Portland Oregon to Crater lake to San Francisco

[hallettm]

Hello experts!

I've got a wedding in Portland in early November and have a pretty open itinerary after that. Planning on seeing Crater Lake and then thought we'd drive done the coast toward San Fransisco. I have driven from SF north as an adult but never made it to Mendocino so thought I'd see some of that. when I was a kid, visited Eureka/Arcata so thought I might stop there. In my 60's traveling with my sister also in 60's. We are avid travelers both international and love domestic road trips. We don't camp but have enjoyed "glamping" on occasion and do like some quirky or historical hotels. We have about 7-8 days after the wedding.

any and all suggestions are welcome as I start planning.

Thanks a bunch.

[glc]

Welcome back!

Early November may be just a bit too late to go to Crater Lake and drive around it.

Closing Dates in Recent Years
Year - North Entrance &
West Rim Drive - East Rim Drive
2021 October 22 October 21
2020 November 1 November 1
2019 November 1 October 17
2018 October 29 October 29
2017 November 1 October 13
2016 October 14 October 14
2015 November 1 November 1
2014 October 28 October 27
2013 October 28 October 1
2012 October 23 October 23
2011 November 1 November 1
2010 October 24 October 23
2009 October 27 October 13

However, weather permitting, I believe you can still get to the visitor's center.

[Midwest Michael]

As GLC mentioned, you're not going to be able to drive any of the loop at Crater Lake. The road to the visitor center/rim village will be open, but the east and west rim roads close for the season on November 1st - if weather doesn't close them sooner.

Here's some very handy information about what you need to know about visiting Crater Lake in Winter.

[AZBuck]

Note that in the list glc presented, between 2009 and 2014 inclusive (six years) the park closed on November 1st just once. In the succeeding seven years it has closed on that date four times. But note also that it's never been later than November 1st, so that might be a hard closing date regardless of what the weather is.

As to historic and/or quirky hotels, most of those in California are south of San Francisco, but you might want to consider the historic Benbow Inn in Garberville.

Quirky is a matter of taste, but there are several in the Grant's Pass area as well as examples along the coast in Shelter Cove, Trinidad, Point Arena and Jenner. There's no shortage of such along CA-1. The other thing to take advantage of is the large number of California State Parks along the coast, including a few with historical significance:Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park , Fort Ross State Historic Park , Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park and Olompali State Historic Park. The last two are close enough to San Francisco that they can be done as day trips out of there.

AZBuck

[Southwest Dave]

You could remain in the Portland area for a day or 2 and explore the beautiful and Historic Columbia river Gorge before heading south. You have the Redwood State and National parks with the scenic drives of Newton B Drury parkway at Prarie creek and the Avenue of Giants in Humboltd SP, plus the Ladybird Johnson grove near Orick and the lovely town of Ferndale. On the way into SF its well worth detouring off to the Marin headlands before heading over the Golden gate bridge. If it's clear the views over the bridge into the Bay are fantastic!

[hallettm]

Thank you to everyone who answered my previous post about Portland to San Fransisco via Crater Lake. A lot of good intel and advice due to my November timing- TY. New route and shortened timeline so if anyone has any insight into this version I would be grateful. My sister (70) and I (64) love road trips, scenery, National Parks (also museums, art galleries and history) but aren't hikers, bikers or skiers. We are making a loop from Portland airport to Crater Lake up to Mt Hood and back to Portland. A friend just told me I should see Ashland Oregon while out there.

Is this doable? Any opinions if Ashland is worth it? The Ashland Springs Hotel looks interesting.

Tuesday arr at airport at 1:00 drive to Ashland (5 hour drive)
Wednesday morning visit shops and galleries in Ashland, drive to Crater Lake (2 hour drive) stay near Crater Lake
Thursday morning visit south rim of Crater Lake (it doesn't look like any boat trips or ranger guided trips in November so just DIY scenery)
Thursday afternoon drive to Mt Hood and stay in Timberline Lodge (3.5 hour drive)
Enjoy Timberline lodge and views of Mt Hood Thursday night and Friday morning and drive to Portland in the afternoon (1.5 hour drive)

Interesting hotels, some great scenery and hopefully some good food. Any insight and suggestions are always welcome. Thanks fellow trippers!!

Malinda

[AZBuck]

That is... The more things change, the more they remain the same. Your trip hasn't really changed all that much. It is still a RoadTrip from Portland through the Cascades and back to Portland. The time frame is still the same, and the objectives are still the same. That's why I've combined this post with previous posts regarding the same trip. What has changed, and for the better, is that you have allowed yourselves more time to 'stop and smell the roses' and enjoy the places you do get to rather than spending more of your time just getting from place to place.

You have listed the appropriate major sights, Crater Lake and Mount Hood. All well and good and worth as much time as you care to spend in those environs. What I would now suggest is that you look at smaller venues to break up your already shortened drives. In my experience state parks and lesser-known national monuments are perfect for such two to three hour stops. A few examples along your route: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge (just off I-5 about an hour south of Portland), Valley of the Rogue State Park (just east of Grants Pass), Newberry National Volcanic Monument (south of Bend), Starvation Creek State Park (near Hood River), the Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site, and the Historic Columbia River Highway (which connects the last two sites listed).

AZBuck