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We hope to drive from San Francisco, CA to Portland along the coast but only have four days. Is that enough time to enjoy the most outstanding features? Will a standard medium size car do the trick? – Ethel

I think that four days is enough time, but you might consider taking the fast, inland route up 1-5 from San Francisco to Medford and Grants Pass, Oregon. Then, head west to Coos Bay — that would be a day’s journey by itself, but once you got there, you could slow down and really enjoy the coastline with its many dramatic vistas, seafood restaurants and beaches. You could turtle all the way up to Astoria, if you liked, and then follow the Columbia River back to Portland. If you spent three days in that 8 hour drive, you would have time for cheap but wonderful things like hiking, picnics and leisurely beach-combing. And you won’t need a four-wheel drive car. A medium sized car or even a compact car would be fine. We have pavement!

Answered by Niki Price, Ask Oregon Expert
April 26th, 2012

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Other questions about Coast

  1. We are driving to Port Orford to visit the prehistoric gardens, then to Bandon for the Wildlife Zoo and then working our way back to Tillamook. We are looking for some special sights and sounds to visit on Highway 101. We’ve been to the lighthouses on the Oregon coast but are wondering about some not so common sights.What do you recommend?
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About Ask Oregon Expert Niki Price

Niki Price is the editor and co-owner of Oregon Coast Today, a weekly newspaper covering arts, entertainment and the environment on the central Oregon coast. She roams the shores of the Oregon coast, covering everything from pelican proliferation to proffered profiteroles, with two underage editorial assistants often in tow.

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