Ashland

Just 15 miles from Oregon's border with California, the tiny city of Ashland is surrounded by the beautiful Rogue Valley, which makes it look a bit like a Swiss hamlet; cosy, by a shimmering lake and fringed by snow-capped mountains. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, it may be better known to you as the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival - which runs for nine months of the year. If you’re here for the festival then the best places to stay in Ashland will probably be one of the classic hotels or upscale B&Bs.

What Not To Miss

• Spend an afternoon wandering around Lithia Park, with a wide variety of walking paths as well as a duck pond, Japanese garden, fountains and a children's playground. You might even stumble across some deer! A peaceful spot.
• The kids will love a visit to the ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum. This interactive attraction has a wide variety of entertaining and educational exhibits, including demonstrations by their own ice cream scientist. They'll never want to leave!
• Head off wine tasting at Belle Fiore Estate & Winery. With a large variety of wines, including a number from Europe, you can also enjoy some cheese and meats to complement the experience. Their knowledgeable staff will answer any question you might have. A lovely grown up way to spend a few hours.

As well as the festival, Ashland has a buzzy downtown with nice boutiques and restaurants. In the cooler months people come to ski, and there are also a couple of very good wineries nearby. If you want to see more than just the festival then the best places to stay in Ashland might be a bit further out of town.

For The City Centre

• The Ashland Springs Hotel is a classic hotel in central Ashland, with large windows and picturesque views. There’s an elegant spa and beauty parlour and you’re just a few minutes from the site of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

For A Holiday apartment or cottage

• If you fancy the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available with our partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Ashland's never overly sweltering, with July (the hottest month) experiencing an average temperature of 24°C. That said, it's busiest in the summer months and so you may want to visit in the autumn, when there are fewer tourists but the weather's still perfectly pleasant.
• If you're coming for the skiing then winter's obviously your best bet, though try to avoid visiting around Christmas and New Year which are peak season.
• The nearest major airport is Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, situated 16 miles away from the centre of Ashland.
• From the airport, you can either prebook a taxi to Ashland or instead hop on the Rogue Valley Transportation District Public Bus to Medford. Once at Medford, tak the Route 10 bus towards Ashland which takes around 45 minutes.
• There are no direct flights from the UK to Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, so you'll need to changeover at least once (usually in either Seattle, San Francisco or Los Angeles).
• For car hire prices, we recommend you visit our online partner Rentalcars.

Still not sure which to book?

• Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Ashland.
• Expand your search to include all our Oregon recommendations.
• Or, feel free to contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.