Oregon is a stunner of a state, full of wondrous places and immense natural beauty. It’s also incredibly geographically diverse, with everything from stunning shorelines and old-growth forests to rolling countrysides and high desert regions. Today, we’re exploring east-central Oregon, best-known for the Alvord Desert, ghost towns, and the Painted Hills. This scenic road trip in Oregon takes us into the heart of this resplendent, underrated region, a place well-worth exploring anytime of year.
This scenic road trip in Oregon clocks in at 370 miles and is just under eight hours long. It’s a big day, for sure, but definitely doable!
Google Maps View a Google Map for this road trip here!
Okay road warriors: are you ready? Our adventure begins in Hood River. Fill up your car, and then fill up your belly with a coffee and face-sized cinnamon roll from Bette’s Place. While you’re there, grab a decked-out deli sandwich for the road, too!
Diane D/TripAdvisor Bette’s Place, 416 Oak St, Hood River, OR 97031, USA
Hood River is located along the eponymous Oregon river, in the shadow of the state’s majestic Mt. Hood. Hood River is absolute magic, which you’ll see as you wind through the hills and valleys of this resplendent region.
Bonnie Moreland/Flickr Hood River, OR 97031, USA
Hood River is home to a fertile region known as the Hood River Fruit Loop. This is a collection of several Oregon farms, orchards, vineyards, and wineries, and it truly is beautiful all year round.
Bonnie Moreland/Flickr
Driving east, the landscape will quickly change from fertile farmland and flourishing orchards to a desert that’s quite literally painted in copper and bronze hues. Welcome to the high desert region of central Oregon, 24,000 square miles that will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about a desert.
Bonnie Moreland/Flickr Painted Hills, Oregon 97750, USA
Within this region, the Painted Hills are one of the three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The Painted Hills are listed as one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon, named after the colorful layers of its hills, which correspond to different geological eras.
Bonnie Moreland/Flickr The colors of these hills will change with the position of the sun, last rainfall, and temperature, making for a wholly unique experience whenever you visit!
As you roll through this dynamic desert landscape, keep an eye out for Cottonwood Canyon State Park. Established in 2013, it is the second largest state park in Oregon, encompassing 8,000 acres along the lower John Day River.
Bonnie Moreland/Flickr Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Wasco, OR 97065, USA
After admiring the Oregon desert, our next point of interest is the Prineville Reservoir. Located in the high desert hills of east-central Oregon, Prineville Reservoir covers 18 miles of the Crooked River and is run by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Bonnie Moreland/Flickr It’s one of the best places to go camping and stargazing in Oregon, too, which would make a fun detour on this scenic road trip! Prineville Reservoir, Oregon 97754, USA
From here, the landscape begins to change again, from the copper hues of the desert to the verdant greens of Mount Hood National Forest. Take your time and really soak up the scenery, which changes seasonally!
Francesco Vaninetti Photo/Moment Collection via Getty Images Mount Hood National Forest, Mt Hood National Forest, Oregon 97028, USA
Our trip ends in The Dalles, one of Oregon’s most historic cities that harkens back to the Beaver State’s pioneer roots and ties to the Oregon Trail.
Francesco Vaninetti Photo/Moment Collection via Getty Images Drive through this area slowly, as you’ll have a front-row seat to some of the best views of the incredible Columbia River Gorge! The Dalles, OR 97058, USA
As one of the most historic places in Oregon, it’s fitting for our scenic road trip adventure to end in The Dalles. And after a day full of adventure, we recommend stopping for dinner at the Baldwin Saloon, one of the oldest and most iconic restaurants in the state!
Baldwin Saloon/Google Local You’ll find old-fashioned favorites on the menu here, from steak and potatoes to apple pie and bread pudding. It’s the perfect place to relax and reminisce about your epic road trip adventure! Baldwin Saloon, 205 Court St, The Dalles, OR 97058, USA
Eastern Oregon is a place that doesn’t get quite the love of its coastal and forested counterparts, but after embarking on this scenic road trip, we have a feeling you’ll be quite taken by this wondrous region!
Google Maps
View a Google Map for this road trip here!
Diane D/TripAdvisor
Bette’s Place, 416 Oak St, Hood River, OR 97031, USA
Bonnie Moreland/Flickr
Hood River, OR 97031, USA
Painted Hills, Oregon 97750, USA
The colors of these hills will change with the position of the sun, last rainfall, and temperature, making for a wholly unique experience whenever you visit!
Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Wasco, OR 97065, USA
It’s one of the best places to go camping and stargazing in Oregon, too, which would make a fun detour on this scenic road trip!
Prineville Reservoir, Oregon 97754, USA
Francesco Vaninetti Photo/Moment Collection via Getty Images
Mount Hood National Forest, Mt Hood National Forest, Oregon 97028, USA
Drive through this area slowly, as you’ll have a front-row seat to some of the best views of the incredible Columbia River Gorge!
The Dalles, OR 97058, USA
Baldwin Saloon/Google Local
You’ll find old-fashioned favorites on the menu here, from steak and potatoes to apple pie and bread pudding. It’s the perfect place to relax and reminisce about your epic road trip adventure!
Baldwin Saloon, 205 Court St, The Dalles, OR 97058, USA
For another bucket-list-worthy adventure that’s on the other side of the state, check out this epic road trip along the Oregon Coast.
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