Ultimate Day Trip Guide to Crater Lake National Park from Medford, Oregon

Before I begin this guide, one thing that I would highly recommend if you are going on any roadtrip is to download this Roadtrippers App! You type in where you are coming from and where you are going and then gives you all kinds of information such as places to eat, gas stations on your route, attractions, etc. Use code BTR5QTP for $5 off!

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Medford

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My 1 year old daughter and I flew from Des Moines, Iowa through Denver, Colorado and landed at Rogue Valley International Airport, Medford, Oregon. We met my husband who had been in the area for work and he had already picked up the rental car so that was one less thing we had to do when we landed around the noon hour.

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In-N-Out Burger

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Our first lunch spot was In-N-Out burger, my husbands favorite fast food on the west coast! Delicious burger, awesome chocolate shake and some yummy fries with their special sauce. 🙃 It was the perfect quick lunch as we were traveling with a one year old who was antsy after being on multiple plane rides that morning.

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Walmart Supercenter

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After checking into our hotel, we drove to the nearest Walmart to stock up on road trip necessities. We had brought a small foldable cooler from home (you could easily purchase one). We stocked up on a case of water bottles, sports drinks, picnic lunch items for our next day at Crater Lake National Park, snacks for the drive there/back and while we were hiking.

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Fairfield Inn & Suites Medford

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We stayed at this hotel for 2 nights while we were in Medford. A great pool to enjoy! Right next to a gas station and a strip of fast food dining choices.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill

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After a long first day of travel, we wanted something quick, convenient and close. This chipotle was not even a 5 minute walk from the front door of our hotel so it was the easiest thing to eat that first night.

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Rooster's Restaurant

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If you are a Cinnamon Roll lover then you will enjoy Rooster’s giant homemade Cinnamon Roll which was probably the best Cinnamon Roll I’ve ever had! And they open early! I don’t think you could go wrong with anything on the menu- This local restaurant was the perfect breakfast spot to fill us up prior to our drive up to Crater Lake National Park.

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Crater Lake National Park

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The entrance fee to Crater Lake National Park is around $30 per vehicle (valid for seven days). There is limited or no cell service in certain areas of the park, so make sure to plan accordingly. Most popular time to visit Crater Lake is June-September. May & October have lesser crowds but the weather can vary. The parks Rim Drive may be closed due to snow and weather conditions, typically from October to June.

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Family-Friendly Viewpoints

1. Rim Village

• Offers stunning views of the lake and easy access to visitor facilities. Great for families to learn about the park’s history.

2. Watchman Overlook

• Short walk to a stunning vantage point with views of Wizard Island.

3. Discovery Point

• Perfect for a quick stop with panoramic views of the lake. This is where gold prospector John Wesley Hillman first saw the lake.

4. Cloudcap Overlook

• The highest accessible viewpoint in the park, offering an incredible perspective of Crater Lake and the surrounding peaks.

5. Sinnott Memorial Overlook (at Rim Village)

• Features a small museum and interpretive panels, plus a dramatic view of the lake.

Family-Friendly Hikes

1. Sun Notch Trail

• Distance: 0.8 miles round trip

• Difficulty: Easy

• Features a short loop through a meadow to a viewpoint overlooking Phantom Ship Island.

2. The Pinnacles Trail

• Distance: 1 mile round trip

• Difficulty: Easy

• A flat trail leading to views of striking volcanic spires formed by erosion.

3. Castle Crest Wildflower Trail

• Distance: 0.5 miles round trip

• Difficulty: Easy

• A short loop showcasing colorful wildflowers in season.

4. Godfrey Glen Trail

• Distance: 1.1 miles round trip

• Difficulty: Easy

• An accessible loop with views of deep canyons and lush forest.

5. Discovery Point Trail

• Distance: 2 miles round trip

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

• A scenic trail along the rim of the lake with plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the view.

Optional Add-Ons for Active Families

• Watchman Peak Trail

• Distance: 1.6 miles round trip

• Difficulty: Moderate

• A short but steep hike to a historic fire lookout with panoramic views. This is a spot people can jump off rocks into the most crystal, clear water of Crater Lake.

• Plaikni Falls Trail

• Distance: 2 miles round trip

• Difficulty: Easy

• A gentle trail to a serene waterfall surrounded by lush greenery.

We spent about 4-5 hours exploring Crater Lake National Park, there was a road closure so we didn’t make it around the entire lake while we were there. Truthfully, it was the perfect amount of time for our family with a small child. We drove back to Medford and stopped for dinner at Chick-Fil-A and went back to our hotel to prepare for the rest of our trip to Redwood National Park.

Chick-fil-A

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Another fast food restaurant, but if you download the Chik-Fil-A app you can grow your rewards for free meals which is what we used. After a long day of hiking and driving to and from Crater Lake, we wanted something quick and easy. We used the app and ordered ahead so when we sat down, our meal was at the table in minutes!

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Interested in what the rest of our trip looked like? Click SUBSCRIBE so you can be alerted when that guide gets posted.

In the meantime, check out my other guides for budget-friendly travel hacks and destination spotlights to help you plan your next getaway.