Perfectly situated at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is just an hour east of the spectacular Oregon Coast and an hour west of the towering Cascade mountain range. It’s also just a two-hour interstate drive from Portland.
A thriving city, Eugene is Oregon’s second-largest metropolitan region. With a well-established arts and music scene, incredible dining and microbreweries, almost endless outdoor recreation, and a quirky, independent spirit, many people have found Eugene to be the best of all worlds.
Moderate Weather: Little Humidity and Our Snow Seldom Sticks
You can play outdoors all year long. It is always green. The summers are warm with little or no humidity. The falls are colorful. Winters are wet, but it seldom snows. (When it does, it doesn't stick.) Spring is budding and beautiful. Your outside activities are always on — never "weather-permitting"!
A Town for Running, Bicycling, and More
As the launching point of the Nike shoe franchise and home to the University of Oregon's famous Hayward Field, Eugene is nicknamed "Track Town USA." It has miles of trails and bike paths for running and biking. The surrounding area offers outstanding bicycle routes, too.
World-class fishing is available on the nearby McKenzie River—and a bit farther on the Umpqua, Rogue, Deschutes and Metolius rivers. Climbers flock to Smith Rock State Park and other sites in the Cascades … and hikers, whitewater paddlers, backcountry and downhill skiers and snowboarders find the Cascades irresistible.
Right in the city, you can get your heart pumping with a steep climb to the top of Spencer Butte, where you’re rewarded with spectacular views of the Willamette Valley and Cascade peaks.
A Sustainable Mindset
Eugene is a green-friendly city with an extensive public transportation system free to university students. It boasts many sustainable businesses and a long tradition in the farm-to-table food movement. Its Saturday Farmer’s Market is famous and large, and there are many smaller farmer’s markets thriving throughout the city, all offering a wide range of organic, locally grown produce. There are several large community gardens right in the city, and the city is known for its environmental consciousness. You’re just as likely to see bicycles on the streets as cars.
