Nice little town in the middle of nowhere Oregon. Has a grocery that sells a little of everything..at a high price, but it has to stay open past tourist season ( such as it is). 3 restaurants that seemed busy on a mid July weekend. I was camping up in the Ochoco Nat. Forest and this place came in real handy..for stuff like beer :-), and also was able to get 4G 2 to 3 bars n AT&T. Everyone i talked to was very nice. I will say though the place has vastly improved from 10 years ago when i was last there. So although the original review further down was correct for then. Its unfair now. read more

Ok I have to disagree with the previous poster. Mitchell is a authentic post-Gold Rush pioneer town. It's not prettied up, it's old buildings that have been in use for over 100 years. I needed gas but there was no one near the only "public pumps" in town. There isn't a gas station. The waitress in the restaurant across the street told me the guy would be there at nine am, unlock the pumps, and pump the gas. That's exactly what happened. Meanwhile she suggested I have a cup of coffee. The part of the John Day Fossil Beds near Mitchell- Painted Hills- is worth a visit. The road is easy. I came back and had the best hamburger I'd eaten in years. read more

*Shudder* This town is so depressing. It looks like it belongs in a third world country, or at the very least, the very far back hills of Virginia. With all the closed down restaurants and stores, it looks like a ghost town and I cannot imagine how anyone still lives here. Poor town. It's worth taking the "Mitchell Business Loop" off the main highway just to see the town. It's only a mile long and it spits you right back onto the highway. read more

Mitchell is a very small town right off the Highway and near the Painted Hills. There is a gas station with limited hours, three restraunts with different "closed" days so at least two are open, a grocery store (closed Sundays), several hotels, a church in town, and a great Hostel on the highway. There is a multi generation Rock Museum and rock shop on the Westbound side of the highway (open 8-5). $5/car or group helps pay the electric bill. They know their rocks and minerals, unlike the small rock shops around the area. The city park offers a few RV hook ups and tent camping for a small price. Public restrooms are across from the park. There is a resale/gift shop in town that is fun to explore. New businesses are planning to open soon. Take a break from driving and stop and explore this tiny town and its 100 year old buildings. The town has shorter business hours in the winter due to less traffic flow and customers, but it is far from a ghost town. read more