Why You Should Visit Eugene, Oregon
When you think of Oregon you might think of the Oregon coast, the weird things of Portland and maybe the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, but one place for sure that is a big part of what makes Oregon so amazing is the Lane County!
Lane County is basically in the middle of it all, the cascades and coast! It’s a place where you will find yourself on endless adventures, chasing beautiful waterfalls, soaking in wild hot springs, looking out on 40 miles of wind sculpted sand dunes that run along the coast, whitewater rafting on the McKenzie River, driving through wine country, cycling, hunting for Oregon truffles (yes, it’s a thing!) and so much more!
That’s why we got so excited when we partnered with Travel Lane County and Oregon Wine Country to do an epic road trip through the Willamette Valley. A big thank you goes out to Stephen who showed us around Eugene and the surrounding area. If you are planning to visit Lane County, check out Eugene, Cascades & Coast for your trip inspiration!
Check out our road trip through the Willamette Valley
Ultimate Road Trip Through Oregon’s Willamette Valley (Blog Post Coming Soon)
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SAND DUNES OF OREGON
Where Is Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon and all of Lane County is located in the southern part of the Willamette Valley and is about 50 miles east of the Oregon Coast. It’s Oregon’s third most populous city and is home to the University of Oregon.
The city is known for it’s amazing recreational opportunities, it’s focus on arts and is referred to “Track Town, USA” Did you know they will be hosting the 2021 Track World Championships?
If you are a Nike fan or if you read anything about its origin story, then you might know that Nike had its beginnings in Eugene!
If you are doing a road trip through Oregon here are some helpful road travel times.
Portland > Eugene–1 h 49 min (109.8 mi) via I-5 S
Salem > Eugene- 1 h 11 min (66.2 mi) via I-5 S
Bend > Eugene- 2 h 32 min (129.8 mi) via OR-126
Florence , OR > Eugene- 1 h 23 min (60.9 mi) via OR-126 E
If you are thinking of flying into Eugene, Oregon and bringing back home Oregon wine, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ members may check up to one case of wine for free on any domestic flight from Eugene, Medford, Portland, Redmond or Walla Walla, WA. Also, check out Oregon Wine for more information.
Packing For A Trip To Eugene Oregon
No matter what time of year you are going you will want to make sure and bring a light rain jacket. You never know when the weather can turn sour and all of a sudden it starts raining.
In addition, depending on the season and weather forecast you should pack what you want to wear for your time in Eugene. Some of our favorite things to bring for our travels are lightweight clothes. If you are planning on hiking, bringing clothes made from merino wool will be a big help.
Here are some of our favorite items of clothing to bring,
Check out this post with all of Our Favorite Travel Gear!
Fun Things To Do In Eugene
Around The City
Art, Murals and Muesuems
Art is a big part of the city! During our time in Eugene we drove around town looking for the incredible murals. Muralists from around the world have been invited to be part of the 20×21 EUG Mural Project. It’s an initiative of the City of Eugene Cultural Service’s Public Art Program “to create 20 or more world-class outdoor murals in Eugene between now and the 2021 IAAF World Championships.”
You can download a mural brochure map with a story to go along with the murals and go on a walking tour or a ride around town! Here’s one for Google Maps.
Some great museums to check out, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art which features a considerable collection of American, European, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese art.
Also, The Museum of Natural and Cultural History it’s located on the University of Oregon campus and features the university’s different artifacts and cultural histories of the area like fossils, preserved wildlife, and photographs.
If you would like to learn more about the history of Lane County, check out the Lane County Historical Museum.
View points And Trails
We then drove up to Skinner Butte Trail to get a good view of the city. It was a warm and sunny day, perfect for a trail walk or a picnic. Skinner Butte is a great hiking spot and a place for some beautiful city views. Another great place for hiking is Spencer Butte Trail. It’s a 1.7 mile loop trail.
Saturday Farmer’s Market
We arrived to Eugene on a Friday and were excited to go to the Saturday Farmer’s Market the following morning. You can basically can have breakfast and do your grocery shopping all at the same time! The market has a great variety of art, handmade goods, fresh farm vegetables, and many food stalls too. A place you can’t miss is Hideaway Bakery. They sell fresh pastries, artisan bread and amazing pour over coffee! We bought some sourdough bread, a delicious almond berry pastry and pour over coffee.
Shopping At The 5th Street Public Market
This was one of my favorite places to walk around at because of all the fun little shops it had. You can stroll through the beautiful courtyard, go wine tasting, enjoy French-inspired dining at Marché or go window shopping. We also went into the Provisions Market Hall. It’s basically a food and wine lover’s paradise with a bakery, specialty food area, wine shop, a restaurant, and a retail store. This is a perfect place to shop for local wines, cheeses and meats for a picnic!
We also enjoyed going into the Pendleton Woolen Mills. They make high quality clothing, blankets, hats, and much more, all from wool. Another great place to stop into is Will Leather Goods.
Hiking In And Near Eugene
Spencer Butte
Spencer Butte is a great hike for beautiful city views of Eugene, Springfield, and the Coastal Range. You can also see several Cascade peaks on a clear day. You’ll find that there are many route options and a great trail network for loops and different workouts.
Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail System
Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail System has a great accessible trail system of around 15 miles. Great for walkers, runners or bikers! It leads through wetlands, five pedestrian/bike bridges and connects the University of Oregon, Springfield, 5th Street, and downtown!
Mount Pisgah
Mount Pisgah is a 1.5 mile climb to the top. From there there you can access additional trails.
Ridgeline Trail
Ridgeline Trail is a 12-mile trail system in South Eugene. It’s a great place for hiking and trail running. The trails lead through peaceful meadows, prairies, and old-growth forests. Here’s a great trail map.
Cycling In Eugene
Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to ride bikes but we heard a lot of good things about all the trails and the scenic bikeways that were developed. Here are some of the official scenic bikeways in the Lane County area,
- Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway – This would be a multi-day trip through the heart of valley agriculture.
- Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway – This route totals 36 miles (57.94 km) but can easily be shortened.
- McKenzie Pass Scenic Bikeway – Breathtaking and challenging.
Check out the Eugene Cascades and Coast website for more bike trails.
Oregon Truffle Festival
Did you know that Oregon has World-Class native truffles! If you love truffles or are interested in learning about them, a perfect time to visit Eugene would be in January and February where you can take part in this amazing festival. Check out the Oregon Truffle Festival website for more information about this amazing event!
Fun Day Trips To Take
Springfield
Springfield is rumored to be the inspiration for the town where the Simpson’s live, if you’re a fan of the show you might get a vague sense like you’ve already been here before.
Explore Springfield’s charming Main Street, shops, art galleries and great food places! They also have a mural walk. Don’t miss their most recent addition, The Simpsons mural. On the second Friday of each month, the art galleries host special exhibits.
Great Places To Check Out
Public House– A great place for people to gather for food and drinks in a former church building.
Dark and Stormy– A great place to hang out at featuring a full bar with food, a Food Truck Bar Garden and house made cocktails and infusions.
Addis Ethiopian– A great place to try something new!
Covered Bridges at Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is a charming, small town and only twenty minutes south of Eugene. As we drove towards it we passed the town of Creswell. We were recommended to stop into Creswell Bakery for their plate-sized cinnamon rolls! Everything they make is locally sourced.
Cottage Grove is a perfect day trip from Eugene. You will find live music, delicious places to eat at, a bike trail through the six historic covered bridges, and over 20 outdoor murals that you can look out for.
Great Places To Check Out
- Big Stuff BBQ-Great for some BBQ
- Ax and Fiddle– A great place for lunch or dinner. They feature produce from local farms.
- The Brew Station & Coast Fork Feed– A pub featuring homemade and farm fresh food
Oakridge
Oakridge is known for its mountain biking, camping, hiking, rafting, boating, fishing and much more! It’s also great for foragers and truffle hunting. On the way to Oakridge, there’s a great spot to go soaking at, McCredie Hot Springs. Also, stop by “Office Bridge” a well maintained covered bridge. A must place to visit is Salt Creek Falls. It has a drop of 286 feet (87 m) which makes it the third highest plunge waterfall in Oregon!
Willamette Forest & McKenzie River
After spending the weekend exploring Lane County we took highway 126 back up to Portland. It was the longer way but we were so glad we did. You could spend a whole week or even more just exploring the Willamette Forest alone! There is so much to see and do. Here are some of our favorite spots we stopped at,
- Good Pasture Bridge– A long white covered bridge
- Belknap Bridge– A covered bridge
- McKenzie General Store and Obsidian Grill Restaurant – Seriously, a must try! They have the best wings, burgers, tacos, and everything on their menu is fresh and local!
- Dee Wright Observatory– A historic observatory, built of lava rock. It offers panoramic views of the Cascade Mountain peaks. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to check it out because it was already too late in the day but we’ll be coming back here!
- Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool)– A 3.7 mile hike featuring a waterfall that creates a very clear and beautiful blue pool!
- Koosah and Sahalie Falls– A 2.2 mile loop trail featuring two breathtaking waterfalls!
- Clear Lake– Clear Lake is known for its crystal clear waters. A perfect place for hiking, a picnic, swimming and any water activity!
Soaking In Hot Springs
We were both looking forward to do some soaking at wild hot springs but because the river levels were too high, it wasn’t a good idea for us to go. We did stop at Bigelow Hot Springs, but saw that it was flooded. Before going to any of these, make sure to check if they are open and when the best time to go is. We’ll be back to explore the hot springs at a later time when there isn’t too much rain or flooding!
For Waterfall Lovers
Sweet Creek Falls– It’s a 2.2 mile out and back trail located near Mapleton, Oregon. It features four tiered-plunges that cascade from 10-30 feet. It’s family friendly and involves wooden bridge and dirt trails.
Salt Creek Falls– A must place to visit! It has a drop of 286 feet (87 m) which makes it the third highest plunge waterfall in Oregon!
Koosah and Sahalie Falls– A 2.2 mile loop trail featuring two breathtaking waterfalls in the Willamette Forest!
Check out Eugene, Cascades and Coast website for more waterfalls to explore!
Visit The Sand Dunes in Florence, OR
The Oregon Sand Dunes are the largest stretch of coastal sand dunes in North America. The dunes and the little coastal town of Florence hold numerous opportunities for adventure and serenity. It’s a popular day trip from Eugene and isn’t too far. Check out our blog post about Florence, Oregon and the 1-day itinerary of all the best things to see and do!
Wine Lovers
King Estate
This place is huge. Not only do they have some amazing wines, but when you arrive here you realize you have come to a truly special place. The vineyard is all about using sustainable and organic growing practices, and in addition to growing grapes you will also find a lavender field, orchards, garden, and nursery.
The estate focuses on providing the freshest and highest quality ingredients in their restaurant and as a result grows them itself.
Pfeiffer Winery
This place is so good, one of their wines was picked to be served at Obama’s pre-inauguration dinner. The husband and wife team are dedicated to showcasing Oregon wine wherever they travel, and their stories of grit and perseverance will inspire you!
Oregon Wine LAB
If you’re wanting a place to visit in the city, check out Oregon Wine LAB. It’s an urban wine bar that has a tasting lounge and hosts different winemaker events. There’s trivia every Thursday night and live music on Fridays. If you get hungry check out the Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery food cart that is on site daily.
Beer Drinkers
What sets Eugene’s craft beer apart from all the rest, is the pure water that’s used from the McKenzie River and the emphasis on local ingredients that are used in the process.
We’re not really beer drinkers, but to give it a try we went to Falling Sky Brewery to try some of their craft beer. We were pleasantly surprised and liked it very much. During our drive around Eugene we spent some time driving through the Whiteaker neighborhood of Eugene where you can find many breweries!
There’s also an entire Eugene Ale Trail that you can do. Once you complete your passport you can redeem it for a prize! Also, Check out all the best spots here.
Best Places To Eat At
Eugene has some of our favorite places to eat it! We basically spent the weekend indulging in delicious, fresh, local food.
Marché
We went here for dinner and we didn’t regret it one bit! Marché is an amazing place to try high quality, delicious and French inspired food! One of our dishes even had Oregon Black Truffle shavings on it! We came away fulfilled and inspired!
Provisions Market
Perfect for buying local cheese, meat, and bread for your outdoor picnic. You can basically find anything local and artisanal! Such a fun place to walk around and buy fresh food and unique snacks.
Grit
This gem of a place is located in the historic Shamrock House in the Whiteaker neighborhood. They create each dish with seasonal and local food. The ingredients are all some of the best and freshest that Oregon has to offer!
Tacovore
A great place for some tacos and other Mexican bites.
Haybaby Burgers
Craving a burger? Stop into Haybaby for some amazing juicy burgers! They locally source all of their ingredients. “Haybaby’s beef and bacon comes from the Bright Oak Meats butchery in downtown Springfield; the beef is all local, grass-fed and grain-finished for the last 30 days...Beef is ground fresh daily, never frozen, and hand-formed into patties at the restaurant. All cheeses come from Oregon’s Tillamook and Rogue creameries, and the bread comes from the ovens at Reality Kitchen Bakery & Cafe of Eugene.” Guys, it can’t get any local and farm fresh than this!
Fisherman’s Market
Perfect place to get fresh fish or order something to eat from their amazing seafood menu!
Falling Sky Brewery
They have anything from classic styles, spins on traditional styles or innovative new styles! We did a flight of 6 different ones and enjoyed the nitrox one especially. There food is also amazing! Lots of healthy and vegetarian options!
Sweet Life Patisserie
This place is a gem. We stopped in here to grab desert after having an amazing dinner at Marché. It was around 9pm and there was still a line even that late! It’s a very popular place for the locals and I can see why. They have all kinds of desert even gluten free, egg free and vegan options! The line moved pretty quickly and we decided to go with a chocolate raspberry vegan cake and a lime cheesecake. YUM!
Rye
Rye is a wonderful place to enjoy some refined French cuisine!
Jazzy Ladies
It’s a breakfast favorite here in, Eugene! Everything is homestyle and made from scratch. We went with the Sweet Potato Latkes Benedict.
Best Places To Stay At
During our time in Eugene, we stayed at the new Home2 Suites by Hilton Eugene Downtown University Area. It was very central to everything and just a great place to stay a few nights. They have very comfortable rooms, with a mini kitchen, a gym, a laundry place, a pool and they even provide complimentary breakfast in the morning. If you are traveling with a family, alone or as group, it’s a very affordable and great option!
If you want to splurge a little bit and stay near the 5th Street Public Market then the beautiful boutique hotel, Inn at the 5th is a wonderful option.
Tipi Village Retreat is located not too far from Eugene and offers a unique experience! The tipis are furnished and very comfortable. Breakfast is included and consists of organic free-range eggs, smoked salmon, breads, hot cereals, fresh fruit, milk, yogurt, orange juice, coffee and tea. YUM!!!
Village Green is a great place to stay especially during the winter. They offer great winter packages and put up beautiful Christmas lights along with a winter celebration.
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Exploring Oregon
We hope this has been helpful in your trip planning! We really enjoyed our weekend in Eugene and already are planning to come back and explore more. Oregon is full of amazing places and that’s why we are taking the time to explore our beautiful state! If you need more inspiration or ideas, follow us on our Instagram @thatoneadventurecouple!
Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our Adventure Newsletter where we feature all our favorite travel spots and tips!
Do you live in Eugene, Oregon and have anything to share, let us know in the comments below!
If you visit, let us know by tagging us in your pictures on Instagram #thatoneadventurecouple #idratherplayoutside!
A big thank you goes out to Oregon Wine Country and Eugene Cascades and Coast for setting up this amazing roadtrip through the Willamette Valley! All thoughts and opinions are our own. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link, we may receive compensation. This compensation comes at no additional cost to you and allows us to keep serving you with great content.
3 Comments
Ultimate Oregon Road Trip Through Willamette Valley - That One Adventure Couple
June 3, 2019 at 9:53 pm[…] ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EXPLORING EUGENE OREGON […]
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ALEX THOMPSON
November 23, 2021 at 1:00 pmGreat Post!!! I truly believe that there is much more to explore new places. The world has incredible beauty which makes us visit new places for sure.