Notes From a Road Trip Through Oregon’s Best State and National Parks

How to Think About Packing for a Six Month Road Trip

Rather than provide a complete packing list, take my advice. Pack less. I left my house in February with abundant winter gear, three jackets, and four pairs of shorts. Why? Southern California in February isn't that cold. Oregon in July isn't that hot. Honestly, if you time your trip right, you can plan your trip up the west coast so you experience perfect spring weather for five full months.

Once we set off, I realized I should have just packed for my multi-month adventure the same way I would pack for a week-long one. After all, we never went more than a week without access to laundry. We ended up mailing a massive bin of stuff back to our storage unit in Colorado before we had left California.

Pro Tips for a National Parks Road Trip Traveler

Learn how to be flexible: Things will go wrong. If you get upset every time something gets in the way of the plan, you will be upset a lot. Be prepared with ample backup plans.

Get travel insurance: We found great coverage with Faye. If you’re bringing a pet or bikes, those require additional insurance coverage. It’s worth some time to research different options, to make sure that you’re safe and covered if anything happens.

Double-check everything: We once drove almost 300 miles from northern California to southern Oregon with our roof box unlocked. Luckily, we somehow didn’t lose anything, but it gave us a huge scare when we pulled off the highway for a coffee stop and someone said, “It looks like your roof box is open.”

Do your part: Sad to say, on our trip we saw a bunch of people disrespecting these wild spaces. In Yosemite, people were cutting switchbacks and ignoring trail closures. In the Enchantments, there was noticeable trash and human waste at the lake. We even saw an entire abandoned tent. Don't be these people. On our trip, we carried out trash as often as possible, but it takes more shared responsibility to protect these places. If you visit any local, state, or national park, please be considerate of your place in the ecosystem.

Smith Rock State Park

How long do you need? 1-2 days

What it’s known for: Recreation, but specifically climbing. Smith Rock contains the first U.S. climb rated 5.14. If you look carefully, you’ll see climbing chalk on most of the rock walls. The rock formations are volcanic, with unique faces and areas to hike and climb. Smith Rock itself is a high ridge with a sheer cliff-face overlooking a bend in the Crooked River; it is unlike anything else in the area.

Vibe of the park: It gets crowded, but there are so many different ways to enjoy the park that we didn’t find this too annoying. Tons of people come here just to rock climb, of course—there are literally thousands of climbing routes, and over 1,000 of them are bolted. But there’s also mountain biking, walking, and horse trails near the river. You can also hike and trail run all over. It’s worth noting that this park is dog-friendly, but also that pups are not allowed in the water because of the strong current.

All of this makes the park feel like a must see if you’re going to Oregon. The landscape is so gorgeous and unique. Smith Rock surprised me with its beauty, and was unlike most other areas of Oregon. Daunting rock cliffs and formations, contrasted with the winding Crooked River (a tributary of the Deschutes).

Accommodation recommendation: We stayed a week in Bend, Oregon, and just made a day trip to Smith Rock, but there are lots of camping options in the area. Do this and you’ll really feel like you’re far away from it all, even though it’s easy to get to.

Recommended Hike near Smith Rock State Park

Misery Ridge and Summit Loop: We combined a few trails to make a big loop with a nice variety of terrain. As is implied by the name, Misery Ridge is a steep climb. But the views make it worth it. This loop made 7 miles with over 1,800 feet of climbing and took us almost 2.5 hours. We started around 7 am on a Saturday in early May, and it wasn’t too crowded. The area was still very green with loads of wild flowers.

Crater Lake National Park

How long do you need? 1-3 days

What it’s known for: Epic history. Crater Lake National Park was established in 1902. It’s a caldera lake, formed by the collapse of Mount Mazama more than 7,700 years ago. The resulting caldera is 2,148 feet deep, making Crater Lake the deepest lake in the United States and one of the deepest in the world.

Vibe of the park? Because it’s essentially just the lake, it’s not quite like other parks. Most people just drive around it on the scenic Rim Drive (which you can also bike around), but you can also take the Cleetwove Cove trail to get down to the water by foot or take a boat tour. Stargazing is also a big deal here. People line the park at sunset, and stay well into the night.

Accommodation recommendations: Camp outside the park. There’s tons of sites nearby, in basically every direction.

Recommended Hikes near Crater Lake National Park

Cleetwood Cove: The most popular trail for this park. It’s only about a mile down to the lake itself, where you should obviously go for a swim. The water is frigid, but it’s so clear you won’t care. (Let yourself fully dry off in the sun as you prepare for the 700 foot ascent required to get back to the trailhead.) Important: This trail is about to be closed for at least three years for reconstruction that will begin next summer 2026. If you can make it before, you really should try!

Other options: There are other trails along the top of the lake that offer exceptional views. It’s worth stopping a few times if you drive around, for 1-3 mile hikes at different vantage points. The hike to Discovery Point follows the west rim of the lake through an old growth forest and is only 2 miles.

Columbia River Gorge

How long do you need? 3-4 days

What it’s known for: The gorge is federally protected as a National Scenic Area, making it a recreation sanctuary. Up to 4,000 feet deep, the canyon stretches for over eighty miles as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range. The waterfall dotted area also forms the boundary between Washington and Oregon.

Vibe of the area? This is where Portland comes to play. We stayed in Hood River and loved the small-town river vibe. Hood River is at the confluence of the Hood River and the Columbia River, and the area is known for its fruit production. Apples, pears, and cherries abound. It’s also known for kite-surfing and mountain biking.

Accommodation recommendations: Camping options are plentiful. We camped a couple nights at Lost Lake, which is reported to have insane views of Mt. Hood, but it was foggy for our entire stay, so we didn’t get the photo op. Still a great little spot. We also stayed in Hood River at a huge (and very cheap) Airbnb.

Recommended Hike near Columbia River Gorge

Tunnel & Twister Falls, via Eagle Creek Trail: This is another popular hike, but an absolute must-do in the area. There’s no way you can skip this if you’ve never done it. As is implied by the name, you get to hike through a tunnel behind a roaring falls. Truly exhilarating. Just past the tunnel is Twister Falls, which is equally stunning, but in a different way. If you go to Twister, the hike ends up being about 13 miles round trip and 1,500 feet of very gradual climbing. There are other smaller falls, bridges, and lookouts throughout the hike—pretty much nonstop views. If you go in the spring (we were there in mid-May) everything is neon green and covered in moss. This is a great hike for a leashed dog, and the main event really is worth the hype. We were back to our car before 10 am on a Friday, and didn’t encounter crowds until the last 20-30 minutes.

Cannon Beach - Haystack Rock

How long do you need? 1-3 days, but if you have longer, drive the entire Oregon coast over the course of a week.

What it’s known for: If you’re old enough, this area will remind you of The Goonies, the 1985 kid-adventure film. If not, you’ve probably just seen it on TikTok. Haystack Rock is a protected seabird nesting site and tide pool ecosystem located in the popular tourist town of Cannon Beach. If you walk the beach at low tide, you’ll see starfish, sea urchins, and all kinds of other colorful creatures. The basalt sea stack rises 235 feet from the edge of the shoreline, and can be enjoyed year-round.

Vibe of the park? The rock is near Cannon Beach, which can be a sleepy town, though plenty of tourists from Portland and elsewhere show up if the weather is nice. Still, on weekdays the beaches can be empty.

Accommodation recommendations: We stayed in Portland and just made a day trip to the coast (1.5hr drive). If you're looking to stay local, check out Arch Cape Loft in the quiet, locals enclave of Arch Cape just south of Cannon Beach.

Recommended Hikes near Haystack Rock

Oregon Coast Trail: Walk as much of the OCT as possible. On a clear Friday morning, we started around 6am and walked from Hug Point Falls to Cannon Beach. We did make the mistake of not checking the tide chart, and on the way back we had to detour up to the road because the water had gotten too high. But the 11-mile beach trek was so worth the effort. This took us about 3.5 hours, with plenty of stops to view birds and other wildlife. Dogs are allowed on the trail.

Neahkahnie Mountain: Located south of Cannon Beach by 20 minutes or so, this forested hike tops out with epic views looking south along the coast, over the town of Manzanita and beyond. Hike through old growth forests of sitka spruce, with huge roots crossing the trail forming steps at times, it's a prehistoric experience. Once at the top, continue north to eventually link up with Oswald West State Park, where you'll find yourself at Short Sands, a popular surfing destination for locals and Portlanders alike.