Lodging
Lodging cost can be heavily influenced by location and time of travel. Expect higher prices in the more expensive cities like Portland, as well as in areas that are highly sought after but do not have a high number of places to stay such as the coast.
Hotels: (average Cost: $103 a night)
– Hotels are plentiful throughout Oregon and you can find a lot of pretty decently priced ones as well.
– Hotels along the coast tend to definitely be more expensive than those inland. The scarcity of them compared to the demand from tourists causes price spikes, especially during holidays like the 4th of July.
Airbnb: (Average Cost: $181 a night)
– You can find some really unique Airbnbs throughout Oregon, and many of them at a great price too!
– Be warned, just like the rest of the United States, you might find that the place you found ends up being double the price due to fees and taxes.
Hostel: (Average cost: $45)
– Oregon offers many great hostels in prime locations throughout the state. Staying at a hostel, if you have the ability to do so, can definitely be the way to go if you want to meet some unique people and be close to many different activities.
Camping: (Average cost: $30 a night, $50 for an RV spot)
– Oregon has a wide assortment of campsites for any type of environment. Here are some of the best ones from throughout the state.
– A good portion of Oregon is made up of retirees who thrive on taking their RV out for a spin (you will probably notice that there is no shortage of RV dealerships no matter where you go). This also means that there is no shortage of RV campsites, and that they are some of the best in the nation as well.
Meals:
Different locations in Oregon have drastically different meal prices and portions. Portland, Oregon will usually have higher prices, smaller portions, mandatory tips, and sometimes charge for things that are usually included with an entree (such as having to buy fries separate from a burger). An additional thing to note is that unlike some states, Oregon waiters/waitresses are required to make minimum wage, so they do not directly rely on tips for a living.
Groceries: ($94 a week; 18th most expensive state)
– You can buy groceries at any grocery store or even gas station; however, the more focused that store is towards supplying only food items the cheaper they tend to be. Furthermore, “organic ” stores and items in stores tend to cost significantly more than their non-organic counterparts.
– Most American grocery stores will have a reduced section, or stickers placed on objects to be sold at reduced prices (most of the time these items are going to expire in the next couple days). These areas are a good opportunity to buy things at a significantly lower price, since you are most likely going to be using that product in a short amount of time. HERE is a guide on how to find these places and other tips in regard to groceries stores in the US.
– Here are some suggestions for meals you can make at a hotel or rental with a kitchen.
Restaurants: (Average Cost: $14 a person)
– Oregon has a wide variety of different foods, especially in terms of food from Asia/Hawaii since Oregon has a large number of immigrants from that region.
– Not tipping is considered rude, and 15-20% is considered the norm.
– Make sure a tip is not already added to your bill before you decide to add one yourself.
– Restaurants in Portland tend to be more expensive for smaller portion sizes. You will also find that some restaurants charge separately for things that usually come with certain entrees. (Fries, for example, can cost around $6 while the burger costs around $12 instead of $12 dollars for a burger with fries).
Fast Food: (Average Cost: $5-16 a person)
– Fast food has gotten quite a bit more expensive than what it once was a couple of years ago. That being said, shopping certain deals and using the fast foods apps can really cut costs down and you can even score free food!
Uber Eats/Delivery: (Average Cost Varies)
– – Uber eats is quite expensive no matter where you travel to, but knowing some simple tips might help reduce this cost and can even, if given the right circumstances, make it a cheap route to go.
– Some chain restaurants in the United States provide a cheap way to get a large amount of food at a cheap price.
Transportation:
Traveling by car, like in most of the United States, is the superior method of traveling. There are few trains statewide, and the freedom of being able to travel to anywhere in the state is much needed due to the rural nature of the state.
Car Rental: (Average Cost)
– Car rentals are
RV/Camper Rental: (Average Cost)
– Campers
Rideshares/Uber: (Average Cost)
– Rideshares like Uber can get really expensive, like in most parts of the United States, so using them sparingly is advised.
Public Transportation: (Average Cost)
– Public transportation is not too useful unless you are in Portland, and do not have a car.
Gas Vehicles: (Average Cost)
– The cost of gas varies greatly throughout the state, but the main theme is that being right next to the interstate/highway and being in a bigger city will lead to higher prices. A pro tip is that usually casinos will have greatly reduced gas prices (to entice gamblers to travel there), and store gas stations like Fred Meyer will usually have lower prices (Costco gas stations as well, but you will need a Costco membership)
Electric Vehicles: (Average Cost)
– Around half of the charging stations in Oregon tend to not be free to use and you will have to pay. Although charging stations are more common around bigger cities, most of Oregon is full of very small cities that may not even have a charging station so mapping out all the charging stations along your route, and ensuring you are fully charged is something to keep in mind.
