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Travel in Oregon

Yahoo Message Number: 21777
It appears that many of the members of this forum have travelled in/through Oregon. My wife and I are going to be travelling through Oregon in August. At the present time, our route brings us into Oregon from the east on I-84 to Baker City where we are planning to take the Blue Mountains Scenic Byway (Oregon 53/74) to Arlington.
Then west on I-84 to The Dalles where we will pick up the Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway to Mosier. Our route then diverges on the Mount Hood Scenic Byway (Oregon 35) to Troutdale where we will double back on the Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway to North Bonneville where we will rejoin I-84 for a run back to Portland (we then head north to Vancouver Island coming back down the coast via US 101 down to San Francisco). We're travelling in a 40' CC Inspire (affectionately known as Moby Dick) with a Saturn toad (named Pinnochio because everyone knows he got carried off by a whale). I have made the run up Highway 1 from LA to San Francisco in our 32' Dutch Star but haven't been north of the Napa Valley.

Am I making a BIG mistake in taking this 60' train on those scenic byways?

John and Linda

Lollipop (6 lb. poodle that is firmly convinced she is just a very fuzzy person)

2006 Inspire DaVinci #TBD (on order for May delivery) 2002 Saturn toad

Re: Travel in Oregon

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21786
John and Linda

First of all, love the names for your Motor Home and Toad. We also named ours, which some friends thought we were just a little daffy.
My husband was raised in the Columbia River Gorge (Hood River). Which we also have a 40 ft, with toad. This is the input from my husband.

The Oregon 53/74 is unknown to us. This an area we need to explore.
The scenic hi-way to Mosier is not recommended, very curvy. A good place to stay for the night is the Memaloose State Park. In summer it is kind of hard to get into, but it is right on the Columbia River, an yes it does have sites that a 40 ft will fit into. It does have a few sewer sites. If you stay at this State Park, then you could take the toad an do a scenic drive on the Mosier Scenic Hiway.
The Oregon Mount Hood Scenic Biway (Oregon 35) is just fine for Motor Home. We have done several times. Another good place to stay is Mount Hood RV Village, which is located on Hiway 26.
The Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway, is not recommended. Very narrow and curvy. This is the old original hiway that was built by the CCC in the 1930's.
Sorry do not mean to be discouraging. Just that we would not drive it, which we also try to stay off of Freeways, an see the scenic USA (especially small towns).

Hope this helps.

Bo and Kathy Lee
2000 Magna #5896
2006 Jeep Unlimited

Re: Travel in Oregon

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21787
I lived in that part of Oregon for 15 years. Park your coach and take the Saturn so that you can enjoy the trip and the views!

Glen
--

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Re: Travel in Oregon

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21792
Thanks for the reply - I guess we need to rethink our routing a little bit.

Quote from: bo lee\[br\
]
John and Linda

First of all, love the names for your Motor Home and Toad. We
also named ours, which some friends thought we were just a little daffy.

Quote
>

My husband was raised in the Columbia River Gorge (Hood River).
Which we also have a 40 ft, with toad. This is the input from my husband.

Quote
>

The Oregon 53/74 is unknown to us. This an area we need to

explore.

Quote
>

The scenic hi-way to Mosier is not recommended, very curvy. A
good place to stay for the night is the Memaloose State Park. In summer it is kind of hard to get into, but it is right on the Columbia River, an yes it does have sites that a 40 ft will fit into. It does have a few sewer sites. If you stay at this State Park, then you could take the toad an do a scenic drive on the Mosier Scenic Hiway.

Quote
>

The Oregon Mount Hood Scenic Biway (Oregon 35) is just fine for
Motor Home. We have done several times. Another good place to stay is Mount Hood RV Village, which is located on Hiway 26.

Quote
>

The Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway, is not recommended.
Very narrow and curvy. This is the old original hiway that was built by the CCC in the 1930's.

Quote
>

Sorry do not mean to be discouraging. Just that we would not
drive it, which we also try to stay off of Freeways, an see the scenic USA (especially small towns).

Quote
>

Hope this helps.

Bo and Kathy Lee
 2000 Magna #5896
 2006 Jeep Unlimited

John Walton wrote:

It appears that many of the members of this forum have travelled > in/through Oregon. My wife and I are going to be travelling through > Oregon in August. At the present time, our route brings us into > Oregon from the east on I-84 to Baker City where we are planning to > take the Blue Mountains Scenic Byway (Oregon 53/74) to Arlington.
Then west on I-84 to The Dalles where we will pick up the Columbia > River Highway Scenic Byway to Mosier. Our route then diverges on

the

Quote
Mount Hood Scenic Byway (Oregon 35) to Troutdale where we will

double

Quote
back on the Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway to North Bonneville > where we will rejoin I-84 for a run back to Portland (we then head > north to Vancouver Island coming back down the coast via US 101

down

Re: Travel in Oregon

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21795
Thanks for the reply - Looks like we will take the advice we have gotten and put Moby Dick in a park and tour the area in the toad.

John and Linda

Lollipop (6 lb. poodle that is firmly convinced she is just a very fuzzy person)

2006 Inspire DaVinci #TBD (on order for May delivery) 2002 Saturn toad

Quote from: Glen Fotre
I lived in that part of Oregon for 15 years. Park your coach and

take the

Quote
Saturn so that you can enjoy the trip and the views! >

Glen

--

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.2.5/284 - Release Date:

3/17/2006

Re: Travel in Oregon

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21803
John and Linda...we've taken route 101 along the CA/OR coast most the way from Geyserville, just north of Napa, to Newport, OR. It's a fantastic road..but we took almost 6 weeks to "enjoy it." Sometimes we moved only 60 miles to a different campground to soak in the scenery. You'll have no problems with your rig...other than to keep your eye on the road and not pay too much attention to the scenery!

Our recommendations: (in addition to the Newport Outdoor Resort) are: Florence, OR, Woahink Lake RV Park: has enough space for you with your rig and toad, backs to the dunes which are gorgeous, allow a day or two to use the toad and see OUR favorite lighthouse, Heceta Head Lighthouse, which is just north of Florence.

South a bit, just south of Coos Bay, is Bandon, one of our favorite stops. There's a new RV park there, but don't know anything about it. Sea Stacks just off the coast (you have to toad the coastal drive) are gorgeous. Old lighthouse, Coquille River Lighthouse, is scenic, too.

Once in northern CA, driving through the redwoods is awesome. Make sure to try to stop near Benbow (Admiral Benbow RV Park) and toad through the "Avenue of the Giants"..a MUST. (You could bike it I think, too, but you'd have to drive to the 'entrance.')

Stop in Willits at the Willits/Ukiah KOA and toad over to the coast to see Ft. Bragg and Mendocino, etc.
We split off 101 at 128 and take it to/through Napa and then take I- 80 to Fairfield where we overnight at the Jelly Belly Factory to pick up Belly Flops ("seconds") for everyone!

Oregon has terrific state parks all along the way, but you'll be in the most crowded season, so you might not get a spot.
We take this route almost every year and enjoy it every time. We no longer take 6 weeks, but doing it over a week or two at least to see things. It's lovely...no matter what the weather! Have a great trip!

PS..along the Columbia, re: the falls, you will be on narrow, winding road, so best to plan to drive (toad) and park and hike the assorted trails. Most the falls are easily seen from the roadway...or a short walk.
Jan McNeill

2001 Intrigue 11320

Re: Travel in Oregon

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21815
Thanks for the help - It's all going in my trip book.

Quote from: janmcneill
John and Linda...we've taken route 101 along the CA/OR coast most > the way from Geyserville, just north of Napa, to Newport, OR. It's

a

Quote
fantastic road..but we took almost 6 weeks to "enjoy it." Sometimes > we moved only 60 miles to a different campground to soak in the > scenery. You'll have no problems with your rig...other than to keep > your eye on the road and not pay too much attention to the scenery! >

Our recommendations: (in addition to the Newport Outdoor Resort) > are: Florence, OR, Woahink Lake RV Park: has enough space for you > with your rig and toad, backs to the dunes which are gorgeous,

allow

Quote
a day or two to use the toad and see OUR favorite lighthouse,

Heceta

Quote
Head Lighthouse, which is just north of Florence.
> South a bit, just south of Coos Bay, is Bandon, one of our favorite > stops. There's a new RV park there, but don't know anything about > it. Sea Stacks just off the coast (you have to toad the coastal > drive) are gorgeous. Old lighthouse, Coquille River Lighthouse, is > scenic, too.

Once in northern CA, driving through the redwoods is awesome. Make > sure to try to stop near Benbow (Admiral Benbow RV Park) and toad > through the "Avenue of the Giants"..a MUST. (You could bike it I > think, too, but you'd have to drive to the 'entrance.') > > Stop in Willits at the Willits/Ukiah KOA and toad over to the coast > to see Ft. Bragg and Mendocino, etc.
We split off 101 at 128 and take it to/through Napa and then take I- > 80 to Fairfield where we overnight at the Jelly Belly Factory to > pick up Belly Flops ("seconds") for everyone! > > Oregon has terrific state parks all along the way, but you'll be in > the most crowded season, so you might not get a spot.
We take this route almost every year and enjoy it every time. We no > longer take 6 weeks, but doing it over a week or two at least to

see

Travel In Oregon

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21798
Quote

Travel in Oregon:

My spouse grew up in Mosier, halfway between Hood River and The >>>> Dalles. His family place fronted that scenic highway and he >>>> seconds the opinion that these roads are best viewed from a Toad >>>> window. I grew up in Hermiston and all our family was in Dallas >>>> so we traveled that old highway (before the freeway was built) >>>> counting all 31 hairpin curves in a Model A! NOT a good idea for a >>>> 60 footer.

Highway 101 down the Oregon coast is as breathtaking as it is SLOW! >>> Plan on taking lots of time. Outdoor Resorts at Newport is one of >>> the finest RV Resorts in their fleet.

Be sure to stop and view the incredible lighthouses along the way.
Our favorite is Umpqua River Lighthouse at Winchester Bay on Highway >>> 101. The Marina, a Douglas County Park located on the river, >>> rivals anything Outdoor Resorts has to offer (Big Rigs page 297).
Again this year, we will be leading tours of the Umpqua River >>> Lighthouse from June to mid-September. You will see our Allure >>> parked in "a site to die for" in front of the old Coast Guard >>> Station where the tours begin. We are 110 feet above the Pacific >>> Ocean looking down on the Umpqua River bar and Coast Guard Tower.
We have full hook-ups, 50 amp, plus cable and a private phone. They >>> treat their volunteers very well.

Stop in and say "howdy" and take one of the finest lighthouse tours >>> on the Oregon Coast.

sob

'06 Allure 470, #31290
Shirley O'Brien

sobrien@...
Home: 520-818-1225
Cell: 520-241-1221
37905 S. Skyline Drive
Tucson, AZ 85739-1282

Re: Travel In Oregon

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21800
Thanks for the reply - I have already modified our 'main' route to stay on I-84 but stopping in the vicinity of Mosier for several days to tour with the toad (and our bicycles - looks like some nice little trails by Multnomah Falls).

I figured 101 would be slow, but we are looking for eye candy not the Bonneville Salt Flats. Thanks for the info about the lighthouse - lighthouses are one of the other things we look for and hope to visit.

It does sound like you have a 'prime' spot for the summer.

John, Linda, and Lollipop

Quote from: Shirley O'Brien\[br\
] >
>>
>>>

>>>> Travel in Oregon:
>>>

>>>> My spouse grew up in Mosier, halfway between Hood River and

The

Quote
Dalles. His family place fronted that scenic highway and he > >>>> seconds the opinion that these roads are best viewed from a

Toad

Quote
window. I grew up in Hermiston and all our family was in

Dallas

Quote
so we traveled that old highway (before the freeway was built) > >>>> counting all 31 hairpin curves in a Model A! NOT a good idea

for a

Quote
60 footer.
>>>

>>> Highway 101 down the Oregon coast is as breathtaking as it is

SLOW!

Quote
Plan on taking lots of time. Outdoor Resorts at Newport is one

of

Quote
the finest RV Resorts in their fleet.
>>>

>>> Be sure to stop and view the incredible lighthouses along the

way.

Quote
Our favorite is Umpqua River Lighthouse at Winchester Bay on

Highway

Quote
101. The Marina, a Douglas County Park located on the

river,

Quote
rivals anything Outdoor Resorts has to offer (Big Rigs page

297).

Quote
Again this year, we will be leading tours of the Umpqua River > >>> Lighthouse from June to mid-September. You will see our Allure > >>> parked in "a site to die for" in front of the old Coast Guard > >>> Station where the tours begin. We are 110 feet above the

Pacific

Quote
Ocean looking down on the Umpqua River bar and Coast Guard

Tower.

Quote
We have full hook-ups, 50 amp, plus cable and a private phone.

They

Quote
treat their volunteers very well.
>>>

>>> Stop in and say "howdy" and take one of the finest lighthouse

tours

Re: Travel In Oregon

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21801
Make sure you take some time to travel Hwy 1 after you leave Eureka, Ca. with your toad going south. Carol says to Stop! in Bandon Oregon and Hug the baby animals at the animal Safari type park. Last time she got to hug a Puma kitten, Canadian Lynx, pet a Tiger and a Black bear cub. Take plenty of film. TOM/CAROL 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: Travel In Oregon

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21809
A caution about travelling 101 on the coast. The scenery is beautiful, but keep a sharp eye behind you for traffic buildup. The turnouts are not marked and most are not large enough for a 40' coach plus toad, and the cops are picky . A friend of mind was fined $ 130 a few years ago because five or six cars were lined up behind him---no warning, just a stiff fine. When I travel that route I speed up when I see a few cars behind me until I can find a safe place to pull over. In my humble opinion this is more unsafe than the traffic buildup.

Walt Rothermel

03Allure30811 ( for sale )

Re: Travel In Oregon

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21814
Thanks, good information. I am putting everyone's advice in my trip book for ready reference. I really appreciate all the help.

Quote from: TWI

> Make sure you take some time to travel Hwy 1 after you leave Eureka,

Ca.

Quote
with your toad going south. Carol says to Stop! in Bandon Oregon and

Hug

Quote
the baby animals at the animal Safari type park. Last time she got

to hug a

Quote
Puma kitten, Canadian Lynx, pet a Tiger and a Black bear cub. Take

plenty

Re: Travel In Oregon

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21816
Hmmmm - interesting concept - ticket drivers for not driving fast enough - do they post the 'mimimum speed'? I will definitely put this in my trip book.

Re: Travel In Oregon

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21817
Washington and (I think also) Oregon have a law that prohibits holding up 5 or more cars if you are not driving the speed limit (or the maximum reasonable speed). In many places in Washington there will be signs telling you that if you must use turnouts if there are 5 or more cars behind you. It is very rarely enforced but is there if you seem to be causing a problem. As long as you are reasonable and don't hold up traffic unnecessarily you should not have a problem.
Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

[quote author=John Walton" walton@\.\.\.\>] >

Hmmmm - interesting concept - ticket drivers for not driving fast > enough - do they post the 'mimimum speed'? I will definitely put > this in my trip book.

Quote from: Spiker1029@

>

> A caution about travelling 101 on the coast. The scenery is > beautiful, but

> keep a sharp eye behind you for traffic buildup. The turnouts

are

Quote
not marked

> and most are not large enough for a 40' coach plus toad, and

the

Quote
cops are picky

> . A friend of mind was fined $ 130 a few years ago because five

or

Quote
six cars

> were lined up behind him---no warning, just a stiff fine. When I > travel that

> route I speed up when I see a few cars behind me until I can

find a

Quote
safe

> place to pull over. In my humble opinion this is more unsafe

than

Re: Travel In Oregon

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21818
Washington and (I think also) Oregon have a law that prohibits holding up 5 or more cars if you are not driving the speed limit (or the maximum reasonable speed). In many places in Washington there will be signs telling you that if you must use turnouts if there are 5 or more cars behind you. It is very rarely enforced but is there if you seem to be causing a problem. As long as you are reasonable and don't hold up traffic unnecessarily you should not have a problem.
Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

[quote author=John Walton" walton@\.\.\.\>] >

Hmmmm - interesting concept - ticket drivers for not driving fast > enough - do they post the 'mimimum speed'? I will definitely put > this in my trip book.

Quote from: Spiker1029@

>

> A caution about travelling 101 on the coast. The scenery is > beautiful, but

> keep a sharp eye behind you for traffic buildup. The turnouts

are

Quote
not marked

> and most are not large enough for a 40' coach plus toad, and

the

Quote
cops are picky

> . A friend of mind was fined $ 130 a few years ago because five

or

Quote
six cars

> were lined up behind him---no warning, just a stiff fine. When I > travel that

> route I speed up when I see a few cars behind me until I can

find a

Quote
safe

> place to pull over. In my humble opinion this is more unsafe

than

Re: Travel In Oregon

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21876
From the # of responses you've had, its clear that there's a ton of interesting spots to investigate including the state's interior.
Here's a couple more that haven't been mentioned that we've enjoyed.
Across the Columbia R. at Biggs, Ore. (truck stop) at Hiway #84/#97 is Maryhill, Wa. where there is 1. a visitor center; 2. an unusual, elegant museum built by rairoader, Samuel Hill ("what the Sam Hill") as a residence for his bride which they never lived in.
3.Immediately adjacent to the museum is a replica of Stonehenge
which overlooks the Columbia. 4. 180o Panoramic view of the area geography. There is a private cmpgrd. and a state park in Maryhill OK for large rigs.

Oregon Dunes for a wild Dunebuggy ride adventure! Gold Beach, Ore. for a day's boat ride up the Rogue R. for natural, wild beauty + animal variety. There are several cmpgrds which have piers along the N. side of the river where the boats will pick you up. We stayed at Kimball Creek Bend Cmpgrd. with sites along the waterfront and enjoyed watching the Ospreys.
You're in for a treat of touring.
Don, 2000 Allure #30580

===================================================================== ==

[quote author=John Walton" walton@\.\.\.\>] >

Thanks for the reply - I have already modified our 'main' route to > stay on I-84 but stopping in the vicinity of Mosier for several [/quote]
days

Quote
to tour with the toad (and our bicycles - looks like some nice

little

Quote
trails by Multnomah Falls).

I figured 101 would be slow, but we are looking for eye candy not

the

Quote
Bonneville Salt Flats. Thanks for the info about the lighthouse - > lighthouses are one of the other things we look for and hope to

visit.

Quote
>

It does sound like you have a 'prime' spot for the summer.

John, Linda, and Lollipop

[quote author=Shirley O'Brien

>
> >>
> >>>

> >>>> Travel in Oregon:
> >>>

> >>>> My spouse grew up in Mosier, halfway between Hood River and > The

> >>>> Dalles. His family place fronted that scenic highway and

he

Quote
>>>> seconds the opinion that these roads are best viewed from a > Toad

> >>>> window. I grew up in Hermiston and all our family was in > Dallas

> >>>> so we traveled that old highway (before the freeway was

built)

Quote
>>>> counting all 31 hairpin curves in a Model A! NOT a good

idea

Quote
for a
> >>>> 60 footer.
> >>>

> >>> Highway 101 down the Oregon coast is as breathtaking as it

is

Quote
SLOW!

> >>> Plan on taking lots of time. Outdoor Resorts at Newport is

one

Quote
of

> >>> the finest RV Resorts in their fleet.
> >>>

> >>> Be sure to stop and view the incredible lighthouses along

the

Quote
way.

> >>> Our favorite is Umpqua River Lighthouse at Winchester Bay on > Highway

> >>> 101. The Marina, a Douglas County Park located on the > river,

> >>> rivals anything Outdoor Resorts has to offer (Big Rigs page > 297).

> >>> Again this year, we will be leading tours of the Umpqua

River

Quote
>>> Lighthouse from June to mid-September. You will see our

Allure

Quote
>>> parked in "a site to die for" in front of the old Coast

Guard

Quote
>>> Station where the tours begin. We are 110 feet above the > Pacific

> >>> Ocean looking down on the Umpqua River bar and Coast Guard > Tower.

> >>> We have full hook-ups, 50 amp, plus cable and a private

phone.

Quote
They

> >>> treat their volunteers very well.
> >>>

> >>> Stop in and say "howdy" and take one of the finest

lighthouse