Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian
By Jamie Hale and Janet Eastman | The Oregonian, OregonLive
Whether you’ve driven Interstate 5 countless times, or are just getting to learn the sprawling freeway, it has a lot more to offer than a paved pathway along the West Coast.
Local restaurants, interesting attractions and all-important restrooms lie just off the interstate – whether you want to stop or need to stop. In the name of those necessities, we’ve put together a list of pit stops off I-5 for road-weary travelers in need of a place to pee, a bite to eat and a little break from the asphalt and traffic.
Combining local recommendations with our experience and additional research, we’ve put together a list with a few places each for the bigger towns and cities in western Oregon. Our guide begins in Ashland and ends at the Columbia River in Portland, with plenty to see, eat and do in between.
South to north
Just a heads up: We’ve oriented this list from south to north, starting in Ashland and ending in Portland. Those traveling from Portland might have to reorient, or else make the pit stops on the way home.
Janet Eastman/The Oregonian
ASHLAND (exits 14, 19)
Restrooms at most of the 17 parks including the famous maple tree-filled Lithia Park, near the downtown historic plaza, and the fenced Dog Park.
Food: This art-centric city where McDonald's closed years ago has family-owned restaurants, cafes and mouth-watering, beer-brewing eateries like Caldera, alongside I-5, and Standing Stone Brewing Co., downtown, three miles away. At the swanky, '70s-style Luna Café + Mercantile, inside the renovated Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites right off Exit 14, you can order delicious natural beef or salmon burgers or generous Cobb salad at the counter, then sit inside or on the outdoor deck overlooking trees and tennis courts.
Attractions: The free summer and fall Green Shows (seen here) outside downtown Oregon Shakespeare Festival theaters spotlight a potpourri of music, dance and readings. Other events that draw big crowds are the Ashland Independent Film Festival in April and holiday parades down East Main Street.
Janet Eastman/The Oregonian
TALENT (exit 21)
Rest stop at mile marker 22.
Food: Fans of the Camelot Theatre plan time before an evening performance to eat at the gas station-themed Pump House, Burgers and Brews while travelers place to-go orders for sweet corn battered hot dogs (seen here) or rich Monte Cristo sandwiches. If you crave a country French-inspired culinary experience, reserved one of the 10 tables at New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro. Wine master Vernon Rollins and chef Charlene Rollins worked for Alice Waters at the start of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, and have earned praise for their season-dependent classic cuisine. Decades-old French, Italian and German wines are sold at "drinkable prices" and lunch also is a bargain.
Attractions: Pinot noir as well as rare wine grapes thrive in Oregon's warm Rogue Valley. A dozen independent wineries have tasting rooms along the Bear Creek Wine Trail, which spans from Talent into Medford and back to Ashland. You can enjoy sweeping vineyard views at Dana Campbell Vineyards; Belle Fiore Estate and Winery, which fronts a massive chateau; and top-tier Irvine & Roberts Family Vineyards.
Harry & David Country Village
MEDFORD (exits 27, 30)
Restrooms at city parks, shopping centers, libraries.
Food: This large Southern Oregon city has an international airport and a wide variety of eateries, from burger joints like Jaspers Cafe — worthy of a visit from Mayor of "Flavortown" Guy Fieri —and understated India Palace to upscale but not-pricey lunches and cooking classes at the Downtown Market Company, where the delicious Cobb Club panini bursts with applewood bacon, roasted chicken and blue cheese aioli. A stop at In-N-Out is a tradition for countless road trippers from California, who will see the familiar yellow arrow logo at Oregon's outposts on Crater Lake Highway (Exit 30) and Grants Pass (Exit 58).
Attractions: The staff at the Harry & David Country Village gourmet store is constantly sharing samples of the mail-order company's famous pears and chocolate truffles (seen here). The factory tour ($5) will show you how to make a ton of Moose Munch and make you hungry for the next stop on your journey. In the same center is the Medford Visitor Information Center, where you can get hiking maps, a schedule for the mini steam train rides at the Medford Railroad Park and updates on theater performances.
Janet Eastman/The Oregonian/OregonLive
CENTRAL POINT (exits 33, 35)
Restrooms at city parks, libraries.
Food: Stop here to be rewarded with a tri-fecta of gourmet foods. First, taste samples of the world-renowned Rogue Creamery cheese at the shop (seen here) fronting the factory. On the other side of the cheese shop are Lillie Belle Farms Artisan Chocolates (with its killer -- and we mean it -- chocolate zombie bunnies and ghost chili-infused candies) as well as award-winning Ledger David Cellars Le Petit Tasting Room with a fun, totally unstuffy staff.
Attraction: If the ride on I-5 gets too quiet, veer off the road to the Medford Dragstrip in Central Point to rev up your engines, or just witness drag races and diesel duels.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
GOLD HILL (exits 43, 45A, 45B)
Restrooms at the Valley of the Rogue State Park at mile marker 45.7.
Food: Toast Oregon's past with a glass of Del Rio Vineyard Estate's wine inside the 1864 Rock Point hotel on the old stage road. The family's fourth generation of farmers keeps the seemingly endless view of rolling vineyards -- there are 300,000 plants -- looking picture-perfect. Bring a picnic; linger for a summer or fall concert. There are a half dozen active tasting rooms in the Upper Rogue River area that host events, including the twice a year Roam the Rogue.
Attraction: The Oregon Vortex, one of the state's best-known roadside attractions, has been stopping travelers since 1930. The land was once a gold mining claim and, after modifications by a physicist and geologist, now offers mysteries of perception.
Janet Eastman
GRANTS PASS (exits 55, 58)
Rest stop at mile marker 62.8.
Food: It used to be easy to drive through Grants Pass to get to Rogue River fun, but not now. Stop just once at MaMosa for "breakfast, lunch and friends" -- as the slogan goes -- and it may become a delicious part of your road-trip tradition. Relax in the leafy garden patio, brick-walled dining room or at the corrugated steel-clad bar and enjoy a wonderfully reinvented morning staple like a hash that's shredded house-brined corned beef and potato cubes in a light sauce topped by poached eggs and accompanied by a saucer-size buttered biscuit. The Haul taproom rolls up its glass front wall from lunchtime to midnight, so jump in for pan-seared coriander pork dumplings served with honey jalapeno soy dipping sauce. Enjoy the dish with a ginger Saison Gold Coast by Conner Fields Brewing.
Attractions: MaMosa occupies half of the brick Hotel Josephine Annex, which was built during the heyday of early 20th-century railroad travel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stay in the city to catch an act at the Historic Rogue Theatre, which first opened during the Depression and has hosted on its stage legends from B.B. King to Judy Collins.
Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive
WOLF CREEK (exit 76)
Restrooms at Wolf Creek Park.
Attraction: Wander around the 1880s Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage Site, a state park, and relax under the colonnaded veranda or shady trees in the picnic area. The former stage coach way station, where Jack London completed his novel "The Valley of the Moon," is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Food: The Wolf Creek Tavern offers down-home dishes made with locally grown and raised ingredients
Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive
CANYONVILLE (exits 98, 99)
Rest stop at mile marker 99.
Food: All-American food is served at Ken's Sidewalk Cafe on the corner of Canyonville's Main Street. Take your elk or bison burger (set on a gluten-free bun) and your Bordeaux berry shake to the patio lined by flowering hedges.
Attractions: Even non-gambling adults will find plenty to do at Seven Feathers Casino Resort, from checking out the gift shop for University of Oregon Ducks souvenirs to walking around the air-conditioned gaming room or restaurants.
Abacela
ROSEBURG (exits 120-125)
Restrooms at city parks.
Food: Make a point to eat in this city surrounded by farmland that supplies a bounty of diverse eateries. Anyone familiar with Portland-based McMenamins pubs will feel right at home at the Roseburg Station Pub & Brewery, which is inside an old train station. Order a towering Captain Neon Burger with tater tots and a stout. Or treat yourself to a 12-ounce rib-eye steak or portobello ravioli at the Brix Grill on downtown Jackson Street. Nearby at Alexanders Greek Cuisine, the Emmanuil family serves devoted locals and returning road-trippers flavorful spanakopita and other classics. Eat inside the colorfully decorated restaurant or take your lamb, grilled chicken or salmon gyro to go.
Attractions: Free Music on the Half Shell summer concerts at Stewart Park are prime for picnickers. Lovers of Oregon-grown Spanish wine varietals like red tempranillo and white albarino arrange their travel schedules around a stop at Abacela's Vine & Wine Center tasting room (seen here). Stroll the Winegrower's Walk at your leisure or, after a 45-minute tasting, take a guided tour that includes the barrel room and crush pad (call 541-679-6642 in advance to schedule).
Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive
OAKLAND (exits 138, 140)
Rest stop at mile marker 142.8.
Food: A sweet landmark, Tolly’s Grill & Soda Fountain, might be re-opening soon after a half-century of operating in an 1872 drugstore and mercantile. Paul Tollefson, the son of the original owners, posts updates on Tolly’s Facebook page. Imagine being able to order an old-fashioned, creamy chocolate or raspberry milkshake at the counter, or organic farm-to-table fare at the tables.
Attraction: While enjoying the past here, check out the antique shops.
Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive
RICE HILL (exit 148)
Restrooms at truck stops, gas stations.
Attraction: The pointy motel cabins may grab your attention on the east side of I-5, but don't take your eye off the opportunity for ice cream on the other side.
Food: K&R Drive Inn has been scooping frosty treats since 1970. With 38 Umpqua Dairy flavors, you'll probably find your favorite here. Huckleberry cheesecake? Salted caramel peanut? This is not a true pit stop because there are no bathrooms, but a nearby gas station grants guest privileges. Think that's inconvenient? Consider the pioneers and railroad workers on foot a century ago who had to traverse this steep summit that divides Elk Creek and the Umpqua River.
Terry Richard/The Oregonian/OregonLive
COTTAGE GROVE (exit 170)
Rest stop at mile marker 178.
Food: If cake and pie are on your mind, stop at one of the city's many pastry shops. If you're craving, say, a stuffed French toast du jour or elk burger, go to Buster's Main Street Cafe. Silent-film star Buster Keaton, whose deadpan expression is depicted on a mural on the wall, filmed "The General" here in 1926.
Attractions: "Animal House" and "Stand By Me" also were filmed here. But instead of holing up in a movie theater, we suggest taking a bike ride or walking over the six historic covered bridges and seeing some of the 20 outdoor murals spotlighting historic highlights.
Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive
CRESWELL (exit 182)
Restrooms at city parks.
Food: This dot on the map warrants a stop at the Creswell Bakery. Heidi Tunnell, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, founded the foodie hot spot. The garden-surrounded building on Second Street is always busy with diners and people needing takeout meals. Tunnell's applewood smoked ham and melted cheese-stuffed hot pretzels will have you dreaming of an Oktoberfest while the savory beef pies -- sourced from her grass-fed cows -- will transport your taste buds to a merry ole English pub.
Attraction: The local alpacas have packed up and moved to Eugene, but there's still the public Emerald Valley Golf Club course to entertain you.
Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive
SOUTH EUGENE (exit 189)
Restrooms at SeQuential Biofuel Station.
Food and attraction: It's crazy to think of a gas station along a freeway as something special, but many people, including singer Willie Nelson, are big fans of SeQuential Biofuel Station, where there's healthy fuel for you and your vehicle. Biodiesel is produced from locally recycled cooking oil. Inside the mini-mart -- crowned by a living roof -- you'll find kombucha on tap, organic ingredients in sandwiches and salads, and other fresh food from Oregon-based companies. That means you can say to the kids, "Pick anything you want," and you won't have to wrestle pork rinds and big jugs of Pepsi out of their hands.
Terry Richard/The Oregonian/OregonLive
SPRINGFIELD (exit 191)
Restrooms at riverfront parks and city recreation centers.
Food: Sprout Regional Food Hub is a business incubator for chefs and other budding epicurean entrepreneurs. Taste their offerings, from smoked salmon to soy-free eggs, at the covered, year-round Springfield Farmers' Market, 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays at the City Fountain Plaza at Fifth and A streets.
Attractions: Wander downtown to 500 Main St. to see the "official" mural of "The Simpsons" that celebrates the mega-cartoon's creator, Oregon native Matt Groening. Then make Lisa Simpson proud by visiting the 209-acre riverside "tree museum," Mount Pisgah Arboretum, six miles south of the city in the Howard Buford Recreation Area.
The Oregonian/OregonLive
EUGENE (exit 192)
Restrooms at parks, libraries; rest stop at mile marker 206.
Food: Big cities and college towns are the best at food diversity, so it's no surprise that the eateries near the University of Oregon span from Yi Shen -- "the roast pork is redonkulous," says a pho admirer -- to vegan and vegetarian favorites that include southern-style Cornbread Cafe, Laughing Planet Cafe and Cafe Yumm!, a franchise that started here in 1997. Budget time to see the over-the-top Bier Stein Bottleshop & Pub. Follow the tap list in real time.
Attractions: Since you can't go to Eugene without seeing the University of Oregon campus, visit the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, housed in a 1930 brick Romanesque building in the Memorial Quad. For contrast, check out the campus' cool, glass John E. Jaqua Center for Student Athletes (seen here).
Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive
EUGENE (exit 192)
Restrooms at parks, libraries; rest stop at mile marker 206.
Attraction: The 5th Street Public Market showcases Oregon-made goods from Pendleton Woolen Mills to Freudian Slip loungewear. In the heyday of hippiedom, craftspeople and farmers rented booth space here for $2 a day. Need to brush up on the city's tie-dyed history? Read about Ken Kesey, the late counterculture leader and author of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"; the Springfield Creamery (owned by the Kesey family); and the namesake of spinoff Nancy's Yogurt in the book "Fruit of the Sixties: The Founding of the Oregon Country Fair" by Suzi Prozanski.
Food: For a rich culinary experience while shopping at the 5th Street Public Market, reserve a table for brunch -- smoked salmon hash or eggs Benedict -- at Marche, chef Stephanie Pearl Kimmel's respected restaurant. Kimmel's ever-expanding Provisions Market Hall next to Marche will have you wishing you lived and shopped often in Eugene. You can buy the same ingredients Marche and Provisions chefs use. Better still, relax and let them make something for you. Sip wine while enjoying salumi, pizza or the salad bar, or while browsing the cookbooks for sale.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian/OregonLive
BROWNSVILLE (exit 214)
Attraction: The Living Rock Studios is a roadside attraction between Eugene and Corvallis that has awed visitors for 33 years. Two stories of meticulous, beautiful stonework has seven biblically themed pieces of art, made entirely of thinly sliced geodes.
Read more about The 40 best roadside attractions in Oregon.
Doug Beghtel/The Oregonian
CORVALLIS (exit 228)
Restrooms at Pioneer Park and North Riverfront Park. Food: Two of the best places to eat in this college town both happen to be in Cobblestone Square, at the corner of Northwest 14th Street and Northwest Monroe Avenue: Local Boyz Hawaiian Café, which does Hawaiian-style plate lunches, and Tien Fu Noodle, a solid and affordable spot for Chinese noodles. You can find good beer and pub fare at Block 15 Brewing, or sandwiches at Old World Deli downtown. Attractions: The primary attraction in Corvallis is, of course, the Oregon State University campus, which is particularly active during home football games come fall. In warmer seasons, the North Riverfront Park is a lovely walk, where paved pathways lead past grassy areas, public art and viewpoints along the Willamette River. If you have time for a side trip, you can find phenomenal Marys Peak about 45 minutes west of town.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian/OregonLive
ALBANY (exit 234)
Restrooms at Waverly Park, exit 234; rest stop at mile marker 240. Food: You can find good food in downtown Albany, just three miles west of the freeway. Novak's Hungarian Restaurant serves traditional Hungarian meals and baked goods at reasonable prices, while First Burger offers a variety of fresh hamburgers for dining in or to go. Hop heads can get their fix at Calapooia Brewing on Northeast Water Avenue. Attractions: One of the biggest attractions in town is the Historic Carousel and Museum, which opened on the western edge of downtown, drawing huge crowds to the antique carousel. On the other side of town, two miles from the freeway, is Talking Water Gardens, a water treatment wetlands park, with two miles of easy walking trails.
Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian
SALEM (exit 253)
Restrooms at Riverfront City Park and Oregon State Capitol. Food: Salem is a fairly sprawling city, and not always easy to get around, but there are a few convenient places to eat within a close radius. Ritter's Housemade Foods specializes in brick-oven pizza and craft cocktails; it has a sizable to-go menu, too. Right around the corner is The Kitchen on Court Street, a 24-hour diner that is a Salem institution. Happy Bibimbap House mixes things up with Korean hot pot, barbecue and noodles. Attractions: While not in Salem proper, fairy tale-themed amusement park Enchanted Forest is one of the most popular attractions on I-5, found off exit 248. In town, families can stop by the carousel, children's museum and riverside trails of Riverfront City Park. The city also boasts the historic Deepwood Museum and Garden, as well as the Oregon State Capitol, which is open to the public.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian/OregonLive
WOODBURN (exit 271)
Restrooms at Woodburn Premium Outlets. Food: Most of the food inside and around the Woodburn Premium Outlets is the fast food you can find anywhere, but two places at the outlet mall stand out. Deanie's Weanies, on the north side of the mall, serves delicious loaded hot dogs in toasted and seasoned buns (get one with fry sauce – you won't regret it). On the south end, Mio-Ro (a spinoff of regional chain Mio Sushi) offers "fresh Asian-inspired bowls." Attractions: The main attraction is the Woodburn Premium Outlets, where shoppers can peruse stores like Nike, Adidas, Fossil, Merrell and dozens of others. Local businesses like Pendleton and Eastside Distilling have storefronts as well. Downtown Woodburn, just two miles east of the interstate, is a bustling Latino community worth exploring. If you're up for a side trek, Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is one of the area's best attractions, eight miles east of exit 271.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian/OregonLive
AURORA (exit 278)
Restrooms at the Flying J Travel Center at the exit, and Aurora City Park at the south end of town. Food: Tiny Aurora doesn't have much in the way of dining, but you can stop at the Aurora Colony Pub for standard pub fare and drinks or the White Rabbit Bakery for sandwiches, pastries and cupcakes. Attractions: Aurora is a must-stop for fans of antiquing, with several stores jam-packed with interesting finds. You can park near the intersection of Second and Main streets, where most stores are within walking distance. That includes the phenomenal Main Street Merchantile, which sells everything from taxidermy to incredibly expensive marbles.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian/OregonLive
WILSONVILLE (exit 283)
Rest stop at mile marker 281; restrooms at Murase Plaza at Memorial Park. Food: There are fast food chains galore off exit 283, but some local options do exist. If quick burgers are your speed, stop off at The Original WOW! Burger – one of four around the area – which has beef, turkey, veggie and chicken burgers, made to order. You can grab a beer and a bite at the McMenamins Old Church and Pub, a branch of another local chain built into a renovated church. Across the highway is Dar Essalam, a traditional Moroccan restaurant. Attractions: You can make a quick stop to stretch or let the kiddos run around at Wilsonville's Memorial Park, which has a dog park, water play area, picnic tables and restrooms. Your kids, however, might be more attracted to an establishment visible off the highway: Wilsonville Family Fun Center, also known as Bullwinkle's, which has an arcade, miniature golf, go-carts, bumper boats and more.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian/OregonLive
TUALATIN (exit 289)
Restrooms at Tualatin Community Park and inside Cabela's. Food: There are two quick-bite restaurants just off the highway at Tualatin Commons: Roxy's Island Grill, a Hawaiian barbecue joint, and Mashita Teriyaki, which has a simple and affordable menu. You have upscale options as well on either side of Tualatin Lake: Italian restaurant Fiorano Ristorante on the north end, and American eatery Hayden's Lakefront Grill on the south side. Attractions: To be honest, the biggest attraction off exit 289 is Cabela's, the outdoors megastore that opened its Tualatin location in 2014. You can peruse camping and hunting gear, see a great display of taxidermy and browse the store's gun library. Otherwise you can check out the Tualatin River, which flows through Tualatin Community Park and Brown's Ferry Park, both near the interstate.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian/OregonLive
TIGARD (exit 290)
Restrooms at Bridgeport Village. Food: Another fast food stronghold, Tigard nonetheless has alternate dining options, most in the outdoor shopping mall Bridgeport Village: burger-and-dog joint Joe's Burgers, Korean/Northwest restaurant KOI Fusion, local seafood from UglyFish and the waffle connoisseurs at The Waffle Window. You can also get homestyle cooking at Miller's Homestead, on the other side of the highway. Attractions: Outdoor shopping mall Bridgeport Village is the big draw, with a big selection of stores both local and national, as well as a lovely gazebo, a movie theater and occasional events. Durham City Park, which has forested creekside hiking trails and an off-leash dog park, is just down the road.
Dave Killen/The Oregonian
PORTLAND - DOWNTOWN (exit 299B)
Restrooms on Southwest River Drive. Food: There are plenty of places to eat on the waterfront in downtown Portland. For a quick bite, check out Little River Café, which has sandwiches, bowls, burgers and salads for $9 to $13. Or go upscale with a meal at Three Degrees or McCormick and Schmick's Harborside at the Marina. Attractions: Downtown Portland is an attraction in and of itself, but if you're looking for something quick and easy, a walk through Waterfront Park is considered one of the best attractions in the city. Poet's Beach, at the far southern end of the public walkway, is a good access point to the Willamette River.
Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian
PORTLAND - CENTRAL EASTSIDE (exit 300)
Restrooms at OMSI and local restaurants. Food: There's a good grouping of restaurants right off the freeway, all on or near Southeast Water Avenue going south. Hair of the Dog Brewing – which specializes in experimental, bottle-aged beer – is the first you'll see. Across the street is Japanese counter-service joint Boke Bowl, and farther south is fellow Japanese restaurant Noraneko. Venture farther into Southeast Portland, and your culinary options will blossom. Attractions: The big attraction on Southeast Water Avenue is the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – that's OMSI to locals – which features a top-notch stable of long-term and touring exhibits, currently headlined by a fascinating exhibit on Pompeii. Running past OMSI and along the eastern shore of the Willamette River is the Eastbank Esplanade, a cycling and walking pathway with great views of the river and downtown Portland.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian/OregonLive
PORTLAND - COLUMBIA RIVER (exits 307 and 308)
Restrooms at Smith and Bybee Lakes and Kelley Point Park. Food: Once a bustling area for shopping and entertainment, Hayden Island on the Columbia River is a shell of its former self, albeit a decent place to stop before crossing into Washington. Beyond the cavalcade of fast food is new Japanese restaurant Menjiro, which specializes in ramen and variations on its JapaRoll. Just down the road is the floating Island Café, with seafood and typical American fare. Attractions: Strip mall shopping aside, there aren’t many attractions on Hayden Island, but if you get off at exit 307 instead, there’s a wide variety of things to do just across the water. People of all ages and abilities can have fun at Smith and Bybee Lakes, a wetland where wildlife roams, as well as Kelley Point Park, which sits at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Nearby is the Portland Expo Center, which always seems to have something going on.
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