Oregon

On foot

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail which runs from Canada to Mexico passes through Oregon along the Cascade Mountains. With almost no civilization along its route and very few highway crossings four in the northern 150 miles of the trail, it is exceptional for experiencing nature while avoiding civilization.

By train

Amtrak (http://www.amtrak.com) offers several ways to enter and travel throughout Oregon by train:

The Empire Builder

runs between Chicago and Spokane, Washington, where it then splits, with half of the train continuing to Seattle, and the other half to Portland.

The Coast Starlight

Regarded by many as America's most scenic train ride, the Coast Starlight runs between Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington, stopping at many Oregon towns including Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Klamath Falls.

Amtrak Cascades

The Cascades is a special service that operates between Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, and Eugene using special high-speed Talgo rolling stock. Stops include Portland and Albany. See the Amtrak website.

For more information, see Amtrak's website, Wikitravel's article Rail travel in the United States, or the Wikipedia pages on each of this train services.

By car

Oregon has two Interstate Highways:

Interstate 5

connects Medford, Eugene, Salem, and Portland, running north to the Canadian border of British Columbia, and south through the Willamette Valley all the way to San Diego, California, therefore connecting Canada and Mexico via 3 west coast states.

Interstate 84

connects Portland, The Dalles, and Pendleton, running east to Boise, Idaho.

Federal and state highways effectively serve the remainder of the state, arranged in a grid-like lattice, but warped by mountain ranges:

Highway 101

winds along the Pacific coast and goes through the main street of most every town along the way

Highway 99

is the predecessor to I-5, but goes through many towns in the Willamette Valley. At Junction City just north of Eugene, it splits as 99E and 99W which meander along the respective sides of the Willamette River; both terminate in Portland. South of Eugene, it is the same as I-5.

Highway 97

is the main Central Oregon north/south route. When I-5 is closed by winter storms, this is usually a good alternate as it is east of the Cascades and subject to much less precipitation.

Highway 26

goes from the northern coast through the coast range, through Portland then over the south flank of Mount Hood then generally follows an east-west path tracing the north Oregon border 50-75 miles south almost to the Idaho border at Vale.

Highway 20

goes from the north central coast in Newport to the eastern border roughly midway through the state.

Oregon is one of two states in the U.S. along with New Jersey where self-serve gasoline stations are not allowed by law. The speed limit along the interstates is generally 65 miles per hour mph except in the urban areas of interstate 5 where it is 55 mph. On highways it is generally 55 mph. For more details see Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 811.111 (http://www.leg.state.or.u...) and 810.180 (http://www.leg.state.or.u...).

By bike

The Oregon Coast is a premier destination for cycling, although traffic, narrow shoulders, heavy winds and rains, and windy roads make it dangerous. Nevertheless, many people cycle the entire Oregon Coast each year. In the summer months take Highway 101 north to south starting in Astoria through Lincoln City and onto Brookings to get breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The prevailing winds will be at your back all summer long. For the seasoned cyclist head north in winter months as the winds are out of the SW at that time of year.