Oregon and Washington

[Mike and Carol]

I’m starting the planning for a trip to visit some National Parks and states we haven’t been to.  This will be a late summer trip, August/September. Planning to visit Lassen, Redwood, Crater Lake, Mt. Ranier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks.  Would also like to work in some coast driving (101) and camping.  We’ve never been to either state so if anybody has any recommendations or advice it would be appreciated.   I’m sure the weather is somewhat cooler there in late summer than it is here in south Texas!  Mike

[EurekaJ]

I recommend you look into the US101 loop of Olympic National Park.  While most of the scenic opportunities (Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rainforest) require day trips to get up into the national park itself, they are both worth it.  If you can stay near Port Angeles (north of Hurricane Ridge) you would  also have a day trip opportunity to ferry to Victoria BC and the beautiful Butchart Gardens.  Additionally, while this may not coincide closely with your National Park strategy, perhaps you might visit the area near the mouth of the Columbia River -  Cape Disappointment, WA and the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, OR across the river.  You will get a sense of why the call the mouth of the Columbia the “graveyard of the Pacific”.  It’s usually quite nice  in the summer (not Texas hot),  it’s just plain nasty in the winter.  

[Rivernerd]

We lived in the Seattle area for 35 years.  It is much cooler than Texas during August and September!  It is also one of the driest places in the USA during July and August, believe it or not.  The Northwest does not get the Southwest monsoons that time of year.  But, by mid-September, the cloudy/drizzly weather moves back in. 

I concur with EurekaJ's recommendations above.  While you are north of Seattle, I also recommend a night or two at Deception Pass State Park near Anacortes, Washington.  And, if you are history buffs, a visit to Lewis and Clark's Fort Clatsop south of Astoria in Oregon is worth a stop.  Plus, I recommend a few days exploring the Oregon Coast.  I would book an RV site at Beverly Beach State Park (one of the nicer state parks we have been to) and do day trips from there, both north and south, to explore the many spectacular beaches and coastal rock formations.

[EurekaJ]

I just thought of another…. If you are transiting Central Oregon (near Bend) along your route, I suggest you look into the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  The campgrounds near Paulina Lake are beautiful.  It is a remarkably diverse geologic region - the monument is quite large, it is just not substantial enough to be a NP.   This has the added advantage of being slightly off the beaten path away from the many other popular Pacific Northwest destinations.

[Mike and Carol]

2 hours ago, Rivernerd said:

I would book an RV site at Beverly Beach State Park (one of the nicer state parks we have been to) and do day trips from there, both north and south, to explore the many spectacular beaches and coastal rock formations.

Just checked Beverly Beach SP for availability in August.  All reservable sites are reserved.  It looks like a 6 month reservation window and a number of sites are not reservable, I’m assuming they are probably first come first served.  Big park!  Will continue to check.

[Rivernerd]

2 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

ust checked Beverly Beach SP for availability in August.  All reservable sites are reserved.

Did you try to reserve via the Oregon State Parks page at reserveamerica.com?

https://oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/beverly-beach-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=OR&parkId=402126#sr_a

I just checked for a 2- night stay on a random August 12 2025 date and found a number of RV sites available.  I recommend you try again, maybe trying different dates and stay lengths. 

Good luck!

Edited Thursday at 07:39 PM by Rivernerd

[Mike and Carol]

1 hour ago, Rivernerd said:

Did you try to reserve via the Oregon State Parks page at reserveamerica.com?

https://oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/beverly-beach-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=OR&parkId=402126#sr_a

I just checked for a 2- night stay on a random August 12 2025 date and found a number of RV sites available.  I recommend you try again, maybe trying different dates and stay lengths. 

Good luck!

Yes, using reserveamerica.com.  I tried some other dates and looked at the availability view and did see some openings, thanks.  Once I nail down our dates hopefully there will be a spot for us.  We are right on the edge of the 6 month reservation window, so that might work in our favor too!

[tallmandan]

We lived in Washington state for 26 years before moving to Colorado.  I also agree with EurekaJ's comments.  There is so much to see and do in the PNW!  I hope you are allowing lots of time.  If you have flexibility, I might suggest you plan for September as the crowds are a little less and the weather is still spectacular.  After Labor Day, you may find it a little easier to find availability and a little more elbow room.   

The Oregon coast is really special with amazing places I would put on your list (from South to North) -  (these are just a few)

• Cape Kiwanda - hike up the sand dunes on the North side of Pacific Beach for unbelievable views, especially at sunset.
• Cape Mears Lighthouse
• Oswald West State Park - from the parking lot, take the paved trail under 101 highway to Short Sand Beach
• Cannon Beach/Haystack Rock - great beach town, Haystack Rock is an Oregon icon. 
• Ecola State Park - Drive all the way out to Indian Beach for fantastic views and scenery

As a side-note, the coast of Washington is really not worth visiting except from Klaloch north into the NP.  I might follow EurekaJs suggestion of visiting Fort Steven's at the mouth of the Columbia River and then heading east back to I-5 and from there up to Rainier NP.

While in Olympic NP, make sure to take the drive up to Hurricane Ridge.  I would plan to do this in the evening.  All the tourists head down the mountain around 5pm but it's still light until almost 10pm that time of year.  When the crowds are gone in the evening, the wildlife comes out.  I've seen marmot, bears, fox and deer.  Drive along the ridge to the end parking lot and take the short hiking trail for incredible views across to Mt. Olympus and the whole Olympic range.

Go early or late for Rainier NP as well.  It can be an absolute zoo around the visitor centers and nearby trails mid-day.  Mt. Rainier is considerably more stunning in the early morning light or at sunset.  I would recommend the Paradise visitor center area on the South side over the Sunrise visitor center on the North side.  If you are a hiker, one of my very favorite hikes, ever, is Pinnacle Saddle.  https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/pinnacle-saddle

If you are going all the way up to North Cascades NP, you might also consider a side trip out to the San Juan Islands.  You could leave your trailer and take the ferry across from Anacortes.  The ferry ride is beautiful and you could get lucky and see the resident Orca whales or take a whale watching boat from San Juan Island.

I've rambeled on enough.  Hope this is of some help and happy answer questions if I can...

 

 

[Chukarhunter]

I have lived in Oregon my whole life.  You have planned an awesome trip.  I second the recommendation to visit the Olympic National Park in Washington with a day trip to Victoria (and Butchart gardens) via passenger ferry.  As for the Oregon coast, I would seriously consider the incredibly scenic Southern Oregon Coast instead of the much more crowded central Oregon coast.  Since you are planning to visit the redwoods, afterwords you can just continue north on Highway 101 from Crescent City California through Brookings, OR and north to Reedsport where you could loop back east to interstate 5 if you wanted to.  Some of the nicest coastal State Parks in Oregon are in the remote south coast stretch and there is less tourist pressure.

The other thing I would share is that if you only see the western part of Oregon and Crater Lake, you will miss some of the best of the state.  Over half of Oregon lies east of Crater Lake and is high dessert and canyonland country.  Much of it is very remote with few lodging opportunities and only the lucky folks with a good trailer can easily take advantage of it.  If you have time, one of the most remote and spectacular places in Oregon is Steens Mountain.  Should you decide to make just one stop in Eastern Oregon along the way, I would suggest making it Steens Mountain and surroundings.  (Steens Mountain is the first place I went after I brought my Ollie home from Hohenwald). You can reach Steens Mountain by traveling west from Interstate 84 at Ontario, OR, or west on Interstate 80 out of Salt Lake City and cutting north at Winnemucca on highway 140 to Steens Mountain (Frenchglen, OR).  There is a wonderful BLM campground outside tiny Frenchglen called Page Springs, and it is close to the start of a gravel road that allows you to drive to the top of spectacular Steens Mountain itself at over 9.000 feet.  Your timing will be good for a visit to Steens Mountain as it is only accessible a few months out of the year due to late snow melt (July) and closure when the first snow falls in late September or October.  (bring insect repellent)  The surrounding area is rich in history, much of which dates back to the mid-1800's, the Oregon Trail, Cattle Barons and gold and silver mining.

From Steens Mountain, you can continue on to Crater Lake via Bend, OR and then south down to Lassen and then west over to the Redwoods.  Something to consider if you have the time.

[Snackchaser]

I totally agree with all the recommendations above, except I'd also skip the WA coast past the Oregon border!   If you want to continue North toward Canada, and see the area around Port Townsend, then that's worth it and little more complicated for a short discussion. 

I was glad to see that Lassen Volcanic Park is already on your list, it’s one of our favorite National Parks with lots to do and see in the area.  Lassen’s Manzanita Lake campground, surrounded by snow capped mountains, is spectacular.  If your a fisherman, there is premier fly fishing in the lake, and nearby Hat Creek.  And since you will be that far south, then come 4 hours West to Eureka!

South of Eureka is the famous Avenue of the Giants (Redwoods) and many great campgrounds.  North of Eureka, Hwy 101 goes all the way up the CA and OR coast with lots more redwoods mostly on the CA side.

As mentioned, most of the state parks are typically booked six months in advance during the summer, and it’s best to reserve if you can.  But we travel the coast every summer without reservations, which is doable if you're willing to hit a few different places and shop around while exploring.  Many of the local camps are still first come first serve, and there are always last minute cancelations and private campgrounds.  Some parks have un-reserved ADA sites, and you can usually stay there after 5:00.  We like the flexibility of not being on a reservation schedule because sometimes the rain totally sucks, and other times it's gorgeous.

Patrick's Point, recently renamed Sue-Meg, is another of our favorite spots just minutes north of Eureka.  There is whale and seal watching from the cliffs, a Sumac Indian village, Agate Beach, scenic Trinidad Harbor, nearby Elk herds, and great walking trails.  Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is another great spot just east of Crescent City.  It's a lessor known park on the beautiful and sparkling clear Smith River.  There is a recently discovered ancient redwood groove within a short walk that is protected with elevated walkways.  Yes, it’s true! 

We also recommend taking a scenic jet boat tour up either the Klamath or Rouge rivers.  Oh, and stop at the giant Paul Bunyan and Oxen attraction near Orrick, CA.  It looks like a kids place, but it’s well worth stopping for the museum and the gondola ride above the old growth redwood canopy.

If you get in a pinch near Eureka, give us a shout.  You can alway hook-up in our yard under the redwoods, next to a massive 1500 year old stump.  There might be some bears around, and there might definitely be snacks!

Cheers! Geoff

[Jim and Chris Neuman]

Several of parks you mentioned, particularly Lassen and Crater Lake and the North Cascades can be difficult to get reservations at that time of year.  This year in particular may be dicey due to probable park shutdowns.  Forest Service and BLM may also be hit hard so keep an eye on it.  The Redwoods don't have a ton of campsites available and they tend to be smaller, older campgrounds.  Don't miss that park though as the hikes are otherworldly.  Yosemite and the other West Slope parks are also pretty tough to access late summer.  Don't miss the coast of Oregon - tons of campgrounds and truly spectacular country - ditto for the coast of Washington although it is thinner on camping opportunties.  The volcanic high lakes country just South of Bend, OR is spectacular and tends to have available sites in the FS campgrounds or, failing that, boondocking areas.

Fires, particularly on the East slope of the Cascades in OR and WA can be a challenge mid to late summer - very weather dependent.

I have spent my whole life in the Northwest and travel it extensively every year.  I do not hesitate to just wing it and that generally works out but be ready to deploy plans B, C & D.  Make it a habit to try to get into your site early in the day or, better yet, reserve well in advance and you should be fine.

[Mike and Carol]

Lots of great information, I’m trying to digest it all, my map is getting a workout.  It’s quite a drive to the PNW from south Texas and we want to plan enough time do make the most of that long drive.  Thanks to all for your insights!  Mike

[John and Debbie]

On 2/20/2025 at 6:29 AM, Mike and Carol said:

I’m starting the planning for a trip to visit some National Parks and states we haven’t been to.  This will be a late summer trip, August/September. Planning to visit Lassen, Redwood, Crater Lake, Mt. Ranier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks.  Would also like to work in some coast driving (101) and camping.  We’ve never been to either state so if anybody has any recommendations or advice it would be appreciated.   I’m sure the weather is somewhat cooler there in late summer than it is here in south Texas!  Mike

Mike, we live in the Portland area.  August can be hot.  September and October are nice here.  Hopefully we won't have a bad fire season.  The West burns up every summer with the exception of the winter fires this year in Los Angeles.  It can be quite hazy if there are lots of forest fires.  All things considered, it's a great time to visit the Northwest.

John