Oregon is a Bucket List Contender (for 2016)

[RangerJay]

Oregon has been on our Bucket List for more than a little while - we've been a bit hesitant to tick it off simply because of its fame - we have always worked really hard to be where other's aren't - and Oregon seems one heck of a popular place .... if you saw our "Vacation Map" you'd very quickly see that we've left the busy places of the continent till last ..... maybe not a smart thing to have done but that is what it is ....

.... so .....

.... is a fall trip a doable way of avoiding the crowds? and the traffic?

Our typical fall trip has us leaving home in late August/early September and getting back home somewhere mid-October - this puts us in Oregon for up to a 3 week period beginning mid September.

Advice is really welcome.

Thanks,


Jay

[Spamcan]

Jay,

You have to be careful not to confuse "Portland" with "Oregon". (As a native of both, I feel qualified to opine!).

The former is a small but increasingly popular/crowded metro area that has a lot to offer for the non-camper. Great food, interesting neighborhoods, and abundant outdoor activities, to name a few. A great place to visit, but not if the goal is to get away from it all.

But outside of Portland, the rest of the state is filled with wide-open spaces, and is decidedly un-crowded. Especially after the kids are back in school in September. It is a bucket-list worthy destination for sure, offering ocean beaches, mountains, and high desert landscapes all within a few hours drive of one another.

The weather from mid-September through mid-October is absolutely ideal -- not hot, not cold, and not yet rainy. It really is the best time of year here.

[cameront120]

If you're able, don't discount late winter/early spring. I traveled the PCH during the months of february/march and was lucky enough to have great weather and an uncrowded highway and state camp grounds. Oregon has the best State campgrounds.

[RangerJay]

Thanks for the quick responses - and for setting me straight on how busy the place is - I've been under the impression - pretty much forever - that the entire U.S. Pacific West Coast was polluted with traffic and people - not sure now where I got that impression but glad to hear it isn't so - and yes - no question we will bypass any large cities.

A late winter/early spring trip is probably not in the cards - weather may be great in Oregon but it can still get pretty nasty here right through April - snow has been melting the last few days but last week we were still waking up to minus 30 temperatures - we normally don't break our trailer out till mid-May.

Thanks,


Jay

[cameront120]

Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that you have to get there from less ideal climes!

[janetb]

We love this part of the world. Trips up the Oregon coast from CA in May provide gorgeous roadside floral displays of azaleas and rhododendrons. So amazing. But lots of rain and "mist" during that time of year. We went back in September and it is by far the best time to explore this spectacular coast. Not crowded at all, and the weather is at its best. You've nailed it! Have a wonderful time.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I spent my entire life in Southern California, except for two years in the Army. We recently moved to Salem and what a difference. From our house in three directions, within a mile or less, we are in farm country and it is beautiful here. Salem being the capital isn't very big. Now Portland, to me, is like Los Angelus so just drive through it unless there is something there you want to see or do. I recommend using a GPS because I call Portland "Bridge City" and being new here it can confuse me. Or just make sure that the signs say "5 South". Oregon has a lot of rest stops and nice camp grounds; Don't plan on staying at any Wal-Marts, it's not allowed in Oregon. Tillamook Cheese factory tour is great and they have plenty of room for parking RV's. Evergreen Airplane Museum is great too if you like that sort of thing.

[spenfolder]

Fall is a great time to visit Oregon. Many of the tourist are gone, and the weather can be great. There is so much to see. The coast is beautiful. I especially love the lower coast south of Newport. Not as many visitors, and beyond beautiful. I was just there last June and can't wait to go back again. I traveled down the coast from Portland for 10 days, spending 4 in Cape Blanco alone. There are many wonderful Oregon State Parks along the way.

Have a great trip and take lots of pictures.

Stan
Salt Lake City
(formerly of Eureka, Ca - California's version of the Oregon coast)

[KathyH]

Northern coastal section of Oregon is beautiful, Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside and Cannon Beach. Warrenton has Ft Steven's State Park (campgrounds:beach/lake/Battery Russell/Ocean Jettys) also the local KOA is right across the road.

[TG Twinkie]

This area is definitely on my bucket list. After 18 years of living in the high plains of Nebraska it will be a nice change of scenery. My wife is from Vancouver, BC, Canada. It will be like going home to her.


Sent from my iPod touch using Airstream Forums

[RangerJay]

Thanks again for the great responses - I showed the feedback to my wife this morning - kind of a mistake - she really likes what you folks have had to say - starting to look like "we" will be changing our travel plans for 2015 (all the planning has been done to visit the Gaspe) ..... it's exactly a 180 degree change in direction to go to Oregon .....

Thanks,


Jay

[Dreamnair]

We are Texans who might live in Oregon if it weren't for kids living in the Midwest and east coast. We think it's a gorgeous state... check out Silver Falls State Park (east of Salem). And the Pacific coast road is well worth the drive.

We're planning on taking our grandson in early July. We'll hit SFSP, the coast and some spectacular hiking trails along some big creeks/small rivers.

[Bill M.]

I love traveling in Oregon. I like the late September time frame but that is a good time anywhere. Any time you can go to Oregon it is a good time, I think. Crowded in some of the very touristy spots in the mid summer. Very crowded labor day weekend and you will need reservations for that weekend. Not so bad elsewhere and on the off seasons. We made it last year. Beautiful state parks on the coast but they tend to be full. This year going to PEI on a caravan.

[larryglarson]

Love Oregon and believe me you can find lots of place with no people. Baker City and the Oregon Trail Mus.. Bend area, wow and the coast. Lots of parks on the coast. Astoria is a special place too. The mount hood lodge, but do not take trailer to it. have fun.

[Oregon Ms]

IMO September is one of the best months for camping in Oregon. As soon as the kids are back in school everything settles down (and a lot of visitors head for home) and things open up.

It will be dry, "fire season", but even if there is a fire it's easy to work around that. Could be a campfire ban in a lot of places, understandable.

Actually, anytime is a good time to camp in Oregon. You just have to avoid the usual popular hot spots (like state parks on the coast) in the summer.

[Gerrie]

If you do visit coastal Oregon, go a little into California and take Hwy. 199 through part of the redwood forest, coming back into Oregon. Small interesting towns on the roadside and a great campground at Patrick Creek.

The Applegate Valley (our home) is gorgeous with wineries here and there, lakes, rivers, mountains.

[reelfastgreg]

Oregon has a great deal to offer from the 'out back' of the east side to the coast with spectacular views. but don't fool yourself into believing that after labor day it will be easy pickin's in camping spots. all retirees have the same idea so plan carefully.

you can easily avoid the most popular population centers and find wide open spaces and no one around. avoiding places like Bend and opting for the Malhuer refuge is one example of finding solitude. the Columbia r. gorge is also a spectacular spot but winds need to be considered. check the wind surfing web sites for upcoming events. the southern OR coast probably has the best vistas and fewer folks along with warmer temps, called the banana belt. lots of historic sites to check out as well so some careful planning and parsing are in your future.

have fun, its a great state to visit or live in for that matter.

[John&Vicki]

I've lived in Oregon for over 45 years and I had a hard time figuring out what you were referring to when you called it crowded. I suppose you can find crowded if you're motivated, such as Portland (still a cool city, and I'm not a city guy), but most of this very large state is uncrowded.

I took a 3-week trip down the Coast in October and along with no crowds the weather was perfect. The scenery was beyond perfect - countless Wow moments.

I live on the Eastern slope of the Cascades and it's all big and open skies on this side of the mountains. Painted Hills, John Day ranch country, Strawberry Mountains, Columbia Gorge, high lakes around Bend, it just goes on and on.

You can find crowds at Crater Lake NP, but it wasn't bad the last time I was there in September. Following the Rogue River or the Umpqua River from the Cascades to the Coast is simply awesome.

And, as others have said, our state parks are as good as it gets. My wife and will be at Cape Blanco for the month of October volunteering as Lighthouse Hosts. Come by and say hi - God willing we will be there in 2016 too.

Cheers,
John

[RangerJay]

Originally Posted by John&Vicki

I've lived in Oregon for over 45 years and I had a hard time figuring out what you were referring to when you called it crowded. I suppose you can find crowded if you're motivated, such as Portland (still a cool city, and I'm not a city guy), but most of this very large state is uncrowded.

......

I guess the perception of crowding is personal and relative. Really don't know where I got the original impression about the Oregon Coast being a busy place but I've had it for a long time - and very glad to be told that it is wrong.

I guess our personal perception of "crowding" guides our planning today basically because we've evolved to become small town folks in a very big and largely empty part of the world ..... and that's pretty much how we like it. We've never been fans of tourist traps but recognize there are a few that simply can't be passed up - meaning we will work hard to avoid the busiest times. We both recall visiting Yellowstone in late September and the Grand Canyon in October - incredible Parks - loved both visits - but wouldn't want to imagine visiting either place in the summer months. We'll go back again - but stick to the fall months. We also recall visiting Smoky Mountains in the fall - the Park was stunningly beautiful - but - for us - Pigeon Forge took the term "Tourism Sprawl" to an unbelievable new level - kind of blew us out of the water - that is one place we will never return to.

We've enjoyed the great advice we've received here about Oregon - and are really looking forward to a memorable trip.

Thanks again,


Jay

[tevake]

Very timely thread, as I am starting to plan our summer trip through Oregon and Washington this summer.
Funny I had little concern about crowding there and had just planned on winging it as far as reservations at parks. Coming from Az. Am definitely looking to spend lots of time on the coast. So should I try to get booked in advance ?
Mid summer ties in with kids vacation time, so peak season. Ah well.

Loving all the mentions of highlights, taking notes, thanks

John. I would enjoy crossing trails with you. I'm intrigued with the Porsche concourse scene, tho am more focused on touring , driving in twisty mountain roads etc. All conflicting with the efforts in pursuit of perfection the concourse guys enjoy.
I may be towing my SC with my 345 by the summer. I just did my first PCA Autocross and track day outings in Phoenix and may try to get on track along the way.
Any suggestions of tracks not to be missed up that way.

Cheers Richard