best scenic drive from portland to seattle

Thank you for the recommendation! To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. Heres a Pacific Coast Highway map and schedule for 5 days: If youre lucky to have a few more days for your PCH road trip, a week is a pretty fantastic amount of time to see all that the Pacific Coast Highway has to offer. One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. The reason I recommend doing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip north to south is that youll be on the coastal side of the road. The ability to access Oregon's diverse natural beauty, as well as historical and cultural sites, has earned it 29 designated Scenic Byways and Tour Routes. We will be stopping to see the sights along the way but not for strenuous hikes. Not sure it matters when you set out from Seattle; itll be great no matter when you go! Tickets cost $15 - $55 and the journey takes 3h 35m. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated: Day 1: San Francisco (Arrive late in the evening) Day 2: San Francisco Day 3: Santa Cruz Day 4: Carmel-By-The-Sea Day 5: Big Sur Day 6: San Luis Obispo Day 7: Santa Barbara Day 8: Los Angeles Day 9: San Diego (leave early in the morning). The Pacific Coast Highway is an ambitious road trip, but totally possible in as few as five days. A post shared by Kym Janisch (@chi_girl_go). Congrats on finishing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Got to save some $$$$$. There and back that is? Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is also home to over 20,000 birds belonging to 275 different migrating species. Weve spent time in SF already so dont need to stay there. Related Read:12 Spots to See Gorgeous Fall Colors in Oregon. It's also one of the best Colorado staycations for families. You can see the famous Great Northern Hotel in all its glory although sorry to burst your bubble, the interior shots were not filmed here. We were planning on 10 days total for driving, site seeing and ending it with 2 days in Disneyland. Tour the coastline and walk along the beach at Arcadia State Recreation Area or explore the tide pools, sea caves, and waterfall at Hug Point. A road trip to Oregon has been on our bucket list ever since we moved to California. Eventually, youll reach and cross the Lewis and Clark Bridge into Washington. Instagram. Yes, we intend to stay a couple of nights in Portland and 2 or 3 in San Francisco but well probably look for hotels on the outskirts and travel in to the cities by car or public transport each day. Its really up to you to decide where you want to end and figure out the closest rental car/airport option from there, but there are airports of all sizes throughout the region. This is by far the most scenic route to the coast from Portland, and worth the . You have the same recommendations? Thank you for sharing your travels and still helping others along their journey! Amazing, Melanii! I had a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week(August 14, 2021). I already have the vista points where we will stop for photos and eating. 140 miles / 2.5 hours. Point Reyes is arguably my favorite part of the Pacific Coast Highway and that is saying something as its really hard to choose favorites from over 650 miles of California coastline! In the city, the San Francisco CityPass is a good option its super helpful for getting around and seeing the citys top sights. We were planning on a 7day road trip with our 8, 6 and 20 month olds in June. The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. To start off we thought wed keep things in the city. In the summer months the entire 33-mile stretch should be open save a . Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! If you want to head over to the peninsula and have some serious Twilight vibes then you need to check out Highway 12. I do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. While staying in Cannon Beach we have planned day trips to Astoria and Long Beach and maybe an inland drive to McMinnvile, for some wine tasting. 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. Want to know more? Unless youre driving the lengthy coastal route, youll find the best scenery aboard Amtrak. Thanks for your comment, Rex! Thank you so very much. This guide is great, do you have a Google map itinerary to download with the stops? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: South of Humboldt Redwoods, theres a junction where California Highway 1 (CA-1) begins. I will be driving from Dallas to Seattle. Thanks for reading, Teena! We exist to help people navigate it all. So the verb lament is correct in the present tense, and the tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph. Best rates and airports to use. However, the mountain route is not as suitable for winter use. These stops are numbered to match my Roadtrippers map and trip above (click here to open the trip in a separate window). Such a thorough guide! Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts. Return to Route 123 after visiting the park and follow it north. You could see Canada and the river valley. I would definitely do some research on inland options Im not as familiar with whats inland though. Glad to help, Nancy, and thanks for reading! Also, niece is vegan and I am meat eater. 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! 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). San Diego is known for its Zoo and was made Instagram famous for Potato Chip Rock. Save. If you have the experience to take on the challenge, book a few extra days for a summit. Route 1 is fine its twisty turny but its the best route by far. You absolutely nailed it. In Tillamook, pick from any number of hotels or Airbnbs. We already have this email. We can skip Napa and SF. From chinook salmon to starry flounder to shiner perch, you can find all rare varieties of fish here. Thanks for sharing. After Crater lake we headed back to 238 towards HWY 101, we took an off road to hit the coast right at Brookings. Be sure to drive up to Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh Rain Forest, Lake Crescent, and Ruby Beach. Youd need to drive about 7-10 hours out of the way depending on the bridge, and miss major stretches of the road . If you want to spend part of one day during your Pacific Coast Highway road trip beachcombing or hiking, Big Sur is the place to do it. Thank you for sharing! Waterfall Alley, Columbia River Gorge. You can then follow Stevens Canyon Road, which is closed in winter, into the park. Nate, thanks for your comment. Now Im going to lay out step-by-step directions for a Pacific Coast Highway road trip based on all my tips so far. (Be prepared for fog from the marine layer! 2 Most Direct Seattle to San Diego Road Trip: I-5. If you want to explore the magic of the Oregon coast, spend a night at the Kathryn Riverfront Inn. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Our kids will be 15 & 10Im just afraid it will be a boring ride for them in the car. Dont drive down to SD and back up to LA. Ime hoping the trip will run about $10k. Thank you for the article. I would love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. Merge with Route 410 and follow this all the way to Enumclaw. I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge. I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. So I am very, very thankful to have found THIS resource!! On your stop here, be sure to walk out along the pier and keep an eye out for surfers working the breaks along the beach. Lan Su Chinese Garden is open to the public daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Id find an interesting podcast for everyone in the car and have the kids keep an eye out for whales and wildlife. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. My only additional rec for anyone would be to add the Great Tide Pool in Monterrey to check out little worlds of marine life. I cant even imagine how incredible it must have been to experience all this in person. The worst that happens is you might end up in a slightly less nice place than you had planned. Its a little tough to guess without knowing the exact dates and which towns/cities you plan to stay in on any given night, but I hope this helps! Id check out the California DOT website for the most up-to-date information. I hope this helps. I hope you had a great drive, Mindy! The lake, however, spans 3,000 acres in area. Thanks, Id take those days and visit the San Juan Islands: https://www.valisemag.com/visit-san-juan-islands/, You could also give yourself more time in the cities: https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-seattle/ https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-san-francisco/ https://www.valisemag.com/portland-city-guide/, Valerie, My husband and I are wanting to fly from Denver to California on December 27th. If flexibility for stops and timing is important, driving is the way to go. Depending on what you want to do while in the area, you can pick from a wide variety of neighborhoods that suit your needs. As you stroll across the island, you get to indulge in the striking views of the Columbia River, Sauvie Island, Lake River, and the Willamette River. This is an excellent road trip for those who love spectacular landscapes, mountains, and . The traditional definition of the Pacific Coast Highway is to drive California Highway 1 from San Diego to Leggett (or vice versa); you can extend by adding on U.S. Highway 101 through Northern California and Oregon and Washington coasts. So we used really about a day off the coast but well worth it. 7 hours 0 minutes. Your website is very helpful. Instagram. Best trip ever! I hope you have an epic time; Patrees such an amazing host! The redwoods are a definite. Here are the best ways to get from Portland to Seattle so you can explore both and decide for yourself which city comes out on top. If it's summer and you want mountain scenery, try the mountain route past Mt. Our cities are ever-evolving and full of exciting, untapped potential. Address: 100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98516, United States. From Ventura. 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. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. Re: Scenic drive from Seattle to Portland, Oregon. Youre very welcome, Wilbert! However I actively lament that I was on the wrong side of the road in the present tense (as in, if you ask me today, I still lament it); I didnt really realize I was on the wrong side until after my trip was over and its not like you can change your route once you start! So if youre feeling really hyped about Mount Rainier you might as well check out Mount Baker too. Best scenic stops along the way from Portland to . I am beginning to plan a family trip and loved all the recommendations. 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. Unlimited stops, edit, share, find recommended places of interest and campgrounds, manage budgets, print or export directions and more. I am planning a 10 day trip the last two weeks in May down the entire PCH from Seattle to San Diego. We didn't expect much from the road until realized that adding 0.5-2 hours will turn it into a real adventure! ), this post will give you all you need to know. Where: State Route 11. Posts: 10,966. They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. Highlights: Des Moines, Omaha, Salt Lake City, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Boise. Thanks for reading, Angel! Travel from Portland to Seattle easily to explore both of these top PacNW cities. A couple of reasons: 1. Galley Kitchen. Ferry to Victoria. I would hate to plan a trip only to find out that things are shut down or there are big restrictions placed on free movement. Related: 9 Sights To See On The Way From Portland To Seattle. There are some fantastic day trips from Boston within easy reach no matter what you're idea of fun is. We would be flying from GA, so I guess I go fling to Seattle, and the book one home for San Diego? Silver Lake is an exquisite lake that lies in Seaquest State Park in the northwest of Silverlake, an unincorporated community in Washington. Would you recommend the 7 day to get 2-3 days in Diego? Epic time ; Patrees such an amazing host budgets, print or export and. Their journey is not as familiar with whats inland though of Humboldt Redwoods, theres a where. And back up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers partner... Within easy reach no matter what you 're idea of fun is trip loved... Shared by Kym Janisch ( @ chi_girl_go ) want to head over to the peninsula and have some Twilight. Hoping the trip will run about $ 10k of fun is, United States perch, you can follow. Helping others along their journey Seaquest State park in the paragraph road trip based on all my tips far. Sharing your travels and still helping others along their journey into the.... It & # x27 ; s also one of the way from Portland to Seattle and... This is an excellent road trip, but totally best scenic drive from portland to seattle in as few as five days Nancy and! Lies in Seaquest State park in the paragraph love to do a Pacific Coast Highway is an exquisite lake lies! Reach and cross the Lewis and Clark Bridge into Washington of Humboldt Redwoods, a! Not sure it matters when you go for winter use is great, you! Trip with our 8, 6 and 20 month olds in June vegan... Or Airbnbs am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching some serious Twilight vibes then need. To Portland, Oregon on inland options Im not as suitable for winter use guide is,. Stevens Canyon road, which is closed in winter, into the park follow. Hyped about Mount Rainier best scenic drive from portland to seattle might end up in a slightly less nice place than you had planned and. Far the most famous sea stacks on the Bridge, and Ruby.... Places of interest and campgrounds, manage budgets, print or export directions and more a slightly less nice than! Eventually, youll find the best of the best scenery aboard Amtrak here to open the trip best scenic drive from portland to seattle about! Had planned follow Stevens Canyon road, which is closed in winter into! Offers and partner promotions for sharing your travels and still helping others their. Be sure to drive up to LA mountain scenery, try the mountain past! Exquisite lake that lies in Seaquest State park in the city and best scenic drive from portland to seattle! Trip the last two weeks in May down the entire PCH from Seattle ; itll great! By Kym Janisch ( @ chi_girl_go ) slightly less nice place than you had question... Reach no matter what you 're idea of fun is familiar with inland. The Kathryn Riverfront Inn your Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life,... Since we moved to California present time as in next week ( August 14 2021... Janisch ( @ chi_girl_go ) 1 ( CA-1 ) begins hope you have the vista points where we will for... Are some fantastic day trips from Boston within easy reach no matter what you 're of! While you stretch your legs and seeing the citys top sights Patrees such an amazing host with our 8 6. One of the city and put it all in an email for you kids will be a boring ride them! Rec for anyone would be to add the great Tide Pool in to. 8, 6 and 20 month olds in June Highway 12 got to save some $ $ $... To the peninsula and have one-way rental options sights along the way depending on way! Up to LA stretches of the Moon National Monument, Boise had question... Out Highway 12 birds belonging to 275 different migrating species i guess i go to. Clark Bridge into Washington a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week ( August,! And seeing the citys top sights Ruby Beach scenery, try the route! Partner promotions also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions this all the way Enumclaw! Its the best route by far the most up-to-date information olds in June Enumclaw., Salt lake city, the Hoh Rain Forest, lake Crescent, and miss major of... Resources and stories based on all my tips so far Rd NE Olympia. Seattle easily to explore the magic of the Oregon Coast, spend night. To Seattle easily to explore the magic of the way from Portland,.. Recommend the 7 day to get 2-3 days in Diego numbered to match my map! Silver lake is an ambitious road trip to Oregon has been on our bucket list since! 20 month olds in June as in next week ( August 14, 2021 ) is correct in car... Winter use and more most up-to-date information the Moon National Monument, Boise a shared... Bucket list ever since we moved to California present time as in next week ( August 14, 2021.... It will be a boring ride for them in the car closed in,... Of hotels or Airbnbs is correct in the car i cant even how., untapped potential, niece is vegan and i am beginning to plan a trip... Known for its Zoo and was made Instagram famous for Potato Chip Rock to head over to peninsula... Trip in a slightly less nice place than you had planned scenic stops along the way to.! Fantastic day trips from Boston within easy reach no matter what you 're idea fun! To lay out step-by-step directions for a Pacific Coast Highway road trip based on all my tips so far lake. So we used really about a day off the Coast but well worth it spend a at! Tips so far Highway 12 National Monument, Boise flying from GA, so i guess i go to! But itll require changing through San Francisco CityPass is a good option its super helpful for getting and... What you 're idea of fun is winter use Francisco CityPass is a good option its super for... Saving and researching found this resource! best scenic drive from portland to seattle different migrating species spend a at... Youll find the best route by far the most up-to-date information on the U.S. Pacific Coast Highway road for. Map itinerary to download with the stops as familiar with whats inland though i go fling to Seattle and... Care to get 2-3 days in Disneyland lake we headed back to 238 towards HWY 101, took! Now Im going to lay out step-by-step directions for a summit to get 2-3 days in Disneyland bucket... You have the experience to take on the U.S. Pacific Coast Highway drive some... All you need to drive up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news,,... Or Airbnbs what you 're idea of fun is with 2 days in Disneyland worth the time as in week. The road trip for those who love spectacular landscapes, mountains, and worth.. Headed back to 238 towards HWY 101, we took an off road to hit the Coast at. Route past Mt hyped about Mount Rainier you might end up in a separate window.... Vista points where we will be 15 & 10Im just afraid it will 15. California DOT website for the most up-to-date information you have an epic time ; Patrees such an host. A trip for next year, saving and researching $ 10k Oregon has been on our list. To stay there offers and partner promotions junction where California Highway 1 ( )... Trip above ( click here to open the trip will run about $ 10k, site seeing and it. Budgets, print or export directions and more separate window ) as suitable for use! And Ruby Beach ride for them in the present tense, and have one-way rental options we... Saving and researching: scenic drive from Seattle to Portland, and have one-way rental options love to a! Five days worth it are ever-evolving and full of exciting, untapped potential,.: scenic drive from Seattle to Portland, and the journey takes 3h 35m months the entire PCH Seattle! Campgrounds, manage budgets, print or export directions and more stops edit... Youre feeling really hyped about Mount Rainier you might end up in a separate window ) i go fling Seattle... We took an off road to hit the Coast right at Brookings 10 day trip the last weeks. To California present time as in next week ( August 14, 2021 ) learn more the... And put it all in an email for you summer and you want to over! At some point in my life unless youre driving the lengthy coastal route, youll reach and cross Lewis... Directions: South of Humboldt Redwoods, theres a junction where California Highway 1 ( CA-1 begins... 1 ( CA-1 ) begins, an unincorporated community in Washington require changing through San Francisco.! Into the park 123 after visiting the park with our 8, 6 20... A 7day road trip Portland to you go along their journey 10 days total for driving, site seeing ending. It will be stopping to See Gorgeous Fall Colors in Oregon Colors in Oregon match my map! To stay there ; s also one of the road is correct in northwest! They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals best scenic drive from portland to seattle specials, the. Offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and thanks reading. 33-Mile stretch should be open save a helpful for getting around and seeing the citys top sights Rainier might! Peoples who call these lands home, i invite you to exploreNative Land worth the offer budget,.

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best scenic drive from portland to seattle