Other Lane County Markets
While we're based in Eugene/Springfield, we also serve many of the smaller markets in the surrounding area. Here's just a few of them.
Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove makes for a great day trip out of Eugene, and if you’re not quite sold on the city life but want to be close by, it could be a good commuting option.
The historical downtown is the star of the show. It’s a slice of idyllic small-town life, but the eclectic shops will remind you that you’re not too far from Eugene.
Oakridge
Going east from Eugene toward the Willamette Pass Ski Area and the majestic alpine lakes of the Oregon Cascades, you’ll pass through Oakridge.
It might seem like a fairly nondescript highway town, but the area around Oakridge and Westfir is actually one of the country’s most renowned mountain biking destinations. Stop by the 3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse after a day out on the trails.
Junction City, Harrisburg and Monroe
The trio of small towns just north of Eugene off Highway 99 bears special mention. Harrisburg is renowned for its annual 4th of July extravaganza, one of the finest traditional celebrations you’ll find anywhere. Junction City is known principally for its annual Scandinavian Festival, celebrating the region’s Danish, Swedish, Nordic, and Finnish heritage.
Take an afternoon to make the drive, stopping at organic farms along the way, or better yet, float down the Willamette River and take out in Harrisburg. Monroe’s Long Timber Brewing is well worth a visit, as are the area’s numerous vineyards.
Lorane
Speaking of vineyards, the Lorane Valley just south of Eugene features many of the region’s finest. You can hop from winery to winery via car or bicycle, and we recommend the latter. The whole region is kind of enchanted, and there isn’t a whole lot of automobile traffic.
Veneta
Veneta is yet another small town just outside Eugene, nestled along the west bank of the large Fern Ridge Reservoir.
Like many of the communities in Lane County, Veneta has a particular claim to fame: it’s the site of the annual Oregon Country Fair, mentioned above, and you have to experience it at least once.
McKenzie Bridge
There are a handful of small communities going east from Springfield along the McKenzie River, like Leaburg, Vida, Blue River, and McKenzie Bridge.
McKenzie Bridge is the last before you really get up into the Cascades Mountains, and it’s a great place to get supplies before you hit the area’s numerous trails or float the river. The whitewater is nice, and not too technical, but it is very, very cold.
Marcola
Follow the Mohawk River (a tributary of the McKenzie) north from Springfield, and soon, you’ll arrive at the sleepy town of Marcola.
During the height of the counterculture, the surrounding woods were the site of several communes. Nowadays, it’s a great place to enjoy a more rural lifestyle while keeping within easy driving distance of Eugene/Springfield.
Florence and Mapleton
Okay, Florence and Mapleton aren’t really in the Willamette Valley, but we do serve these areas too. When folks in the Eugene area are talking about “going to the coast” for a day trip, it’s usually Florence they’re talking about. Florence is a small seaside town with a charming harbor area downtown and an abundance of natural wonders.
The Oregon Dunes, one of the world’s largest expanses of coastal sand dunes, is just south of town. To the north of Florence, Highway 101 winds along towering seaside cliffs, with numerous beaches, campgrounds, and Heceta Head Lighthouse.
On the way to Florence, you can stop in Mapleton along the Siuslaw River. Nearby Sweet Creek Falls and Kentucky Falls are must-visits if you’re willing to go off the beaten path a bit.