Oregon Gorge, Crater Lake & Coast Loop
Depart from Portland, looping through gorge waterfalls, Bend, Crater Lake, and the southern and northern coasts
A classic Oregon loop, taking in waterfalls, volcanoes, deep blue lakes, and sea stacks in just over a week. Traveling clockwise puts Crater Lake in the middle, concentrating the long driving days on the second and fifth days. Ideal for summer road trips. The Cleetwood Cove Trail is closed for construction from 2026 to 2028, meaning you cannot hike down to the lake shore or board the boat to Wizard Island; the itinerary only views the lake from the rim.
The Rim Drive is usually fully open in July, with snow accumulating after October. Watch out for wildfire smoke in autumn.
Day by day
Day 1 · Portland Gardens and Bookstores
Portland, Oregon（International Rose Test Garden、Portland Japanese Garden、Powell's City of Books）
Explore the city on foot and by bus or streetcar. Washington Park is about 20 minutes from the city center.
Stay: Pearl District
Day 2 · Gorge Waterfalls over Mount Hood
Portland, Oregon（Vista House at Crown Point、Multnomah Falls、Columbia River Gorge、Timberline Lodge） → Bend
Drive east along the Columbia River Gorge, then head south past Mount Hood to Bend, about 350 km, taking 5 hours of pure driving.
Parking at Multnomah Falls is tight on weekends; arriving early in the morning is recommended.
Stay: Downtown Bend
Day 3 · Smith Rock and Bend
Bend（Smith Rock State Park、Tumalo Falls、Drake Park & Mirror Pond）
Drive north from Bend to Smith Rock in about 40 minutes, then head to Tumalo Falls in about 40 minutes in the afternoon, returning to town for the night.
Stay: Downtown Bend
Day 4 · Lava Butte to Crater Lake
Bend（Lava Lands Visitor Center & Lava Butte） → Crater Lake National Park（Rim Village & Crater Lake Lodge、Watchman Peak）
Drive south along US-97 to Lava Butte in about 20 minutes, then continue to the South Entrance of Crater Lake in about 2 hours.
In-park lodging often books out months in advance, so make arrangements early.
Stay: Mazama Village
Day 5 · Rim Drive then West to the Coast
Crater Lake National Park（Rim Drive） → Bandon & Southern Oregon Coast（Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint）
Explore the open sections of Rim Drive in the morning, then drive via Roseburg to Bandon, about 300 km, taking 4.5 hours of pure driving.
The East Rim Drive has construction in 2026; check road openings first.
Stay: Beach Loop · Face Rock
Day 6 · Sand Dunes to the Central Coast
Bandon & Southern Oregon Coast（Shore Acres State Park、Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area） → Lincoln City & Central Oregon Coast（Heceta Head Lighthouse、Thor's Well、Cape Perpetua Scenic Area）
Drive north along US-101 to Newport, about 250 km, taking about 3.5 hours of pure driving.
Stay: Nye Beach
Day 7 · Lighthouses to Haystack Rock
Lincoln City & Central Oregon Coast（Yaquina Head Lighthouse & Outstanding Natural Area、Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area、Depoe Bay & Whale Watching Center） → Cannon Beach（Tillamook Creamery、Haystack Rock）
Drive north from Newport along US-101 to Cannon Beach in about 3 hours, stopping at Tillamook along the way.
Stay: Downtown Cannon Beach
Day 8 · Ecola back to Portland
Cannon Beach（Ecola State Park） → Portland, Oregon
Hike the Ecola Point trail in the morning, then drive back to Portland along US-26 in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.