Oregon Just Wouldn't Be The Same Without These 10 Charming Small Towns
By Christy Articola|Published November 23, 2022
×
Christy Articola
Author
Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
Oregon is full of small towns with unique character. There are so many little towns and cities in this great state, and each and every one of them is special and unique. Many look much like they did 100 years ago or more. Others are mellow beach towns with relaxing ocean vibes. No matter where you go in Oregon, there are always new and pleasant things to be found. Check out this list of small towns in Oregon. Have you visited them all? If not, then you should start planning your next weekend trip to explore one or more of them. Read on.
Silverton is one of the larger small towns on our list, but it still has that small town feel you crave. It was established in 1854 and it's just 12 miles northeast of Salem. Silverton is home to The Oregon Garden, an 80-acre botanical garden, and is the gateway to Oregon's largest state park - Silver Falls State Park.
This is another large small town on our list but it's truly one of the best towns of any size in Oregon. Nestled in the northwest corner of the state, Astoria is known for being the site of many films - most famously, 1985 adventure film The Goonies. It's also the small town with the most buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in the state, so if you like old buildings, you'll love Astoria.
Hood River is a small town on the banks of the Columbia River, one of Oregon's most iconic natural features. Even better, this town also offers great views of Oregon's most iconic natural feature: Mount Hood. Further, the arts scene in Hood River is quite vibrant, so it's a great destination for artists and art lovers alike.
The small town of Yachats is on the coast about halfway between Newport and Florence. Despite its small size, there's still plenty to do in this town - especially if you love the great outdoors. You could hike for weeks in the nearby Siuslaw National Forest and other parks and protected areas near Yachats and never take the same trail twice.
Baker City is in the middle of the far eastern part of the state. It was named for the only U.S. Senator ever killed in combat; Senator Edward D. Baker was killed while leading troops in the Battle of Ball's Bluff in the U.S. Civil War. Today, the Baker Historic District is a huge draw for tourists. There are more than 130 historic buildings included within it, most built between 1880 and 1915. Baker City is also home to the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.
Sisters is a little west of the middle of the state of Oregon and is northwest of Bend. Its land area is just 1.87 square miles, but this small town is known for wonderful small town events including The Sisters Rodeo, The Sisters Folk Festival, and The Sisters Glory Days Car Show, to name a few.
Tillamook is due west of Portland; it's almost on the coast, but not quite. The town was incorporated in 1891 and today, it's considered to be the gateway to the northwestern coast of the state. You'll find the Tillamook Cheese Factory here, along with the Tillamook Air Museum, and the Oregon Coast Visitors Association.
Florence is a small city in the center of Oregon's Pacific coast. Its sand dunes, beaches, and natural environment draw visitors from all over the state and the nation year round.
Burns is in the southeastern part of Oregon - a part of the state where few people live and even fewer visit. However, Burns is welcoming and friendly and is an active community with many historic buildings.
Oakland is a small town just off I-5 that's about halfway between Grants Pass and Eugene. It was the first city in the state to be placed on the state's historic register in 1968. The city's business district is only two blocks long, but walking along those two blocks is like stepping back in time. You'll love it!
As you can see, Oregon is full of interesting small towns – and they are all welcoming and friendly to visitors! Plan a trip to visit some of these places today. You’ll learn so much more about Oregon in doing so, and you’ll be glad you made the time to take the trip!
If small towns don’t sound like your kind of thing, then maybe you’d prefer visiting Oregon’s largest city: Portland (population: 641,000!). Check out our Portland Archives to learn more about the Rose City.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
