Question
never been to Eugene or Salem or anywhere. just drove down 101 to Brookings from tillamook. could go back up 101 but thinking of seeing inland oregon. is the I5 route worth it? plan to stop like every 1-2 hrs and see something neat.
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I recommend taking Hwy 38 from Reedsport to Eugene, it is a gorgeous highway and a great start to your return home. If you get to Reedsport around sunrise there'll be plenty of elk just outside of town, easy to stop in their large viewing areas.
Eugene is pretty cool. I like Alton Baker Park, they have a scale model of the solar system. Pretty easy to see the inner planets but Pluto is like 9 miles away? It's been a while. Anyway something you don't see every day. Downtown Eugene is cute too and I'm sure there are good places to eat.
From Eugene head northwest out of town to Junction City. We're heading into some long country roads so make sure you have enough gas for 50 miles or so. Nice countryside here, but the good stuff is yet to come.
Veer east in JC toward Harrisburg. Just after you cross the bridge, you'll turn north and make your way to Peoria Road. This is a beautiful back country road, you'll want to drive carefully but there are plenty of long stretches to go fast and fun turns to maneuver. I used to ride my bike along here, it really is some classic Willamette Valley beauty.
This will eventually dump you onto HWY 34 outside of Corvallis. Head West into Corvallis and they have another delightful downtown with a cute river walk and nice places to eat. New Morning Bakery is a must visit for dessert. MUST VISIT.
Make sure you're good on gas then head north out of downtown on Hwy 20 until you get to Independence Hwy. If you thought Peoria Road was quaint and rural, wait until you see Independence Hwy.
North on Independence Hwy, which turns into Albany and Corvallis Road, you will wind your way toward Independence. You have the option of taking the Buena Vista ferry about half way to Independence, you'll see the signs and whether it is running. It's a fun route if you have a few dollars to pay, I don't know if they're still cash only. There you'll work your way to Liberty Road and go north to Salem.
Assuming you skip the ferry, head to Independence and turn east at the bridge. This is River Road South, which is another windy country road that is very pretty. It will take you into south Salem. Minto Brown Island is a great park to take a long walk in, but you have spent so much time on these back roads you might not have time. Salem's Bush Park is also nice to visit. Their downtown is meh.
From Salem, if you want even more back road action you can take Hwy 99E into Portland, and it's a fine drive. Not as rural as the others but still something other than the freeway. Otherwise, I-5 is an uneventful drive to I-205 and I presume the airport.
OK I mostly just popped in to suggest the elk in Reedsport but somehow I was hypnotized into writing out my three favorite back ways along the I-5 corridor. I miss owning a car sometimes.
I drive Hwy 38 often and it's so beautiful. Awesome drive and the elk are there nearly every time, no matter what time of day Ive been by.
I'd say spend all your time in Silver Falls if it was a random weekday, but a weekend that is also Mother's Day it will be too crowded to properly enjoy.
The State capitol is being renovated and covered in scaffolding. Sorry I'm not being helpful at all, but just wanting to add that these would both be cool in the Salem area under better circumstances.
If you're from the coast you may be sick of it, but the 101 is definitely the prettier drive. Portland thru just before Roseburg is fairly flat and boring (to look at, hopefully others have better ideas).
Well I'm visiting from the east coast. Loving the coast but feel meh about doing same trip twice. This is helpful thanks!
Gotcha, I would feel the same! There's definitely cool stuff in the Willamette Valley but sticking close to the interstate would narrow it down a little and yeah, there are lots of long flat stretches. Not like the Midwest but still ho hum.
It’s just 101, not “the” 101
Covered Bridge at Sunny Valley and then a few miles north of there take the exit to Wolf Creek but turn right instead of left and head out to the Ghost Town of Golden, now an Oregon State Park
Taco Time
Did you go down to the Redwoods from Brookings? If not, go do that, then drive to I5 through grants pass. Nothing you will see will be the type of experience that the Redwoods are. This is coming from a native Oregonian. We have a lot of cool stuff, but the Redwoods are on their own scale.
If you are in Brookings - I would go see the redwoods.
If you drive up 199 you can stop at a few locations depending on what you like.
The smith river is pretty. The Illinois river is pretty. The Oregon caves are pretty nifty too.
8 dollar mountain is a great access point to see the Illinois for a little bit. Including some nice wildflowers.
Just before hitting Grants Pass you can hit cathedral hills in the town of Murphy. It has just about the largest density of Indian Warrior wildflowers I have ever seen. And right now the place is blooming.
From Murphy you could drive up the applegate. Lots of pretty places there - particularly if you like wineries.
Then you'll end up in Jacksonville. Jacksonville is a cute place. The Britt trails aren't bad to see - but the fritillaries are at the end of their season, so you won't see much in the way of truly unique wildflowers in the area.
(Bella union has a fantastic hundred plus year old wisteria growing in the interior courtyard - and pretty good Italian food).
From Jacksonville I would probably head towards Crater lake. It's definitely worth a trip to see.
From there you could then head past diamond lake to I5 - or you could go up through Bend - then either go up past Maupin towards the gorge (the craggy headwaters of the Deschutes river is pretty nifty), or towards Mt Hood and up towards Portland. (Then ostensibly back towards Tillamook).
Heaven On Earth I-5 exit 86 is good atmosphere for food, and good cinnamon rolls. The Happy Donut is also nice , exit 103. I have driven the I-5 corridor many times for work and love so many little things that are easy to not notice. I love the tractors on the east side at MP 176.
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