Places to GoCitiesJohn Day

John Day

With its cattle drives down Main Street, the Timber Truckers Light Parade and border collies and horse trailers, the small community of John Day wears its heart and heritage on its sleeve.

Dramatic scenery, the beautiful, meandering John Day River and the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument all testify to the area’s remarkable geologic past. Outdoor recreation is a huge draw for visitors, though historic sites are also popular. The Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum offers a fascinating look at the lives of Chinese residents here during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.

: Blue Basin Overlook Trail by Kate Jorgensen

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Travel Oregon Partner:

Discover John Day

Nearby Cities Canyon City, Mount Vernon, Prairie City, Fox, Seneca

(541) 575-0028

John Day Trip Ideas

Family Weekend at the John Day Fossil Beds

It is 10 o’clock at night. I am standing outside in the dark, holding a three-year-old. It’s way past his bedtime. We are waiting for a turn to look at Saturn’s rings through a telescope. “Mama, I have...

By Natalie Bennon
Kam Wah Chung

If you know where to look across Oregon's vast high desert landscape, there...

By Grant McOmie
Road Trip: John Day Fossil Beds Country

The first time I saw the Painted Hills in Eastern Oregon, I was...

By Eileen Garvin

More Trip Ideas

Things to Do in John Day

Don't Miss Near John Day

Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site & Museum

John Day, Eastern Oregon

Bird Watching at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Frenchglen, Eastern Oregon

Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway

Kimberly, Eastern Oregon

Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway

Sumpter, Eastern Oregon

Relax at the Hot Springs of Southeastern Oregon

Burns, Eastern Oregon

David Hamilton Winery

Mount Vernon, Eastern Oregon

Need help planning transportation to and around John Day?

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Transportation Options

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Ask Oregon

What’s the best route to see the John Day Fossil Beds?

You can make a great loop between Portland and John Day. The most exciting route will be to take Highway 26 all the way. It will take you over Mt Hood into central Oregon and through The Painted Hills. Total driving time is about 5 hours. For a return trip, I recommend heading north through…