Oregon Road Trip 2026 - Jackson & Tracy + Issy

Day 1 — Sunday, April 5

Pollock Pines → Ashland, OR

🚗 330 mi • ~5.5 hrs via I-5 North

☀️ 73°F • Mostly sunny

9:00 AM

Depart Pollock Pines

Pack up the LR3, say goodbyes after the group weekend

11:30 AM

Pit stop in Redding

Stretch legs, fuel up (cheap gas here ~$4.50), Issy walk

3 photos

1:00 PM

Lunch in Dunsmuir

Dunsmuir Brewery Works — dog-friendly patio, charming railroad town

2 photos

3:30 PM

Arrive Ashland — check in

Ashland Springs Hotel — Traditional King, 3rd floor • ~$170 • Booked by phone

3 photos

4:00 PM

Lithia Park

93-acre park along Ashland Creek. Japanese garden, duck pond, wooded trails.

6:30 PM

Dinner on Calle Guanajuato

Outdoor dining along the creek:

Skout Taphouse Oberon's Louie's

Day 2 — Monday, April 6

Ashland → Bandon (Oregon Coast)

🚗 178 mi • ~3.25 hrs via Hwy 42

☀️ 73°F inland, 60°F coast • Mostly sunny

8:00 AM

Breakfast on the plaza

Louie's or Greenleaf (dog-friendly patios)

9:00 AM

Ashland Dog Park

2-acre fenced off-leash. Let Issy run before the drive.

4 photos

1:00 PM

Arrive Bandon — check in

Best Western Inn at Face Rock — 2 Queen, private patio, free breakfast • ~$224 • Conf: 910787444

Lunch at Bandon Fish Market — fresh seafood, chowder

2 photos

2:30 PM

Face Rock Beach

Wide sandy beach, dramatic sea stacks. Dogs welcome.

2 photos

3:30 PM

Bullard Beach State Park

5 miles of beach, dogs off-leash with voice control. Coquille River Lighthouse.

5:00 PM

Old Town Bandon

Shops, galleries, Cranberry Sweets

7:00 PM

Dinner

Alloro Wine Bar (541-347-1850, closes 7:30)Lord Bennett's The Wheelhouse

Day 3 — Tuesday, April 7 — Scenic Highlight Day

Bandon → Yachats (Coast Drive)

🚗 90 mi • Full day with stops along Hwy 101

🌦️ 53°F • Slight chance light rain

This is the scenic highlight day. Sunset Bay, Cape Arago, Oregon Dunes, Heceta Head Lighthouse, whale watching, and Cape Perpetua / Thor's Well.

8:45 AM

Depart Bandon north on Hwy 101

2 photos

9:15 AM

Sunset Bay State Park

Sheltered crescent cove beach with sandstone cliffs, calm water, tide pools. Dogs on leash.

2 photos

9:45 AM

Simpson Reef & Cape Arago

Hundreds of sea lions from above. End-of-the-road headland, tide pools, cove beaches.

2 photos

11:30 AM

Oregon Dunes

Massive sand dunes up to 500 ft. Dog-friendly trail to the beach.

1:00 PM

Lunch in Florence

Old Town on the Siuslaw River. Dog-friendly patios.

2 photos

2:00 PM

Heceta Head Lighthouse

One of the most photographed lighthouses in America. Short trail, dogs on leash. Tracy's interview 2–3 PM — she takes the call from the LR3 in the parking lot while Jackson & Issy hike to the lighthouse. Cell service may be spotty — check signal on arrival, fall back to Florence café wifi if needed.

3:00 PM

Whale Watching

Gray whales migrating north through April. Pull off at headland turnouts.

2 photos

5:00 PM

Cape Perpetua — Thor's Well

"Drainpipe of the Pacific." High tide at 5:52 PM (5.4 ft) with ~5 ft swell — ideal conditions. Arrive by 5 to watch it build.

5:30 PM

Check in — Fireside Motel

Fireside Motel, Yachats — Western Gull Queen, ground floor • $106 • Conf: L7VV63T4F6

7:00 PM

Dinner in Yachats

Ona Restaurant (best in town)The Drift Inn (live music)Luna Sea Fish House

Day 4 — Wednesday, April 8

Yachats → Bend, OR

🚗 150 mi • ~3–3.5 hrs via Hwy 126

☀️ 52°F coast → 57°F Bend • Sunny

8:00 AM

Breakfast in Yachats

The Drift Inn or Bread and Roses Bakery

2 photos

9:30 AM

Scenic drive through the Cascades

Hwy 126 follows the McKenzie River — old-growth forest, waterfalls, lava fields. One of Oregon's most beautiful drives.

2 photos

12:00 PM

Stop in Sisters

Charming western-themed town. Sisters Coffee Company (Tyler's rec).

6 photos

1:00 PM

Arrive Bend — check in & lunch

McMenamins Old St. Francis School — King w/ Patio (Art House), 2 nights • ~$550 • Conf: 594229044

On-site pub in the old boiler room

2 photos

2:30 PM

Deschutes River Trail

Walk along the river. Gorgeous, dog-friendly. Start at Drake Park.

4:00 PM

Brewery Crawl

Crux Fermentation (lawn + mountain views)Deschutes Brewery 10 Barrel Brewing

7:00 PM

Dinner

J-Dub (pup menu + "Pooch Hooch")Broken Top Bottle Shop

9:00 PM

Soaking Pool & Movie

Indoor heated pool (105°F). Free for guests, closes 10 PM. Then catch a film in the converted classroom.

Day 5 — Thursday, April 9 — Rest Day

Full Day in Bend

🛌 No driving • Explore, eat, drink, relax

🌤️ 57°F • Mostly sunny

9:30 AM

Pine Nursery Park Dog Park

Large fenced off-leash. Big morning run for Issy.

10:30 AM

Downtown Bend

Backporch Coffee, REI, Patagonia, local shops

12:00 PM

Lunch at Worthy Brewing

Dogs welcome, Hopservatory rooftop deck

2 photos

1:30 PM

Pilot Butte Hike

~1 mile to summit. 360° views: Bachelor, Broken Top, South Sister, Jefferson, Hood.

3:00 PM

Afternoon Adventure

A: Oregon Badlands — high desert, volcanic rock
B: Deschutes River Trail south to Benham Falls
C: More breweries — GoodLife, Tumalo Cider

6:30 PM

Dinner

Jackson's Corner (pizza)Zydeco Kitchen Spork

8:00 PM

Soaking Pool

Last night. Closes 10 PM.

Day 6 — Friday, April 10

Bend → Mill Valley (Home)

🚗 490 mi • ~8.5 hrs via US-97 South & I-5

❓ TBD • Check forecast Apr 4+

7:30 AM

Depart Bend

Gas up first — fewer stations on US-97 south.

7:30–11:30

Eastern Cascades drive

US-97 through Klamath Falls → Weed → I-5 south. Volcanic landscape.

2 photos

11:30 AM

Lunch in Mt. Shasta City

Scenic halfway point. Walk Issy.

3:00 PM

Pit stop — Williams or Corning

~5:00 PM
Home — Mill Valley

Category	Details	Est. Cost
Gas	~77 gal × ~$5.10/gal avg (LR3 @ ~16 mpg)	~$395
Lodging (5 nights)	All booked, incl. pet fees & tax	~$1,050
Food & Drink	~$80–120/day × 5 days	~$500
Parks & Misc	Day passes, parking	~$75
Estimated Total	~$2,020

Night	Hotel	Room Rate	Pet Fee	Total
Sun Apr 5	Ashland Springs Hotel	$125 + tax (Traditional King, 3rd floor)	$30	~$170
Mon Apr 6	Best Western Face Rock	$174.99 + tax ($194.23) (2 Queen)	$30	~$224
Tue Apr 7	Fireside Motel, Yachats	$85.50 (Western Gull Queen)	$20	$106
Wed–Thu Apr 8–9	McMenamins (2 nights)	$209 + $229 + tax ($490.12)	$30 × 2	~$550
Lodging Total	~$1,050

Weather Forecast

Checked Apr 3 — Days 1–5 from NWS, Day 6 not yet in 7-day range

Day	Date	Location	High	Conditions
1	Sun Apr 5	Ashland	73°F	☀️ Mostly sunny
2	Mon Apr 6	Ashland → Bandon	73°F inland, 60°F coast	☀️ Mostly sunny, clouding over by evening
3	Tue Apr 7	Coast → Yachats	53°F	🌦️ Slight chance light rain
4	Wed Apr 8	Yachats → Bend	52°F coast → 57°F Bend	☀️ Sunny
5	Thu Apr 9	Bend	57°F	🌤️ Mostly sunny
6	Fri Apr 10	Bend → Mill Valley	TBD	❓ Not yet in 7-day forecast — check Apr 4+

Packing List

Waterproof jackets (both of us)
Dog raincoat for Issy
Layers — 73°F in Ashland, down to 50s on coast and 57°F in Bend
Waterproof boots or shoes (coast beaches, tide pools)
Warm fleece or midlayer — Bend mornings dropping to low 30s
Towels for the car (wet/sandy dog)
Binoculars (whale watching — gray whales migrating north through April)
Dog leash, bowls, food, bags
Chargers, camera
Sunglasses & sunscreen (Day 1–2 highs in the 70s)

Pre-Trip Checklist

Book Ashland Springs by phone (541-488-1700) — pet-eligible 3rd floor room — confirmation pending
Best Western Face Rock — Conf #910787444 (2 Queen + patio, $30 pet fee)
Fireside Motel, Yachats — Conf #L7VV63T4F6 (Western Gull Queen, $20 pet fee)
McMenamins Old St. Francis — Conf #594229044 (King w/ Patio, $30/night pet fee at check-in)
Call Overleaf Spa (541-547-4885) — day passes for non-guests?
Thor’s Well timing — high tide 5:52 PM (5.38 ft) w/ ~5 ft swell. Arrive by 5:00 PM
Check TripCheck.com morning of Apr 8 for Hwy 126 Cascade conditions
Update weather forecast for Day 6 (Fri Apr 10) when in 7-day range

Oregon Road Trip

The Route

Pollock Pines → Ashland, OR

Ashland → Bandon (Oregon Coast)

Bandon → Yachats (Coast Drive)

Yachats → Bend, OR

Full Day in Bend

Bend → Mill Valley (Home)

Budget

Budget Summary

Lodging Breakdown

Weather Forecast

Packing List

Pre-Trip Checklist

Driving Summary

Day	Route	Distance	Time
Sun Apr 5	Pollock Pines → Ashland	330 mi	~5.5 hrs
Mon Apr 6	Ashland → Bandon	178 mi	~3.25 hrs
Tue Apr 7	Bandon → Yachats (stops)	90 mi	~2.5 hrs
Wed Apr 8	Yachats → Bend	150 mi	~3–3.5 hrs
Thu Apr 9	Bend (rest day)	0 mi	—
Fri Apr 10	Bend → Mill Valley	490 mi	~8.5 hrs
Total		~1,240 mi	~23 hrs