Your Authenteco Travel 11- Day Oregon Itinerary
Founded in 1859, Oregon is known for its wild west past, its quirky present-day traditions, and its many natural marvels.
A beautiful coastline, over 360 State Parks, and home to some of the top-rated breweries and restaurants in the nation, you will never run out of things to do while on your perfect vacation to Oregon.
So get ready for amazing food, desserts, and lots of exploring! This itinerary is one of our favorites- and we think it’s the perfect adventure-loving vacation to Oregon that will tick off your entire Oregon bucket list!
Authenteco Travel is an eco-luxury travel concierge that helps you- a busy person- take stress-free vacations to your most desired destinations. When you travel with us, you’ll always travel sustainably without losing the luxuries of a perfect vacation.
When we travel to faraway destinations, the activities we participate in usually have the greatest effect on the local environment, culture, and population. You'll eat at restaurants that source their food locally, stay in eco-certified or locally-owned accommodations, and check out some secret spots off the beaten path. It's so hard to avoid the crowds these days-but rest assured, we've set this itinerary up for you to safely enjoy Oregon and all its beauty.
*** It is important to remember that we customize every itinerary based on our extensive travel surveys, the weather, availability, trip purpose, etc. This itinerary should act as a general guide to an 11- day vacation in Oregon and give you an idea of what your trip with Authenteco Travel might look like! For all trip inquiries, submit your trip request here and we would love to help you plan your perfect vacation!
Why Visit Oregon?
The State of Oregon was founded in 1859 and is located in the upper Northwest corner of the United States. Currently, home to 4.19 million people, the state of Oregon is bordered by Washington State to the North, Idaho to the East, and California and Nevada to the South. It lies at the edge of the mighty Pacific Ocean and is home to one of the most beautiful coastlines in the United States.
Because of this, there’s just SO much to see here- and we know you’re going to LOVE it!
Dubbed as the state that is home to more trees than people, Oregon can be geographically divided into six areas of lowlands, plateaus, and mountains. Featuring over 5 million acres of trees, 361 State parks, the deepest lake in the US, and the picturesque Cascade Mountains – Oregon is the nature lover’s destination.
Let’s dive into your perfect Oregon itinerary!
Our traveler, Veronika on her first day on Oregon with her travel magazine
Oregon Day 1
You'll start this venture by landing at Portland International Airport and heading to go pick up your rental car and drive to your first stop!
Day 1 and you’re off to a BANG, but trust us, it’s worth it.
Using the help of your custom Google map you will travel to the Oregon Coast town of Arch Cape to check in to one of our favorite Inns & Retreats. This will be your home base for the next two nights as you explore the Oregon Coast where 363 miles of adventure awaits.
We encourage you to get settled in and take your time with the option to explore the nearby town of Seaside, OR Cannon beach where the sunset views are absolutely AMAZING! And, as the sun slowly begins to drop below the horizon, it's time to enjoy your first meal at Newmans at 988 where we have your reservation booked.
After a lovely meal, the evening is yours to prepare for the next day of adventure! Relax, go for a wander, have a few drinks- the choice is yours.
We recommend having a big lunch before boarding your flight since you will have a mild drive before your first accommodation.
Our custom Oregon travel gift box
Oregon Day 2
Begin your morning at your beautiful accommodation and enjoy their highly coveted breakfast.
After breakfast, make your way to your first hike in Ecola State Park! Ecola State Park is a hiking and sightseeing mecca with a historic past. No visit to Cannon Beach would be complete without visiting Ecola State Park, perched dramatically on the edge of Tillamook Head. Ecola Park Road in the north end of Cannon Beach winds through the old-growth rainforest before emerging at one of the Oregon Coast’s most famous views, overlooking numerous rock formations, the capes, and headlands miles to the south.
After a quick drive, you'll be starting at the Indian Beach Trail and make your way North to reach the Tillamook Head South Trailhead and continue on the Cannon Beach Trail until reaching Hiker's Camp and Tillamook Rock Lighthouse Viewpoints. You'll then head back along the Clatsop Loop Trail, leading you back towards some familiar trails and to your rental car. This route is outlined on your Google map so be sure to have a look ahead of time!
From there you will be heading south for a quick lunch at Lazy Susan Cafe before heading to Oregon Beach Rides located in Nehalem Bay State Park. You will venture the beautiful Oregon coastline, enjoy the rugged dunes and sea wildlife such as birds, deer, elk, seals, and occasionally a whale all on horseback! After the main event, you will be heading down towards the Cape Meares Lighthouse, but first, a must stop at the Tillamook Creamy.
Farmer-owned since 1909 this historic creamery will allow you to take a free, self-guided tour or grab a quick sweet treat. Finally, you'll head to one of Tillamook Coast’s most cherished treasures; the Cape Meares Lighthouse. Tucked away amidst the natural beauty that adorns the National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint. All of this is marked on your custom Google Map to make everything easy to find and navigate through! Stress-free vacations are what we do, and we promise today will be one of the highlights of your trip!
As the day closes, we recommend hitting one of the best spots for a delicious dinner to end the day before heading back for a good night’s sleep!
Ecola State Park
Oregon Day 3
Today you are making moves. Start your morning with another outstanding breakfast served by your lovely accommodation before checking out and heading south for some more epic views along the Oregon Coast. Your first stop of the day will be at Cape Lookout to enjoy some scenic hikes with impressive views. The 5-mile round-trip Cape Trail features views of the ocean and shore peeking through Sitka spruce and hemlocks on the way to the tip of Cape Lookout.
Once you've had some time to soak up the natural beauty, it's time to keep the ball rolling to the nearby Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. The southernmost cape in the north Oregon coast's famed Three Capes Route. Hiking up the cape is not easy, but it's only about 30 or 40 feet to get to the top of the rocky section and its viewpoints. There are no specific hiking trails as the area is wide open to choose your own adventure.
Just a short drive from Cape Kiwanda, we recommend lunch at Side Door Cafe in Gleneden Beach. Feel free to make any stops along the way, but you will want to stop at the Devil's Punchbowl State Natural Area on your way to your accommodation. The punch bowl was most likely created by the collapse of the roof over two sea caves, then shaped by wave action. This is a scenic spot atop the undulating rocky shoreline. Don't forget to explore the tidepools on the north side of the punch bowl.
After exploring the tide pools and naturally carved bowls, head to your next stop for the night, The Drift Inn Hotel and Restaurant. Once you've tossed your bags down and had a moment to rest, we recommend a local meal before hitting the hay and getting ready for another day of fun. There are plenty of options to choose from on your Google Maps.
Punch Bowl
Oregon Day 4
Adventures and more adventures today! Begin your morning with a hearty breakfast at The Drift Inn Restaurant before checking out and starting another day of adventure.
The first stop of the day will be the Hetca Head Lighthouse and hiking along the Hecta Head Trail. Named for its crowning feature, the iconic Hecta Head Lighthouse, this park also features a sheltered beach area that's easy to access from the parking lot and a challenging and scenic hike along a section of the Oregon Coast Trail.
This amazing hike takes you to the historic lighthouse! Even though you'll have to ascend a couple hundred feet to get to the lighthouse, the views are well worth it.
Just down from those stunning views is Sea Lion Caves, a privately owned wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary. This is an optional pitstop for you but if you want to see America's largest sea cave and the home of the Steller sea lion this is the spot!
Once lunch has concluded at one of our favorite local delights, it's time for a highlight of your trip… but we’re keeping this activity a surprise for now. Trust us- it’s big and it’s fun! You will see wildlife, marine wildlife, scenery, and endless amazing views of the only sand dunes in North America, that exist in a temporal rain forest.
Once you’re finished with this excursion, it’s time to check in to one of the best accommodations on the trip!
Meeting our Oregon traveler in person when she passed through Denver
Oregon Day 5
You'll start your morning off with a light breakfast at First Chapter Coffee House before making your way down the southern coast and eventually heading inland.
Using this route, you will actually be passing through California, before making your way back into Oregon. We picked this route because you will be able to see some HUGE redwoods in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is the last in a long string of redwood parks that stretch up Northern California's coast. A few miles inland from the ocean, the park is densely forested with gigantic ancient trees. In fact, it contains seven per cent of all the old-growth redwoods left in the world. You'll have a nice chunk of the day to do some hiking and pick from your big list of activities if there’s something you really want to do!
We recommend enjoying a packed lunch before heading to your next accommodation and having some quiet time to chill before your next adventure: a sunset rafting trip! You will raft in the early evening and begin floating towards skies transforming into varied shades as the sun sets on the distant ridge followed by a light meal and a glass of local southern Oregon wine.
Once you are back on land and head back to your accommodation for a special campfire s’mores activity… a perk of this incredible new accommodation you’re staying in!
Crater Lake
Oregon Day 6
Another day of fun lies ahead! We have plenty of spots for you to try breakfast this morning, but the restaurant at your accommodation is a great one to choose if you want to stay close before your big day.
Then, you'll have a fair drive ahead of you before landing at Crater Lake so we recommend stocking up on trail snacks before leaving.
Established on May 22, 1902, Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is a natural wonder born out of a cataclysmic volcanic eruption. Crowning the Cascade Mountain Range, the park contains vibrant forests, bountiful wildlife, and an awe-inspiring blue lake worthy of its nickname “lake majesty.” Its geologic history spans back thousands of years and inspires visitors today.
At 1,943 feet deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in America. Famous for its beautiful blue color, the lake’s water comes directly from snow or rain -- there are no inlets from other water sources. This means no sediment or mineral deposits are carried into the lake, helping it maintain its rich color and making it one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the world.
The best hike known in this area is The Garfield Peak Trail which is outlined on your map! This will take a little while, but is absolutely worth it.
Now that your legs have been extra stretched it's time to continue on your journey towards Bend with an optional stop in LaPine State Park if you want to squeeze in a little more hiking. By now you have worked up an appetite and earned a tasty meal. We recommend hitting A Broken Angel Sustainable Food Cart & Catering for another sustainably sourced meal.
Once you're satisfied, check into LOGE Bend to rest your legs and soak in the area before dinner. Bend is world-famous for both its outdoor pursuits and pristine beauty. Take some time to relax and explore! Check out your additional activities page in your itinerary for some suggestions and be sure to check out Spork for dinner.
Oregon travel gift box
Oregon Day 7
Today, you'll explore some of Central Oregon’s explosive geological history and experience canoeing beneath a sky full of stars on the Cascade Lakes all in one day!
You'll start the morning bright and early, heading towards a tour company we love, where you will depart on a few tours today and tomorrow.
We have outlined several options for a quick breakfast on your itinerary and in your Google Maps! We recommend swinging by Strictly Organic on the way or having a bite at LOGE Bend before heading out.
Today's first activity will be exploring an inactive volcano. At 6,300 feet, your journey will take you to a mountain of pumice and obsidian and the shores of the sparkling Paulina Lake. Next, get introduced to an old-growth hemlock forest where you’ll see decaying logs that possess more living mass than when the tree was alive and standing.
Now that you have expanded your geological knowledge, it's time for lunch at one of our personal favorites, Jackson's Corner.
After lunch, you'll have some free time to explore more of Bend or take some time to relax. Check your map for some fun spots around Bend and the surrounding area.
Whether you took time to chill or explored some more, we wouldn't want you to miss a meal! We recommend stopping by Root Down Kitchen for dinner around 6:15 pm before heading back to the tour company for an astounding paddle on the high elevation mountain lakes in the mighty Cascade Range.
The silence of the evening hours provides a chance to hear companions of the forest going about their evening activities and provide an unparalleled view of the open night sky! A truly unique ending to the day before heading home for some zzz's!
Oregon Day 8
Another day & another escapade! Starting your morning with a little bit of a sleep in with a tasty breakfast is essential, and for today we recommend hitting Kanona Cafe for their famous acai bowls before heading to Smith Rock State Park. Here you will find some steep but epic hiking providing amazing views.
We recommend starting with the River Trail to Mesa Verde and then up the backside. It's easier to descend on the front side, which has steps, than the graveled backside given how steep the trail is but feel free to take any route you please!
Just be sure to save some time to get back to Bend for lunch before your next activity.
After some hikers fuel, you will get a chance to hike and cool off! That's right! You'll meet again at the amazing tour company for an epic subterranean lava tube tour!
You'll go underground in the naturally cooled caves below the portion of the same inactive volcano you were atop just yesterday. This is the only tour company in Bend to explore this cave, and it is not open to the public, so you will see that Bend’s lava caves have a delicate ecosystem that few have experienced to the fullest!
Once your back above the earth you will have some time to prepare for an exquisite dinner at a restaurant we LOVE. We’ll have your reservation all booked in, so go and enjoy!
You're headed to Portland tomorrow for the final leg of your trip but still so much more fun is ahead of you!
Authenteco Traveler before her trip to Oregon
Oregon Day 9
Netflix and chill? More like Trailmix and Hill.
Start your morning enjoying the last hours at LOGE Bend before heading to get a tasty breakfast. You'll start the road to Portland today.
But first, a must-stop will be at Trillium Lake for an awesome hike along the Trillium Lake Loop Trail.
There is an amazing view of Mt. Hood crossing wetlands that provide bird watching opportunities.
Now that you have worked up a sweat, feel free to take a dip in the water to cool off before heading on to Mt. Hood Ski Bowl for some outdoor activities!
In your travel documents, you will find your adrenaline pass which includes as many or as few activities as you want including the alpine slide, scenic chair lift, and much more!
If you are feeling extra adventurous there is also a freefall bugee jump on site!
Choose your own adventure as daring as you please!
Now after all that excitement it's time for a later lunch at Zig Zag Inn, then off to Portland to check-in to your next accommodation.
Once you've had some time to settle in, you have a table for dinner booked at Noble Rot Restaurant.
Enjoy your first evening in Portland. There are a few more exciting adventures awaiting you before your trip ends.
Trillium Lake
Oregon Day 10
It's your final early morning on this trip, and boy is it a special day!
Start your morning with a five-minute walk to grab a coffee at Water Avenue Coffee and some light food before meeting at the Starbucks just two minutes away, where you will be meeting your tour guide for the next excursion.
If you do prefer Starbucks, feel free to head straight there. You will join a small group and be traveling down the Historic Columbia River Highway, which was completed in 1915 and is a National Historic Landmark, to see 3 amazing waterfalls all within the Columbia Gorge.
Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the most popular Multnomah Falls! We are delighted you didn't mist the waterfalls and have some free time to explore Portland.
Weather permitting, we recommend heading to Carlita's about 20 mins by foot or 10 by bike through Portland Pearl District, known for its stylish shops and acclaimed eateries.
You'll have plenty of time to check out a few areas and shops before meeting for your final adventure this afternoon in Troutdale to take a unique flight climbing above the Sandy River toward Mount Hood and over the Mount Hood National Forest.
Flying past Oregon’s famous natural celebrities such as Elowah Falls, Horsetail Falls, Multnomah Falls, and more. Once you are back on the ground, it's time for a final extravagant meal at Le Pigeon- a chef's table experience with a French fusion twist. The night is yours to enjoy!
Oregon Day 11
For your final day take the morning to relax and reflect on your trip!
We recommend a final breakfast at Hunnymilk for a phenomenal last meal. Once you've had breakfast, check out and head to Portland International Airport (PDX) enterprise to return your rental car. From there, it’s home time.
You’ve explored the very best of Oregon, and we hope you had the most amazing trip! We hope you are heading home with memories that will last a lifetime and stories that will echo for years to come.
Want to set off on an unforgettable trip to Oregon like this but don't know where to start? Submit a trip request, and we’d love to help you!
For more information about what destinations we’re sending travelers to, check out our destinations page!
Want to check out more of our itineraries? Check out the itineraries below!
