Eugene (pop. ~160,000) is a city in Oregon at the southern (upper) end of the Willamette Valley near the confluence of the Mckenzie and Willamette rivers. It is best known for being the home of the University of Oregon.
The Hult Center for the Performing Arts
Understand
Citizens of Eugene are environmentally aware people who love their coffee and their microbrews. Residents range from arch-conservative Republicans to militant anarchists. However, overall the population is typical Pacific Northwest, i.e., leaning toward a greater degree of social responsibility, respect for nature, and diminished consumerism. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon, aka "The Fighting Ducks." Eugene was the second home to the rock band the Grateful Dead, and author Ken Kesey, a U of O grad, lived in nearby Springfield, leading some to see this city as a "hippie Mecca."
Along with neighboring Springfield and surrounding towns, Eugene forms part of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area.
Saturday Market has been continuously in operation since 1970, rain or shine and claims to be the oldest open-air market of its type in the United States.
Visitor information
- 1 Adventure & Visitor Center, 3312 Gateway St, Springfield (Strip mall SE of I-5 & Randy Pape Beltline (Hwy 569) Jct at Exit 195 (SB lanes of I-5) and 195A (NB lanes of I-5), next to Michael's), ☏ 1 541-484-5307. Daily 9AM-6PM, Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas.
- 2 Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center - Travel Lane County, 754 Olive St, Eugene (Along Olive St between W 7th & 8th Ave next to Goodyear Services' parking lot), ☏ 1 541-484-5307. M 9AM-5PM; Tu-F 8AM-5PM, Closed weekends & holidays.
Get in
By plane
- 1 Eugene Airport (Mahlon Sweet Field) (EUG IATA), 28801 Douglas Dr (The airport terminal is located on off of Airport Rd & Hwy 99, 11 mi (18 km) northwest of downtown Eugene.). A major airport for commercial flights serving Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis, Newport, Florence, Coos Bay and the surrounding areas in the Lower Willamette Valley and the Central Oregon Coast.
- Skywest dba American Eagle: (Los Angeles and Phoenix Sky Harbor. Flights to/from Portland and Seattle are operated by Alaska Airlines as a codeshare partner)
- Horizon Airlines dba Alaska Airlines: (Portland, Seattle-Tacoma. Flights to/from Los Angeles are operated by Skywest dba American Eagle as a codeshare partner)
- Allegiant': (Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Oakland and Phoenix-Mesa. Seasonally from San Diego)
- Compass Air dba Delta Connection : (Salt Lake City & Seattle-Tacoma)
- Skywest dba United Express: (Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Los Angeles & San Francisco)
Additional domestic & international connections are made in Chicago, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City depending on the airline(s) you choose.
There is no public transportation (Lane Transit District (LTD) buses) to/from the airport, so you'll have to hire a cab, shuttle, or rent a car.
The next nearest major airport for commercial flights from additional domestic & international destinations is at Portland International Airport (PDX IATA), 122 mi (196 km) north. Most travelers would fly into Portland at a more competitive airfare and rent a car to drive to Eugene. If you do not plan to rent a car, Groome Transportation offers regularly scheduled shuttles from Portland International Airport into town (See By bus in the below).
By train
The Amtrak train station is at the 2 Eugene-Springfield Station located at 433 Willamette St in downtown Eugene. It is served by:
- Amtrak Cascades runs twice daily between Portland & Eugene via Oregon City, Salem & Albany and 4x daily from Portland to Seattle and twice daily from Seattle to Vancouver BC. Additional services from Seattle to Vancouver and from Portland to Eugene are by bus (Amtrak Thruway) (See Below under By bus):
- Amtrak Coast Starlight makes an once daily trip in each direction between Seattle and Los Angeles along the same route with the same stops as the Amtrak Cascades between Seattle and Eugene (except Tukwila, Vancouver WA & Oregon City). The train continues south from Eugene with additional stops in Chemult (nearest train station to Bend) and Klamath Falls, Oregon before crossing into California (or arriving into Eugene if going northbound).
By car
Travel time by destination and route:
- From Interstate 5 (I-5) Eugene and Springfield are accessed from exits #189 ("30th Ave South Eugene") through #196 ("Randy Pape Beltline SR-569 Eugene-Springfield") along I-5. To get to downtown Eugene from the north, exit at #194 and go west on Interstate 105 or go east on SR-126 to Springfield from the same exit. From the south, downtown can be reached via Franklin Blvd (Hwy 99) at Exit #192. There are (5) exits along I-5 to reach Eugene and Springfield:
- Portland, OR (via I-5 for 109 mi (175 km)): 2 hours
- Seattle, WA (via I-5 for 282 mi (454 km)): 5 hours
- Medford, OR (via I-5 for 168 mi (270 km)): 3 hours
- Sacramento, CA (via I-5) for 473 mi (761 km)): 7.5 hours
- San Francisco, CA (via I-5, 505 & I-80 for 535 mi (861 km)): 9 hours
- SR-126 Passeses through Eugene as W 11th/10th Ave and through Springfield as Main St/'A' St. A bypass highway of OR Hwy 126 bypasses around Springfield in the north from Main & Pioneer Pkwy east of Springfield, becomes I-105 west of the I-5 junction at Exit #194 and continues into W 7th & Jefferson west of downtown Eugene as Interstate 105.
- Florence, OR (via Hwy 126 for 61 mi (98 km)): 1 hour
- Bend, OR (via Hwy 126 for 130 mi (210 km)): 3-4 hours
- Boise, ID (via I-84, US 20, and Hwy 126 for 446 miles (718 km))ː 7.5-8 hours
- SR-99 Goes from I-5 at Exit 192 and pases along the north side of the University of Oregon as Franklin Blvd, across downtown as 6th / 7th Ave and continues northwest as "Hwy 99" to Junction City 14.5 mi (23.3 km) where it splits between SR-99W & SR-99E. Going south SR-99 goes along I-5 to Exit #188 ("SR-58 Oakridge Klamath Falls"), through Goshen as Franklin Blvd and runs parallel along I-5 as a separate road for 18 mi (29 km) through Creswell and Cottage Grove and merges back into I-5 at Exit #170 in Veatch.
- Corvallis, OR (via SR-99 & 99W for 43 mi (69 km)): 55 minutes
By bus
Intercity buses typically have their own stops in different parts of town. Some may have an additional stop at the Amtrak Station on 433 Willamette St. See the linked websites below:
- 3 Bolt Bus, (bus stop) 5th Street Public Market at 296 E 5th Ave (E 5th Ave & High St,). Service from Vancouver BC via Bellingham, Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and Albany. No additional stops between Albany and Portland.
- 4 Flixbus, (bus stop-UO Agate Field) 1515 Agate St (Bus will board on eastside of Agate Street (northbound) in the loading zone in front of the University of Oregon School of Law. Stop is marked by a FlixBus sign). Service from Seattle via Tacoma, Olympia, Portland, Salem & Corvallis.
- 5 Greyhound, (bus station) 355 S 'A' St, Springfield (Ticket office behind Los Faroles Restaurant which is accessed from Springfield LTD Transit Station next to the building. Bus stop is in front of Los Faroles along the side of the street.), ☏ 1 458 206-3876, toll-free: 1-800-231-2222. Greyhound travels primarily on Interstate 5 between Portland and Sacramento via Salem, Corvallis, Eugene, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Medford, Weed, Redding, Chico, Red Bluff, Oroville and/or Marysville. Passengers transfer to other buses in Seattle, Sacramento or Portland to continue to additional destinations. Take the 'EmX Eugene' or the 91 bus to go into downtown Eugene from the transit station next to the Greyhound station/stop. The old bus station on 10th & Pearl in downtown Eugene is closed. Prices vary depending on your destination.
- Groome Transportation (formerly Hut and Oregon Express Shuttle), (bus stop) 2125 Franklin, ☏ 1 877 693-3785. Direct shuttle service to/from Portland International Airport (PDX). Additional stops are at "The 515" Apartments (515 E Broadway) and UO Law School (1515 Agate St). Contact them to determine exact pick-up locations.
- 6 Oregon Point (Operated by MTR Western), (bus stops) Amtrak Station @ 433 Willamette Station and Hayward Field @ 1515 Agate St, ☏ 1 541-484-4100. Tickets can also be purchased from Amtrak or Greyhound.
- Cascades Point/Amtrak Cascades Thruway goes up to Portland via Woodburn, Salem & Albany. Additional stop at the Hayward Field (1515 Agate St) on the University of Oregon campus
- Pacific Crest Bus Lines, (bus stops) Amtrak Station at 433 Willamette and Greyhound Station at 355 S 'A' St in Springfield, ☏ 1 541-923-1732. Connects Bend to Eugene, Florence and Coos Bay. Passengers connect to Eastern Point (across eastern Oregon to Ontario) in Bend.
Get around
- Bike - Eugene has an excellent system of bike routes, and has bike friendly streets, and its bike paths allow you to ride along rivers, mountain trails and through covered bridges.
- Bicycle rentals are available from RENT A BIKE[dead link] 1 541-579-5552. They drop off and pick up their bicycles, and charge only $30 for 3 days, or $45 for 1 week.
- BusLane Transit District (LTD) 3500 East 17th Avenue 1-800-735-2900. $1.75 one-way or $3.50 for an all-day pass. Buses tend to run every half-hour. Extended LTD bus routes run east and west into more rural sections of Lane County.
- TaxiEugene Hybrid Taxi Cabs 1 541-357-TAXI(8294). All hybrid fleet. Rate schedule: flag drop $3, per mile $2. Accepts Visa, MasterCard, & American Express
- TaxiOregon Taxi 1 541-434-TAXI. You will need to schedule a pickup unless arriving at the airport. Rate schedule: Flag drop, $4.75, Per mile, $2.25. Accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express
- Zipcar is available near the university.
See
- 1 University of Oregon, ☏ 1 541-346-1000.
- Oregon Ducks. The teams representing the University of Oregon, competing in the Pac-12 Conference, are Eugene's most famous contribution to the sports world. Ducks sports have benefited enormously from the financial support of Phil Knight, UO alum and head of Oregon-based sports equipment giant Nike. The highest-profile Oregon team is the football team, which rose to become a perennial national contender in the early 2000s and also infamous for its highly colorful and variable uniforms. Oregon also has an extremely rich tradition in track and field, with Hayward Field known for its enthusiastic fans; the city has become known as "Track Town USA" because of this. Hayward Field is being rebuilt in a project that is scheduled to be complete in 2020; the new stadium, expandable to 30,000, will host the 2021 World Championships in Athletics. The main sporting venues (including Hayward Field) are all on campus. The football stadium, Autzen Stadium, is famous as one of the loudest and most intimidating venues in American sports. The basketball teams have played at Matthew Knight Arena (nicknamed "Matt Arena"; named for Phil's son, who died in a scuba diving accident) since 2011. Ducks baseball, revived in 2009 after nearly 30 years, plays at PK Park (not named for Knight), which is shared with the minor-league professional Eugene Emeralds.
- 2 Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, 1430 Johnson Ln, ☏ 1 541-346-3027. Th-Su 11AM-5PM, W 11AM-8PM. At the University of Oregon. Free on Wednesdays between 5PM and 8PM. $5/adult, $3/senior, children free.
- 3 Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 1680 E 15th Ave, ☏ 1 541-346-3024. T-Su 11AM-5PM. At the University of Oregon. $5/adult, $3/concession, $10/adult.
- 4 Pioneer Statue, 1098 E 13th (Between Johnson, Fenton and Friendly Halls). Many claim "The Simpsons" statue of Jebediah Springfield is based on the bronze pioneer statue on the University of Oregon campus. Installed in 1919 by Alexander Phimister Proctor, it depicts a trapper carrying a rifle.
- Eugene Emeralds Baseball, PK Park, 2735 Leo Harris Pkwy. Minor League Baseball team with games during the summer.
- Eugene Generals Hockey, Lane Events Center and Fairgrounds - Ice Rink 796 W. 13th Avenue, ☏ 1 541-682-3615. Minor league hockey team with games from October to February.
- 5 Hult Center for the Performing Arts, West 7th Avenue & Willamette St., toll-free: 1-800-735-2900. Large performing arts center.
- 6 WOW Hall, 291 W 8th Ave, ☏ 1 541-687-2746. Small concert hall featuring alternative performances. Ask about work trade opportunities between 3PM and 6PM Monday through Friday--maybe you'll get to see the show for free!
- 7 Hayward Field. One of the best-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. Hayward Field has hosted three Olympic Trials, and a variety of National, NCAA, and Masters championships. University of Oregon. It is being rebuilt, and will host the 2021 World Championships in Athletics.
- First[dead link] or Last Friday Artwalk. Popular art walk in downtown with all the local galleries participating. Free
- 8 Oregon Contemporary Theatre, 194 W Broadway (W Broadway & Charnelton St), ☏ 1 541-465-1506. Formerly the Lord Leebrick Theatre Company. Community theater with a diverse schedule. See website for current shows and times. $8-30.
- 9 Actors Cabaret of Eugene (ACE), 996 Willamette St (Willamette St & W 10th Ave), ☏ 1 541-683-4368. Office hours Tu-Sa 11AM-3PM. Local dinner theater in downtown. See website for current shows and times. $16-40.
- 10 Bijou Arts Cinema, 492 E 13th Ave. A unique, two-screen arts cinema housed in a cool old church/mortuary. Shows indie movies. A second location, the Bijou Metro, has opened downtown on Broadway.
- 11 Cuthbert Amphitheater (Within Alton Baker Park). An outdoor music venue in Alton Baker Park that gets some pretty big shows. Since it's outdoors, you can hear just fine throughout the park. During most shows, the real party is in the park in front of and around the amphitheater.
- 12 Pre's Rock, 16xx Skyline Blvd (Alongside of Skyline Blvd approx 150 ft (45 m) from Birch Rd). A memorial to Olympic runner and local legend, Steve Prefontaine, at the site of his fatal car crash. In honor of him, the Prefontaine Classic, is held annually in Eugene in his honor.
- 13 Maude Kerns Art Center, 1910 E 15th Ave (Fairmount Neighborhood), ☏ 1 541-345-1571, ✉[email protected]. A non-profit art gallery housed in a historic church building built in 1895. Known for its annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) exhibit in October.
- 14 Cascades Raptor Center, 33275 Fox Hallow Rd (southside of Hult City Park), ☏ 1 541-485-1320. Tu-M 10AM-6PM. The Cascades Raptor Center is a nature center and wildlife hospital that specializes in raptor rehabilitation.
- 15 Wayne Morse Family Farm, 95 Crest Dr, ☏ 1 541-682-5380. The Wayne Morse Family Farm, a City of Eugene park, was the home of Oregon's long-time United States Senator, Wayne Morse. The 27-acre (110,000 m2) home was originally a working farm called Edgewood Farm. Owned by the Morse family, it includes the Morse home, a natural wooded area, and an open meadow. Formerly named Morse Ranch, the park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 16 Oregon Air and Space Museum, 90377 Boeing Dr, ☏ 1 541-461-1101, ✉[email protected]. W-Sa Noon-4PM. Adults $7, Seniors (62 & over) $6, Youth (6-17) $3.
Do
- Oregon Wine Tours. Sunshine Limo Service and Wine Tours:
Local tour operator, specializing in Willamette Valley wine tours. A safe way to enjoy wine tasting in comfort and style.
- Eugene Skydivers, Hobby Field - Creswell OR (Take I-5 to exit #182 (Creswell). Turn east at the stop sign. Take the first left (Emerald Parkway). Take the first left away from the supermarket (Melton Road). Follow that road to the very end — about 1 mile. Look for the signs reading Eugene Skydivers.), toll-free: 1-866-461-DIVE (3483). A local skydiving company with classes for all experience levels, from beginners to professionals, about 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Eugene. $17-200.
- 1 John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, 868 High St, ☏ 1 541-434-7000 (tickets), 1 541-687-6526 (office), ✉[email protected].
Outdoors
Eugene is a great city for outdoors enthusiasts and cyclists. There are many well-maintained hiking trails, and there are bike lanes on most major roads.
- 2 Spencer Butte. A large butte south of downtown. Head south on Willamette St about 1.5 miles past the post office. The trail head is easy to miss but is on the top of a crest in the road on the left hand side. There is a large parking lot with signs and restrooms. Trail to the summit is about 2 miles each way with about 700 feet of climbing. Trail is well marked until about 1/4 of a mile from the summit which requires a small amount of rock scrambling.
- 3 Skinner's Butte. A small butte just north of downtown. Original site of Eugene Skinner's cabin after which the town is named. This butte offers an excellent view of Eugene, and the Cascade mountains to the east. This butte was also the site of a scene from the movie Animal House. To reach the butte, head north on Pearl St. until you pass the large retirement home on your left, turn left at the next street (in between 3rd St. and 2nd St., unmarked) and after 1/4 of a mile make a right (unmarked). To get there by foot, you can hike up a trail opposite the train station and next to a Victorian styled house. If the weather is nice, you can go rock climbing at the natural basalt columns on the butte, or hike on some trails near the peak.
- Ridgeline trail. Extensive set of hiking trails south of town. To find them, head south on Willamette St., one mile south of the post office, and shortly after 52nd street make a left at the trail head parking lot.
- Running trails. Eugene has several bark trails specifically for running.
- Amazon Trail. 1 mile long, and near South Eugene High School.
- Rexius Trail, Amazon Parkway, just south of Amazon Trail. 3.5 miles long.
- Pre's trail, in Alton Baker park, just north of downtown off of Coburg Rd.. ~4 miles long.
- River Bank Trail. Paved bike path running along the north and south sides of the Willamette river. There are more pedestrian bridges in Eugene than there are vehicular bridges, you can see many of them from this trail. A good place to start the trail is Alton Baker Park, at 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard. You can sometimes rent bikes in the summer near the park's duck pond.
- Eugene Area Parks. This reference features a guide to Eugene and Springfield Area parks, displaying the greatest parks in the area with descriptions, interactive maps, images and 360˚ panoramas.
- Disc Golf. There is a new 18-hole course in Alton Baker Park and a smaller, (often crowded) 9-hole course at Westmoreland Park in West Eugene.
- Skate. There are many skate parks throughout the city. The skate park in Underbridge Park (aka Washington-Jefferson Park) is the largest covered skate park in the country.
Events
Eugene Weekly is a good source for 'what's happening' in the area.
- Sasquatch Brewfest. Craft beer festival with live music (early June).
- Oregon Bach Festival, ☏ 1 541-346-5666. Held late June through mid-July; presented by the University of Oregon.
- 4 Oregon Country Fair, ☏ 1 541-343-4298. Second weekend in July. One of the biggest "hippie" gatherings. Tons of great food, great hand made products sold by local vendors, and live music to be had.
- Whiteaker Block Party. August. Large, free outdoor festival in the Whiteaker neighborhood: Live music, street performances, food, drink, etc.
- , Junction City (just north of Eugene on Hwy 99). An annual Scandinavian-themed festival in nearby Junction City that has been happening for more than 50 years. August.
- 5 Lane County Fair, Lane Events Center, 796 W. 13th Ave (just west of downtown), ☏ 1 541-682-4292. An annual mid-summer celebration featuring food, music and other entertainment. $6-9.
- Mushroom Festival, Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Mushroom-themed harvest festival. October.
- Clayfest. October. A three-day ceramics only show and sale featuring over 60 local artists. Clay Fest draws artists from all over Oregon. This is a great opportunity buy unique handmade pieces directly from the artists who make the work.
- [dead link]ASUO Street Fair, E 13th Ave between University and Kincaid Sts (UO Campus). Bi-annual student street fair kind of like Saturday market, but more student-oriented. Fall/Spring terms. Free.
Learn
- Center for Appropriate Transport. Learn about sustainable transport, cargo bikes, frame building, and bicycle repair.
- Eugene Glass School
- Lane Community College
- Lost Valley Educational Center
- Wellsprings Friends School
- Northwest Christian University
- University of Oregon
Buy
- 13th Street. College and artistic oriented shops. Highlights include the Bijou Arts Cinema and La Perla pizzeria. Start at 13th and Pearl and walk to 13th and Kincaid.
- 1 Saturday Market and Farmers Market, 126 E 8th St (E 8th St & Oaks), ☏ 1 541-685-8885. Saturdays; Apr-Nov 10AM-5PM (Sat Market). The Saturday Market, is weekly event featuring locally and regionally handcrafted goods, international foods made fresh on site, and live entertainment. The Lane County Farmers Market is a separate event that is held in the same location or next to the Saturday market. Farmers Market hours are Tue 10AM-3PM from April to Nov and Sat 10AM-3PM from May-Oct
- 2 REI, Planning Mill Bldg at 306 Lawrence St (3rd and Lawrence) (just north of downtown past the railroad tracks), ☏ 1 541-465-1800. M-F 10AM-9PM, Sa Su 10AM-6PM. Offers sales and rental of outdoor gear. Can also offer advice on current conditions and sell needed parking passes. See website for classes that may be available.
- 3 Lazar's Bazar, 57 W Broadway (along Broadway between Olive & Willamette St), ☏ 1 541-687-0139. M-F 10AM-8PM; Sa 10AM-7PM; Su noon-6PM. A Eugenian import store and head shop located in downtown.
- 4 Euphoria Chocolate Company, Oakway, ☏ 1 458 201-8750. M-Sa 10AM-8PM; Su noon-5PM. Unique local chocolate company.
- Mountain Rose Herbs (an Oregon Benefit Company), 152 W. 5th Ave, ☏ 1 541 868-8420, 1 541 741-7307, toll-free: 1 800 879-3337. Mo-Sa 10a–6p, Su 10a–5p. Tea and tisanes.
- Tea Lady Teas & Everyone's Cuppa, 1502 Willamette St, ☏ 1 (541) 302-9778. Su-Mo CLOSED, Tu 12p-6p, We 12-6p, Th 12-6p, Fr 10a-6p, Sa 10a - 3p. Tea and tisanes.
Shopping centers
- 5 Valley River Center, 293 Valley River Center. Largest shopping center in the Eugene area with 2 main department stores, Macy's and JC Penney. The mall also has a Regal Cinemas and many smaller stores with apparel, sporting goods, books, electronics, food and accessories.
- 6 Shoppes at Gateway (Gateway Mall), 3000 Gateway St (SE of Beltline Rd (Hwy 569) & I-5 junction), ☏ 1 541-747-6294. Although this mall is in Springfield, it is very close to a lot of Eugene's student housing. Stores include Sears, Target, Kohl's, and two movie theaters, The Cinemark 17 theater shows newer movies at regular price and the Movies 12 theater shows a little older movies for only $1.50. This is a great/inexpensive date idea if you live in the area. There are many smaller stores and beauty salons in the mall.
- 7 Oakway Center, 2350 Oakmont Way, ☏ 1 541-485-4711. Upscale shopping center. Stores include Pottery Barn, Trader Joe's and many smaller stores and restaurants.
- 8 5th St Public Market, 296 E 5th Ave (along E 5th Ave between High & Pearl St). Upscale shopping center with mostly local stores and upscale dining.
Eat
There are food carts/trucks scattered all over the city, especially near bars.
Go blackberry picking at one of Eugene's many ridiculously out of control wild blackberry patches.
Budget
- Cafe Yumm!, Five locations in Eugene. Cafe Yumm!'s specialty is rice bowls with beans and salsa or other sauces. They also serve soup, salads, tempeh/tofu skewers, and sandwiches. $3-8.
- Hawaiian Time, Two locations: W11 Ave and Coburg Rd. Serves quality pseudo-Hawaiian plate lunches and dinners with their "special sauce," along with a selection of Hawaiian beers. $5-12.
- Mezza Luna Pizzeria, 933 Pearl St. Serves lunch and dinner, real NY style pizza, with a variety of meat and vegetarian choices, plus the option to create your own pizza from a large list of toppings. $3-20.
- Off The Waffle, 2540 Willamette St, ☏ 1 541-515-6926. Su-Th 7AM-7PM, F Sa 7AM-11PM. Serving authentic Liege waffles with an amazing assortment of toppings, such as bacon, cardamom, garlic, fruit, and the list goes on and on. Also serves omelettes and they have some local microbrew on tap. $3-10.
- The Pantry and Pub, 1810 Chambers St, ☏ 1 541-343-0485. 8AM-10PM daily. Diner meets pub, and serves freshly-cooked burger standards. Excellent fries. Friendly service. Good vegetarian options. Lunch $10.
- [dead link]SeQuential, 86714 McVay Hwy. Su-F 6AM-9PM, Sa Su 7AM-9PM. Serving fresh made sandwiches, coffee, bakery items, sweets, snacks and beer. Mini health food market and cafe with drive-through window for coffee. Omnivorous, herbivorous and diets of all kinds. $3-10.
- El Super Burrito, 2566 Willamette St. Very inexpensive and locally owned. El Super Burrito is the best burrito and taco you can get for your money in the city. $3-8.
- Voodoo Doughnut Tres, 20 E Broadway (On Broadway just east of Willamette St), ☏ 1 541-868-8666. 24 hours daily. A fun-but-gimmicky doughnut store chain with additional locations in Denver and Portland. Known for unusual toppings like bacon slices with maple-frosting, Capn' Crunch, and powdered Tang. Most doughnuts are $1-3.
Mid-range
- Brail's, 1689 Willamette St, ☏ 1 541-343-1542. Breakfast.
- Cornucopia, 295 W 17th Ave, ☏ 1 541-485-2300. Fresh and local breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Marche Restaurant, 296 E 5th (5th Street Public Market), ☏ 1 541-342-3612. Lunch or dinner.
- Morning Glory, 450 Willamette St, ☏ 1 541-687-0709. Breakfast.
- Pizza Research Institute (5th and Blair), ☏ 1 541-343-1307. Innovative gourmet vegetarian/vegan pizza. Lunch and dinner.
- Sweet Life, 755 Monroe St, ☏ 1 541-683-5696. World-class desserts, including vegan options.
Splurge
- Bruno's Chef's Kitchen, 3443 Hilyard St (Hidden behind the Dairy Mart), ☏ 1 541-687-2433. A small, personal restaurant; Bruno changes the menu weekly, featuring local and seasonal ingredients. $25-30 for a main course.
- Lucky Noodle (Across from 5th St Market). Asian cuisine with great atmosphere, delicious food and wine.
- Mazzi's (In South Eugene off of East Amazon Rd). Has the best Italian food in town. Prices are reasonable, considering the quality of the food; a typical dish is $12-18. Outstanding wine selection as well.
- Oregon Electric Station, 27 E 5th Ave, ☏ 1 541-485-4444. 10:30AM-10:30PM daily. A great place to get a steak. Dine in the romantic atmosphere of an historic railroad dining car. The main section of the Oregon Electric Station is the original depot built in 1912. $10-40.
Groceries
- The Kiva, 125 W 11th Ave (Across from the downtown LTD bus station.). Natural grocery store downtown. Also has prepared sandwiches and salads as well as a large wine selection.
- Plaza Latina, 1333 W 7th Ave (Whiteaker). A large Latin American grocery store with a deli that serves excellent and cheap Mexican dishes.
- Red Barn Grocery, 357 Van Buren St (Whiteaker). A natural foods store in a barn.
- Sundance Natural Foods, 748 E 24th Ave (South Eugene).
- Sunrise Asian Market, 70 W 29th Ave (South Eugene). Eugene's largest Asian market.
Drink
Bars
Eugene's main bar scene is centered around Broadway and Olive St (the "barmuda triangle") in downtown. Alternatives can be found in the Whiteaker neighborhood (Blair Blvd), which is experiencing a brewery renaissance of sorts, and around the UO campus. Expect crowds every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, especially during the school year when college students fill the streets.
- The Bier Stein Bottleshop and Pub, 1591 Willamette St, ☏ 1 541-485-2437. Eugene's largest beer selection, more than 1,000 bottled beers and ten beers on draft.
- Luckey's Club Cigar Store, 933 Olive St (Downtown). Eugene's oldest bar and one of the oldest pool halls on the West Coast. They still have a few tables, but have transformed into one of Eugene's leading music venues with several shows a week.
- Max's Tavern, 550 E 13th, ☏ 1 541-349-8986. 1PM-2AM. Popular little student bar, rumored to be the inspiration for Moe's Tavern in The Simpsons. Happy hour daily from 4PM to 8PM. They have darts and an outdoor patio.
- Blairally Vintage Arcade, 245 Blair Blvd (Next to Ninkasi). Combination bar/pinball arcade in Whiteaker. Great collection of pinball machines, 80s arcade games and beer. Most Blazers games shown here.
- Sam Bond's Garage, 407 Blair Blvd (Whiteaker). Funky neighborhood bar and music venue. Live music on weekends.
Breweries
Eugene has a thriving brewery scene, largely in the Whiteaker neighborhood, northwest of downtown.
- Ninkasi Brewing Company, 272 Van Buren St, ☏ 1 541-344-2739. A production brewery of high quality beers, ales and lagers since 2006, tasting room and patio with firepits and heat lamps.
- Oakshire Brewing, 1055 Madera St, ☏ 1 541-688-4555. A Eugene craft brewery known for its Watershed IPA and Overcast Espresso Stout.
- Falling Sky Brewing House, 1334 Oak Alley, ☏ 1 541-505-7096. A Northwest brewery & gastro-pub inspired by the convivial atmosphere of Munich beer halls.
- High Street Brewery & Cafe, 1243 High St, ☏ 1 541-345-4905. M-Th 11AM-Midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM, Su Noon-Midnight. A McMenamins pub with McMenamins beers as well as national and local micro brews.
- Rogue Ales Public House, 844 Olive St, ☏ 1 541-345-4155. Noon-10PM daily. Serves both good food and locally brewed beer.
- North Bank, 22 Club Rd, ☏ 1 541-343-5622. Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F-Sa 11AM-Midnight. A McMenamins pub with McMenamins beers. Every table has a Willamette River view. Has a tiki-themed Kapu Hut.
- Viking Braggot Company - Southtowne Pub, 2490 Willamette St, ☏ 1 541-515-6314. M-Th:3-8PM, F: 3PM-9PM, Sa:noon-9PM, Su 11AM-8PM. Produces braggots traditional ale/mead fusion.
- [dead link]Viking Braggot Company - Brewery Taproom, 520 Commercial St, Unit F, ☏ 1 541-653-8371. Mo-Tu: closed, We-Th: 4pm-10pm, Fr Sa: 2pm - 10pm Su: 2pm-8pm. Produces braggots traditional ale/mead fusion.
Coffeeshops & teahouses
Eugene has an excellent variety of coffeeshops.
- The Wandering Goat, 268 Madison St. Watch the trains go by while drinking some of the best coffee around. Local micros also available. Attracts an interesting cross-section of the Eugene population from punks to hippies to hipsters.
- Espresso Roma, 825 E 13th Ave. Popular coffee shop a block from campus. Good coffee, nice patio.
- Oolong Bar, 1607 E 19th Ave (Next to Prince Pucklers ice cream). Tea house serving J-Tea, coffee, kombucha.
- 16 Tons Café, 2864 Willamette St, ☏ 1 541-345-2003. Ste
Wineries
The wineries of the Willamette Valley pride themselves in offering a relaxing and inviting experience for guests from downtown Eugene tasting rooms to vast countryside vineyards.
- Iris Vineyard. Specializes in producing small quantities of quality, hand-crafted Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. Iris Hill has been dedicated to growing high quality fruit through sustainable viticultural practices.
- 1 King Estate, 80854 Territorial Hwy, ☏ 1 541-942-9874. The 1,033 acre certified organic Estate includes 250 acres of certified vineyards, grapevine grafting and propagation, nursery, orchards and garden. A visitor center and market place are open to the public.
Connect
- 3 Eugene Public Library (main public library, off campus), 100 W 10th Ave (Along W 10th Ave between Charnelton & Olive St, next to LTD Downtown Bus Station), ☏ 1 541-682-5450. M-Th 10AM-8PM; F-Su 10AM-6PM. There are other branch libraries located throughout the city. See the url link of this listing.
- 4 Springfield Public Library, 225 5th St (Within city annex building on 5th & 'A' St), ☏ 1 541 726-3766. M-Tu 10AM-8PM; W-Sa 10AM-6PM.
- 5 University of Oregon Knight Library, Knight Library at 1501 Kincaid St (on campus main library) (E 15th Ave & Kincaid St, towards west side of campus.), ☏ 1 541-346-3053, fax: 1 541-346-3485. M-F 9AM-6PM. Oregon's biggest library, named after "Uncle Phil". The university has other libraries on campus, see the url link of this listing for their locations and hours.
A number of coffeeshops in town do offer wifi internet access too. Hotels also offer wifi for their guests as well.
By telephone
The area codes for Eugene and Springfield are 458 and 541. 10-digit dialing is required throughout the region, i.e., the 541- or 458- area codes must be dialed with all numbers.
By mail
- 6 Downtown Eugene Post Office (US Postal Service), 50 W 5th AVe (W 5th Ave & Olive St), ☏ 1 541-341-3639, toll-free: 1-800-275-8777. M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM; Sa 10AM-2PM. The zip codes for the Eugene area are 97401-97405. The zip code for the University of Oregon and the southeast part of town which includes Laurel Hill & Fairmont neighborhoods is in 97403.
- 7 Downtown Springfield Post Office (US Postal Service), 760 'A' St, ☏ 1 541 747-8742, toll-free: 1-800-275-8777. M-F 8AM-5PM; Sa 10AM-12PM. The zip codes for the Springfield area (east of I-5) are 97477 and 98478. Some parts of 98403 & 98405 may overlap into Springfield.
- University of Oregon Printing & Mail Services (USPS), (On campus) Erb Memorial Union on 1395 University St (E 13th & University St), ☏ 1 541-346-3794, toll-free: 1-800-275-8777. M-F 8:30AM-1PM and 1:30PM-4PM. See this link regarding mailing addresses to different departments and offices on campus.
Sleep
The Eugene Hotel, whose large sign is a prominent feature of Eugene's skyline, is actually a retirement community.
Budget
- 1 Eugene Whiteaker Hostel, 970 W 3rd Ave (Along W 3rd Ave between Jackson & Adams St), ☏ 1 541-343-3335, ✉[email protected].
- 2 Courtesy Inn Eugene, 345 W 6th Ave (Along W 6th Ave btwn Lawrence & Lincoln St, next to the I-105 on ramp.), ☏ 1 541-345-3391, fax: 1 541-342-6507.
- 3 Downtown Inn, 361 W 7th Ave (W 7th Ave and Lawrence St, next to the I-105 onramp.), ☏ 1 541-345-8739, toll-free: 1-800-648-4366. inexpensive, clean motel in the middle of downtown.
- 4 Americas Best Value Inn, 1140 W 6th Ave (W 6th Ave & Van Buren), ☏ 1 541-343-0730, toll-free: 1 877 646-2466. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Lodging about a mile off the University of Oregon campus.
- 5 EVEN Hotel Eugene (EVEN Hotel), 2133 Centennial Plaza 97401, ☏ 1 541-342-3836, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 4:00 PM, check-out: 11:00 AM. $89-$299.
- 6 University of Oregon Housing, Bean Hall at 1416 Columbia St (Located along E 15th between Villard & Agate St, entrance north side of building at end of Columbia St), ☏ 1 541-346-4277. M-F 8AM-5PM. University of Oregon on campus housing for new & returning UO students. Check with them for off-campus referrals and for visitor on campus accommodations over the summer when everybody's gone away for the 3 month long summer break.
Mid-range
- 7 Best Western New Oregon Motel, 1655 Franklin Blvd (Franklin Blvd (SR-99) & Riverfront, north of the UO campus), ☏ 1 541-683-3669. Near U of O campus. Hotel has heated indoor swimming pool, hot tub, saunas, basketball and racquetball court.
- 8 University Inn & Suites - Eugene, OR, 1857 Franklin Blvd (Franklin Blvd (SR-99) & Moses, next to Track Town Pizza), ☏ 1 541-342-4804. Near the University of Oregon.
Splurge
- 9 Phoenix Inn Suites, 850 Franklin Blvd (Franklin Blvd & Alder St at NW corner of UO campus.), ☏ 1 541-344-0001. All suite accommodations with complimentary breakfast buffet, high speed internet, and 24 hr. business center
- 10 Valley River Inn, 1000 Valley River Way (End of Valley River Way, next to the Valley River Mall and north of the Willamette River from downtown.), ☏ 1 541-743-1000, toll-free: 1-800-543-8266. A resort-style hotel and conference center along the quiet banks of the Willamette River. Open since 1973.
- 11 Hilton, 66 E 6th Ave (Along E 6th between Willamette & Oak St, a couple blocks down the street from the Eugene-Springfield Amtrak Station.), ☏ 1 541-342-2000. Standard Hilton quality next to Hult center and convention center in downtown.
- 12 Comfort Suites Eugene, 3060 E 25th Ave (I-5 - Take Exit 191), ☏ 1 541-343-7000. Offers daily complimentary breakfast, indoor pool and free high-speed wireless.
Go next
- Cascade Mountains 1-2 Hours by car.
- Oregon Coast 1 hour. Cities include Florence,OR and Yachats, OR. Eat at Mo's in Florence, take a hike en route at Kentucky Falls and hit the Hobbit trail just north of Florence. Some of the largest coastal Sand Dunes are south of Florence with various tour companies and quad rentals available on the highway south of Florence.
- Cape Perpetua Interpretive Nature Center (on coast north of Yachats)
- McKenzie River 15 min - 3 hours. Take Hwy 126 east which runs along River corridor into mountains. Various waterfalls and fishing spots abound.
- Rafting Guided or self-guided rafting trips are available through Oregon River Sports 1 541-334-0696, along the Mckenzie River or Alton Baker Park. An eight-person raft is $95 a day including all needed equipment. Hourly rental in the park is $10 and is a great way to spend an afternoon.
- Mt. Pisgah Arboretum South Est of town at "LCC" exit on I5
- Fern Ridge Reservoir A reservoir and wetlands area just west of Eugene. Take hwy 126 (W 11th Av) towards Veneta.
- McCredie Hot Springs on the right just past mile-marker 45 on highway 58.
- Dexter State Park a large reservoir in the foothills of the Cascade Range near Lowell, OR (About a half hour drive. There is also an LTD bus once or twice/day) The park has an excellent disc golf course.
- Blair Lake and Meditation Pool (Wall Creek), take highway 58 to Oakridge, left on Union St, right on 1st, ten miles or so to a left turn on Forest Service Road 1934. Meditation Pool is on your left after about 3/4 mile (trailhead, about 1/3 mile walk to the pool), Blair lake is all the way at the top. Be sure to detour near the top when you see a road going off to the left marked by a trail marker (picture of two people hiking) for a spectacular view. Blair lake has campsites and hiking, Meditation Pool is a warm spring.
- Willamette Pass Popular skiing area 69 miles east of Eugene on Hwy 58. Summer activities include gondola rides to the summit, Mtn biking, disc golf and hiking. Shuttle service to Willamette Pass available every day they are open. Departs from Dick's Sporting Goods at the Delta Oaks Shopping Center in Eugene. Departs at 7:15AM and returns approximately at 5:45PM.
| Routes through Eugene |
| Portland ← Salem ← Albany ← | N  S | → Creswell → Roseburg → Medford |
Splits into  and  ← Junction City ← | N  S | → Creswell → Cottage Grove |
| Salem ← Albany ← | N  S | → merges onto  in Junction City |
| McMinnville ← Corvallis ← | N  S | → merges onto in Junction City |
| Florence ← Veneta ← | W  E | → Sisters → Prineville |
| Portland ← Salem ← Albany ← | N  S | → END |