Getting Around

By Car

A car is by far the best way to see Oregon. There just isn't any other way to get to the more remote natural spectacles or to fully appreciate such regions as the Oregon coast or eastern Oregon.

The major car-rental companies are all represented in Portland and have desks at Portland International Airport, which is the most convenient place to pick up a car. There are also many independent and smaller car-rental agencies listed in the Portland Yellow Pages. Currently, weekly rates for an economy car in July (high-season rates) are around $150 with no discounts. Expect lower rates in the rainy months.

At Portland International Airport on the ground floor of the airport parking deck, across the street from the baggage-claim area, you'll find the following companies: Avis (tel. 800/831-2847 or 503/249-4950; www.avis.com), Budget (tel. 800/527-0700 or 503/249-4556; www.budget.com), Dollar (tel. 800/800-3365 or 503/249-4793; www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel. 800/261-7331 or 503/692-8400; www.enterprise.com); and Hertz (tel. 800/654-3131 or 503/249-8216; www.hertz.com). Outside the airport, but with desks adjacent to the other car-rental desks, are Alamo (tel. 800/327-9633 or 503/249-4901; www.goalamo.com), National (tel. 800/227-7368 or 503/249-4900; www.nationalcar.com), and Thrifty (tel. 800/847-4389 or 503/254-6563; www.thrifty.com).

For the best deal on a rental car, make your reservation at least a week in advance. It also pays to shop around and call the same companies a few times over the course of a couple of weeks. If you decide on the spur of the moment to rent a car, check to see whether any weekend or special rates are available. If you're a member of a frequent-flier program, be sure to mention it; you might get mileage credit for renting a car. Always ask about special promotions and try different combinations of where to pick up and drop off your car.

Driving a Bargain in Oregon--If there's any way you can arrange to pick up your car somewhere other than the airport, you can save the 10% airport concession fee. If you can pick up your car in Beaverton or Hillsboro (western suburbs of Portland), you can also avoid the 12.5% Multnomah County tax that applies at the airport and at downtown Portland car-rental offices.

Gasoline -- Oregon is an anachronism when it comes to gas stations; there are no self-service gas stations in the state. So, when you pull into a gas station, just sit back and let the attendant fill your tank. Also, keep in mind that Oregon is a big state, so keep your gas tank as full as possible when traveling in the mountains or on the sparsely populated east side of the Cascades.

Maps -- Maps are available at most highway tourist information centers, at the tourist information offices listed earlier in this chapter and throughout this book, and at gas stations throughout the region. For a map of Oregon, contact the Oregon Tourism Commission (tel. 800/547-7842). Members of AAA can get detailed road maps of Oregon by calling their local AAA office.

Special driving Rules -- You may turn right on a red light after a full stop, and if you are in the far-left lane of a one-way street, you may turn left into the adjacent left lane of a one-way street at a red light after a full stop. Everyone in a moving vehicle is required to wear a seat belt.

Breakdowns/Assistance -- In the event of a breakdown, stay with your car, lift the hood, turn on your emergency flashers, and wait for a police patrol car. Do not leave your vehicle.

Driving Times -- It takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive from Portland to Canon Beach on the Oregon coast; from Portland to Mount Hood, about 1 hour; and from Portland to Bend, about 3 hours. Portland to Seattle is about a 3 1/2-hour trip, depending on traffic conditions.

By Plane

Although there are airports with regular commercial service in Redmond, Eugene, and Medford, flying isn't usually a very appropriate way to get around Oregon. However, if you are heading to the central or southern Oregon coast, you might want to consider flying into either the Eugene or the Medford Airport. If you are headed to Bend or Sunriver, flying into Redmond might work for you. If you are headed to Ashland for some Shakespeare, you could consider the Medford airport.

Cruising the Columbia River

Paddle-wheel steamboats played a crucial role in the settling of Oregon, shuttling people and goods up and down the Columbia River before railroads came to the region. Today, the Queen of the West and the Empress of the North, two paddle-wheel cruise ships operated by the American West Steamboat Company, 2101 Fourth Ave., Suite 1150, Seattle, WA 98121 (tel. 800/434-1232; www.columbiarivercruise.com), cruise the Columbia offering a luxury never before known in Columbia River paddle wheelers. Fares for the 7-night cruise range from $1,239 to $5,133 per person.

If you'd rather cruise aboard a smaller vessel, consider a trip with Cruise West (tel. 888/851-8133; www.cruisewest.com), which offers an 8-day cruise from Portland on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Fares range from $1,799 to $5,149 per person. Similar trips, though with naturalists and historians on board, are offered by Lindblad Expeditions (tel. 800/397-3348 or 212/765-7740; www.expeditions.com), which charges $2,490 to $3,940.

By Recreational Vehicle (RV)

An economical way to tour Oregon is with a recreational vehicle. If you're considering renting an RV, look under "Recreational Vehicles -- Rent and Lease" in the Yellow Pages of your local phone book. They can be rented for a weekend, a week, or longer. In Portland, you might try Cruise America, 8400 SE 82nd Ave. (tel. 800/671-8042 or 503/777-9833; www.cruiseamerica.com). If you're going to be traveling in the peak season of summer, it's important to make reservations for your RV at least 2 months ahead of time. The rest of the year, a couple of weeks' lead time is usually sufficient.