Eastern Oregon

[timandsusan]

I have been planning our summer-fall 2017 travels. From Salt Lake City, I am interested in Eastern Oregon and Bend, Oregon as a destination for a week or so. So, far it looks like there are only a few routes from SLC to Bend. Any comments on travels thru Eastern Oregon and what see and do would be appreciated.

[Dam Worker]

If you're going up I-84 you could go north at Lagrande and go to Wallowa lake, very neat but you will need reservations especially for weekends. September would probably not require them. Further west on 84 is Pendelton which is pretty cool and I think the round up is in early September.

Tom Marty

[vipermanden]

Tim,

You gotta check out this RV park. We are going there in October for a wedding. It might be the nicest RV park we have ever stayed in? It is rated in the top 5 in America!! Let me know what you think. I stumbled on it, because the wedding is in Bend, Oregon.

www.CrownVillaRVResort.com

[GregN]

The Crown Villa is a very nice park. Very large spaces. Warning, if coming in from the south, check your GPS. It may have you go on Knott Rd to Brosterhous Rd. There is a train over crossing on Brosterhous that is too low to get under. Check with the park to see what is the best way in. When I stayed there, they told me to come into town, before turning. I know there has been road work going on where I turned, so there may be a different way in now.

[timandsusan]

Thanks to everyone--great info! Next question--has anyone stayed in Burns and what about scenic drives-without the rig. We have toured the Columbia River from Astoria to Idaho--all great--we may go back but don't want to miss any great spots in Eastern Oregon and around Bend. Also did all the lighthouses and coast on another extended trip.

[vipermanden]

Greg, all over their website, and when you call and make reservations, they tell you about that 12 foot high bridge to avoid. I checked my Google map directions, and it has us going the right way to avoid that low bridge.

[hunts800]

Might want to check out the John Day Fossil Beds and the museum in John Day. Further West, great rv park called the Gardens in Sisters, Oregon. From Sisters/Bend, check out Smith Rock State Park. Lots to see and do throughout the whole area. Crater Lake is a "must see" while you are in the vicinity.

[ranch560]

Originally Posted by timandsusan

Thanks to everyone--great info! Next question--has anyone stayed in Burns and what about scenic drives-without the rig. We have toured the Columbia River from Astoria to Idaho--all great--we may go back but don't want to miss any great spots in Eastern Oregon and around Bend. Also did all the lighthouses and coast on another extended trip.

Tim, we have stayed at a rustic hot springs just south of Burns called Crystal Crane https://cranehotsprings.com Not too much to see in Burns. Has a great old fashioned butcher/meat processor (Buermanns) that made several types of killer sausage. We bought a marinated tri-tip that had been smoked and partially cooked that was so good we still talk about 3 years later. Almost worth going there for just that. Just north of Burns is John Day. More to see there. And as mentioned, the fossil beds are a very worthwhile stop, especially the Painted Hills. Hwy 26 east to Baker City is very scenic.

[Dam Worker]

Crater Lake is also pretty neat.

Tom Marty

[timandsusan]

I can see my trip taking shape! Lots of great advice. I have visited Crater Lake and will spend my time on other sights in the area. Same goes for the Columbia River--but it sure is a nice drive! Thanks again.

[jcurtis934]

we came into oregon via the side door from interstate 84 catching 20/26 into vale, oregon. Stayed there one night then towed straight to bend, stayed in la pine overnight, then to diamond lake rv park for few days in mid june to see crater lake. Nice rv park, but it snowed every morning...no accumulation. Then down 62 to medford area and onto 5 up to seven feathers rv resort for a bit. Did coast from brookings to astoria. Highly reccomens sisters for staying at rv park there. They have been doing major highway work on 97 la pine through bend this summer. Will be really nice when done.

[MARK A]

Originally Posted by timandsusan

Thanks to everyone--great info! Next question--has anyone stayed in Burns and what about scenic drives-without the rig. We have toured the Columbia River from Astoria to Idaho--all great--we may go back but don't want to miss any great spots in Eastern Oregon and around Bend. Also did all the lighthouses and coast on another extended trip.

The only reason to stay in Burns is because it's too late to make it to Bend .. Not much there, even the Indian Casino pulled out. Beautiful country but that's about it.

Mark