Oregon Coast & Wineries

[GMcKenzie]

So thinking of doing the Oregon coast this summer, heading down from Okanagan BC. Plan is to do the normal coast sightseeing and I found a list of wineries near the coast to visit.

Be going mid-July.

How are the campsites at Fort Stevens and South Beach state parks? Thinking 5 days at each and then maybe Sun Lakes resort on the way down and back?

Is there another nice site maybe 2 hours from the US/Can border to stay a couple of nights in on the way down and back? I like to keep my towing days under 6 hours and who knows what the border will be like.

Thanks

[Murphsmom]

I don't know which way you will come into the States from Canada, but Interstate 82 across Washington has so many wineries that it would be hard to keep track of them. We have stayed at Wine Country RV Park in Prosser a couple of times. It is in walking distance of several tasting rooms. Woodinville also has a number of wineries.

If you are headed on I-5 through Oregon in either direction, there are also a number of wineries in the Willamette Valley...check out Carlton.

Both Ft Stevens and South Beach are quite large. Ft Stevens is wooded, while South Beach is pretty sparse in the tree department. If you have not yet made reservations at either one, I suggest you do it right away! On the Washington side of the Columbia is Cape Disappointment State Park. It is just a short drive from Ft Stevens. We have stayed there several times.

[Ken / Claudia]

I agree with the last post get a res for either campground ASAP. Can be done on the web or by phone. Ft. Stevens books up fast for all summer.
Only help with Wa. is around mp 103 on I-5 is a Cabelas store in Lacy. RVs can stay overnight free. I have done that. Not far from there is Shelton Wa. about 15 mins from I-5. The casino there as a nice RV park. Was 35 a night last time I overnighted there. Sorry I sold the beach property near Astoria last May, or else that would have been available for free.

[GMcKenzie]

Now to ask the obvious question. With all that's going on in the US right now, should I not come down this year and wait a year? No obvious reason for me not to (except the dollar) but just wondering.

[rhagfo]

We are doing fine in the US we like our Cadaian neighbors. Coming down from eastern BC would come
South to I90 before making the decision to continue south or head west.
Both Ft. Stevens and South Beach are popular parks in the summer and you should make reservations, that really goes for any of the coastal SP.
If interested in the winery's of the Willamette Valley, may I suggest a private park near McMinnville called Old Stone Village. It is located in the heart of Wine Country and next to the Evergreen Aviation Museum

[GMcKenzie]

I'd be coming down through Oroville/Omak. So I guess that is I97.

Probably want to miss Sea/Tac so may come in I 84 via Yakima. But that takes us through Portland as well.

I know I have to book soon, just that I do expect the Cdn dollar to improve a bit and that will make the booking cheaper.

Still deciding if I want to do this or stay up here this year. But I've done most of the wineries in the Oliver/Osoyoos region twice already.

[Murphsmom]

If the wineries are your primary objective, just turn left at Yakima and work your way to Walla Walla. There are more than enough in that area to keep you well occupied! No big cities to contend with, either. Western Idaho also has a number of good wineries.

[GMcKenzie]

If the wineries are your primary objective, just turn left at Yakima and work your way to Walla Walla. There are more than enough in that area to keep you well occupied! No big cities to contend with, either. Western Idaho also has a number of good wineries.

The Coast is still our man thing. Seems to be enough wineries near the coast to suffice.

[Nitka]

We stayed at Ft Stevens for 10 days year before last and LOVED it! So close to so many things that we enjoyed, but I'm not sure how close to any wineries. There's trails galore that run from ancient underground military stations to the mouth of the Columbia River. If you go, hope you enjoy our beautiful Coast!

[srvnt]

We stayed at this nice park, our site even had a hot tub for 5 bucks more.

http://www.turtlerockresorts.com/

[GMcKenzie]

So an update and a few questions.

We are coming from the Okanagan, so crossing at Osoyoos/Oroville. Need to be in Ellensburg the first night. So coming down 97, but I see it splits. Better to go through Chelan and Wenatchee or the slightly more eastern route? Both (according to Google) will take the same amount of time but the eastern route is slightly farther. Is it a better highway?

Second leg is to Fort Stevens state park. Similar question. Do I take 82 through Yakima to 12 to I5 or 90 then I5 through Tacoma?

From there it's South Beach state park, then to Wenatchee then home

[Desert185]

Now to ask the obvious question. With all that's going on in the US right now, should I not come down this year and wait a year? No obvious reason for me not to (except the dollar) but just wondering.

What's going on in America that concerns you?

[jsmith948]

So an update and a few questions.

We are coming from the Okanagan, so crossing at Osoyoos/Oroville. Need to be in Ellensburg the first night. So coming down 97, but I see it splits. Better to go through Chelan and Wenatchee or the slightly more eastern route? Both (according to Google) will take the same amount of time but the eastern route is slightly farther. Is it a better highway?

Second leg is to Fort Stevens state park. Similar question. Do I take 82 through Yakima to 12 to I5 or 90 then I5 through Tacoma?

From there it's South Beach state park, then to Wenatchee then home

The area around Lake Chelan is spectacular. It is the old route. The newer route east of the river avoids the hills and the tunnel south of Chelan. The tunnel isn't a problem - hauled a refer van through it many, many times. Used to be a warning light system that bicyclists activated when they entered the tunnel ( no shoulders in there). At Wenatchee, you can choose to continue on the east side of the river or go over the Bluett Pass into Ellensburg. It will be windy east of the river when you get to Quincy.

[MTBlazer89]

So an update and a few questions.

We are coming from the Okanagan, so crossing at Osoyoos/Oroville. Need to be in Ellensburg the first night. So coming down 97, but I see it splits. Better to go through Chelan and Wenatchee or the slightly more eastern route? Both (according to Google) will take the same amount of time but the eastern route is slightly farther. Is it a better highway?

Second leg is to Fort Stevens state park. Similar question. Do I take 82 through Yakima to 12 to I5 or 90 then I5 through Tacoma?

From there it's South Beach state park, then to Wenatchee then home


I would do whatever makes it easier to avoid the I5 corridor between Seattle and Olympia. It's probably the highest concentration of terrible drivers on the west coast. I travel it regularly to see my kids and if you hit it at the wrong time you'll need to add a day to your trip. It regularly takes me between 4-6 hours to travel the 140 miles..in a car. Plus there isn't much to see.

[Ken / Claudia]

I was going to tell GM what MTBlazer just said. Only bad thing about I84 is the wind. It cannot be predicted very well. April we went from PDX to Boise and back 5 days apart. Both had almost Zero wind the whole trip. Advice from years of working on the Columbia river and more the freeway. Mornings and after dark are the best times to avoid the wind. If you take I84 into PDX, go to I205 north into WA. To I-5 to Longview back to Oregon on SR 30 to Astoria. Using that route, instead of going to SR30 from PDX to Astoria will save you at least 20 minutes likely 30 minutes. Having a Beach house in Long beach for 15 years we tried every route from PDX to there. That route is always the fastest, day, night, week day, weekend, winter summer.

[GMcKenzie]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the pointers

[GMcKenzie]

So, if I'm reading the above right, I97 from the border to just south of Omak, I172 to I 283 to I90 to Ellensburg (avoid hills and tunnels of I97). Trip part 1

Next leg is I82 to I12, then I5 to Longview and I30 to Astoria (Fort Stevens).

I'm thinking to take the same way back and avoid towing through Portland. So from South Beach back to Astoria and back, but doing the Chelan lake route as I'm staying in Wenatchee that last few nights.

All in all ~ 2,200 KM, 27 hours driving with the first day being the worst. Be some hills I need to take it easy on, but that's to be expected.

Anything I'm out to lunch on?

[Alpine]

Quote:
Originally Posted by GMcKenzie
Now to ask the obvious question. With all that's going on in the US right now, should I not come down this year and wait a year? No obvious reason for me not to (except the dollar) but just wondering.

Quote:
What's going on in America that concerns you?

Come on down....we are just fine here in the USA! Enjoy your journey, and be safe!

[Ken / Claudia]

I think you got it. Just thanks for visiting Oregon, enjoy your trip.

[GMcKenzie]

I think you got it. Just thanks for visiting Oregon, enjoy your trip.

Okay. But you failed to mention THE BRIDGE WAS ON FIRE! Sat for 3 hours about a half hour from the first site and got in after midnight. This was just outside Ellensburg. Campsite was good about it when I phoned but was too tired to unhook etc and was still awake at 5.

:banghead:

[Ken / Claudia]

Sorry about that bridge fire. I asked them not to lit it until you got past. Some guys just do not follow orders.
On a serious note seems we are in the fire season and have them popping up around Oregon and Washington.

[nellie1289]

Unless you are planning to drive to the Willamette valley every day there are no wineries on the coast. Suggest you stay somewhere in the yamhill county area. Try champoeg park. If you want to go further south go to the Medford area and stay at rogue valley state park 15 minutes from there to the Applegate winery area. Another solid bet is twin Rivers park and go to the Umpqua valley winery area. The coast is not where you go for wine. I would also recommend the Yakima walla walla area as others have suggested.

Ps nothing wrong with America now. Haven't you heard Trump is president. MAGA!

[GMcKenzie]

So, the ups and downs. Yeah, looks like a traffic accident caused the fire. Not the bridge itself, but the ramp to it.

Ellensberg. Nice campsite, but nothing really to see there.

Fort Stevens. Awesome campsite except for the mosquitoes. Would recommend to anyone. Nice beach, lots of trails for biking and lots of neat places to eat. Really enjoyed our time their. Bit of a rough road getting there and the table was knocked over when we got there.
Fixed the table (more on that later) and had a great time. Drove to Cannon beach and saw the sights between them.

Got into South Beach to find out the screws I used to fix the table were too long and I've ruined my linoleum. Gotta fix that now. Ended up sitting under the slide out and cutting the screws down.

South Beach was okay. No sewer sites, a horn that goes off constantly but far less bugs. Went as far as Florence.

Wenatchee. Ever wonder what park rules would look like if a lawyer wrote them? Well, look no further than the pages of rules for the Wenatchee County RV park. But a real nice park none the less. Did Leavenworth and Lake Chelan. Finally hit some wineries.

Got home to find out the house had been broken into. Wedding rings, some cheap jewellery and my Sonos system are gone, so it could have been lots worse. Had the cops through and now it's time to deal with Insurance. Not sure I have jewellery coverage.