Oregon Travel Guide

Oregon is a Pacific Northwest state of dramatic coastline, deep forests and volcanic peaks, from quirky Portland to the sapphire depths of Crater Lake.

Known for: a rugged coast, Crater Lake, and Portland’s quirk

Don’t miss: Crater Lake, the wild Oregon Coast, Portland, and the Columbia River Gorge

When to go: Jul-Sep for the driest weather

Oregon sits in the Pacific Northwest, a state of dramatic contrasts where the Pacific coastline, temperate rainforests, volcanic peaks and high desert meet within a few hours’ drive. Bordered by Washington to the north, Idaho to the east, Nevada and California to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west, its varied landscapes give it a distinct, outdoorsy character.

The state’s signature cities and parks showcase that variety: laidback Portland with its craft-beer scene and gardens, university town Eugene, outdoor hubs like Bend, and the awe of Crater Lake National Park and Mount Hood. The jagged Oregon Coast - from rocky headlands to long sandy stretches like Cannon Beach - is matched inland by high desert, forests and glacier-carved volcanoes.

Outdoor opportunities are abundant year-round: hike old-growth forests, surf or beachcomb along the coast, kiteboard and windsurf the Columbia River Gorge, mountain-bike and ski in the Cascades, or explore craters, lava fields and winding rivers across eastern Oregon. National and state parks, wilderness areas and scenic byways make it easy to get away from crowds.

Food and drink are part of the draw: farm-to-table dining and a huge craft-brewery scene around Portland; wines from the Willamette Valley pinot noir corridor; fresh seafood from the coast including Dungeness crab and Pacific salmon; and hearty regional comfort food that reflects the state’s agricultural bounty.

Oregon is an outdoors-lover’s paradise where you can surf the Pacific, hike ancient forests, ski volcanic peaks and sip world-class pinot in the same trip - don’t miss Crater Lake National Park, the beaches of the Oregon Coast and the urban food-and-brew scene in Portland.

Oregon’s weather varies sharply from the cool, wet coast and western Cascades to the warmer, drier high desert in the east, so the best time to visit depends on whether you want coastal mist, alpine snow or sunny desert days.

Most visitors get around Oregon by rental car, which gives the greatest flexibility for exploring coastlines, mountain passes and desert highways; regional flights and Amtrak service supplement longer-distance travel.

Major Highways

The main routes are Interstate 5 (the north - south spine linking Portland, Salem and Eugene and on to California and Washington), Interstate 84 (running east from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge toward Idaho), U.S. 101 (the scenic coastal highway), U.S. 97 (a key north - south route through central Oregon and Bend) and U.S. 20/OR-26 which provide important east - west connections from the coast and Willamette Valley into central and eastern Oregon.