When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Oregon?

A guide to help you plan your next trip to Oregon.

Tioga Bridge on a rainy day. 2023.

“All it does is rain in Oregon.”

If your planning a trip to Oregon, the chances are someone has likely said something about Oregon’s rain to you. And while it is true, it does rain in Oregon, it's not actually as bad as everyone thinks. Instead, Oregon has four true seasons. In the summertime, Oregon experiences high temperatures and in the Winter it often snows.

So, how to know when the best time of year to visit Oregon is? Well, like anything it depends on what you want to do while here. Here is a brief overview of each season to help plan your trip.

If you run into a paywall, you can view this story on my website at https://nicoleadventures.com/travel/when-to-visit-oregon

Winter Travel in Oregon

Along the I-5 corridor, it's unlikely that you will see any snow in Oregon. You will however likely see rain. Plan to bring multiple jackets/sweaters for Winter Travel as you will get wet.

Heading inland towards Hwy 97 you will find numerous ski resorts. Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood are the two most popular for individuals from all around to visit.

Christmas time in Oregon provides its own unique activities with light shows popping up around the state. Some of the most notable is Shore Acres and the Festival of Lights.

[embed]Shore Acres Holiday Lights

Lastly, winter is an excellent time to visit for outdoorsman. Fishing for Winter Steelhead or the Columbia Basin Sturgeon is very popular during the winter months. Never been fishing and want to try? Not a problem! There are countless guides to help you set the hook and land a fish.

Overall, winter isn’t terrible to visit Oregon as long as you don’t mind the rain. If you are wanting to come see some of the beautiful scenery that Oregon has to offer, its best to visit during a different time of the year as Oregon has a low fog preventing you from seeing off in the distance.

North Umpqua River. January 2020.

Winter Summary:

Activities: Snowboarding, Skiing, Christmas Festivities, Fishing Weather: Cold & Wet, Often Windy, Low Hanging Fog Don’t Forget: Multiple Jackets or Coats, Warm Shoes, Gloves for colder weather

Spring Travel in Oregon

At the beginning of Spring, every thing will still be very wet despite the temperatures being in the 60’s and 70’s. There will be many nights that it will drop down to freezing temperatures so be prepared if you are planning to camp. It’s also during this time that the snowpacks from the Cascade Mountains begin to melt. The rivers during this time of year will likely be high and muddy in appearance.

It's important to note here that if you are planning on hiking to waterfalls, hot springs, or visiting anywhere in the backcountry of Oregon, you will run into snow on the roads. There is very little cell service in these areas so be prepared and always let someone know your route.

Falls in Southern Oregon 2021

If you do decide to travel to those areas, I recommend using one of the OnX Map apps for planning and collaboration with your friends and family. (Don’t forget to download it for offline use!) Or if you find yourself in places where there is no service often, you might consider purchasing a satellite messaging device from companies like Spot or Garmin.

Now the latter part of Spring is very beautiful. Temperatures are in the 70’s and 80’s making outdoor activities bearable. The flowers are starting bloom and everything is very green. This is one of the best times to visit the Oregon Coast as well as the winds are still low.

Tulip field at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Oregon

Overall, if you decide to visit Oregon in the spring, its best to wait until the later part of it for the best experience. I wouldn’t leave your jacket out home regardless of what the weatherman says.

Spring Summary:

Activities: Spring Festivals, Outdoor Recreation Weather: Rain and Sunshine Mix, Cold Nights, Warm Days Don’t Forget: Everything will still be wet so a jacket or coat and jeans. Winter Safety precautions if doing backcountry travel

Traveling through Oregon in the Summer

Depending on what month you visit during the summer will determine if you should visit Oregon during the summer. Oregon suffers from drastic wildfires every year, polluting the air.

[embed]Archie Creek Fire The morning the Archie Creek fire blew up. This was the view from Roseburg. Shortly after that dark blanket covered…youtube.com

Oregon’s wildfires are either due to lightning strike or they are caused by careless or reckless behavior of humans. Make sure you put your campfire all the way out. Don’t throw cigarettes out the window. And, please, if you are towing a trailer, don’t let your chains drag. Also, fireworks that fly (mortars, bottle rockets, roaming candles, etc.) are illegal for exactly this reason. You can learn more about preventing wildfires on Keep Oregon Green’s website.

Amacher Park Boat Ramp in Winchester, Oregon

Early in the summer, however, Oregon is great to visit. The sun is out and summertime festivities are popping up all over the state. Some of the most popular events are the Oregon Country Fair, UTV Takeover, Oregon Jamboree, and Graffiti Weekend.

One last thing on summer, the rivers are still high and quick moving early at the beginning of summer. There are a lot of under tows so please consult with the locals about the conditions before jumping in anywhere. Later in the summer when the rivers are low, its not as bad. However, be weary of slow moving waters in the rivers. It can be harmful to your pet due to the algae.

Summer Overview:

Activities: Summer events across the state, swimming, sightseeing Weather: 90 degree weather, sunshine, one storm a summer, late summer has wildfire smoke polluting the air Don’t Forget: a jacket. sunscreen. hiking shoes or boots. water.

Autumn in Oregon

Autumn is probably one of the best times of the year to visit Oregon. Usually we have extinguished the wildfires and the air is breathable and the weather is still decent out, although it does get cold later in the season. It usually doesn’t rain until October-ish.

One of the fun things about fall is Halloween, right? Well, Oregon is home to some of the best attractions for Halloween. For example, the town of St. Helens, Oregon, was where the movie Halloweentown was based out of. So, every year they decorate the town similar to scenes in the movie and invite everyone to come visit.

Hiking during this time is phenomenal as its not to hot and not to cold. It does get a little chilly at night though so bring lots of blankets if you go camping. Also note that fire restrictions may still be in effect. Use caution before lighting a fire.

Overall, Autumn is a great time to visit Oregon, well unless you want to go swimming cause it will likely be to cold for that. However, if you come earlier than the weather should be perfect for you to enjoy all of your outdoor activities.

Autumn Recap:

Activities: Halloweentown, Haunted Tours, Ghost Towns Weather: Warm at the start and then gradually gets colder. Rain in October Don’t Forget: A jacket. Hiking shoes. Halloween Spirit.

So, when is the best time to visit Oregon? I would recommend Late Spring/Early Summer or in the Fall for optimal weather conditions so you can enjoy as much as you can of Oregon's Natural Beauty. However, any time of year is fine as long as you use common sense.

One last thing, regardless of what time of year you decide to visit, bring a jacket, or five. It gets cold in the evenings even during the summer so best to always plan ahead.

If you are planning your trip to Oregon, make sure to read my article about being safe while visiting our beautiful state:

[embed]How Not to Die When Visiting Oregon Safety precautions for people who want to visit the Oregon wilderness, but lack outdoor skills or, in some cases…ruralroadtoriches.medium.com

If you enjoyed this article, please take a quick second to hit the clap button to let others know its worthwhile or share it with your friends. This helps me grow as I continue my blogging journey.

Want to learn more about Oregon? Follow me or subscribe to the newsletter to get my latest sent straight to your inbox. To learn more about me, you can visit my website.

Let’s follow each other on Insta!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate marketing links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you, please review our terms of use and privacy policy for more info.