Oregon#

Phase: 2 — Pacific Coast & Northwest Best Time to Visit: June–September (coast and mountains accessible, Crater Lake snow-free, wildflowers in Wallowas); late September–October (fall color in Columbia Gorge and Wallowa Mountains, reduced crowds) Avoid: November–March for coast highway (constant rain, wind, and occasional storm closures); Crater Lake rim road closes to vehicles with snowfall (typically November–June); Hells Canyon road access limited in winter

Oregon punches far above its weight for a budget road trip. The state has no sales tax, free beach access by law (the 1967 Oregon Beach Bill guarantees public access to the entire coast), and an extraordinary density of free hot springs, BLM dispersed camping, and BLM-managed wilderness. The contrast between the wet, mossy west and the arid, volcanic east makes it feel like two different states sharing a border — and crossing the Cascades on US-26 or US-20 or OR-58 in a single afternoon demonstrates that transition viscerally.

Recommended Driving Route Through the State#

Washington border (Columbia River) — OR side of Astoria Bridge
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    | ~1.5 hrs west on US-30
    v
Astoria (Lewis & Clark NHP, Astoria Column, Goonies filming location)
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    | ~30 min south on US-101
    v
Cannon Beach (Haystack Rock, Ecola State Park)
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    | ~1.5 hrs south on US-101
    v
Tillamook (Tillamook Creamery — free factory tour + ice cream)
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    | ~2.5 hrs south on US-101
    v
Newport (Oregon Coast Aquarium, Yaquina Head Lighthouse)
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    | ~2 hrs south on US-101
    v
Florence (Sea Lion Caves, Oregon Dunes NRA)
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    | ~2.5 hrs south on US-101
    v
Bandon (Face Rock, Coquille River Lighthouse)
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    | ~2 hrs south on US-101
    v
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor (Natural Bridges, Arch Rock, Whaleshead)
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    | ~30 min south to California border or turn east
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OR-199 east → Grants Pass → I-5 north toward Crater Lake
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    | ~2 hrs via OR-62
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Crater Lake NP (Rim Drive, Wizard Island, Cleetwood Cove)
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    | ~2 hrs north via US-97
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Bend / Central Oregon (Smith Rock, Lava Cast Forest, Newberry Volcano NM)
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    | ~1 hr southeast via US-20
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Burns / Steens Mountain / Alvord Desert (Alvord Hot Springs)
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    | ~3 hrs north via US-395 / OR-78
    v
John Day Fossil Beds NM (Painted Hills, Clarno, Sheep Rock units)
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    | ~2 hrs north via US-26
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Pendleton (Pendleton Roundup historical site, Pendleton Woolen Mills)
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    | ~1.5 hrs west via I-84
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Wallowa Mountains / Joseph (Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa Lake)
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    | ~1 hr west to La Grande → I-84 west toward Columbia Gorge
    v
Hood River / Columbia River Gorge (Multnomah Falls, Crown Point)
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    | ~1 hr west on I-84
    v
Portland (Powell's Books, Hawthorne District, Japanese Garden)
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    | ~1.5 hrs west via US-26
    v
Mt. Hood (Timberline Lodge, Mirror Lake, Ramona Falls)
    |
    | ~1.5 hrs east to Hood River or continue to coast via US-26

Camping (Free/Van-Friendly)#

Free BLM/National Forest Dispersed#

Alvord Desert / Alvord Hot Springs area (Harney County BLM) — Vast alkali playa at the base of Steens Mountain. Dispersed camping anywhere on the flat desert floor. Zero light pollution. Nearly no cell service. One of the most remote and extraordinary free camping experiences in the Lower 48. The hot springs themselves are free and open 24/7 (see Shower Stops).

Steens Mountain Loop Road (BLM) — Multiple dispersed sites along the 66-mile loop (gravel, passable for careful minivan drivers on the lower sections). Camp at the base of dramatic fault-block escarpments. The gorges cut by glaciers — Kiger, Blitzen, Wildhorse — are visible from the ridge road at 9,700 feet.

Painted Hills area — Sutton Mountain BLM (Wheeler County) — Free dispersed camping on BLM land south of the John Day Fossil Beds Painted Hills unit. The hills themselves are in the monument (no camping), but BLM land immediately surrounds them.

Ochoco National Forest (near Prineville) — Extensive dispersed camping throughout the forest, particularly along the Mill Creek corridor and near Wildcat Camp. Undervisited. Excellent spring wildflowers.

Umpqua National Forest — Susan Creek area — Free dispersed camping along the North Umpqua River corridor upstream from the hot springs. Old-growth forest, clear green water.

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (near Joseph) — Dispersed sites accessible from Hurricane Creek Road and Imnaha River Road. Drive the Imnaha corridor to Hells Canyon Overlook Road for extraordinary canyon views.

Deschutes National Forest — Newberry Volcano BLM/NF land — Free camping near Paulina Lake and East Lake. The obsidian flow on the caldera floor is a geological wonder.

Paid (Notable)#

Lost Creek Campground, Crater Lake NP (~$21/night) — The only campground inside the park. First-come first-served (no reservations). America the Beautiful covers park entry. Arrive by mid-morning in peak season or you won't get a site.

Multnomah Falls Lodge Area (Columbia River Gorge, USFS) — The campground at Ainsworth State Park nearby (~$24) puts you within walking distance of the Gorge's waterfall corridor.

Tumalo State Park, Bend (~$28/night, reservable) — On the Deschutes River, easy access to Bend's excellent trail network and town amenities. Clean facilities.

Harris Beach State Park (Brookings, near Boardman Corridor, ~$28/night) — Positioned perfectly for exploring the Boardman Scenic Corridor. Ocean views from some sites.

Van-Friendly Overnight#

• Walmart: Portland (multiple), Eugene, Medford, Bend, Pendleton, Klamath Falls — confirm per-location policy
• Cracker Barrel: Troutdale (Portland east suburbs)
• Pilot/Flying J: Troutdale (OR), Cottage Grove, Medford (Fern Valley Rd)
• Oregon coast: Many state recreation sites have day-use parking areas where overnight stays are occasionally tolerated — use judgment and move on by 8am

Shower Stops#

Planet Fitness locations: Portland (multiple — Lloyd Center area, Beaverton, Hillsboro), Eugene, Medford, Salem, Bend — Black Card works everywhere

Umpqua Hot Springs (Umpqua National Forest, near Steamboat) — Free, USFS-managed, clothing-optional thermal pools perched on a hillside above the North Umpqua River. Day-use only (no overnight camping at the springs themselves). One of the most beautiful hot springs settings in the Pacific Northwest. Requires a 0.5-mile walk.

Bagby Hot Springs (Mt. Hood National Forest, near Estacada) — Hand-hewn cedar log tubs filled from a hot spring via wooden flumes. In a 1.5-mile old-growth forest setting. Free, but has seen heavy use; check USFS for current access status. Permit may be required on weekends.

Alvord Hot Springs (Harney County, near Fields) — Two concrete pools fed by geothermal water on the edge of the Alvord Desert playa. Free, open 24/7. Remote — 65 miles from Burns on a mostly paved road. One of the great free soaks in America.

Belknap Hot Springs (McKenzie River, Willamette NF) — Private resort with pools open to day visitors, ~$10–12. On the McKenzie River, surrounded by old-growth forest.

Flying J Troutdale / Wilsonville — Truck stop showers near Portland, ~$12–14

Historical Sites#

Lewis & Clark National Historical Park — Fort Clatsop (near Astoria) — The expedition's winter camp 1805–1806 at the mouth of the Columbia. The reconstructed fort is within the NPS unit. Free with America the Beautiful Pass.

Astoria Column (Astoria) — Built 1926 on Coxcomb Hill, painted with a 525-foot continuous frieze depicting Pacific Northwest history from the first Native settlements through the arrival of the Great Northern Railway. Free to visit; small fee to climb. The views across the Columbia to Washington are outstanding.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (Vancouver, WA — technically just across the Columbia from Portland) — Hudson's Bay Company's Pacific Northwest headquarters 1825–1860. The fur trade, British and American competition for the Oregon Territory, and early missionary settlement. Free with NPS pass.

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (Baker City) — Positioned on a hillside overlooking visible ruts from the original Oregon Trail below. The 23,000-square-foot center traces the 2,000-mile journey from Missouri. One of the best pioneer history museums in the American West. ~$8 entry.

Tamástslikt Cultural Institute (Pendleton) — The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation's own cultural center, presenting the Oregon Trail story from the Native perspective. ~$8–10 entry. Genuinely outstanding.

Pendleton Woolen Mills (Pendleton) — Operating woolen mill since 1909. Free factory tours (call ahead for schedule). The brand's history is intertwined with Pacific Northwest Native culture and trade blanket traditions.

Jacksonville Historic District (Jacksonville) — Oregon's first National Historic Landmark. A gold rush town from 1851, the entire downtown is on the register. The Jacksonville Museum documents the rush and subsequent Chinese immigrant community. Free to walk; museum ~$5.

Crater Lake — Wizard Island and the 1902 Establishment — Crater Lake formed approximately 7,700 years ago when Mount Mazama collapsed. The Klamath people witnessed the eruption and preserved oral accounts of it. The NPS interpretive programs at Crater Lake weave together the geology, Klamath oral tradition, and the 1902 park establishment story.

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area — Nez Perce history — Hells Canyon (deepest gorge in North America at 7,913 feet) was the ancestral homeland of the Nez Perce. The 1877 Nez Perce War forced Chief Joseph's band from the Wallowa Valley. The Hat Point Overlook (gravel road, high clearance advised) provides the most dramatic view into the canyon. Free.

Museums#

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry — OMSI (Portland) — ~$16 — Excellent natural history and science exhibits, plus a decommissioned submarine (USS Blueback, used in The Hunt for Red October) moored alongside the museum.

Portland Art Museum — ~$20 — The oldest art museum on the West Coast (1892). Strong Northwest Coast Native American collection and rotating international exhibits.

High Desert Museum (Bend) — ~$20 — Outstanding interpretation of the Great Basin and Columbia Plateau — Native cultures, ranching history, geology, and live native animals (raptors, river otters, porcupines). One of the best regional natural history museums in the West.

Oregon Historical Society (Portland) — ~$11 — The institution documenting Oregon statehood (1859), the Oregon Trail, indigenous history, and Portland's development. Thorough and well-presented.

Favell Museum of Western Art and Native Artifacts (Klamath Falls) — ~$8 — Exceptional collection of Western American art and the largest display of miniature firearms in the world. Quirky but genuinely impressive.

John Day Fossil Beds — Thomas Condon Paleontology Center (Kimberly) — Free — The fossils recovered from the John Day formation span 54 million years of Pacific Northwest prehistory — some of the most complete mammal fossil records in the world. The visitor center exhibits are free and outstanding.

Schminck Memorial Museum (Lakeview) — ~$3 — Small-town museum with a superb collection of pioneer artifacts from the Great Basin. The handmade quilts alone are worth the stop.

Sightseeing & Scenic Overlooks#

Crater Lake Rim (Watchman Peak Overlook) — The deepest lake in the United States (1,943 feet), with water so clear that blue light penetrates hundreds of feet. The color is a specific shade of deep cobalt blue that photographs almost unbelievably saturated. Drive the full 33-mile Rim Drive. Watchman Peak Trail (1.6 miles RT) gives the highest accessible viewpoint over Wizard Island.

Sunrise at Crater Lake (Rim Village or Cloud Cap Overlook) — The calm water reflects the full crater rim at dawn before wind builds. Arrive at the overlook before first light and stay until the sun crests the eastern rim.

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor (southern coast, US-101) — A 12-mile stretch of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Oregon, possibly in the continental US. Natural Bridges, Arch Rock, Whaleshead Beach, Secret Beach, and China Beach are all within walking distance of roadside pull-offs. Plan 3–4 hours minimum to stop at each one.

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach — A 235-foot sea stack, third largest in the world, accessible on foot at low tide. Tufted puffins nest on its upper ledges (visible May–July with binoculars). The beach at sunset with the rock silhouetted is one of Oregon's most recognizable images.

Columbia River Gorge — Crown Point / Vista House — The Art Nouveau Vista House perched on Crown Point 733 feet above the Columbia River was built in 1916. The river corridor stretching east is one of the great scenic corridors in North America.

Multnomah Falls (Columbia River Gorge) — 620 feet, the tallest waterfall in Oregon. A 1-mile paved trail leads to the Benson Bridge between the two tiers. In winter, the falls sometimes develop ice formations on the basalt walls.

Smith Rock State Park (Bend/Terrebonne) — The Crooked River canyon with 400-foot tuff and basalt towers. The Misery Ridge loop (3.5 miles) provides the best overview. One of the most photographed rock climbing destinations in the country. Free day-use parking with Oregon State Parks pass or ~$5 day-use fee.

Painted Hills (John Day Fossil Beds NM) — Banded red, gold, black, and green clastone hills that shift color as clouds pass. Late afternoon or after rain makes the colors most vivid. Short loop trails access the best views. Free with America the Beautiful Pass.

Steens Mountain Summit Viewpoint (BLM, ~9,700 ft) — The summit road is the highest road in Oregon. From the east-side ridge, the Alvord Desert playa is 5,000 feet directly below you. The U-shaped glacial gorges on the west side are textbook examples.

Painted Canyon / Picture Gorge (John Day Fossil Beds, Sheep Rock Unit) — US-19 cuts through a basalt canyon where the John Day River has exposed millions of years of geological strata. The blue-green and tan banding is best photographed in morning light heading north.

Ecola State Park (Cannon Beach) — The headland trail north of Cannon Beach offers views south to Haystack Rock, north to Tillamook Head, and offshore to the wreck site of the Peter Iredale. The Indian Beach cove is consistently photogenic.

Wallowa Lake and Eagle Cap Wilderness (Joseph) — The glacially-carved Wallowa Valley terminates at Wallowa Lake, ringed by peaks exceeding 9,000 feet. The gondola at Wallowa Lake State Park (~$30) ascends Mt. Howard for panoramic views of the Wallowas and Hells Canyon rim.

Cultural & Heritage Landmarks#

Powell's City of Books (Portland) — The largest independent bookstore in the world: a full city block, four floors, color-coded rooms. The rare books room has items dating to the 1500s. Free to browse; plan two hours minimum.

Timberline Lodge (Mt. Hood) — A WPA-built National Historic Landmark (1937) at 6,000 feet on Mt. Hood. The interior craftsmanship — hand-carved newel posts, mosaic floors, wrought iron — is extraordinary. The exterior appeared as the Overlook Hotel in The Shining. Free to walk through; no entry fee.

Chief Joseph Monument and Nez Perce Legacy (Wallowa County) — The town of Joseph is named for the Wallowa band Nez Perce leader who was forced from the valley in 1877. The Chief Joseph Days rodeo (late July) is one of the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture documents Nez Perce history.

Shaniko Ghost Town (Wasco County) — Oregon's most intact ghost town — a wool-shipping center from the 1890s that died when the railroad bypassed it. The hotel, jail, and schoolhouse still stand. Free to walk.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (Florence to Coos Bay) — The largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America — up to 500 feet high. The dunes are an active USFS recreation area, not NPS. ATV rentals, hiking, and sandboarding are all active here.

Golf#

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon) — Routinely ranked in the top 10 public courses in the world. Rates run $200–350 per round depending on course and season. It is genuinely out of budget for this trip but earns a mention as a once-in-a-lifetime destination if circumstances allow. The Links of Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, and Old Macdonald courses each rank separately in national top-100 lists.

Tokatee Golf Club (Blue River, McKenzie River Valley) — ~$40–55 — Consistently rated one of the top 10 affordable golf experiences in the United States. A beautiful mountain course along the McKenzie River surrounded by Douglas fir and Cascade peaks. For the budget traveler who golfs, this is the one to plan around. Drive the McKenzie River Highway (OR-126) to get here — it's a scenic corridor in its own right.

Ski / Snowboard#

Best season: January–March for backcountry and resort skiing. Timberline's summer skiing (June–July on Palmer) is a unique experience — skiing in the morning, afternoon at Smith Rock.

Drone Photography#

No-fly zones (NPS — all banned for DJI Mavic 2 over 250g):

• Crater Lake National Park (entire boundary)
• Lewis & Clark National Historical Park
• Fort Vancouver NHS (technically Washington but same trip)
• Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve
• John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

Legal standouts (BLM and USFS — confirm current TFRs and temporary closures):

Alvord Desert (BLM, Harney County) — The playa is one of the great drone photography locations in the American West. Absolute flatness, geometric cracking patterns, the Steens Mountain wall rising to the west, and near-zero air traffic. Fly at dawn for raking light across the playa texture.

Painted Hills (John Day Fossil Beds is NM — NPS — no fly) — BUT the BLM land immediately surrounding the monument is legal. The colored hills read dramatically from altitude. Consult Gaia GPS for precise boundary lines before flying.

Steens Mountain (BLM land throughout) — The summit plateau and the glacial gorge walls are extraordinary from above. The U-shaped gorges are textbook aerial geology subjects.

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor (Oregon State Park — not NPS) — Oregon State Parks generally allow drone use with restrictions; check with OPRD for current permit requirements. The Natural Bridges arch complex and Whaleshead Beach from above are among the most dramatic coastal aerial subjects on the West Coast.

Oregon Dunes NRA (USFS) — Legal on National Forest land. Aerial views of the dune formations, beach, and ocean transition are spectacular.

Smith Rock State Park (Oregon State Park) — Check OPRD regulations. The Crooked River canyon from above — with the Monkey Face tower and the river bend — is a premier Oregon aerial subject.

Columbia River Gorge (USFS and Washington State land on the north side) — Legal on National Forest land outside designated recreation areas. Vista House is a striking architectural subject from above; the river and waterfall corridor read well from altitude. Avoid the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area restricted airspace near the Interstate Bridge.

Special note — Umpqua and Bagby Hot Springs: These are USFS land, generally legal for drone use. However, the privacy considerations at clothing-optional hot springs make flying here inappropriate unless the area is empty and you have explicit awareness of all people present.

Photography & Scenic Opportunities#

Crater Lake sunrise from Rim Village — No other lake color compares. Set up 20 minutes before sunrise facing east; the western rim turns pink-orange as the sky brightens. A 10-stop ND filter lets you shoot long exposures of the water surface.

Painted Hills late afternoon (John Day) — The red hills (oxidized iron in the clastone) are most saturated just before sunset when the light angle is low. A slight overcast is ideal — direct sun washes the color slightly. The overlook loop trail places you above the formation at the right distance.

Haystack Rock at low tide, blue hour (Cannon Beach) — The wet sand reflects the sky color after sunset. Shoot with a long lens from 200–300 feet south to include the tidal pools and sea stacks in the foreground.

Multnomah Falls in winter ice — The mist from the falls freezes on the basalt cliffs in January and February, building ice sculptures. The Benson Bridge is the ideal vantage point. Arrive weekdays before 9am to avoid crowds.

Samuel H. Boardman — Natural Bridges from the cliff trail — The sea arches are best photographed from the cliff trail viewpoint looking west at midday when the sun is behind you. Golden hour creates warm reflections inside the arches.

Alvord Desert playa at dawn — The geometric cracking patterns in the dried lake bed extend to the horizon. Shoot low with a wide angle to emphasize the texture, with Steens Mountain as the background. The playa can flood in wet years — check conditions before driving onto it.

Smith Rock — Monkey Face tower from the river bend — The half-mile trail from the main viewpoint descends to the Crooked River, where a 180° bend frames the Monkey Face pinnacle. Golden hour from the bench above the river.

Columbia River Gorge foliage (mid-October) — The hillsides above the gorge turn brilliant orange and yellow. Crown Point and the Rowena Plateau are the highest-volume fall color locations. Rowena Crest (US-30 east of Hood River) offers sweeping views east toward the high desert.

Wallowa Lake and Aneroid Lake (backpack, Eagle Cap Wilderness) — The alpine lake at 7,500 feet in the Wallowas requires a 7-mile hike. The reflection of Eagle Cap peak (9,595 ft) in the lake surface is one of the finest alpine shots in Oregon.

Ecola State Park — Indian Beach at low tide — Sea stacks, pocket beaches, and offshore rocks. Shoot north from the beach toward Tillamook Head at golden hour.

Practical Notes#

• Cell coverage: Excellent in the Willamette Valley corridor (I-5: Portland to Medford), Columbia Gorge, and Bend. Very limited in Harney County (Burns, Steens, Alvord) — plan for complete dead zones covering 100+ mile stretches. The southern coast and Boardman Corridor have intermittent coverage. Download offline maps for all of eastern Oregon before leaving Bend.
• Fuel gaps in eastern Oregon: The distances between fuel stops in Harney County are significant. Burns to Fields (near Alvord) is ~65 miles one way with no fuel. Frenchglen has a small general store. Always depart with a full tank when entering the Steens/Alvord area. Carry a 2-gallon jerry can as insurance.
• Oregon coast weather: "Sunny" on the Oregon coast in summer means 65°F with ocean breeze. Fog is common in the morning, burning off by noon. Wind at the headlands (Ecola, Cape Perpetua, Cape Sebastian) can be strong enough to make standing difficult. Layer always.
• Crater Lake rim road timing: The rim road (OR-62 spur and the Rim Drive loop) is typically closed by snow from November to late June. The south entrance and Rim Village are plowed first. Check NPS road conditions weekly if planning a spring visit.
• Bears and wildlife: Black bears throughout the Cascades and coast ranges. Food must be stored properly at all USFS campgrounds — a hard-sided vehicle (like a minivan) counts as adequate bear storage. Elk are common on the coast and in the Wallowas — major road hazard at dawn and dusk.
• No sales tax: Oregon has no state sales tax. Budget travelers benefit meaningfully — every purchase, gear item, or grocery run is 0% tax.
• Bagby and Umpqua Hot Springs — check status before going: Both have had periods of closure for trail damage or overuse. USFS website for Willamette and Umpqua National Forests lists current status. Weekday visits are far more peaceful.
• Oregon Beach Bill: All Oregon beaches are public land to the vegetation line, by law. There are no private beach access points in Oregon — a meaningful distinction from California. You can walk, camp (where designated), and explore any beach in the state.
• America the Beautiful Pass covers: Crater Lake NP, John Day Fossil Beds NM, Oregon Caves NM, Lewis & Clark NHP, Fort Vancouver NHS. Does not cover Oregon State Parks (separate $5/day or $30/year day-use fee).