, last stop Bandon. We stay 4 places on the coast so we could explore in 50 mile radius. then we went to CA, and headed over to Carson City, left there and traveled RT 50 across NV, and took 80 to Iowa and went south, home. Could have done more sightseeing in NV, and took on CO but was homesick by that point. Beautiful scenery, a trip to remember.
Wavesprite
Explorer II
May 13, 2016
I second Collier Memorial, that's where we stayed when we went to Crater Lake. The drive is beautiful up to the lake from there, and the park itself is beautiful. It is where a beautiful glassy spring merges with a river, and the Spring is just amazing. We drove offroad on forest service roads to find the head of the spring and it's something I'll never forget.....
Drbolasky
Explorer
May 13, 2016
Sounds like your itinerary is firmed up for the Crater Lake area, but if not Collier Memorial State Park is truly a gem. Not as close to Crater Lake as others, but nice sites, clean and in a beautiful setting. Right next door is a museum dedicated to the Pacific Northwest lumber industry. Sounds dull but it is fascinating to see the evolution of the technology involved with the timber trade.

On edit - Collier Memorial is right outside of Chiloquin.

Enjoy & safe travels.

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