Corvallis is a city that enjoys surprising those who visit—even repeat visitors. It’s possible, for instance, to sit down at a local eatery and savor dishes whose ingredients were harvested earlier that day. After dinner, you just might fall in love with a just-tapped, barrel-aged beer at a downtown brewpub—or watch a cotton-candy sunset behind the Oregon Coast Range mountains from a rooftop patio. On your way back to your room, you’ll almost surely pass dazzling murals that showcase the area’s wildlife, history, and rich agricultural bounty.
Another fun surprise: Corvallis is the rare destination that slows down in summer—when most students at the local university (Oregon State University, home of the Beavers) head home for the season. That means quieter crowds at the local farmers market and more elbow room at the city’s best-loved food-cart pod.
Its central location within the Willamette Valley also makes it easy to access without a car. So whether you arrive by bus or train, here’s a guide to spending a car-free weekend savoring the best of Corvallis.
Cyclists in Corvallis, Oregon. By Lainey Morse.
Your first task is figuring out how to arrive in Corvallis without your car. Fortunately, the city’s convenient location in the heart of the Willamette Valley makes this an easy task.
Arrive in Corvallis Via Train
If you’re coming from Portland, Salem, Eugene, and other stops along the Amtrak Cascades train line, you won’t find a stop in Corvallis. But you can deboard in nearby Albany and take the NW Connector’s Coast to Valley Express bus, which runs between Albany, Corvallis, and Newport on the Oregon Coast; the bus line stops at the Amtrak station in downtown Albany, and the ride into downtown Corvallis takes just 20 minutes.
Arrive in Corvallis Via Bus
If you’d like a little more flexibility and are traveling along the Interstate 5 corridor, see what might be available via FlixBus; the intercity bus company departs from communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and stops on the Oregon State University campus a short distance from downtown.
Get Around Corvallis
Once in Corvallis, you have a few options for getting around. If your next stop is further than an easy walk away, hop aboard the eco-friendly Corvallis Transit System—a fareless public bus system that covers the community's top sites and most popular destinations. If you’d like to get around on two wheels, learn about bike rentals in Corvallis. Rideshare services such as Lyft and Uber are also available.
Ready to visit? Learn more about transportation to—and around—Corvallis, Oregon.
Hundreds of farms and ranches surround Corvallis—so you’re never far from a fresh, flavorful meal brimming with seasonal ingredients. Here are a few ideas for excellent eats around Corvallis.
del Alma: The chic del Alma serves a mix of tapas and dinner dishes that showcase a variety of Latin American and Caribbean influences. The rotating menu changes often to reflect what's fresh and in-season. Enjoy a sampling of the restaurant's offerings with its "3-Course Wednesdays" promotion—where you'll receive a three-course prix fixe meal that includes one tapas, one entrée, and one dessert for just $35. Afterward, walk a few blocks and enjoy a nightcap at Corazón—an approachable wine bar that features rotating glass pours and curated flights from around the world.
Common Fields: Near the southern edge of downtown, the Common Fields food-cart pod occupies an old auto repair shop—and has breathed new life into the space with four on-site food carts, outdoor seating (adorned with heaters and heated seats in winter), a small play area for children, a stage for live music, and a bustling taproom that pours more than a dozen beers, wines, and ciders from (largely local) independent producers.
Corvallis Farmers Market: The beloved Corvallis Farmers’ Market runs on Saturday and Wednesday mornings between April and November along the waterfront in downtown Corvallis—where dozens of regional vendors sell fresh produce from nearby farms, baked goods, prepared dishes, and more. Learn more about the bounty of local growers with our guide to the Mid-Willamette Valley Food Trail.
A handful of breweries populate downtown Corvallis; here are a few favorites.
Block 15 Brewing: The biggest and best-known brewery in town is Block 15 Brewing. Savor the cozy vibes at Block 15’s downtown brewpub while noshing on locally sourced pub grub and sampling more than a dozen of the brewery’s lagers, IPAs, and fruity wild ales.
Sky High Brewing: Sample a wide-ranging lineup of burgers and pizzas, handcrafted cocktails, and roughly a dozen house-made beers at Sky High Brewing—which hosts downtown's only rooftop patio, where sweeping views of the Oregon Coast Range mountains await.
Oregon Trail Brewery: Since 1987, Oregon Trail Brewery has produced a fun lineup of classic beers that don't typically get distributed outside of the Corvallis area—making its location within the Old World Deli a must-stop for craft beer fans. Pair your easy-drinking ale with a hearty sandwich from the on-site deli, and stick around to see if a local musician or band is taking the stage at the eatery that night.
You don’t have to venture far to develop an appreciation for the beauty of Corvallis—whether natural or human-made. Start your car-free adventure with these suggestions:
Corvallis Murals Scavenger Hunt: Roughly 30 colorful murals dot buildings around town—most of which are crafted by regional artists and pay tribute to local culture; start your Corvallis Murals Scavenger Hunt by picking up a brochure at the Visit Corvallis visitor center or downloading a guide online, and be sure to stop for a selfie or two along the way.
Corvallis Museum: The Benton County Historical Society's Corvallis Museum opened to much fanfare in 2021. Since then, the museum's four galleries have hosted permanent and rotating exhibits that look at regional history through artwork, artifacts, photographs and more.
Riverfront Commemorative Park: Take a stroll through the Riverfront Commemorative Park, which sits between the edge of downtown and the Willamette River. Public art lines the park's multi-use paths, and little ones can cool off in the on-site Splash Fountain—open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend.
Your best bet for a car-free overnight stay is in downtown Corvallis—a walkable district that provides easy access to many of the city’s top sites and Corvallis Transit System bus service. Here, your options for overnight stays include the following:
Hotel Corvallis: The recently renovated, retro-inspired Hotel Corvallis offers a fun mix of the old and new—with flat-screen televisions, comfortable bedding, electric-vehicle charging stations, an on-site market, and dog-friendly rooms—all in the heart of downtown.
Courtyard Corvallis: The ultra-modern Courtyard Corvallis sits at the edge of downtown and along the Willamette River—offering a quiet, relaxed stay without sacrificing convenience or easy access to nearby attractions. Rooms and suites come equipped with Smart TVs and ergonomic workstations.
Holiday Inn Express Corvallis: Sitting on the Willamette River waterfront, the Holiday Inn Express Corvallis is a pleasant, 10- to 15-minute walk from downtown's hotspots. Enjoy an on-site fitness center and pool, pet-friendly rooms, and an on-site market selling snacks, soda, and other essentials.
Looking for other overnight ideas? Get inspired with hotels and lodging in Corvallis.
Article by Matt Wastradowski. Featured photo by Dan Shryock. Keep up with Corvallis news, events and happenings by signing up for our email newsletter.
