Newport to Eugene: A Self-Guided Oregon Driving Tour
- 2.5–3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
A single overheard conversation on Yaquina Bay in the 1860s sparked Oregon's oyster rush - and this self-guided driving tour retraces the boom-and-bust trail it set off, from the coast to the Willamette Valley. Starting in Newport, the route hugs Yaquina Bay's oyster farms, then winds through Toledo's Victorian streets past a paper mill's conveyor slinging timber waste across the river. It merges onto Highway 20 - the longest road in America - and detours through the ghost town of Chitwood, crossing a red 1800s covered bridge before cresting the Coast Range. Bellfountain Road passes raptor-topped fence posts, century-old oak trees, and fields producing 99% of the nation's hazelnut supply, before rolling on to Eugene. Perfect for road-trippers who want more than a drive-through of rural Oregon, this tour closes atop Skinner Butte, where Eugene's founder built his cabin in 1846. Install the VoiceMap app and enter the ticket code from your confirmation email to start driving.
Inclusions
What's included
- Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
- Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
- The VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
What's not
- Smartphone and headphones
- Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
- Food and drink
- Transportation
- An in-person guide
Itinerary
Drive by Yaquina Bay, a scenic estuary where herons and harbor seals gather. Learn about its Native Yaqo'n history and its Oyster Rush past. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Cruise past McCaffrey Island, a private island once home to a 1860s oyster empire and originally the homestead of Daniel Boone's great-grandson. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Roll past Oregon Oyster Farms, operating since 1907. Watch harvesters at work and, if open, sample fresh oysters shucked right from the bay. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Drive through Toledo, a rugged mill town with Victorian homes and an artist community. Explore historic Main Street and learn about its railroad and timber past. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Pull into Bellfountain Park, a historic camp-meeting ground with towering Douglas firs, an open-air tabernacle, and a legendary 100-foot picnic table. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Wind your way up Skinner Butte, Eugene's founding hilltop, for sweeping 360-degree views of the city, the Willamette River, and the Coast Range beyond. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- The tour begins at the Embarcadero Resort in Newport, right on the edge of Yaquina Bay, at 1000 SE Bay Boulevard. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The total tour time includes driving the route and passing by the attractions
How it compares in USA, outside the cities
- Its from-price is 87% below the median of the 2274 experiences we list in USA, outside the cities.
- It is longer than most of them.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
Special offers in USA, outside the cities
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
