My husband and I are planning a 2 week road trip from San Francisco to Tacoma along the coast in June/July. We plan a stop over in Coos Bay and Crater Lake. Any suggestions for stops, lodging, eating? We are always open to B%26amp;B%26#39;s.
Road Trip up the coast
NY??
Are you flying into SFO and out of Seatac. So a one way trip??
Oregon Coast and Crater Lake are not easy to do one way. You could just head to Crater Lake from SFO then to Crescent City and move north along coast catching Redwoods a bit at CC.
Or north from SFO to CC, inland to Crater lake and to Oreg coast via Umpqua Hwy to Reedsport, You miss Brookings to Port Orford that way
Road Trip up the coast
Crater Lake will likely still have snow at the end of June covering %26#39;Rim Drive%26#39;. you will be able to get there from only the Southern entrance. Crater Lake is definetly worth the detour.
Curious as to why you are planning to stop in Coos Bay. While I like Coos Bay-there are some beautiful state parks near by-it is pretty %26#39;blue collar%26#39; and isn%26#39;t the typical cutesy tourist town. Just wanted to let you know...
We are flying into Oakland and out of Seatac. We want to see as much of the coast as possible while still seeing Crater Lake so we thought Coos Bay would be a good goal. Any other suggestions are very welcome. What road do you have to use to get into Crater Lake by the south entrance? We have booked the Mazama Village Inn already, since the Lodge was full.
Two questions:
Is it possible for you to fly into SEA and out of OAK?
I ask b/c a trip DOWN the coast verses UP, will afford more views and easier (safer) opportunities to get to the best spots on the west side of hwy 101.
Why Coos Bay? Not that Coos Bay is bad, it%26#39;s just not a place people usually spend a night unless they have family there or some other sort of history. Coos Bay, much like Florence 40 miles north, does not have an abundance of o/n lodging either.
Okay, now to try and answer your question, here are a few suggested stops. Doesn%26#39;t matter if you%26#39;re going north or south, just try not to miss them:
DISCLAIMER: You are about to be referred to several sites that are Oregon State Parks. For more information on the parks I am about to mention, visit www.oregonstateparks.org
Astoria/Warrenton: Lots to do and see here, especially as it relates to Oregon and National History. Fort Clatsop, Fort Stevens State Park, and the Columbia Maritime Museum are just a few. If you are staying o/n, I hightly recommend The Holiday Inn Express on Hwy 30 at the foot of Bond Street (west Astoria).
Cannon Beach: Ecola State Park and Haystack Rock are two of the biggest draws here and should not be missed.
Oswald West State Park: On Hwy 101, 11 miles south of Cannon Beach. You have to get out and walk to really appreciate what ';Os West'; has too offer, buit after a 1/3 mile walk into a beautiful rainforest, you will get your just reward! The Most beautiful spot on the Oregon Coast IMHO! Just south of the main developed areas of the park, Hwy 101 crosses over Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain. AT THE VERY LEAST, stop and take in the views from one of the many pullouts. If you%26#39;re up for it, a three mile hike to the top of teh mountain will certainly be a highlight of your trip.
Three Capes Scenic Route and Cape Meares and Cape Lookout State Parks, southwest of Tillamook. Beautiful drive, especially north to south. Visit Cape Meares Lighthouse.
(I%26#39;ll let phirl and others fill in the Lincoln City-Newport section).
Yachats. Spend a little time here. It%26#39;s a small town but it really is a gem. Right on a rocky bluff built out into the ocean. If fact, I hightly recommend staying here. The Overleaf consistently sits at the top of Oregon%26#39;s ranking for motels. If it too much for your budget, there are several others: The Fireside, next door to the Overleaf; The Adobe just a little further south; The Shamrock Lodgettes just south of the river. Aside from being charming and beautiful, it%26#39;s also centrally located to Newport and Florence. Just south of here is Cape Perpetua with arguably the best tide pools on the coast. They also have a wonderful visitor%26#39;s center and lots of hiking. If you like fish-n-chips, Try Leroy%26#39;s Blue Whale on Hwy 101 or for more ';fancy'; fare, The Drift Inn just south of Leroy%26#39;s.
Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, between Florence and Yachats. Considered the most photographed lighthouse on the entire west coast, you%26#39;ll see why!! There is a B%26amp;B in the Historic Keeper%26#39;s House as well.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) stretches from Florence, 42 miles to Coos Bay. Sand dunes are not normally associated with beauty, after all, they%26#39;re just sand dunes. But these are truly beautiful. I hightly recommend taking some time to view. Take a buggy ride or rent a quad if your up for it!
Hope this helps!
~Den~
Unsure why you chose Crater Lake over other options, unless as you say ';...a stop over...'; I don%26#39;t know your entire itinerary, but If you have never seen Yosemite NP, I hope you will do so. It%26#39;s very near Crater Lake.
I wouldn%26#39;t say Crater Lake is ';very near'; Yosemite. It%26#39;s about a 3 hour or so drive from SFO to Yosemite and then another 8 to 9 hours from Yosemite to Crater Lake. Yosemite is pretty, but Crater Lake is awe inspiring!
I agree with Den, north to south provides better views from the car. But if you can%26#39;t arrive at SEA then I%26#39;d do as phirl suggested and cut across further north to Reedsport. You%26#39;ll get to see more of our beautiful coast that way. Coos Bay isn%26#39;t worth the detour as it really doesn%26#39;t have that Oregon coast feel that it sounds like you want.
Tahiti
Ouch, you are correct. For some reason I was thinking of Lake Tahoe, not Crater Lake. Then I would have been OK. I never thought of Yosemite as ';pretty';, rather more like awe inspiring, majestic, and nowadays, overcrowded. When I lived in San Francisco, I used to go there twice a year to hike both the valley and meadows/high country. Was there a year ago. Miss the old feelings.
Yosemite is amazing, we spent New Year%26#39;s Day there touring the Valley, visiting the Ansel Adams Gallery, admiring El Capitan and Half Dome and taking it all in at New Year%26#39;s Day Brunch at the Awahnee Hotel which is gorgeous. We will be back next month!
Lake Tahoe is pretty and lots of fun, I spent time there for a week every summer growing up, it%26#39;s beautiful in the summer months with lots to do. DRJNewYork, if you are considering staying in Yachats, the Shamrock Lodgettes were mentioned in Sunset magazine as #7 of the Top 10 Romantic Cottages List, they sound very cozy with nice amenities.
Crater Lake is gorgeous, the water is very blue, it is mainly a ';viewing'; lake with a small boat that goes out to Wizard Island. It is a very nice place to shoot photos here! Enjoy your trip! :)
I%26#39;m a little confused about your itinerary, but I know Yosemite and Tahoe are a long ways out of the way.....
If you%26#39;re coming up the coast from San Francisco, suggesting cutting inland at Crescent City on 199 to Grants Pass. From Grant%26#39;s Pass, follow hwys 234, then 62 up the Rogue valley to the south entrance of Crater Lake.
The best thing to be said for Mazama Village is that it%26#39;s close to the lake. Rooms are reasonably clean and all, but it%26#39;s very spartan. If it fits into your schedule, I think you%26#39;d prefer the Prospect Hotel, though it%26#39;s 25 miles SW of the lake.
If you%26#39;ve got the time, go back to the coast the same way you came. The stretch between Brookings and Port Orford is spectacular. Otherwise, exit Crater Lake at the north entrance, and take hwys 138/I-5/138/38 to Reedsport. Scenery along the Umpqua River isn%26#39;t too shabby either.
I guess I%26#39;m agreeing with phirl, aren%26#39;t I? Sorry to be redundant!
I%26#39;m a little confused about your itinerary, but I know Yosemite and Tahoe are a long ways out of the way.....
If you%26#39;re coming up the coast from San Francisco, suggest cutting inland at Crescent City on 199 to Grants Pass. From Grant%26#39;s Pass, follow hwys 234, then 62 up the Rogue valley to the south entrance of Crater Lake.
The best thing to be said for Mazama Village is that it%26#39;s close to the lake. Rooms are reasonably clean and all, but it%26#39;s very spartan. If it fits into your schedule, I think you%26#39;d prefer the Prospect Hotel, though it%26#39;s 25 miles SW of the lake.
If you%26#39;ve got the time, go back to the coast the same way you came. The stretch between Brookings and Port Orford is spectacular. Otherwise, exit Crater Lake at the north entrance, and take hwys 138/I-5/138/38 to Reedsport. Scenery along the Umpqua River isn%26#39;t too shabby either.
I guess I%26#39;m agreeing with phirl, aren%26#39;t I? Sorry to be redundant!
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