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If it weren’t for the schools located there, most people wouldn’t know Eugene as anything other than the name of their grandmother’s boyfriend. But in reality, Eugene, Oregon, is a beautiful, mountainous city situated next to a roaring river in the Pacific Northwest. Although it’s a city packed with nature, arts and culture, the population is only roughly 170,000—about 23,000 of those being students at the University of Oregon. Talk about a student takeover!
Yet sometimes within a college town—er, well, college city—like this, students fall into a spell of boredom, stuck in the library with nothing better to do than half-heartedly navigate the Dewey Decimal System. Luckily for you, Wanderu has created a college destination guide for that exact moment when you’re itching for a getaway.
In the table below, find a list of every city you can get to from Eugene, Oregon, for less than $50 by bus or train.
Destinations From Eugene for Less Than $50
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Eugene to Albany, OR | $12.62 |
| Bus | Eugene to Astoria, OR | $43.97 |
| Bus | Eugene to Bend, OR | $35.00 |
| Train | Eugene to Bingen, WA | $41.49 |
| Bus | Eugene to Cannon Beach, OR | $43.15 |
| Bus | Eugene to Coos Bay, OR | $35.00 |
| Train | Eugene to Chemult, OR | $40.86 |
| Train | Eugene to Centralia, WA | $47.60 |
| Bus | Eugene to Elsie, OR | $37.95 |
| Bus | Eugene to Florence, OR | $27 |
| Bus | Eugene to Gearhart, OR | $43.62 |
| Train | Eugene to Hood River, OR | $49.74 |
| Train | Eugene to Kelso, WA | $35.27 |
| Train | Eugene to La Pine, OR | $41.83 |
| Train | Eugene to Oregon City, OR | $25.92 |
| Bus | Eugene to Portland, OR | $24.69 |
| Bus | Eugene to Reedsport, OR | $29.00 |
| Bus | Eugene to Salem, OR | $17.77 |
| Bus | Eugene to Seaside, OR | $43.11 |
| Bus | Eugene to Sisters, OR | $33.00 |
| Train | Eugene to Sunriver, OR | $47.14 |
| Bus | Eugene to Beaverton, OR | $26.33 |
| Train | Eugene to Vancouver, WA | $29.60 |
| Train | Eugene to Wishram, WA | $49.29 |
| Bus | Eugene to Warrenton, OR | $43.91 |
With every single one of these fares coming in under $50 a pop, you can enjoy a change of scenery without blowing your budget. Below, we highlight 10 of the top places you’ll want to consider for your next excursion.
1. Astoria, OR
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Ah, Astoria—an oceanside town full of history, nature and adventure. (It’s where the 1985 cult-classic The Goonies was filmed: “Hey you guyyyyys!”) With an abundance of trails and parks, beaches and bays, enjoy the outdoor vistas that this small city has to offer.
The towering Astoria Column attracts 400K visitors a year to the town of 10,000. Not only is it covered in unique, hand-painted murals, there’s a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean at the top. Or, if you’re in need of an adrenaline rush to shake those study blues, check out High Life Adventures, where you can zipline across the scenic Oregon coast.
Book your trip:
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Eugene to Astoria, OR | $43.97 |
| Train | Eugene to Astoria, OR | $48.23 |
2. Bend, OR
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Don’t break from the stress of college: Take a trip to Bend, instead, just three hours from Eugene.
Begin with brunch at popular Chow, then witness the beautiful Cascade Mountains in-person with a visit to one of the area’s many ski resorts and trails, such as Mt. Bachelor or Farewell Bend Park.
Bend is one of only four cities in the U.S. to have a volcano within its boundaries, and from the volcanic site Pilot Butte you can experience a unique array of nature not found in most other parts of the country. The viewpoint provides a 360-degree panorama of the snow-capped Cascade Range on one side and the high desert on the other. During the spring, see the sands come to life with wildflowers and plants like sage and juniper.
Book your trip:
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Eugene to Bend, OR | $35.00 |
3. Cannon Beach, OR
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Starved for sand? Bask on the beach, enjoy stunning sunsets and build a badass bonfire in this quaint coastal town.
As you walk along the shore, pause for a moment to gape at Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack in whose tidepools you can discover amazing wildlife year-round (starfish and sand crabs and sea slugs, oh my!). Then take a break from beach-combing for some rainforest greenery with a hike along the Clatsop Loop Trail.
Finally, end your day with a stroll through town—packed with places to snack, see and shop—before settling down for a budget-friendly oceanview dinner at Mo’s Seafood & Chowder, an Oregon institution.
Book your trip:
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Eugene to Cannon Beach, OR | $43.15 |
| Train | Eugene to Cannon Beach, OR | $46.95 |
4. Hood River, OR
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Nestled along the raging Columbia, little Hood River is relaxation #goals.
Distract yourself from the homework hustle with watersports that include paddle boarding, windsurfing and kayaking. (It’s also a snowball’s throw from Mt. Hood Meadows, where you can ski, snowboard or go tubing in the colder months.)
The town itself is a real drinking destination, home to pFriem Family Brewers where a pint will set you back just $6, as well as The Gorge White House, where you can sip hard cider while picking fresh berries straight from the vine. No good trip is complete without fantastic food, and Hood River offers many delicious options, including Solstice Woodfired Pizza down on the waterfront.
Book your trip:
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Eugene to Hood River, OR | $49.74 |
5. Portland, OR
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Escape to the largest city in Oregon! The hit IFC show “Portlandia” portrayed it as an idiosyncratic haven for hipsters, outdoorsy-types and peculiar people from every walk of life—and frankly, that show might as well have been a documentary.
The Saturday Market (also open on Sundays) is an outdoor bazaar full of hand-made products, mouth-watering food and priceless people-watching. Nearby, infamous Voodoo Doughnut offers a sweet treat in the heart of downtown. Their colorful, quirky pastries (the “Maple Blazer Blunt” is a cinnamon-sugar dusted donut rolled into the shape of a joint, dipped in maple frosting with red sprinkle “embers” on the end) are sold literally 24/7.
After scoring that sugar high, explore the nightlife in Southeast Portland, where you can hit up cool bars, restaurants and even karaoke.
Book your trip:
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Eugene to Portland, OR | $24.69 |
| Train | Eugene to Portland, OR | $30.51 |
6. Coos Bay, OR
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Coos Bay has deep Native American heritage: For thousands of years, the local tribes hunted and fished throughout this Insta-worthy region.
Shore Acres State Park will offer a great start to your relaxing vacay. With pretty gardens for every season (yes, including winter) and a view of Simpson Beach, you can dive nose-first into the aromatic flora.
If you’re wanting to let loose a little bit and take a chance at winning big, flirt with Lady Luck at the Mill Casino. The largest city on the Oregon coast, Coos Bay is also bustling with local boutiques and galleries, theaters and restaurants—plenty to keep you busy.
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Eugene to Coos Bay, OR | $35.00 |
7. Salem, OR
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The state capital of Oregon offers a glimpse of Beaver State history and culture through its many museums, parks and other sites.
The Victorian-era Bush House Museum (with tours only $4 for students) was built by businessman and journalist Asahel Bush II in the 1870s. Did we mention that the Bush House is said to be haunted? (Whether the ghosts are more bathtub-lady from The Shining or Patrick Swayze at a pottery wheel is unclear.) Either way: Ooo, spooky!
But if ghost-hunting isn’t your thing, settle your nerves at the lovely Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, where you can observe acres of calming and colorful flowers, and daily wine-tastings cost as little as $6 per flight.
Book your trip:
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Eugene to Salem, OR | $17.77 |
| Train | Eugene to Salem, OR | $24.85 |
8. Seaside, OR
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If you’re in the market for a beach getaway, the name of this town says it all.
In Seaside, you’ll find ample opportunity to relax, jump waves as the tide comes in, or dip your toes in the relatively soft, relatively warm sand. (Pardon the temperature, but this is the Oregon coast after all.)
Not a fan of having seaweed lick your leg while swimming in the ocean? The Seaside Aquarium provides an opportunity to get up close and personal with marine-life (but with the benefit of a glass barrier), where you can feed the seals or fondle the starfish, urchins and other sea critters in the “Touch Tank.”
And if you’re ready for another haunted attraction, take time to stare down the historical (and isolated) Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, aka Terrible Tilly.
Book your trip:
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Eugene to Seaside, OR | $43.11 |
| Train | Eugene to Seaside, OR | $47.17 |
9. Sunriver, OR
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Located on the grounds of the former WWII training facility Camp Abbot, the resort town of Sunriver is today a thriving community, rich with bike trails, a busy downtown and numerous spots to float the Deschutes on an inner tube.
If you’re game for some romantic stargazing, stop by the Oregon Observatory, where you can use one of the 11 telescopes they have on hand for guests. Or if you’re really feeling adventurous, channel your inner Frodo and climb through a mile-long, tube-like passage called the Lava River Cave, once forged by flowing molten lava.
Book your trip:
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Eugene to Sunriver, OR | $47.14 |
10. Vancouver, WA
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Along the Columbia River, the de facto border between Oregon and its northern neighbor, lies the humble city of Vancouver.
Among plenty of more mainstream things to do and see—Fort Vancouver! Lots of breweries!—there is also Stonehenge. Seriously, there really is a Stonehenge Memorial in Vancouver: A nearly exact replica was completed in 1929 by Maryhill Museum founder Samuel Hill.
If you’re looking for something a little less other-worldly, hit up Big Al’s instead, where you can bowl, play arcade games and drink with friends.
Book your trip:
| Mode | Route | Avg. Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Eugene to Vancouver, WA | $29.60 |
Whether you’re in the market for an epic excursion for you and your friends, or a chill getaway for you and your boo, Wanderu can take you from Eugene to wherever you’d like to go. Use our Explore search tool to discover even more affordable destinations: Simply plug in a location of origin, a date and a price and we’ll spin up results that fit your timeline and budget.
