Eastern Oregon is off the beaten path, but you’ve planned the right amount of time for exploring it by car. There are several incredible summer routes, depending on how far you want to venture and your interests.

Here are two dramatic driving routes to check out with key points of interest:

• Journey Through Time Scenic Byway: Painted Hills and John Day Fossil Beds, John Day River and Chinese history
• Hells Canyon Scenic Byway: Wallowa Mountains and Hells Canyon, Native American and Oregon Trail history

Since you only have a few days, you will probably want to make a loop out of one of these driving routes. I recommend a different stop each night to get the full experience and to lighten the driving load.
I hope you’ll let me know where you go and how it turns out for you.