Thank you for sharing your travels and still helping others along their journey! Have a great trip! Whidbey Island is one of the best road trips from Seattle and can easily be covered in a single day. Thanks for your comment, Vicky! Both have way more to explore once you stop or pull off the road. Hello, my name is Sonia and I am from Puerto Rico. Thanks for asking! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: When youre ready to continue on your PCH road trip, make your way back to California Highway 1 and head south. ), Valerie, My wife and I are planning this very trip you outlined. What a great and comprehensive post! We want to spend 5 days for PCH and not sure where to fly in or out of. I love Portland and San Diego. Now let me break down a few itineraries to choose from, based on how much time you have to do your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Save. Driving Time. Well be camping out at most stops except for SF. Be sure to drive up to Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh Rain Forest, Lake Crescent, and Ruby Beach. We are thinking Crescent City to Santa Barbara? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are on a shorter Pacific Coast Highway road trip, continue south along I-5 to Grant's Pass, then turn southwest to Crescent City (#11). Does that sound reasonable or doable? The drive takes you through a stunning and varied landscape of farms, mountains and sagebrush. It has 18 rooms and 31 RV lots. We will only have 7 days. Youll see signs for Hoh Rainforest, a left turn that takes you inland to the forest. This Portland to Seattle road trip itinerary is a whole vacation on its own though you could use it to connect separate vacation in both cities for a seriously awesome PNW getaway! In this post, I promote travel across lands that are the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups. Doing this trip starting this weekend! Love all the comments ideas and suggestion, will try and make this trip happen in about 2-3 years . Rim Drive and the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. Id like to include Olympic NP, Mt. Ann, thanks so much for your comment. I was far more interested in the hundreds of miles of coastal roadways. Let me know if you need any extra tips whenever you start planning! The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. Big Sur is defined as the stretch of coastline and adjacent state park between Carmel and San Simeon. As this post is over 6,000 words long, I typically dont provide extra additional itinerary services for free. You will then reach the Chehalis River. Drive time: 3 hours / 155 miles. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive deals, stories, info & more! Its hard to do the drive one way in just 5 days from San Diego to Seattle adding on the time driving from Arizona and the return trip, I think you need at least 10-12 days. Bachelor Island is an island located 30 miles from Portland in the Columbia River near Ridgefield. Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. Hey there! Portland! Good morning from Australia. We can only do a quick trip. The Pacific Coast Highway is located in the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, and California. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: None! Its mostly side trips places where youll have divert from the most direct route until you reach Seattle. Thanks for reading, Teena! Head west out of Oregon along Highway 26. The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. Cross the river and merge with Highway 12 and then Route 8, which will take you past Capitol State Forest. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow CA-1 south out of L.A. to avoid the citys notorious traffic as you make your way along the coast. I havent been to Monterey but its high on my list! The proposed itinerary for 7-day Seattle to San Francisco road trip. Now I want to take a trip there from San Diego to the Canadian border while sitting on a Honda Goldwing trike. Next, youll pass through Point Reyes, which again seems underwhelming. Thanks for your comment, Victoria! 3. Thanks for your amazing feedback, and Im so glad to help! The state emblem of Washington is Mount Rainier. What a drive! 270 miles. What is the average speed on the 101? The massive eruption was triggered by an earthquake and subsequent avalanche, which released enough pressure to allow the volcanos pent-up gasses to erupt. drive for about 4 hours. Literally. Cross the Columbia River and enter Washington. Day 5. Any suggestions. I have tendency to suffer from analysis paralysis therefore navigating all the ins and outs what to do where to stay etc would be overwhelming to say the least. I appreciate any help you can provide. St. Helens or the coast. I am not fond of the cold and a bit fearful of icy driving in the mountains. Seaside has a nice range of shops and dining options, and the beach is popular with surfers. Old Highway 101 is now called the Avenue of the Giants, and I highly recommend slowing down to enjoy this 31-mile stretch through some of Californias oldest living and tallest! I especially appreciate your links to stays and dine. Thanks for your comment, Pam, but Im a little confused its a 10-day itinerary, so its a 9-night trip. I would love to receive the PDF version of this, please. So doing our 101 bucket list too, but want a 2-3 days near Ocean Beach, CA. The suggested route below zigzags a bit and adds quite a bit of distance. As most of these sites are located in the suburbs of Tillamook, you wont have to spend an hour reaching downtown to explore the major landmarks of the city. Thanks for reading, Lynda! Its not a long drive from Seattle to Olympia, so I recommend just making a waypoint stop here to stretch your legs before the rest of your driving today whether thats to Port Angeles or Portland. Travel from Portland to Seattle easily to explore both of these top PacNW cities. So the verb lament is correct in the present tense, and the tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph. Weve daydreamed about a lot of different trips we would take one day, and a flight from the southeast US to Seattle and PCH drive to San Diego was one of them. We are from Ohio. The rest of time will hopefully be in small towns all along the coast. PRIVACY POLICY TERMS & CONDITION, Top 15 Best Stops on the Portland to Seattle Drive, one of the most scenic stopovers between Portland and Seattle, 100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98516, United States. The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: In Washington and Oregon, the best weather of the year happens between June and September. I see we can head to Mendocino and then over to a larger highway to San Francisco or.drive all the way down the PCH to Point Reyes Station & then head over San Francisco but that would be a lot of driving. Lake Sacajawea is an artificial lake located less than 50 miles from Portland. Los Angeles is the last major city on my list of Pacific Coast Highway stops, and though I have a guide to spending one day in L.A., you can and should spend as much time as you like. I am beginning to plan a family trip and loved all the recommendations. I live near one of the ferries going here, so I am lucky to be able to visit the area often. Unfortunately, you cant climb the lighthouse steps as it has been closed for restoration since 2001. The park also features dozens of food trucks, serving great stadium eats and fine beer. Despite the weather being slightly worse, shoulder seasons are definitely a great time to do the road trip from Portland to Seattle. The Lotte Hotel has the perfect combination of location, price, and luxury to make your stay in Seattle very memorable. The tower is decorated with artwork chronologically depicting the regions history. Great question, Judy. Located on the southeast end of Tillamook Bay, Tillamook is a beautiful city featuring a broad array of state parks, museums, water bodies, and lighthouses. Hello, Thanks for sharing your trips and valuable tips. Waterfall Alley, Columbia River Gorge. Learn more about our editorial policies here. Plan accordingly when you design your PCH itinerary. Also, further north, you could fly to Portland and do the Oregon coast too. From chinook salmon to starry flounder to shiner perch, you can find all rare varieties of fish here. Related posts: Can you believe theres a rainforest in Washington? Reading through this your article is going to be a huge help as our family plans our two-week trip. We plan a trip to San Jos, California because of its diversity, beautiful scenery, and exceptionally high outputs. It looks so cute! Re: Scenic drive from Seattle to Portland, Oregon. A trip from San Francisco to Seattle involves driving for around 800 miles along the Pacific Northwest and watching the most attractive views while on the way. So it adds about 3 hours of driving time, but it also means youll miss out on basically all of the Oregon Coast. From there we are planning on 4 days drive/stop on high 1 (PCH) up to Santa Monica/Malibu then flight out LAX. Soak In The Scenic Panorama Of Astoria, Oregon. Also, we were thinking with the additional days to do a detour over to Yosemite. Even an email answer is fine!! Great questions, Julie. 1. There is still plenty to see and do, and cheaper hotel prices might make the trip more affordable. I appreciate your asking for clarification! Address: 470 Admiral Way, Edmonds, WA 98020, United States. Take the coastal route for a longer, more scenic drive,and you can hit up Canon Beach or even Tillamook, where you can tour the TillamookCreamery. Plus you can cruise up to areas like Bow-Edison and enjoy some tasty eats and local shopping. 5 Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary. I wouldnt go all the way to Seattle, especially if you dont like big cities. Crescent City is the first city youll enter when driving southbound into California along the Pacific Coast Highway (or last if youre headed northbound). Aretta, thanks for your comment! I think its going to be a tough year fro travel! Pismo State Beach is another great stop during a day of driving from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (or reverse). (Hours and dates for the attractions on the SF CityPass have been affected by the pandemic, so be sure to check those when you purchase!). Five days to drive down the Pacific Coast is absolutely doable! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: As you might have guessed continue following California Highway 1 south! I have been reading your blog posts about the PCH and think I read where you mentioned a couple of crossover vehicles that would be good rental cars. If we have 10 days to do this and could skip San Francisco, because we just did that 2 years ago, could we drive from Seattle to either Los Angeles or San Diego in an RV? Thank you. The speed limit ranges from 55mph to 25mph theres really no helpful way to give an average! 1. Thanks for your comment, Jorge! There is plenty to see and do along the way, so try to give yourself at least a weekend to enjoy the trip. After Crater lake we headed back to 238 towards HWY 101, we took an off road to hit the coast right at Brookings. Territory Supply is reader-supported and may earn a commission when you book or purchase using our links. The lake features aquamarine water that is pumped from the Cowlitz River and passes to the south end into the Columbia River. The flight time is usually a quick 45 minutes, but when you factor in transfers between the two airports, its probably just as long as other options listed above. Thanks for your comment, Rex! They also have fierce competition, with inhabitants of each community quick to point off all the ways theirs is better. (If you decide to fly to SF, heres a recent post I wrote: https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/). Thank you for great info This is exactly what I was looking for. Route 8 will lead you directly into Olympia, where you will need to merge with Interstate 5. Were renting an RV in Seattle (after few days in hotel) and have 30 days before we drop it off in San Fran (and hotel for a few days). Aberdeen has one main claim to fame: it was the hometown of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. You could easily spend a weekend here, so give it an extra day if you like playing outside. Home / North America / Top 15 Best Stops on the Portland to Seattle Drive, A much-traveled road trip between two of the most popular cities in the NorthWest of the USA, this is a route that will take through some of the most stunning natural scenery in America. Wonderful trip sharing you made. Also being from Colorado, we would love to camp oceanside, do you have any recommendations on campsites? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Return west to U.S. 101 and turn south. Note: mountain route may be unavailable during winter due to road closures. I had a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week(August 14, 2021). However, a pleasant drive along I-5 is the best alternative if tourists desire to drive a car in either city and if the cost of . Instagram. Sounds like a great trip, Rudy! Book a ticket to head up the tower, or even enjoy cocktails at the Loupe Lounge. Will it be Portland, with its famous food trucks and doughnuts? I already have the vista points where we will stop for photos and eating. 11 Awe-Inspiring Glamping Spots in Oregon, 12 Spots to See Gorgeous Fall Colors in Oregon, 9 Best Hikes in Washington State for Epic Outdoor Adventures, 10 Serene Cabin Rentals Near Seattle, Washington, 12 Best Mount Hood Hikes for Breathtaking Oregon Views, 10 Best Weekend Road Trips From Chicago, Illinois, 5 Best Day Trips From Boston for Scenic New England Getaways, Attractions (And Oddities) Along Arizonas Interstate 40, What to See & Do on a Nashville to Gatlinburg Road Trip, 14 Beautifully Secluded Cabin Rentals in Oregon. Cherie, thanks for your comment. AAA /Brett Vanderbrink. This scenic roadway overlooks Samish Bay and provides views that never disappoint. Angie, thanks so much for your comment! Extremely informative. We will be stopping to see the sights along the way but not for strenuous hikes. I have a question in regards to your amazing experiences and my hopes to travel the PCH with my older kids. Were taking the 5 to Seattle with a few stops on the way then PCH from Port Angeles to SD. Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip. However, if youre hoping for a little more adventure, theres a longer and more scenic Portland to Seattle road trip route that takes you through some of the most interesting areas along the coast. Its a great spot for a short hike to stretch your legs. Tickets cost $35 - $50 and the journey takes 3h 25m. I loved the harbor and wharf, was surprised by the food scene, and lightly dabbled in the historical significance of Santa Barbara enough for me to want to return. A post shared by Elliot McGucken 45EPIC (@elliotmcgucken). The Route. And who can say no to that? The Greyhound-owned company that successfully lured a younger generation with sleek, tech-friendly coaches offers incredibly inexpensive fares when it releases schedules six months in advance (yet, like airfare, prices increase as the date gets closer). My stop in Fort Bragg was relatively short, but it was worth it! Awesome, Tim! haha. While the glass is technically part of MacKerricher State Park and you cant take it home you can still spend time out of the car searching for different colors and shapes of beautiful sea glass that wash up from the Pacific Ocean. Awesome, Im hoping to do the PCH and NorCal next summer. The Olympic Peninsula. In the morning, we made the 30-minute drive to Mulmonath Falls. Unlimited stops, edit, share, find recommended places of interest and campgrounds, manage budgets, print or export directions and more. Thank you for sharing. A frequent Cali traveler warned me of smog in the late summer and recommended late Sept. early Oct. What are your thoughts? Thank you, Archimedes. If you plan on making this drive over a weekend, you should stop once halfway and then another night in Seattle. Neither of these routes is the most direct one, because the shortest route is straight up Interstate 5, and isn't particularly interesting. You can also attend music concerts at the park. You can make a quick stop at Lake Sacajawea while driving from Portland to Seattle. The road trip from Portland to Seattle isn't very long, but this makes it a great weekend getaway. I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? Great post. Best of all, theres no cell service so theyll have to look around to see them . Hello Valerie & Valise, I love this trip information on, it is so amazingly helpful. Drive time: 32 hours. If youve ever seen The Goonies, you know exactly what I mean. Thank you! Would there be a place where the rental could be left in those regions? Also, you can probably get away with booking hotels/vacation rentals in the smaller towns only a few days in advance but if you want to stay in any of the big cities, I would book those 2-3 weeks in advance at the latest! If youre a fan, make sure to stop in Aberdeen to see the house where he grew up. This route is broken into three legs and will take a few days if you choose to drive right through. 2. I hope you have an epic time; Patrees such an amazing host! Chinquel, nice to hear from you! Youll also find a lot of luxurious resorts near the lake, including Silver Cove RV Resort, Streeters Resort, Silverlake Resort, and Mt. I appreciate all the information! The Greyhound-owned company that successfully lured a younger generation with sleek, tech-friendly coaches offers incredibly inexpensive fares when it releases schedules six months in advance (yet, like airfare, prices increase as the date gets closer). I hope you have a great trip whenever you can make it! Enjoy all of the scenic drives near Seattle! 151 reviews. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are on a shorter Pacific Coast Highway road trip, continue south along I-5 to Grants Pass, then turn southwest to Crescent City (#11).If you are taking a longer PCH drive, turn west out of Portland along Oregon Highways 99W and 18 to connect with U.S. 101 near Lincoln City. You can hike on an extensive 275-mile trail network or explore by bike on the park roads. November should be a good time, but you may experience some days where the Marine Layer rolls in be sure to pack layers in case its cooler/less sunny than expected! These stops are numbered to match my Roadtrippers map and trip above (click here to open the trip in a separate window). No matter which you choose, youll enter SF by driving across the Golden Gate Bridge; you can either stay along the coast and drive down Ocean Beach or head east into the city. If not, spend your day exploring the Seattle waterfront to see all of the city from above. You could do this road-trip in as little as five days, but I recommend taking at least seven or maybe 10 if you have the time! Now if you need some Twin Peaks vibes in your life, a drive to the stunning Snoqualmie Falls will surely do you well. The location is perfect to see the sights of downtown Seattle giving you access to everything on offer in this amazing city. If you will drive back to Denver from Seattle, you will spend 48 hours behind the wheel just to get there and back. The island lies just between the Lewis River and the Willamette River. From touristy attractions to woodsy explorations, theres something for everyone to enjoy in the hip city. Thank you so much for this information! Two States Bridge Tour. It is time to start driving along the coast from Seattle to Portland. You can find out more information about the data we collect on our Privacy Policy page. Related: 9 Sights To See On The Way From Portland To Seattle. My wife and I (with our dog) are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. Would be every much appriciate if you can provide tips and recomendattions where to stop, what to see/do and eat the drive on high 1 from San Diego to Santa Monica. Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! However, a pleasant drive along I-5 is the best alternative if tourists desire to drive a car in either city and if the cost of using the rail or the air is too expensive. Dont rush, and youll notice plenty of beautiful sights. If you want to experience the Pacific Northwest mountains in winter, the Grand Pacific Northwest Road Trip is a great option. Also how many days driving for this trip. offers numerous daily flights between Portland Airport (PDX) and Sea-Tac Airport (SEA) or Paine Field (PAE), and if you book in advance, you can usually snag a great fare. Hi V& VDid you make hotel reservations in advance for your overnight stops? If youre heading up north you cant go wrong with a cruise on Chuckanut Drive. You can look out over beautiful sea stacks that dot the northern part of the Pacific Coast and stroll along the sand covered with huge driftwood formations and seafoam. Seeing some nice beaches is also of interest. Thanks for sharing this! Im thinking of doing this trip from Seattle to San Diego. Head to the Mount Saint Helens Visitor Center to learn more about the area and history, then head out on the trails to explore the region on foot. I will be driving alone and he thought I would be able to enjoy the view better looking to my left than to my right while driving. Hah, sounds like a good bonding experience, Angela! The park is open to the public daily from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mount Rainier National Park is a national park located about 60 miles from Seattle. Am planning to do a 10 day PCH drive in August. PCH bucket list road trip done! Seaside is a picturesque coastal town, a western interpretation of the East Coast summer destinations along the Atlantic. I enjoyed it so much that I wrote a whole article about the experiences I recommend in Santa Barbara! Also, I love your pictures! Were driving south-to-north. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. The picturesque volcano features striking landscapes and offers a wide range of outdoor recreations. Have a great drive! The PCH heads inland near Lompoc but is the main road you can take to Santa Barbara. Remain on Highway 101 as it takes you around Willapa Bay. Youd need to drive about 7-10 hours out of the way depending on the bridge, and miss major stretches of the road . Plan, edit, save, and share your custom day trips, weekend getaways, and cross-country adventures. If youre in the heart of Seattle and want to spend a day living your best tourist life, be sure to check out the Space Needle, the iconic feature defining the Seattle skyline. Wifey and I did the PCH trip a while ago, shortly after we got married. My English is very very basic but if you write to me I can understand it. When venturing from the i5 highway, the trip takes approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes of non-stop driving. Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! Have a great trip! Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. Astoria is a small city on the Columbia River. There are very few things more beautiful than the Skagit Valley. Such a thorough guide! Great read! Scott, I replied to your email, so you should be all set! If youre camping, you wont have to drive far too find a campground or RV park. If the coast is calling you, make sure you take a route that is enjoyable such as this scenic journey. The entrance road takes you through lush Sitka spruce forests that are home to deer and elk. Thanks for reading, Oleg. The lookout also gives access to many hiking trails. ENJOY the sightseeing trip of a lifetime. Fort Bragg is home to a beautiful glass beach, pictured above, where the entire beach is made of sea glass from past trash dumps. Question, if we were to add a stop, possible one night stay at Crater Lake, where would you suggest doing this from without missing much, (or any?) My husband and I plan to do this trip in June. We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. Relaxing in a secluded cabin deep in the woods under a starlit sky is one of the best experiences you can have in Oregon. I have 22 foot van camper are their any length height(9.5 ft) restrictions I am hoping their are amp sites along the way? The coastal route outline is suitable for a road trip all year round. I recently discovered Mendocino on a weekend trip and fell in love with the small town. While you cannot use Portland to San Francisco road trip planner in just 4 days, you can visit Astoria or Cannon Beach. If you happen to do your PCH road trip in the winter, Pismo State Beach is also home to the largest colony of migrating monarch butterflies during the winter months. So if picturesque fields of flowers and amazing farmland sound like something you want to see, the Skagit Valley is only a short drive from Seattle. Number of Days: 3. It is enormous and offers a ton of sights and activities. Ruby Beach is only a short drive from Hoh Rainforest but its the most picturesque beach on Washingtons Pacific Coast. I have no idea what the case will be for forest fires next year, unfortunately! Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. San Diego is high on my must-visit-longer list, so Im again a bit short on recommendations here. Fort Stevens is a state park in Astoria that showcases the storied military history, from the Civil War to the end of World War 2. 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