Newport to Eugene: A Self-Guided Oregon Driving Tour

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.