Chances are if you are reading this blog, you have the wanderlust bug. Go on, admit it. I have it too, so let me tell you how my need to get out and explore has made me a happier person. Going on a road trip is one of my favorite things.
When things get too stressful, oftentimes just getting into a car, truck or yes, even a recreational vehicle (an RV) can be the cure for what ails me. Never been RV-ing? Well, what are you waiting for? It is said that getting out of your comfort zone is a healthy thing. I tend to agree.
And guess what? You can do it safely without endangering other people! Well, you DO have to drive carefully. But y’know that whole ‘social distancing’ thing? Yeah, you can do that here.
Significant other driving you crazy? Take them with you on a romantic road trip. Family encroaching on your ‘me time’ and personal space? Tell them you’re going on an adventure, and then DARE them to want to stay home. In this way, getting out onto the open road can literally mean you won’t kill or be killed (metaphorically speaking, of course).
Read on for some great summer road trip ideas, as well as a camping road trip planner, with the best camping and RV destinations in Oregon and Washington. But what’s more, there is also an app for that! Here is a great road trip planner app to get you going.
Road Trip Ideas for Oregon
- Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast, from Astoria to Gold Beach (or vice versa)
- Highway 138 – Oregon’s waterfall highway from Roseburg to Klamath Falls
- Umpqua National Falls Loop
- Bend, Sisters, and the Deschutes National Forest
- Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway
- Highway 26 and Mount Hood
- Pendleton to Baker City – Eastern Oregon
- John Day and the Malheur National Forest
Road Trip Ideas for Washington State
- The Cascades Loop can easily be a 7-10 day adventure.
- Highway 90 going east from Seattle to Spokane holds such treasures as Stevens Pass, Moses Lake, and Spokane. Take short detours north from the highway to Leavenworth and Soap Lake.
- The Peninsula that holds Olympia National Forest can keep you busy for 1-2 weeks!
- San Juan Islands of Puget Sound – yes, you can take your RV on the ferry!
- Mount Baker Highway is great for a 1-2 day road trip, running along Hwy 542.
- Mount Rainier National Park is more than just a mountain. Oh, so much more!
- Fans of the show Twin Peaks should check out this road trip.
RV’s are the Best Form of Vacationing
Renting an RV means you take your temporary home with you, wherever in the country you may want to roam. There is no packing and unpacking of suitcases. And America is chock full of RV campgrounds located conveniently along major roads and highways. This means you can hunker down for the evening after exploring the sights, sounds, and smells of the great US of A, worry-free.
The Best RV Parks in Oregon
- Crater Lake RV Park – read about my incredible trip to Crater Lake, Oregon’s only National Park.
- Mazama Campground is another great spot near Crater Lake, just 7 miles south of the park.
- Fort Stevens State Park – located along the Northern Oregon Coast, the nearby beach features the remnants of a shipwreck over 100 years ago.
- Sea & Sand RV Park – just outside of Depoe Bay along the gorgeous Central Oregon coast.
- Newport KOA – a little further south along the coast is the very scenic RV park.
- South Beach State Park – another gem with tons of RV camps, regular camps, and yurts galore!
- Bend/Sisters Garden RV Park – just outside Sisters, this is a great home base if you’re exploring Central Oregon.
- Boardman Marina & RV Park – if you are traveling along the Columbia River Gorge, this is a great place to set up camp.
- Viento State Park – another fabulous campground near the Columbia River, near Hood River.
- Crystal Crane Hot Springs – located near Burns, Southeastern Oregon is a desert oasis, and this should be your RV camp when exploring the areas.
- Wallowa Lake State Park – Eastern Oregon also has the deepest gorge in North America with Hells Canyon, and the Wallowa’s host world-class fishing and boating.
Washington RV Destinations
- South Beach Campground – located on the Olympic Peninsula, 38 miles south of Forks, on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
- Riverbend RV Park – located in the Methow Valley of central Washington, with riverfront views.
- Wind Mountain RV Resort & Lodge – anglers along the Columbia River flock to this resort. Here you can catch steelhead, sturgeon, bass, and salmon.
- Ken RV Park & Campground – located on the southern Washington coast, south of Aberdeen, is a great family-oriented campground, where clamming is the norm.
- Eagle Tree RV Park – while you’re on the Olympic Peninsula, check out this spot that is close to the ferry for an impromptu day trip to Seattle.
- Midway RV Park – the name says it all. Located along I-5, halfway between Portland and Seattle, this modern campground provides for all of your needs.
- Driftwood RV Resort – another great campsite near the beach, at the southwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula.
- Columbia Sun RV Resort – in central Washington just north of I-84, this resort has a heated pool and hot tub, frisbee golf and dog runs.
- North Whidbey RV Park – on Whidbey Island near the famous Deception Pass, there is access to a ton of walking trails, swimming at the beach, and fishing. Nearby Fort Casey is a great way to spend the day.
- Packwood RV Park – near Mount Rainier, this is the premier place to put down temporary roots when exploring the area.
It comes as no surprise that travel makes one happier, and as a result, healthier, mentally and physically. It basically saves your soul. Road trips are the ultimate way to do this. To get out of your day-to-day, to see new places, to experiences new things, to meet new people (even from a distance) – it is what makes us who we are humans.
