Oregon's pioneer roots are an inextricable part of our state's identity, and the eponymous Oregon Trail played a huge role in shaping the Beaver State as we know it today. In Oregon, there are numerous places where intrepid explorers can experience traveling the Oregon Trail along the infamous wagon trail's route, gaining invaluable insight and perspective along the way. Offering a wholly immersive experience, the Oregon Trail Auto Trail is easily the most accessible way to experience the historic route. Coming in at around 400 miles and six hours of drive time, the Oregon stretch of this route absolutely belongs on your bucket list.

More than 200 years ago, as Westward expansion ramped up, folks felt an undeniable pull out West.

Whether venturing West for job opportunities, dreams of a better life, or new adventures, those on the Oregon Trail all had one thing in common: an indefatigable pioneer spirit.

And thus began the Oregon Trail, a 2,170-mile wagon route from Missouri to Oregon's Willamette Valley, a journey that would go down in history as one of the most tragic and dangerous ventures in American history.

Today, folks can have their own Oregon Trail experience in numerous ways, from the eponymous Oregon Trail Interpretive Park and other museums to various trails, historic sites, and even an Auto Tour. We're partial to this last option.

Driving the Oregon Trail follows a route that leads from the Northeastern edge of Oregon all the way to the trail's terminus. Along the way, attractions and points of interest abound on this driving tour as you're traveling the Oregon Trail.

The Oregon portion of the Auto Tour spans roughly 400 miles and takes just over six hours to complete. Sounds arduous, right? Just imagine how Oregon's earliest pioneers felt, as the entire journey took as long as six months, start to finish.

Put into perspective, historians estimate that the 300-400,000 folks traveling the Oregon Trail were able to cover just 15-20 miles per day.

A 400-mile road trip through Oregon doesn't sound so daunting anymore, right?

Two important Eastern Oregon towns along the route are La Grande, the largest community within the Grande River Valley, and Baker City, which is home to the aforementioned National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, as well as a myriad of other museums.

Over on the other side of the state in The Dalles, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum is another place that's not only part of the Oregon Trail and route taken by Lewis and Clark, it's also home to one of the oldest continuously occupied places in North America that's more than 11,000 years old.

The Oregon Trail is one of the most legendary events in our country's history, and the Beaver State was the promised land waiting at the end. Today, the Auto Tour of the Oregon Trail is one of those bucket-list adventures we think everyone ought to take.

Visit NPS.gov to learn more and plan your excursion on the Oregon portion of the Oregon Trail Auto Tour. Do you have experience traveling the Oregon Trail? We would love to hear about it - be sure to share in the comments section.

If you have not gone but are now intrigued to give driving the Oregon Trail a try, make sure you are better prepared than those early days pioneers by following our ultimate road trip packing list. And of course, you won't want to forget the snacks!

Curious to learn more of Oregon's history? In Portland, the Shanghai Tunnel Tours offer a glimpse into another tragic time in the state's history.