7 Breathtaking Scenic Drives in Oregon You Need to Take

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Oregon is full of amazing landscapes, coastlines, mountains, rivers, and forests. The best way to see it all is by car. These scenic drives in Oregon take you to waterfalls, lighthouses, viewpoints, and charming towns, giving you plenty of chances to stop, explore, and enjoy the scenery along the way.

We’ve included key stops, practical tips, and the best routes so you can plan a road trip without missing anything.

Map of Oregon Coast Highway (US-101) – Cannon Beach to Gold Beach

Route: Cannon Beach → Gold Beach

Time: ~7–8 hours (best as 2–3 days)

Key Stops: 

At low tide, you can walk right up to the base of Haystack Rock and explore tide pools filled with sea stars, anemones, and crabs.

In spring and summer, this is one of the best places on the coast to spot tufted puffins nesting on the rock.

The town of Cannon Beach is perfect for a slow morning: coffee shops, art galleries, and a scenic beach walk.

Cannon Beach / Scenic Drives in Oregon

Ecola offers some of the most iconic views on the Oregon Coast, including the exact cliffs seen in The Goonies.

There are short trails that lead to dramatic overlooks where you can often see migrating gray whales in winter and spring.

Parking fills fast, so going early usually means fewer crowds and easier access to the viewpoints.

View from Ecola State Park / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Depoe Bay is known as the “Whale Watching Capital of Oregon” because resident gray whales stay close to shore from March through December.

Newport adds historic charm with the Yaquina Bay Bridge, plus great seafood around the bayfront.

If you have time, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is one of the top marine attractions in the Pacific Northwest and is worth an hour or two.

Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

The Oregon Dunes stretch for nearly 40 miles and make this one of the most unique landscapes on the coast; you can walk, hike, or ride dune buggies across massive sand hills.

Florence’s Old Town is a great spot for lunch or browsing small shops with a view of the Siuslaw River Bridge.

PRO TIPS:

• If you want solitude, the dunes at sunset are spectacular and far quieter than during mid-day.
• If you want to break up the drive, then plan an overnight in Newport or Florence and fully enjoy the stops.

Oregon Dunes / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Bandon’s coastline is famous for sea stacks that look like sculptures rising from the waves, especially at Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint.

The Coquille River Lighthouse, built in 1896, is one of the most photogenic on the Oregon Coast and is easy to access.

PRO TIP: If you are visiting in the fall, nearby cranberry bogs turn bright red and sometimes offer fresh-from-the-farm products.

Bandon / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Bandon & Coquille River Lighthouse / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Historic Columbia River Highway (I-84 & US-30)

Route: Troutdale → Hood River

Time: ~1–2 hours direct, but plan half a day

Key Stops:

The Crown Point Vista is a 1918 building, perched above the Columbia River Gorge, and includes an indoor observation area, gift shop, and restrooms; useful if the weather turns.

The terrace gives clear views of the historic highway, Bridal Veil Falls, and nearby trails.

Parking is limited, so be prepared to wait for a vacant spot.

Crown Point Vista House / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Crown Point Vista House / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

A short 0.25‑mile trail leads to Lower Latourell Falls, which drops 249 feet straight down a basalt cliff. The waterfall is easily accessible from the parking area and is one of the few in the Gorge that plunges in a single drop.

For a longer experience, the 2‑mile loop to Upper Latourell Falls takes you through forested trails with moss-covered basalt and offers multiple viewpoints of the falls from different angles. The loop is moderately hilly and can be muddy after rain

Latourell Falls / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

A 0.5‑mile paved trail leads to the two-tiered Bridal Veil Falls, which flows year-round and remains impressive even in the dry season.

Most of the trail is flat and easy, but has a short set of steps near the viewpoint.

There is a short extension of the trail that allows a view from above the lower tier.

Bridal Veil Falls / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest waterfall, at 620 feet, with the historic Benson Footbridge offering close-up views.

Shuttle service and timed tickets are now required in summer, so check online before visiting. There’s a lodge at the base with restrooms, a café, and a gift shop.

Multnomah Falls / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Wahkeena Falls is a cascade-style waterfall accessible via a short, mostly downhill trail that connects to Multnomah Falls via the Gorge Trail. It’s usually less crowded than Multnomah, making it ideal for photos without waiting.

The trail can be muddy after rain, so wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for slippery sections.

Wahkeena Falls / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Mount Hood Scenic Byway (US‑26 / OR‑35)

Route: Troutdale → Government Camp → Hood River

Time: ~2.5 hours direct, but plan half a day to explore stops and short hikes.

Key Stops:

Trillium Lake sits at the base of Mount Hood and is famous for its mirror-like reflections of the mountain, especially in the early morning before the wind picks up.

There is a 1.5-mile flat loop trail that circles the lake and takes 30–45 minutes at a relaxed pace. Fishing is allowed for trout, non-motorized boating is permitted, and the nearby campground fills quickly in summer; reservations are recommended.

Trillium Lake / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Timberline Lodge is a 1930s National Historic Landmark with detailed wood and stone craftsmanship, surrounded by short trails through alpine forest.

Just a few miles down the road, Government Camp serves as the alpine village hub for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking, with restaurants, coffee shops, and gear rentals.

Snow often remains here into early summer.

Aerial View of Mount Hood / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

The Hood River Fruit Loop is a 35-mile scenic drive through the Hood River Valley that winds along OR‑35, OR‑281, and connecting country roads through orchards, wineries, cideries, and lavender farms.

The loop begins near Hood River city and passes through small communities like Parkdale and Odell, offering panoramic views of Mount Hood and Mount Adams.

In late summer and early fall, you can buy peaches, apples, pears, and berries at roadside stands, sample local wines and ciders, or pick your own fruit at participating farms.

Hood River Valley / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

McKenzie Pass–Santiam Pass Scenic Byway

Route: McKenzie Bridge → Santiam Pass (via OR‑242 / OR‑126)

Time: ~2–3 hours direct, but plan half a day to explore viewpoints and short hikes.

Key Stops:

McKenzie Pass is a high mountain pass that traverses lava flows from the 6,700-year-old Belknap Crater eruption.

The Dee Wright Observatory sits atop a lava flow and features viewing tunnels with interpretive panels about the surrounding Cascade volcanic landscape.

There are short trails that will allow you to walk among basalt formations and take great photos of the Three Sisters, Mount Washington, and other peaks.

McKenzie Pass / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Dee Wright Observatory / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Sparks Lake sits at the edge of Mount Bachelor and was created when ancient lava flows dammed Soda Creek, leaving today’s shallow, scenic basin with wide views of South Sister and Broken Top.

The main trail here is the Ray Atkeson Memorial Trail, which starts on a short paved section and then becomes a 2.5-mile loop through meadows, lava rock, and shoreline viewpoints.

Sparks Lake / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Proxy Falls is reached by a 1.6-mile loop trail through old lava fields and pockets of old-growth forest.

The lower tier of the falls fans out over a moss-covered cliff and is one of the most photographed waterfalls on the McKenzie Pass.

Proxy Falls / Scenic Drives in Oregon

Clear Lake was formed roughly 3,000 years ago after a lava flow dammed the McKenzie River, and today it’s known for having some of the clearest water in Oregon. Visibility can reach over 100 feet.

A 5-mile trail circles the lake, passing viewpoints of submerged ancient tree trunks that are still preserved underwater.

Clear Lake / Scenic Drives in Oregon

Three Capes Scenic Loop (OR-131 & Sandlake Rd)

Route: Tillamook → Cape Meares → Cape Lookout → Pacific City (Cape Kiwanda)

Time: ~2–3 hours without stops

Key Stops:

Cape Meares is home to the Oregon Coast’s shortest lighthouse at just 38 feet, perched on a cliff more than 200 feet above the ocean.

From the viewpoints, you can see Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, a protected nesting area for seabirds like puffins and cormorants.

There are short paved paths that lead to the Octopus Tree, a unique Sitka spruce with naturally twisted branches.

Cape Meares / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Cape Lookout has a 2.4-mile round-trip trail that leads to cliff-edge viewpoints more than 400 feet above the Pacific. The trail passes through old-growth forest, where you can see native plants and birds along the way.

From the top, you can watch migrating gray whales (December–January and March–May) and enjoy panoramic ocean and sunset views.

Cape Kiwanda features a sandstone headland and a large climbable dune that offers wide views of the Pacific coast. From the top, you can often see surfers, traditional dory boats launching from the beach, and Haystack Rock offshore.

Cape Kiwanda / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Rogue–Umpqua Scenic Byway OR-62 / OR-230 / OR-138)

Route: Roseburg → Diamond Lake

Time: ~4–5 hours without stops

Key Stops:

Watson Falls is the third-tallest waterfall in Oregon at 272 feet, plunging in a single dramatic drop from a basalt amphitheater.

The 0.4-mile trail climbs steadily but is well-maintained, with footbridges and several spots to see the falls from different angles. At the end of the trail, a cleared area at the base of the falls gives a close-up perspective of the cascade and the surrounding rock walls, especially impressive after rainfall.

Watson Falls / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Toketee Falls flows through a narrow basalt gorge formed by ancient lava flows, creating one of the most photographed waterfalls in the state. The 0.8-mile trail includes stairs and railings, ending at a wooden viewing deck overlooking the two-tiered falls. Nearby, you can see the historic Toketee Pipeline, which feeds a hydroelectric power plant.

Toketee Falls / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Umpqua Hot Springs sits on a hillside above the North Umpqua River, with several terraced soaking pools fed by natural mineral water.

The 0.3-mile trail is short but steep, and it can be muddy, icy, or slick depending on the season, so good shoes are important.

A day-use fee is required, and mornings tend to be the quietest time to visit before crowds build later in the day.

Umpqua Hot Springs / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Diamond Lake sits at about 5,100 feet and has clear views of both Mount Bailey and Mount Thielsen across the water.

In summer, the paved 11-mile bike path around the lake is popular with families, and the marina rents boats, bikes, and kayaks. In winter, the area becomes a snow-play hub with marked snowshoe and cross-country ski trails maintained near the lodge.

Diamond Lake / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway (OR-62 / Rim Drive — Crater Lake)

Route: Medford → Crater Lake National Park → Rim Drive → Diamond Lake

Time: ~2.5–4 hours driving (longer with Rim Drive stops)

Key Stops:

Union Creek is a small stop along the Rogue River with restrooms, food, and fuel, making it a convenient break along the drive.

A short, mostly paved trail leads to Natural Bridge, where the Rogue River flows into a lava tube and disappears underground before resurfacing downstream. Spring snowmelt raises water levels and makes the river’s sudden drop into the lava tube especially dramatic.

Natural Bridge / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Rim Village is the main viewpoint area, with parking, restrooms, a café, and the visitor center. From here, you get the classic view straight across the caldera at Wizard Island.

Snow remains into early July most years, so some paths may be partially snow-covered in early summer.

Crater Lake NP Rim Village / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Watchman is one of the best viewpoints with a large pullout directly beside the rim.

A short 0.8-mile hike to Watchman Peak Lookout offers one of the highest panoramas accessible without a long trek.

Crater Lake NP Watchman Overlook / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

At 7,700 feet, Cloudcap is the highest accessible viewpoint on the rim road. The overlook provides unobstructed views of the deep-blue lake and steep eastern caldera wall. The access road is narrow but paved, and it’s usually one of the last sections to melt out each summer.

Crater Lake NP Cloudcap Overlook / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

This stop offers a clear view of Phantom Ship, a natural rock formation that looks like a small sailing vessel rising from the water. Early morning is best for seeing details before the haze builds.

The viewpoint is right off the road with minimal walking required.

Crater Lake NP Phantom Ship / Scenic Drives in Oregon 

Just north of the park, Diamond Lake is a popular place to relax after the loop. There’s a flat 11-mile bike path around the shoreline and rentals for kayaks or small boats.

The views of Mount Bailey and Mount Thielsen make this a good photo stop.