Corvallis sits at a scenic crossroads in the Willamette Valley. Take a trip from Portland, for instance, and you’ll pass countless farms growing dozens of crops, rolling hillsides blanketed by rows of grapevines, and forests of oak and fir. Around Corvallis, you’re surrounded by wide-open meadows and the Willamette River, which runs north-south at the eastern edge of town. And as you head west, you ascend into the forested Oregon Coast Range—where Douglas fir, western hemlock, and cedar trees line the winding highway. Creative restaurants, fun museums, and family attractions dot every leg of the journey.
If you’re excited to see it all soon, consider making Corvallis the heart of a car-free trip to the Oregon Coast. Bus lines connect Corvallis to the Oregon Coast and several cities throughout the region, so it’s easy to leave the keys at home and stitch together a long weekend that blends the best of the Willamette Valley and one of the top stops on the Oregon Coast. Here’s how to make it all happen.
This particular itinerary begins aboard a well-appointed Flixbus in Portland—Oregon's largest city and a cultural hub that's home to a world-class dining scene, award-winning craft breweries, and urban escapes into nature.
As you head south from Portland’s downtown core, the buildings get smaller and the trees grow taller. Before long, you leave the city altogether and enter the Willamette Valley, where farmers have grown more than 150 crops in nutrient-rich soils for nearly 200 years. Along the way, you’ll pass vineyards that grow grapes for hundreds of Willamette Valley wineries, hazelnut groves that produce one of Oregon’s top exports, and the occasional hop farm—where rows of twine help the plant grow up to 20 feet before it’s tossed into our beloved craft beers. Since you’re not driving, take time to admire occasional views of the snow-capped Mount Hood— at about 11,250 feet, it’s the state’s tallest peak—off to the east.
After a stop in Salem, Oregon’s state capital, you’ll return to the farmland for which the Willamette Valley is so well known. If you’d like to taste that bounty for yourself, plug your phone, tablet, or laptop into the seat’s power outlet and peruse the Mid-Willamette Valley Food Trail—a self-guided culinary adventure that brings together dozens of breweries, wineries, and restaurants that work local, seasonal ingredients into fresh recipes.
Before long, just two hours after rolling out of Portland, you’ll cross the Willamette River and arrive in downtown Corvallis—or as we like to call it, “No Car-Vallis”.
(Photo: Peoria Road Farm Market, Corvallis)
Flixbus drops you off on the lush Oregon State University campus—go Beavers! You're less than a mile from downtown. Take a short stroll through tree-lined streets, or hop aboard the Corvallis Transit System’s (CTS) Route 6 bus; CTS provides free rides all over town, so you’re never far from the fun.
Once downtown, drop your bags off at the night’s hotel. The chic Hotel Corvallis hosts rooms for the whole family, complete with kitchenettes and suites that sleep up to six. Closer to the Willamette River at the edge of downtown, Marriott's Courtyard Corvallis provides modern rooms with plush bedding, private balconies, and dedicated workstations for digital nomads. Both are within a short walk of downtown’s many highlights.
From there, your opportunities for fun and frolic are limited only by how much time you have—and how much you feel like walking. Head off on foot and take a trip back in time at the Corvallis Museum, where exhibits cover the community's history through artifacts, artwork, interpretive panels, and even taxidermy birds.
(Photos: Oregon State University; Hotel Corvallis, by Stacey Newman Weldon; Courtyard Corvallis by Marriott, courtesy Courtyard Corvallis; Corvallis Museum.)
Savor a memorable dinner by indulging in Southern-inspired fare at Castor—or French-inspired dishes at Caves. For a taste of the city’s craft brewing scene, enjoy downtown’s only rooftop views at Sky High Brewing—and sip award-winning ales and lagers at the bustling Block 15 Brewing pub. Along the way, keep an eye out for some of the roughly 30 public art pieces that are part of the Corvallis Mural Project; the eye-catching paintings pay tribute to local wildlife, the area’s indigenous communities, and regional landscapes.
Keep the fun going with a walking tour of Corvallis’ dive bar scene. All over town, watering holes pour strong drinks, serve hearty fare, and offer karaoke, special events, and other entertainment throughout the week. You can even win a prize by taking part in the official Corvallis Dive Bar Crawl; just be sure to pack Ibuprofen for the next morning.
Ready for the final leg of your journey? Hop aboard the NW Connector's Coast to Valley Express for the westward trip out to Newport—less than 90 minutes from the Downtown Transit Center. You'll appreciate not having to keep your eyes on the road while passing wide-open pastures, stands of stately Douglas fir, and the swooping hillsides of the Oregon Coast Range.
Before you know it, you’re breathing in the salty air of the Oregon Coast. The first of two stops in Newport comes at City Hall, just up the hill from the city's walkable Historic Bayfront. Head to the working waterfront on Yaquina Bay to see anglers returning with the day’s haul, dine on fresh fare at Local Ocean Seafoods, and watch lazy sea lions at Port Dock One. Between late June and Labor Day, get on the water with a guided kayak tour via the Oregon Boating Foundation.
The other Coast to Valley Express stop in Newport sits across the bay at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. The working lab invites visitors to learn about marine wildlife, the Oregon Coast's diverse ecosystems, and how science can better help us understand life under the ocean’s surface.
(Photo: Newport, Oregon)
Explore more of Newport via NW Connector's Newport City Loop bus line, which covers most of the city’s top sites—including the historic Nye Beach neighborhood (where you’ll enjoy downhome cafés and pristine sunset views over the Pacific Ocean), the Oregon Coast Aquarium (home to dozens of species of regional wildlife), and oceanfront hotels.
Did you know you can ride the rails between the likes of Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Corvallis? It takes a little planning, but the Amtrak Cascades train line passes pastures and farmland up and down the Interstate 5 corridor throughout the Willamette Valley, offering an old-school way to travel around the region.
Load up the family, angle for a window seat, and make plans to take the train on your next trip. You won’t find a stop in Corvallis proper, but you can arrive in nearby Albany and take the NW Connector’s Coast to Valley Express bus into town—just 20 minutes away. Best of all: It’s a free ride and the bus line stops at the Amtrak station in Albany, so you won’t miss a beat making your transfer.
Article by Matt Wastradowski. Keep up with Corvallis news, events and happenings by signing up for our email newsletter.
