Destination: Crater Lake, Oregon
6 Days/5 Nights; 1500 Miles

Tyler wants to take a road trip to Crater Lake. Crater Lake is in Oregon. Crater Lake is a long drive from Tempe, Arizona. Crater Lake is a two week road trip, but we only have one week. Our solution: Fly to Portland, Oregon, rent a car, and take a road trip that includes a visit to Mount St. Helens, a drive along the Oregon coast, a visit to the Redwoods in Northern California, a visit to Crater Lake, and visits to Oregon and Oregon State Universities.

Day 1::Portland, Oregon

Leave Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport at 8:00am and fly to Portland, Oregon. Arrive during the AM and spend the day checking the city out. I have never been to Portland and I want to give it a looking at. [ Rose Gardens]

Miles: 30 (driving around Portland)

Day 2::Mount St. Helens

Drive I-5 north from Portland into Washington to visit Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. I should feel right at home in Ape Cave.

Take I-5 south 10 miles to Longview, cross the Columbia River, and take US-30 east to Astoria, Oregon.

Miles: 260 (total: 290)

Day 3::Oregon Coast (370 miles)

Leave Astoria heading south on US-101.

The drive includes stops at the following locations:

  1. End of the Trail Monument near Seaside, OR
  2. Sea Lion Caves near Florence, OR
  3. Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Spend the night in Brookings, OR (about ten miles north of the California border).

Miles: 370 (total: 660)

Day 4::Big Trees of Northern California

Continue the coast drive south into California and visit the Redwood National Park. Head east and north on CA Hwy-96 for about 135 miles to I-5, then head south six miles to Yreka, CA.
Miles: 250 (total: 916)

Day 5::Crater Lake

Head north on I-5 back to Medford, Oregon. Continue north (and slightly east) on OR Hwy-62 to Crater Lake National Park (130 miles). From Crater Lake go north on US-97 to Bend, OR.
Miles: 300 (total: 1216)

Day 6::Oregon and Oregon State Universities

Drive from Bend to Eugene (120 miles) by taking US-20 north to OR Hwy-242 and head west. [OR Hwy-242 turns into OR Hwy-126] In Eugene, visit the University of Oregon. Take I-5 north 40 miles to Corvallis and visit Oregon State University. Continue I-5 north back to Portland.
Miles: 250 (total: 1466)

Author: G.D.Thurman [thurmunit@inficad.com]
Created: 04 Jul 2002