You should be able to see a lot in 2 weeks but that isn't enough time for everything. Of course, then you can come back!

When are you coming? August and September tend to be the best months in the PNW. July is OK. June tends to be a bit rainy. So I hope you can come later in the summer when you're more sure to hit sunny, warm weather.

Before I spend time giving you too many recommendations, I would like to know if this is roundtrip or one-way.

As for "high mountainous roads"....to be honest, this could be a real problem for you on this trip. I don't want to discourage you at all but many of the places you mention will have roads with a cliff on one side of it. A large percentage of the Pacific Coast Highway is like this...particularly when you are driving out to lighthouses. Since much of this highway hugs the coastline, you will have a guard-rail looking out to the coast/beach a good part of the route. Sometimes you will be fairly close to the beach at fairly low elevations but, for a significant portion, you will be higher than the beach with a cliff of varying heights.

The scenic route east of Portland along the Columbia River Gorge also has drop-offs. However, I-84 won't have much of this. This will take you virtually the same way but you won't have as good of views. Whatever you do, don't travel the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. Personally, I think this is far more beautiful but it is a very narrow, winding road with sheer cliffs along most of the route. It doesn't sound like it will work for you.

Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier don't have too many roads with sheer cliffs on one side. However, there are small portions where there might be some guard-rails with drop-offs. I don't recall these happening for long stretches but I believe you will encounter them once in awhile. Again, my memory might be faulty since I'm not bothered by these types of roads. To visit Mt. St. Helens, you will definitely be driving up roads with cliffs on one side. There's no way around it.

Crater Lake has a fantastic road that circles the lake. Much of it also has cliffs on one side and, in a few places, on both sides.

Gosh, if this is a real problem for you, I'm really afraid that it will impact your trip. I actually wrote this and came back and read it several times debating on whether or not I should submit this post. I really don't want to scare you off from what would be a great trip. However, if this is a real problem for you, I'm afraid that you will find the trip stressful. There are few accidents on these roads. They are really quite safe. But, if this is a phobia, I know this may not appease you.

I'm attaching some pictures of some of the places you're wanting to go to give you an idea of what those areas, and the roads, are like. I really hope that these don't scare you off. It's a beautiful area and millions of cars drive these roads every year without mishap.

Columbia River Gorge/Washington side




Crater Lake




Mt. St. Helens (the hill on the downside is roughly the same steepness as the one going up on the high side)





Oregon Coast