This Adventure-Filled Oregon Road Trip Will Take You To 8 Little Known And Unforgettable Destinations

Life really is about the journey -- not the destination. And nowhere is this more evident than along Highway 101 in Oregon. This coastal route cruises through California, Oregon, and Washington, offering not only spectacular sights but also unsurpassed opportunities for off-road adventures. This is especially true in Oregon, where Highway 101 spans the length of the eponymous Oregon Coast: 363 miles of pure, PNW splendor. Sea stacks and tide pools, verdant green foliage and black basalt cliffs, lighthouses, and sand dunes -- this is the Oregon Coast, and Highway 101 isn't just one of the best scenic drives in the USA, it's also the perfect place to have an epic adventure, both on and off-road.

Here is a Google Maps link to the itinerary that will serve as your navigator for this thrilling adventure.

Known as the Pacific Coast Highway, U.S. Highway 101 is a north-south highway that runs through California, Oregon, and Washington, running parallel to the Pacific Coast.

The highway is 790 miles long, and while it's all absolutely beautiful, the 363-mile stretch of road in Oregon is on a whole other level.

Our journey along the Pacific Coast Highway begins in Tillamook, Oregon.

The Oregon Coast is divided into three regions -- the North Coast, Central Coast, and South Coast -- and you'll find a variety of distinct landforms along its shoreline, including rocky cliffs, waterfalls, and sea stacks. This 4.5-hour road trip explores all three regions.

Before you embark upon this epic Oregon adventure, you'll need to fuel up. Gas up your (preferably off-road) vehicle, and stock up on provisions!

When in Tillamook, Oregon, the only real option is a stop at the iconic Tillamook Creamery! Grab a cone, some cheese curds, or a milkshake, and hit the road!

Your first stop on this Oregon Coast tour de force is Cape Lookout State Park, a perennial favorite for hikers, nature enthusiasts, and photographers.

Cape Lookout's beaches are sublime, so sit back and soak up the views as you cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway.

Not long after, you'll come upon one of the most visually stunning areas on the Oregon Coast, Pacific City, which is a vision.

This beach town is located beneath the large headland of Oregon's Cape Kiwanda and offers unrivaled views of some of the most notable landmarks in the Pacific Northwest. Get out and take in the views from Cape Kiwanda -- they will take your breath away!

After exploring Cape Kiwanda, we encourage you to continue your adventures, moving off the road... and into the water!

Yes -- you can surf in Oregon; Pacific City has some of the best waves in the PNW! Sandy beaches, startling blue waters, perfect panoramas, and powerful surf make Pacific City a dream of a place for water lovers.

A favorite launch point for paragliding, take your day trip adventure to new heights and sign up for a class with Oregon Hang Gliding School.

The only actively teaching hang gliding school in the state, Oregon Hang Gliding School makes the dream of flying a reality, and is open to kids, seniors, and even pets! Flying above the Oregon Coast is something that absolutely needs to be on your bucket list.

Newport is the halfway point on your road trip adventure down Highway 101 in Oregon, and the perfect place to break for lunch.

Here in Oregon, we are lucky to have access to an abundance of fresh, flavorful seafood. Wild salmon, Albacore tuna, Dungeness crab, shrimp, oysters, and rockfish — you’ll find a bounty of amazing catches along the Oregon Coast. And for the *best* clam chowder of your life, there's only one option: Mo's. This sea shack is a cult favorite in Oregon.

After a hearty bowl of chowder, our adventure continues with a stop at one of Oregon's most famous lighthouses: Heceta Head Lighthouse.

This historic lighthouse sits high on a cliff, 205 feet above the shore. You'll find it halfway between Yachats and Florence. The iconic lighthouse and its light keeper's house were built in 1894 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Today, it's a PNW icon and the most photographed lighthouse in the country! Stop and join the legions of admirers who have stood and marveled at this Oregon Coast treasure.

We're nearing the end of this epic Oregon adventure, and it's a grand finale like no other. Our penultimate stop? The Oregon Dunes.

The Oregon Dunes Recreational Area spans 40 miles along the coast and is a place of sublime beauty. These dunes were created more than 100,000 years ago by wind and water, and have served as inspiration for sci-fi writers and movie directors alike. Get out and wander through these stunning sand dunes; immerse yourself in this otherworldly land.

With a day of epic views and stunning coastal miles under your belt, it's time to really take this adventure off-road. For this, there's no better place than Rock & Tenmile Creek Road.

Located in Oregon's breathtaking Siuslaw National Forest, the Ten Mile OHV Trail is 2.8 miles long and features loose, sandy terrain. It begins at Spinreel OHV Staging Area and ends at the beach. The trail is open to all off-highway vehicle classes and offers an unrivaled experience of Oregon's coastal forests. All you need to do is jump in your Nissan Armada, and let your wanderlust lead the way.

The best part about scenic drives is that they're all about the journey -- both on and off the road.

And here in Oregon, the journey is always, always extraordinary.

Amazing adventures await here in Oregon. Hop in your car, and prepare for an unforgettable road trip along the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway.

For more road trip adventures to add to your bucket list, be sure to check out these 23 amazing roadside attractions in the U.S.