Welcome to Eugene
Innovation, Community, and Adventure
Eugene has been a leader in collaborative and community initiatives for decades. We're known for a relaxed social atmosphere, we're one of the most bike- and runner-friendly cities in the country, and we have trees and green space galore.
Read on to learn more about Eugene, home of our main campus.
Outdoors and Recreation
Eugene is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering lush hiking trails, scenic rivers, and miles upon miles of trails and parks. With opportunities for cycling, kayaking, and exploring nearby forests, mountains, and coastlines, it’s the perfect destination for adventurers and nature lovers alike.
- Track Town, USA is the ideal place to lace up and go for a run. We have 45 miles of multi-use paths and trails within blocks of campus, as well as a lively and supportive community for runners of all paces.
- Eugene has a reputation as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. The League of American Bicyclists has awarded us a gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation for our extensive bike paths, bike-friendly streets, and cycling programs.
- With our neighboring city, Springfield, we have a combined total of 6300 acres of parks and natural spaces for hiking, picnicking, and playing. (And within those parks are six off-leash dog parks for your furry friend to romp and cavort.)
- The Willamette and McKenzie rivers both rush through town, offering kayaking, paddleboarding, and rafting, as well as natural beauty.
- When you’re ready for an out-of-town adventure, Oregon has unmatched outdoor variety. We’ve got forests to hike, mountains to climb and ski, rivers to float, and the high desert to explore. And of course, the Pacific Ocean is just an hour away for sightseeing and more outdoor adventures.
Food, Drink, Arts, and Sports
Eugene boasts a vibrant food and drink scene, with farm-to-table restaurants, craft breweries, wineries, and artisan coffee shops that celebrate our bountiful local ingredients. The arts flourish here, with galleries, theaters, and music venues that offer performances from indie to classical. And sports fans have plenty of opportunities to cheer.
- Our restaurants showcase the flavors of the Pacific Northwest and the world.
- The local wine scene has made a name for itself, with a variety of vineyards and tasting rooms within easy driving distance of town. (We’re also known for our craft beers.)
- Sports teams include, of course, our own University of Oregon Ducks as well as Eugene's beloved minor league baseball team, the Emeralds, and Lane United FC.
- As Track Town USA, Eugene is a world-renowned hub for track and field, hosting elite international competition and college events at UO’s own historic Hayward Field.
- UO’s Eugene campus is within walking, biking, or busing distance of downtown Eugene and downtown Springfield, both of which have active entertainment scenes. (Check out the artsy and counter-cultural Whiteaker neighborhood, too.)
- Eugene is home to a vibrant public art scene, featuring colorful murals, sculptures, and interactive installations that reflect the city's creative spirit and diversity of expression.
- The annual Oregon Bach Festival is a prestigious musical celebration that brings world-class musicians, conductors, and composers to Eugene and the university.
Families
The Eugene area offers a wide range of educational options and family-friendly activities.
- The Eugene area offers a variety of family-friendly activities, including outdoor adventures, museums, fairs and festivals.
- Eugene's School District 4J, the district where the UO is located, offers alternative and public charter school programs, including:
- Language immersion in French, Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish.
- K-8 Montessori.
- International High School, which offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum, exams, and diploma.
- Eugene Online Academy for grades 6-12.
- Our other local school districts are Bethel and Springfield.
- The university has three high-quality child care centers that welcome employee families, and offers resources to assist employee families in finding child care.
The Eugene Energy
Eugene is a city with a history of counterculture and innovation, where the spirit of creativity, collaboration, and sustainability still thrives. Growing into a globally connected community, we remain true to the best of our values.
You’ll find Eugeneans still celebrating at the Oregon Country Fair (established 1969), still shopping at Saturday Market (established 1970), and still cheering on athletes at Hayward Field (built in 1919).
You’ll also find Eugeneans shaping the future with applied science at the Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact (established 2020), working at the 500 tech companies that make up our Silicon Shire (named in 2012), and reimagining collective and affordable housing at Square One Villages (established 2012).
As Eugene continues to balance cutting-edge ideas with our timeless ideals, we need your perspective.
Join us.