Making the Move from Oregon to Washington State

Last updated April 20th, 2025

There were a lot of factors that played in to the decision of moving from Oregon to Washington state. I had the opportunity of living in various places in Oregon over the last 10 years. But, in the end, it was time for a change. I’m here to share the things to keep in mind when moving out of state.

This post will cover:

• Southern Oregon
• Central Western Oregon
• Central Oregon
• Adventures out to the Oregon Coast
• Why leave such a beautiful state?

Southern Oregon

I spent about a year in Southern Oregon during my gap year before heading off to college. I will admit, there are some absolutely beautiful areas in Southern Oregon. However, overall, Southern Oregon is not a long term “home” for me. It’s definitely more on the dry side and prone to wildfires in the summers. This made it difficult for me to live there long term. The high temperatures often reached above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This realization was just one of the things to keep in mind when moving out of state. Where do I feel at “home”?

If you ever have a chance to check out Jacksonville, Oregon I would highly recommend visiting during their lavender festival . Although it is a smaller field of lavender, it is a peaceful experience. They have a gift shop in the barn. You can purchase souvenirs there. You can even find bundles of lavender to take back with you.

In the heart of Southern Oregon also lives the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. Although I personally haven’t experienced this event in person, I have heard great things from individuals I know who have attended.

Central Western Oregon

I spent about 4 years living in Corvallis, Oregon while attending Oregon State University (Go Beavs). Now, my time here is mixed with experiences due to being a college student but I will share living in Corvallis. I took classes all throughout the year. This included Summer. This schedule allowed me insight into how the town operates when classes are not in “normal” school session.

I absolutely enjoyed my time in Central Western Oregon. Be warned, it rains a LOT, specifically in the Winter/Spring. Typical “Pacific Northwest” weather with the gloominess and overcast skies a majority of the year. After 4 years, and graduating, it was time for a change. Onto Central Oregon!

Central Oregon

I spent 5 years in Central Oregon. This was the first move I did that wasn’t due to a specific reason (relocating due to my father’s job, going to college, enjoying my gap year). This move also happened during the first year of the Pandemic. That was an experience in and of itself. I wanted to be back around mountains again. I also wanted to get away from all the rain I had been living with for the last 4 years.

The pictures in the gallery above were taken during a trip I took to the Painted Hills. If you have the opportunity to go, I suggest going around August. There’s less chance of experiencing wildfire smoke and you get to enjoy the sunlight for a majority of the day.

Adventures Out to the Oregon Coast

This section will simply include photos of various places of the Oregon Coast I have been able to visit.

Why Leave Such a Beautiful State?

As you can see, Oregon has a LOT to offer. From mountains, to desert, to the Oregon coast. So, why leave such a beautiful state? Honestly, for a few reasons. Since I had spent the majority of my time in Central Oregon, I had the chance to see the growth that the area experienced over the past 5 years. This came with some pros and cons. I observed lots of individuals moving to the area for the same reasons I did. The area just simply isn’t equipped for the growth that has been occurring. The cities and state are doing their best to make changes to the infrastructure that would better support the locals.

High cost of living. Now, I know this isn’t specific to this region and I will face this with just about anywhere I decided to move to. But with the goal of buying a home, that idea was just that. An idea. The prospects of becoming a homeowner in Central Oregon was slim.

The high desert is prone to wildfires. My first or second year of living in the area there was wildfire smoke from June 1st until September. This significantly impacts anyone’s day-to-day life. Even simply walking down the block to collect my mail was something that had to be planned around the AQI (Air Quality Index).

Cost of Moving

We decided to rent a Uhaul. It seemed to be the most cost effective way for this move. In total, it cost $423.56 for the Uhaul. This included 48 hours of having the 15′ truck we rented, up to 315 miles of travel, and two stops for filling up with gas.

We also had the cost of the security deposit on our new rental. I just recently relinquished my Oregon drivers license and got a Washington license, which cost $103 for the Enhanced license. Next cost, which I have to wait for my Washington license to get in the mail, is my registration for my car.