Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve always been familiar with the history of the area and some key figures in its settlement, including Lewis and Clark, the famous 19th century explorers. In southwestern Washington and part of the Oregon Coast, there is Lewis and Clark National Park. We’re going to tell you all about this little known National Park and give you some great ways to experience it all.
GETTING TO LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL PARK
Most people are going to be visiting Lewis and Clark National Park as part of an Oregon Coast road trip. The park includes a collection of sites, not just one big square, so planning a route is key. If you are coming from Portland, it’s about two hours to the Northwest Coast or Oregon. If you’re driving from the south, such as Newport, it’s a bit over two hours.
For visitors driving from the Seattle area, you’ll have about a five hour drive, as you’ll have to abandon the interstate early on and take a series of rural highways to get to the coast and cross the Columbia River. Wherever you begin, the drive is beautiful and no doubt you’ll find some great stops along the way.