Oregon Holiday

[j_sgypsybuggy]

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.

[TUCQUALA]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[lbrjet]

We will be staying at three parks around there this summer. The Cresent City KOA, the Elk Country RV Resort and the Ancient Redwoods RV Park.

[MinnCamper]

WE did a similar trip a few years ago. I can't speak highly enough about the Oregon state parks. We loved them all. Along the Columbia River we stayed at Memaloose state park. Just beware it can be very windy - you will probably see people out on the river on those sailboard things. We just didn't use our awning. The views of the river are great.

[cpaulsen]

j'sgypsybuggy wrote:
Wanted to say a big "Thank You" for all your help. Last place to finalize is Crescent City, CA to explore the Redwood National Park. Seems that the state parks there only allow tent camping or at least camping without any facilities. Can anyone suggest a private campground or one with electrical/water in that area?

There is one right in Crescent City that has a great view. Going south after leaving the downtown there is a "s" corner where 101 weave around and it on the right. Sorry....cannot remember the name.

[2gypsies1]

We don't often stay in RV parks (we like public parks) however, we really enjoyed Ancient Redwoods RV in Redcrest, CA. It's right in the heart of the big trees and nearby are great trails of all abilities and lengths to take a walk through the trees.