You don’t have to spend a lot to experience the best of Oregon.

You can plan your itinerary based on your budget: from scenic drives to free hikes and low-cost cultural experiences, there are endless ways to spend your day without breaking the bank. And with a variety of things to do, including vineyards, urban centers, forests and dramatic coastlines, a visit to Oregon is like experiencing multiple vacation destinations in one. Let us introduce you to just a handful of our low-cost activities, cheap eats, affordable places to stay and tax-free shopping.

• You can often find off-season deals at hotels if you choose spring, fall or winter.
• Oregon has more than 250 state parks, many that feature access for biking, boating, fishing, swimming and watching wildlife.
• Don’t forget to order or download one of our free travel guides so you can make the most of your miles and plan gas-saving trip routes.

Where would you like to stargaze in Oregon? ✨

With large swaths of night sky free from light pollution, Oregon is home to some of the best stargazing on the planet. Whether you’re camping in Oregon’s state parks, enjoying a ranger-led stargazing experience or venturing into remote areas, the stars await.

Where to Stargaze in Oregon

Oregon is home to half a dozen official dark-sky areas designated by DarkSky International, noted for their communities’ commitment to reducing light pollution. Many of these communities host guided nighttime tours in the summer months. They include:

• Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary (Southern Oregon)
• Oregon Caves National Monument (Southern Oregon)
• Prineville Reservoir State Park (Central Oregon)
• City of Antelope (Central Oregon)
• City of Sisters (Central Oregon)
• Cottonwood Canyon State Park (Eastern Oregon)

Where to find Star Parties in Oregon

Plan a trip around a free summer star party, hosted by experts often at the above locations as well as these parks, where the night skies are typically clear and excellent spots for viewing. Beginner stargazers and expert astronomers alike gather to see the planets, moon, stars and other celestial sights and enjoy the night skies among community:

• L.L. Stub Stewart State Park (Portland Region)
• Rooster Rock State Park (Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge)
• Wallowa Lake State Park (Eastern Oregon)
• Shore Acres State Park (Oregon Coast)

When to Stargaze in Oregon

These annual events are especially great times to plan a trip: Summer solstice (June), lunar viewing (July), Perseid meteor shower (August), autumnal equinox  (September).

Top Tips for Stargazing in Oregon

• If you’re looking for clear skies, check the forecast to avoid heavy cloud cover.
• If you’re new to night-time excursions consider joining a guided night hike or stargazing tour, attending a star-party event or participating in a ranger-led experience. Many tours include transportation, food, lodging and expert navigation.
• If you go on your own you may want to bring a camera and tripod, telescope and a paper map along with your Ten Essentials and download an app for stargazing.
• Most headlamps have a red-light setting that will let you see at night but won’t disturb wildlife or other stargazers.
• Be prepared as you travel to remote areas, where cell service and gas stations are limited.
• Support and be respectful of nearby small communities as you travel, and always be sure to pack everything out.

Here are some gift ideas from across the state to show your love.

Oregon is known for its fiercely creative and innovative makers — from handmade art and jewelry to home products, clothing and of course food and drink. Whether you’re looking to send a special Oregon-made product to a loved one or treat yourself, you don’t have to look far. 

Indigenous people have inhabited what is now Oregon since time immemorial with cultures as rich and diverse as the landscapes they live on. Today, the members of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon carry forward a deep knowledge of this place and traditions that have endured and evolved for thousands of years.

More than 50 tribes fished wild rivers and great waterfalls, like the now submerged Celilo Falls on the mighty Columbia River. They scored petroglyphs in rock canyons like Picture Rock Pass and left behind the world’s oldest pair of footwear at Fort Rock. Proud ancestors of those first people make up nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon: the Burns Paiute Tribe; the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians; the Coquille Indian Tribe; the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians; the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; the Klamath Tribes; the Confederated Tribes of Siletz; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Oregon welcomes the world to TrackTown USA, July 15-24, 2022.

The best track and field athletes in the world will come together in a celebration of human potential and athletic achievement this summer. Two thousand athletes representing 200 nations will compete at the reimagined Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon – the birthplace of track and field in the United States.

The World Athletics Championships has showcased the greatest athletes around the globe since 1983. This is the first time the U.S. will host this prestigious event. Coverage of the 10 days of competition will be shared in more than 190 territories.

Tickets are on sale now; book soon before they sell out.

Read on for everything you need to know about this spectacular event, as well as tips and inspiration for extending your travels throughout Oregon.

Remember when we exaggerated Oregon ever so slightly?

If you loved the giant rabbit running through tulip fields, whales hidden in the clouds above a daydreamer or the coastal rock creature who takes control of the sunrise, you are in for a treat this fall. Quirky, sweet characters (large and small) and their human friends are getting ready to embark on another magical adventure through our state and you are invited.

Sign up and be one of the first to experience the magic of Oregon all over again.

Modern-day Oregon is a top destination for travelers from all walks of life.

Oregon is a refuge for all, and Portland is a hub for queer life on the West Coast, second only to San Francisco for the percentage of LGBTQ+ residents. Since the 1970s, it has been a safe place that’s anchored the LGBTQ+ community beyond the reach of any LGBTQ+ bar.

Darcelle XV in downtown Portland is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in gaining acceptance for drag and gay rights. After Walter Cole (aka Darcelle, the nation’s most famous drag queen) died in 2023, a small park and fountain in Portland is now known as Darcelle XV Plaza.

Oregon’s reputation as a diverse and queer-friendly state extends to many communities, like Bend and Eugene, and is reflected in many firsts.

McMinnville hosts an annual Wine Country Pride event, hosted by the town mayor, winemaker Remy Drabkin, who is queer. Other elected leaders from the LGBTQ+ community include Gov. Tina Kotek; former Gov. Kate Brown; former Portland Mayor Sam Adams, the first openly gay mayor of a large U.S. city; and former Silverton Mayor Stu Rasmussen, the nation’s first openly transgender mayor.

In the world of athletics, the Portland Thorns, Timbers, and Trail Blazers made history by becoming the first major pro sports teams to endorse the freedom to marry. In entertainment, Bend is home to national celebrity drag queen and environmental activist Pattie Gonia, and you can find drag shows and events at queer-owned bars and restaurants all year-round.

You can find Pride-Certified hotels, queer-owned tour companies and organizations that seek to celebrate pride, inclusivity and a love of the outdoors with various year-round events, including Hood River Winter Pride in February and Winter PrideFest in Bend in March.

Asian-Americans and immigrants from Asia are Oregon’s fastest growing groups.

Chinese and Japanese immigrants in Oregon worked on the railroads as well as in lumber mills, on farms and in fish canneries. Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site in John Day is a time capsule of history preserved in a Chinese-owned general store from the 1870s. Japanese business and farm owners were forced into relocation camps in Oregon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, later settling in cities and towns across the state.

Today, Oregon’s Asian and Pacific Islander population is increasing not only in size but in diversity, with Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Marshallese making up the largest growing Asian communities in the state.

Latinos are the largest minority group in Oregon, with roots tracing as far back as the 16th century.

In 1774, Juan Pérez reached the Oregon Coast to become the first European to describe Yaquina Head and make landfall in the present-day Oregon. Next came the vaqueros (horsemen and cattle herders) and mule packers, hired to help with cattle drives to the Oregon Territory. Known as Buckaroos, these Spanish cowboys settled in Harney County to work on ranches and are among the pioneers of Eastern Oregon.

Latino farm workers have been essential to the state’s vineyards, hop farms and coveted farm-to-table culinary scene. Today Latino entrepreneurship through small businesses is part of Oregon’s everyday fabric. Learn more about the history of Latinos in Oregon from the Oregon Encyclopedia.