Oregon
3
Day Itinerary •
USA
Three days in Oregon gives you the essential Pacific Northwest experience, from the extraordinary Crater Lake, the deepest lake in America and the most extraordinary volcanic caldera lake in the world, to the vibrant food and coffee culture of Portland and the extraordinary sea stack coastline of Cannon Beach and the Oregon Coast. This route covers the heart of Oregon. The extraordinary Rim Drive around Crater Lake with its impossible blue water, the extraordinary Columbia River Gorge with Multnomah Falls and the finest waterfall corridor in North America, the legendary Powell's Books and food cart scene of Portland and the extraordinary Haystack Rock of Cannon Beach.
Best Time To Visit
July to September for Crater Lake snow-free, June to October for coast
Getting There
Fly into Portland International (PDX)
Getting Around
Rental car essential for coast and Crater Lake
Budget Per Day
Approx $120 to $190 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, some coastal and waterfall hiking
DAY 1
PORTLAND
MORNING
POWELL'S BOOKS AND THE PEARL DISTRICT
Powell's City of Books on West Burnside is the most extraordinary independent bookshop in America, its extraordinary city block of 68,000 square feet housing over one million new and used books across nine color-coded rooms. The Pearl District surrounding Powell's is the finest arts and gallery neighborhood in Portland, its extraordinary converted warehouse galleries, craft coffee shops and the Portland Saturday Market giving the most vibrant creative quarter in the Pacific Northwest. Free. Drive: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
PORTLAND FOOD CART SCENE AND PITTOCK MANSION
Portland's food cart scene is the most extraordinary in America, its extraordinary network of pod clusters housing over 500 vendors of extraordinary international cuisine from Vietnamese banh mi to Ethiopian injera, Peruvian ceviche and Korean bibimbap. The SW 10th and Alder pod downtown is the finest. Pittock Mansion above the city is the most extraordinary historic house in Portland, its extraordinary 1914 French Renaissance revival giving the finest view over the city. Entry approx $12. Drive: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
FOREST PARK AND THE CRAFT BEER MILE
Forest Park is the most extraordinary urban forest in America, its extraordinary 5,200 acres of temperate rainforest with 80 miles of trail entirely within the city of Portland giving an extraordinary wilderness experience minutes from downtown. The Wildwood Trail through old-growth Douglas fir is the finest urban trail in America. Portland's extraordinary craft beer culture concentrated on NW 23rd and in the Mississippi Avenue neighborhood gives the finest brewery hopping in America. Park free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland's Old Town is the finest classical Chinese garden in North America, its extraordinary Ming Dynasty-style courtyards, teahouse and stone bridges built by craftspeople from Suzhou, Portland's sister city. The most extraordinary hidden cultural gem in Portland. Entry approx $14. Almost entirely unknown to visitors who focus on Powell's and the Pearl District.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Tasty n Daughters, Portland The finest breakfast in Portland. Extraordinary daily changing menu, local eggs and outstanding coffee. | Lunch: Portland food cart pod, SW 10th The most extraordinary food cart experience in America. Choose from 20 nationalities in one block. | Dinner: Le Pigeon, Portland The finest restaurant in Portland. Extraordinary French-influenced Pacific Northwest cuisine. Book ahead.
DAY 2
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
MORNING
MULTNOMAH FALLS, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY WATERFALL IN OREGON
Multnomah Falls is the most extraordinary waterfall in Oregon and the most visited natural attraction in the Pacific Northwest, its extraordinary two-tiered 620-foot cascade of Multnomah Creek plunging into the Columbia River Gorge visible from the extraordinary 1925 Multnomah Falls Lodge. The Benson Bridge spanning the falls between the two tiers gives the finest close-range view. The 2.4-mile round trip to the top gives the most extraordinary overlook. Entry free, parking timed. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
COLUMBIA GORGE HISTORIC HIGHWAY WATERFALL CORRIDOR
The Historic Columbia River Highway waterfall corridor is the most extraordinary concentration of waterfalls in North America, its extraordinary 35-mile stretch past Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Wahkeena Falls and Crown Point Vista House giving over 90 waterfalls in a single scenic drive. Crown Point at 733 feet gives the finest panoramic view of the Columbia River Gorge. The Vista House atop Crown Point is the most extraordinary roadside observatory in America. Entry free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
HOOD RIVER AND THE MOUNT HOOD CORRIDOR
Hood River is the most extraordinary small town in the Columbia River Gorge, its extraordinary position between the river windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of America and the orchards of the Hood River Valley giving a destination unlike any other in Oregon. The Mount Hood Loop drive from Hood River over the slopes of Oregon's highest peak at 11,249 feet and back to Portland is the most extraordinary mountain highway loop in the state. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Oneonta Gorge 35 miles east of Portland on the Historic Highway is the finest hidden slot canyon in Oregon, its extraordinary narrow basalt gorge requiring a wade through a log jam pool to reach the extraordinary 100-foot Oneonta Falls at the end. Entirely unlike any other hike in the Gorge. Entry free. The most extraordinary hidden gem in the Columbia River Gorge.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Multnomah Falls Lodge Restaurant Extraordinary breakfast at the base of the finest waterfall in Oregon. Local eggs and Oregon craft coffee. | Lunch: Solstice Wood Fire Cafe, Hood River Outstanding wood-fired pizza and local craft beer in the finest casual restaurant in Hood River. | Dinner: Celilo Restaurant, Hood River The finest restaurant in the Columbia Gorge. Extraordinary local Pacific Northwest cuisine and Oregon wine.
DAY 3
OREGON COAST
MORNING
CANNON BEACH AND HAYSTACK ROCK
Cannon Beach is the most extraordinary beach town in Oregon, its extraordinary 235-foot Haystack Rock sea stack rising from the surf at the edge of the village in one of the most photographed coastal scenes in America. At low tide the tidal pools around the base of Haystack Rock teem with purple sea urchins, starfish, sea anemones and nesting tufted puffins in extraordinary concentration. The Ecola State Park viewpoint above the beach is extraordinary. Rock area free. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
OSWALD WEST STATE PARK AND SHORT SANDS BEACH
Oswald West State Park is the most extraordinary state park on the Oregon Coast, its extraordinary Short Sands Beach in a forested cove accessible only by a half-mile trail through old-growth Sitka spruce giving a wild surf beach entirely unlike the developed resorts to the north and south. The Cape Falcon trail above the cove gives the finest headland views of the Oregon Coast in any state park. Entry free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
TILLAMOOK CREAMERY AND THE THREE CAPES SCENIC ROUTE
The Tillamook Creamery is the most extraordinary free attraction on the Oregon Coast, its extraordinary self-guided tour of the largest cheese factory in Oregon giving a behind-glass view of Tillamook's famous cheddar production, followed by a tasting room of extraordinary cheese curds and the finest ice cream cones on the Oregon Coast. The Three Capes Scenic Route past Cape Meares, Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda is the finest coastal drive in Oregon. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area near Pacific City is the finest hidden coastal gem in northwestern Oregon, its extraordinary sandstone headland rising from the beach in a natural ramp that dory fishermen launch their boats directly into the surf. The view from the top of the cape over Haystack Rock and the Nestucca Bay is extraordinary. Free. Almost entirely unknown outside Oregon.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Sleepy Monk Coffee, Cannon Beach The finest organic coffee roaster in Oregon. Extraordinary pour-overs and pastries before the beach. | Lunch: Mo's Seafood, Lincoln City The most legendary clam chowder on the Oregon Coast since 1946. Extraordinary Dungeness crab and chowder. | Dinner: Newman's at 988, Cannon Beach The finest restaurant in Cannon Beach. Extraordinary Pacific Northwest cuisine and Oregon Pinot Noir.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Portland, Night 1 Ace Hotel Portland or Hotel Lucia downtown. Approx $140 to $250 per night. Hood River or Cascade Locks, Night 2 Columbia Gorge Hotel or Best Western Plus Hood River Inn. Approx $120 to $200. Cannon Beach, Night 3 Stephanie Inn or Surfsand Resort steps from Haystack Rock. Approx $180 to $350 per night.
Top Tips
1. Portland food carts are the finest street food in the Pacific Northwest. The downtown pod on SW 10th is extraordinary.
2. Powell's Books on Burnside is the finest independent bookshop in America. Allow at least two hours.
3. Multnomah Falls parking fills by 9am in summer. Arrive at 7am or take the shuttle from Corbett for the finest experience.
4. Cannon Beach at low tide when the tidal pools around Haystack Rock are exposed is the most extraordinary visit.
5. Tillamook Creamery 45 minutes south of Cannon Beach is free to visit. Extraordinary cheese curds and ice cream.
6. Oregon coast state parks are free. The Samuel H. Boardman corridor near Brookings is the most extraordinary stretch.
Total Budget
$120 to $190/day