Sunday, July 13, 2025

The Final Southern Oregon Highway Journey – 9 Day Itinerary


Oregon is an incredible state and the easiest way to see a few of its hidden gems is to take a street journey. Alongside the best way, you can be greeted with waterfalls, caves, shimmering lakes, lovely seashores, towering Redwood bushes, and extra.

Buckle your seatbelt since you are about to do some critical driving. I like to recommend renting a Chrysler Pacific for the journey. It’s by far essentially the most spacious minivan permitting you and your loved ones extra room. Additionally, an excellent rental choice could be a Dodge Durango that seats seven.

9-Day Southern Oregon Itinerary

I’m assuming that you’re flying into Oregon to make this journey, subsequently, I’ve bought the Portland Airport as the start line. You’ll be able to alter your place to begin accordingly if this doesn’t give you the results you want. The entire itinerary may be tweaked to fit your wants and the period of time you need to journey.

Day 1: Drive from Portland to Steamboat Inn

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It’s nearly a four-hour drive from the Portland airport to Steamboat Inn. For those who hit 5 o’clock visitors you may anticipate it to take 5 hours. There may be an In N Out alongside the best way close to Salem in case you get hungry. In Eugene, there’s a Sonic. Nonetheless, in case you can maintain off consuming till you get to Steamboat Inn. The meals will completely wow you.

Steamboat Inn

Examine-in into Steamboat Inn:

Perched on a bluff with a commanding view of the North Umpqua River, Steamboat Inn provides lovely lodging, superb eating, native wines, beautiful gardens, and a deal with and present store. Positioned on Hwy 138 in the midst of 31 miles of “fly-fishing solely” water on the North Umpqua River it’s a vacation spot in itself. Steamboat can be the proper place to remain whereas exploring all the realm has to supply together with a great deal of waterfalls.

Dinner at Steamboat Inn: By the point you may have gotten to Steamboat Inn you’re mainly in the midst of nowhere so you can be consuming your meals right here. For those who hire a cottage you should have a kitchen and might put together your personal meals.

They’ve a beautiful kitchen that creates wonderful breakfast and dinners. The menu is filled with Steamboat Traditions and the every day specials characteristic recent native merchandise. Don’t overlook to save lots of room for our house-made desserts. If you’re planning a fishing or sightseeing journey. Simply order from the entrance desk by 8 pm the night earlier than. Espresso is out there within the library lounge.

After dinner, seize a recreation or two of their library to take again to your room and play with your loved ones. There’s mainly no web and no TV so it’s a terrific alternative to spend high quality time with the individuals you’re touring with. Breakfast at Steamboat Inn

Day 2: Flyfishing and Waterfalls

Breakfast: Kick-off your morning with a pleasant breakfast at Steamboat Inn adopted by a day of climbing the waterfalls within the Umpqua Nationwide Forest. Earlier than you head out climbing don’t overlook to choose up your sack lunch from the resort. They’ve nice sack lunch selections obtainable within the morning.

Flyfishing: You’ll be able to fish the North Umpqua the yr round for steelhead, however don’t do that with out a information in case you have by no means fished right here earlier than. The rivers in Oregon are fierce. By no means get in an Oregon river with out doing all of your analysis first. You may get your fishing license on-line right here.

Waterfall Freeway: Oregon has it’s very personal waterfall freeway. As you drive Freeway 138 there might be one waterfall after one other, ask the entrance desk for a free map. Some are fast and simple hikes, whereas others are a bit tougher. In half a day you should have time to do two brief hikes and one longer one.

  • Toketee Falls – off Freeway 138, that is one among Oregon’s most well-known waterfalls famend for its columnar basalt formation framing the two-stepped falls. Toketee Falls drops 113 toes, which features a 28-foot upper-tier plunging right into a pool flanked by a deep alcove, after which an 85-foot plunge into a big pool.
  • Clearwater Falls – Off Freeway 138. In contrast to most waterfalls, this one seems to be springing out from beneath the inexperienced, moss-covered rocks and 1000’s of intertwined tree roots. On Clearwater CreekClearwater Falls
  • Fall Creek Falls – off Freeway 138, the Falls Creek Falls Path options two waterfalls. The primary is an 80-foot drop, and 100 toes downstream is the decrease 40-foot falls.
  • Whitehorse Falls – 40 miles from Union Creek off Freeway 138. Additionally on Clearwater Creek, Whitehorse Falls comes out of a slim trough and tumbles 14 toes over a wall into a big pool down beneath.White horse falls
  • Watson Falls – Off Freeway 138 is the third highest waterfall in Oregon, Watson Falls. It’s a majestic sight with water cascading 272 toes over basalt lava cliffs – and you’ll stroll underneath the falls. Positioned within the Umpqua Nationwide Forest, 47 miles from Union Creek, the path is a simple .6 miles.Watson Falls

Day 3: Drive to Crater Lake

This morning after you try of the Steamboat Inn head in the direction of Crater Lake, an 88-mile drive. You may be going alongside freeway 138 once more, so in case you missed out on one of many waterfalls you needed to see now’s the time to cease at it. For those who drive it straight with no stops it ought to take you 3 hours.

Crater LakeDepart for Crater Lake Nationwide Park

Driving to Crater Lake may be difficult at occasions. Because of heavy snowfall, a few of the entrances could also be closed. The final time we visited two entrances had been closed, this was throughout Memorial Weekend in late Might. This added about two hours of driving on to our journey. So hold this in thoughts.

Relying on which method you drive, we have now just a few urged stops to make.

  • Pure Bridge in Prospect, OR, US, 97536
  • Rogue River Gorge Viewpoint, positioned at 56541 Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, Prospect, OR, US, 97536

Crater Lake

Crater Lake is Oregon’s shimmering blue gem. It’s a must-see landmark throughout any journey to Southern Oregon. There are two methods many individuals benefit from the lake. A method is to drive the 33-mile Rim Drive and cease on the many vista factors overlooking the water if the street is open. The opposite is to make the one-mile hike down a switchback path to the water’s edge once more provided that the path is open.

Guests can swim, fish, take a ship tour, or simply eat a path lunch on the shores of Crater Lake. Crater Lake Nationwide Park rangers are readily available to clarify the eruption of Mt. Mazama about 7,700 years in the past and the way the mountain collapsed, making a 2,000-foot deep crater. The tip result’s a lake created solely from snowmelt–there is no such thing as a river flowing in. Scientists have measured the water ’s readability to as deep as 120 toes.

Tonight keep the night time at Crater Lake Lodge. They’ve 71 rooms overlooking the lake at Rim Village. It’s usually open Might 15 by October 11. Rooms start at $200 per night time. Reservations may be made as much as 12 months prematurely both on-line or by calling 866-292-6720. I extremely suggest making your reservation as far prematurely as you may.

On the southern entrance of Crater Lake there’s a Tesla Tremendous Charger.

Day 4: Head to Klamath Falls

Drive from Crater Lake to Working Y Ranch Resort positioned at 5500 Working Y Highway Klamath Falls, OR 97601.

Examine-in at Working Y Ranch Resort: Impressed by the outside and bathed within the glow of 300 days of sunshine, Working Y Ranch Resort invitations you to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Located on the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Vary on 3,600 pristine acres, our Klamath Falls resort is surrounded by limitless pure wonders. They’ve a number of charging stations of their car parking zone of electrical or hybrid autos. Running Y Resort in Klamath Falls

Dinner in Klamath Falls: There are many good locations to eat in Klamath Falls. A few of our favorites embrace Klamath Basin Brewing Co., Rodeos Pizza, Saladeria, and Ruddy Duck. Enjoyable reality, Noah and I dwell in Klamath Falls when he was two! I all the time thought the perfect a part of dwelling right here was the meals.

Day 5: Ziplining

Breakfast: Have breakfast on the Working Y.

Try of Working Y Ranch Resort and drive out to Crater Lake Zipline positioned at 29840 OR-140, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.Crater Lake Zipline

Crater Lake Zipline: You’ll fly excessive ion 9 ziplines at heights of as much as 100 toes within the bushes, traverse two sky bridges, and conquer as much as two managed rappels! Crater Lake ZipLine members ages 10 and up zip from tree to tree with two educated guides dealing with the gear and transfers.

They use state-of-the-art tools and all excursions embrace a floor college coaching session facilitated by the guides at first of the tour. Contributors be taught at hand brake, (members use their palms with a particular glove to sluggish and brake themselves) sit of their harness, and different strategies wanted for zipping. You may be right here for about 2.5 to three.5 hours.

After zip lining drive to Grants Go.

Lunch: You’ll cross an In N Out alongside the best way. If you do not need In n Out, there are a whole lot of locations to eat in Medford.

Redwood Hyperion SuitesExamine-in at Redwood Hyperion Suites:  The Redwood Hyperion Suites are tucked amongst towering bushes, tranquil water options, and award-winning gardens, within the coronary heart of Grants Go, Oregon and boasts a various number of snug resort rooms and suites to accommodate essentially the most discriminating of friends.

Afternoon: You’ve the entire afternoon and early night to discover Grants Go. One extraordinarily common exercise goes down the river in a jet boat.

Dinner: Tonight have dinner at Taprock Northwest Grill positioned at 971 SE sixth St, Grants Go, OR 97526.

Taprock Northwest Grill
Taprock Northwest Grill

If there’s good climate a firework present begins at 9:00 p.m. alongside the river and the restaurant provides nice views. The restaurant will get very busy the nearer it will get to the present, attempt to arrive early sufficient to get a desk on one of many decks.

Day 6: Caves and Treehouses

Try at Redwood Hyperion Suites and head to Oregon Caves Nationwide Monument.img 7622

 If you arrive at Oregon Caves Nationwide Monument head inside and join the Oregon Caves Guided Tour immediately. Anticipate to have to attend a bit. Oregon Caves National Monument

The Oregon Caves are one among solely 5 nationwide parks or monuments in Oregon. The 480-acre Oregon Caves Nationwide Monument, positioned within the Siskiyou Mountains at elevations from 3,800 to five,460 toes, was created in 1909. Temperatures within the caves hover round 42 levels Fahrenheit year-round. The caves are dwelling to one of many largest, most pristine, and most full segments of outdated oceanic crust in Western America.

As soon as you’re achieved on the Oregon Caves, head to Out N About Treehouse Resort. img 7623

Tonight keep the night time on the Out n About Treehouse Treesort. You’ll need to make reservations method prematurely to remain right here. It’s a extremely neat place and as you’ve already guessed, you keep in a tree home. How enjoyable is that? It’s undoubtedly a splurge to remain right here, nevertheless it’s price the additional cash, particularly in case you are touring with youngsters, as a result of it’s a one among a sort expertise.

Out N About Treehouse Resort

Day 7: Horseback Driving and Redwood Bushes

After breakfast, head out for a path journey in case you like. In addition they have zip lining obtainable on the Tree Home Resort.

Driving through the Oregon Redwoods

In the present day you’ve bought an enormous choice to make. You’ll be able to wrap up your journey or you may cross into California and go to the Redwood Nationwide Forest then head again into Oregon alongside the coast.

I’m going to imagine you’ve made the precise choice and also you’re headed down into Cali to expertise a bit little bit of the Redwood Nationwide Forest.

As you drive down you should have the chance to get onto Howland Hill Highway, which is famous on the map. That is an unpaved path that may take you thru some big bushes. It’s not a terrific street, however I took a Chrystler Pacific down it and it was superb!

Take a Pacifica mini van down Howland hill road in the Redwood National Forest

If you get to the tip of the path you mainly come out in Crescent Metropolis which is a bit out of the best way, however an excellent spot to have some lunch whereas overlooking the ocean. If you’re driving a Tesla know that there’s a supercharge station right here.

Lunch: Plan to have lunch in Crescent Metropolis. We suggest consuming at Schmidt’s Home of Jambalaya. There you may sit exterior and stare on the ocean whilst you eat!

Crescent City, California

After lunch proceed north. You are actually headed again into Oregon to Bandon, a cute little seaside city alongside the coast. There’s a lot of AirBNB locations to remain in addition to a Finest Western on the seaside.

Day 8 – Seaside Day!

Bandon, Oregon

Morning: Take a windsurfing or a kiteboarding class at Flora’s Lake Windsurfing & Kiteboarding. Floras Lake Windsurfing is positioned at 92870 Boice Cope Highway, Langlois, OR 97450 and their cellphone quantity is 541-348-9912.

Lunch: After your lesson head to Tony’s Crab Shack for lunch.

Afternoon: You’ve bought two choices for this afternoon. Get pleasure from a spherical of golf at Bandon Dunes golf resort or head out for horseback using on the seaside.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort positioned at 57744 Spherical Lake Drive, Bandon, OR 97411. Cellphone: 541-347-4380

Bandon Seaside Driving Stables positioned at 54629 Seaside Loop Rd, Bandon, OR 97411. Cellphone: 541-347-3423

Dinner: Have dinner at Damaged Anchor Bar and Grill or Asian Backyard. Each are wonderful.

Day 9 – Head House

Okay, that’s a wrap y’all. You’ve simply accomplished an epic street journey that may have you ever reminiscing for a few years to come back. You’ll suppose again on all these wonderful waterfall hikes, the majestic Crater Lake, the cool locations you stayed, the towering bushes, and people lovely seaside views.

In your method dwelling there are many different locations to cease. You could possibly proceed alongside 101 in the direction of Newport or reduce over to I5 and undergo Eugene and Salem. If you’re searching for locations to cease in any of those locations try these posts.

Newport ,Oregon Journey Information

17 Enjoyable Issues to do in Salem, Oregon with Children

High 12 Household Pleasant Issues to do in Eugene Oregon

Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. 

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