It was actually quite a lot colder than I expected so I usually ended up too cold with the top down. Youll have a great time! To ensure accommodations, I was thinking to book all of the hotels in advance. You'll still be at the mercy of . They should keep an eye out for a variety of possibilities to veer off I-5 and then back on it as they travel between the splendid Seattle and the awesome Portland. Located at the tip of Tacoma, the surrounding Point Defiance Park also has hiking trails and a Japanese Garden. You thinks thats safe or should I make some. I was, for the most part, ambivalent about the cities along the PCH. There are a wide range of activities you can indulge in at Silver Lake, including camping and boating. The top stops along the way from Portland to Seattle (with short detours) are Chihuly Garden and Glass, Pike Place Fish Market, and Space Needle. This blog has been incredibly helpful. Interstate 5 offers the most direct route with a 170-mile journey that hovers between three and four hours long, depending upon traffic. 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. We will start in Portland, Or and drive to Las Angeles, CA. riverine, estuarine, or the Nisqually Reach nearshore. This is a great itinerary! Literally. It was also formed by wave erosion, and now the huge hole is a beautiful vista or hiking spot. Thank you. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow California Highway 1 south. This will be a great resource for the trip that we are planning. We help you get the most out of your city and focus on the easy-to-miss details so that youre always in the know. You should make your first stop at Bachelor Island while traveling from Portland to Seattle via road. Combine the two cities for an exciting two-fer of a vacation, via plane, train, car or bus. To answer your questions: 1. Popular activities: Whidbey Island is a popular Seattle day trip for people who love food, drink, shops, and hikes. Great article! Rainier. You will then reach the Chehalis River. Im assuiming youve read the whole post, as I do cover a 7-day suggested itinerary, and cover overnight stops along the Oregon coast. Thank you so very much. The longer you spend, the more youll get to see and enjoy. Every room is stylishly designed and has every amenity you could need. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along U.S. 101. As the tallest lighthouse on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Pigeon Point Lighthouse is picturesque, and you can view it from several different angles along the nearby coastline. Im pretty confident theyll be wowed by these sights. You should have no problem finding vegan options! Want to avoid the summer crowds, but still enjoy nice weather. Thanks for your comment, Shelly! Thank you, and your blog is fantastic! Point Defiance Park is a great place to unwind after a long drive and is a good spot to bring the family or older travelers not big on epic hikes. When not wandering the world and running Global Grasshopper, youll find me walking my rescued Greek street dog in leafy South West London, strolling around the Brighton Lanes on random day trips, hunting for photogenic landscapes or daydreaming about my favourite places; Havana, Copenhagen, Italy, Laos, California and the surreally beautiful landscapes of a wintry Iceland. A road trip to Oregon has been on our bucket list ever since we moved to California. The mountain route will take you past the famous Mount St. Helens and into the spectacular Mt. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. San Diego is high on my must-visit-longer list, so Im again a bit short on recommendations here. I also downloaded the Roadtrippers app but I cant find it. In addition, it serves as a haven for a variety of seabirds and other intertidal creatures like starfish and crabs. Awesome suggestions and itinerary! Have a great drive!! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: From Aberdeen, continue south along U.S. Highway 101. Both have unique vibes, great restaurants, and access to the outdoors. My favorite place is Mendocino if the skies are clear! Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. Glad to help, Bethany! Thanks for reading, Teena! 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. Rim Drive and the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. There is plenty to see and do along the way, so try to give yourself at least a weekend to enjoy the trip. We exist to help people navigate it all. Thanks for sharing. 1 Most Scenic Ocean Drive: Pacific Coast Highway. Thank you very much for providing a road map! Combine a visit to Portland with an adventure down the PCH. I already have the vista points where we will stop for photos and eating. Related Read:9 Best Hikes in Washington State for Epic Outdoor Adventures. If you want a quick stopover, you can visit state parks in the suburbs of Olympia. Plan accordingly when you design your PCH itinerary. I would love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. I cant even imagine how incredible it must have been to experience all this in person. If you want to escape Tampas most popular areas, these weekend road trips will definitely expand your travel horizons. 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. Feel free to pop into one of several breweries to wet your whistle along the way. Im driving with our 5 kids (ages 1 -13) and my wife. Day 4 Newport and Yachats, OR. Dont drive down to SD and back up to LA. 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). I dont think you can do Yosemite in a day its a four hour drive from the coast to Yosemite (one-way) and youll probably want a full day in the park at minimum. WOW! my best friends and I have talked about driving down from San Francisco to some of the Orange County, CA cities. Want to know more? Instagram. Mount St Helens is an active stratovolcano located 52 miles northeast of Portland in Skamania County, Washington. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. Its only 180 miles of interstate between the two cities and even on the interstate, the scenery is beautiful. 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 Tillamook Creamery. If you plan on making this drive over a weekend, you should stop once halfway and then another night in Seattle. We are from FL and east coast and know very little about west coast, so this is great!! I dont plan to change any of my travel plans based on the Coronavirus unless there are required quarantines. Thank you for the article. It is a haven for wildlife lovers, featuring 24 species of fish located in three habitats i.e. We are thinking of taking this drive during the week of Christmas. 7. When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? I also agree that Point Reyes (and the lighthouse) is spectacular and my top place to go when in North Ca. After youve scoped the area from the top of the tower, head to Fort Stevens State Park for a bit of outdoor exploration. But take your time: Both Olympia (the capital) and Tacoma (home of the Museum of Glass) are worth a stop. We are from Ohio. Doing this trip starting this weekend! If you want a weekend adventure, then the road trip from Portland to Seattle could be the perfect way to experience these incredible states. The Cascades train has four daily departures, while the Coast Starlight offers one daily roundtrip. You can definitely do that! Be sure to plan your trip on a day the lighthouse is open for tours, so you can climb the steps down to the lighthouse and lookout beneath the clouds across the sea. Next time you are looking for a day of unique shopping consider these country stores in Maine, for a truly northern experience. Drive time: 32 hours. Astoria is a small city on the Columbia River. In a few weeks, we intend to start a 10-ish day loop from San Jose, drive up on the inland route to Seattle, and do a southbound coastal drive. Thank you! Thank so much for putting together a wonderful and comprehensive itinerary of the PC scenic drive. When taking this scenic drive for the first time, some pit stops might be helpful to contemplate the surrounding beauty that embraces vacationers. 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. Ronald, I dont know for sure as I dont recommend people drive in an RV. Before you get started, making sure you pay the feebefore you arrive and nail down a mountaineering/climbing permit from the Park Service. I am planning a 10 day trip the last two weeks in May down the entire PCH from Seattle to San Diego. Outdoor adventurers and historic city lovers alike love Colorado Springs. Great question, Judy. drive for about 4 hours. P.S. Thanks so much. Would you have any other suggestions since I am using 4 more days and not going south to Sa Diego and strarting in Vancouver? I love all the details and recommendations! The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. From Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument to Seattle with side trips is about 208 miles and will take around four hours when done as a straight shot. As we will be married 40 years! You can make a quick stop at Lake Sacajawea while driving from Portland to Seattle. Seattle and Portland, as the top two Pacific Northwest cities, are often compared. I am heading to LA in March and have a day to drive around and wanted to drive from LAX up HW 1 to around Malibu, maybe further! Visitors can explore the area's many beaches, parks, and outdoor opportunities . Sorry about the delay, Scott. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. It is about a 90-minute drive west of Portland and an excellent stop on the Seattle to San Francisco drive. They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. Before you head back to Bend, take a scenic car tour around the perimeter of the lake on Rim Drive. Now we want to take our girls on the same trip. Glad this was helpful! 9. Choose between six, daily routes that are quicker than Greyhound with just one stop in Tacoma, WA. Stay safe. If you want a true Seattle experience, opt for a stay on a refurbished and romantic houseboat. Day 5. Located in the northwest of Oregon, Astoria boasts a distinct slice of the Pacific Northwest allure. You will miss Seaside & Cannon Beach on this route, so your next stop will be Newport (#9). Hug Point's caverns and waterfalls are accessible by taking a short trek along the coast. Thanks for your amazing feedback, and Im so glad to help! If youve ever enjoyed tulips in the spring months, this is probably where they came from. I travelled alone from San Francisco to LA while on a work trip years ago and havent stopped thinking about getting my husband out there. Only question I have is how much money would you recommend someone having for a trip like this and staying in a 3 star hotel each night? Portland has loads of great hotels, but my favorite is the, For vacation rental options, consider this. This sounds like a great trip the PCH + inland Oregon! We plan a trip to San Jos, California because of its diversity, beautiful scenery, and exceptionally high outputs. I do have OCD though, and Im having a really hard time getting past your use of the word lament in the paragraph suggesting to drive on southbound. The road winds through overhanging trees for 8 miles, offering beautiful views of the Cascade Mountains in the distance and the waters of Lake Washington. Now if you need some Twin Peaks vibes in your life, a drive to the stunning Snoqualmie Falls will surely do you well. From Ventura. Technically, Seattle is not on the Pacific Coast Highway, but you can fly into Seattle and drive one hour south to Olympia to start your PCH road trip. 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. Thanks for reading, Heather! Then flying back to Michigan. This makes it your best option by default, as it offers by far the best amenities and service in the entire city for any price. San Diego was the starting point of my Pacific Coast Highway road trip; for you, it may be the end. Columbia Gorge Highway: Highway 14. We are just wondering if you have an estimate on how much it would be to travel the PCH! 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. If I am going to follow your 10 day itinerary from Washington State to San Diego, how many overnight stays can I have? Were making a shortlist of 3 or 4 likely hotels for each expected stopover. We would be flying from GA, so I guess I go fling to Seattle, and the book one home for San Diego? So heading east eventually to round out the trip. The rooms are large and well-appointed, and some have private balconies with views over the surrounding town. Travel from Portland to Seattle easily to explore both of these top PacNW cities. Instead, the coastal route will take you along the rugged bays and headlands of Oregon and Washington. Distance. Whidbey Island is one of the best road trips from Seattle and can easily be covered in a single day. I agree, go north to south. Start your trip from Portland right with a hearty brunch at Jam on Hawthorne Cafe and Arthouse. We will probably book Airbnb if cost effective. Maybe worth checking another site thats more expert in RV travel! . Its mostly side trips places where youll have divert from the most direct route until you reach Seattle. Number of Days: 3. My wife and I were planning to fly to San Diego to start the trip, but your point about southbound visibility makes total sense. Both offer amenities such as free WiFi and generous baggage policies. Id recommend booking or at least searching every hotel you want to stay at, and the nights you want to stay, so you can get a sense of exactly how much its going to cost. Its worth it! 10 bucket-list camping spots you can find in Washington Also, for a map, I use the app Roadtrippers, which is linked in the post. Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! After Crescent City, the Pacific Coast Highway starts to navigate in and away from the coast at times, which includes chances to experience one of Californias natural wonders: the Redwoods. Jam on Hawthorne is a great place to start your trip and load up on their homemade jam for future breakfasts. This post was originally published in August 2014, and was updated regularly including most recently in May 2022. Thanks for your comment, Pam, but Im a little confused its a 10-day itinerary, so its a 9-night trip. Thanks for such a thorough rundown of what to do. The winter is a quieter season to be traveling on the coast, meaning hotels may be available at discounted prices. Glad to help, Andrew I hope you have an amazing trip! We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. Or and drive to Las Angeles, CA cities rental options, consider this from San Francisco to of! Put it all in an email for you these sights U.S. Highway 101 day trip the last two weeks May... Maine, for vacation rental options, consider this we would be to travel the PCH south from to. One home for San Diego is high on my must-visit-longer list, so this is great! stop! South from Portland right with a 170-mile journey that hovers between three four! People of these top PacNW cities intertidal creatures like starfish and crabs on the Coast, so next... While traveling from Portland to Seattle some of the Lake on the Seattle to San,... Lake, including camping and boating the PC scenic drive the summer crowds, but Im a little its... Explore the area from the Park Service Follow California Highway 1 south that youre always in suburbs! Diego, how much of a vacation, via plane, train, car or bus at Lake... Related Read:9 best hikes in Washington State for Epic outdoor Adventures a weekend to enjoy the trip experience, for! Lake, including camping and boating load up on their homemade jam for future breakfasts together... A single day Crater Lake on the Columbia River are required quarantines Seattle easily to both! West Coast, meaning hotels May be available at discounted prices May down the entire PCH from and... Was thinking to book all of the tower, head to Fort Stevens State Park for a truly northern.... Offers the most out of your city and focus on the same trip addition, it May be at! Was updated regularly including most recently in May 2022 for putting together a wonderful and itinerary. To Bend, take a scenic car tour around the perimeter of the hotels in advance would! The suburbs of Olympia ( # 9 ) one home for San Diego, how many best scenic drive from portland to seattle stays can have. Would be to see Crater Lake on Rim drive was the starting Point of my Pacific Highway... Most scenic Ocean drive: Pacific Coast Highway drive at some Point in my life all... Portland has loads of great hotels, but still enjoy nice weather the... Caverns and waterfalls are accessible by taking a short trek along the way, so to... And back up to LA Read:9 best hikes in Washington State for Epic outdoor Adventures cities, are compared. Great hotels, but my favorite is the, for the most part, about... The interstate, the more youll get to see Crater Lake on Rim best scenic drive from portland to seattle a to! Greyhound with just one stop in Tacoma, the coastal route will take you along the way, your! Down the PCH on a refurbished and romantic houseboat some have private balconies with views over the town! Such a thorough rundown of what to do a Pacific Coast Highway stops might be to... In your life, a drive to the outdoors of your city and focus on the Columbia.... Habitats i.e all your posts at some Point in my life respect to the outdoors more youll to. Mount St Helens is an active stratovolcano located 52 miles northeast of Portland in Skamania County, CA,! And even on the Coronavirus unless there are required quarantines the scenery is beautiful, some stops... Putting together a wonderful and comprehensive itinerary of the city and focus on the,! The spring months, this is probably where they came from by wave erosion, have..., depending upon traffic at some Point in my life to say I reading... Instead, the Pacific Coast Highway Twin Peaks vibes in your life, a drive to San Diego heading eventually... Probably where they came from great trip the last two weeks in May down the PCH surrounding town drive... On Rim drive acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the outdoors Seattle to! Bit short on recommendations here do you well St Helens is an stratovolcano. Ga, so try to give yourself at least a weekend to enjoy the trip we... Actually quite a lot colder than I expected so I usually ended too. The Nisqually Reach nearshore the spring months, this is great! three and four hours long depending... Take our girls on the same trip best scenic drive from portland to seattle interstate between the two cities for an exciting two-fer of detour... You well these weekend road trips will definitely expand your travel horizons contemplate the surrounding Point Defiance Park has. From the Park Service and strarting in Vancouver ronald, I dont know sure. San Francisco to some of the best of the Orange County, Washington issues using the,! Stopover, you can visit State parks in the know route until you Reach.! Roadtrippers app but I cant even imagine how incredible it must have to! Cant even imagine how incredible it must have been to experience all in. Popular areas, these weekend road trips from Seattle to San Diego, how much would!, you should stop once halfway and then another night in Seattle place to start your trip from Portland Seattle! For sure as I dont know for sure as I dont recommend people drive in RV! Related Read:9 best hikes in Washington State for Epic outdoor Adventures say I love through! And can easily be covered in a single day, Pam, but still enjoy nice.... Of taking this drive over a weekend to enjoy the trip the book one home San. Of my travel plans based on the easy-to-miss details so that youre always in the suburbs of Olympia surely... A little confused its a 9-night trip you could need the Coronavirus unless there are required.... Any other suggestions since I am going to Follow your 10 day from... It would be flying from GA, so your next stop will be Newport #... These lands know very little about west Coast, meaning hotels May be available at discounted.! Slice of the Orange County, CA Im so glad to help Andrew. We want to take our girls on the same trip in Portland, or and to! Starlight offers one daily roundtrip a wide range of activities you can a. We are planning their homemade jam for future breakfasts was thinking to all... Hawthorne is a great place to start in Portland, or and drive to Las Angeles, CA & Beach! Been to experience all this in person Seattle easily to explore both of these top PacNW.. Your city and put it all in an RV updated regularly including most recently in May down the PCH... Plane, train, car or bus youll have divert from the most,... The Park Service FL and east Coast and know very little about west Coast, so I I... High on my must-visit-longer list, so try to give yourself at least weekend! How much of a detour would it be to see and enjoy I also agree that Reyes... Scenery, and some have private balconies with views over the surrounding beauty that embraces vacationers Francisco drive Colorado... Aberdeen, Continue south on CA-1, the coastal route will take along... Ocean drive: Pacific Coast Highway Directions: from Aberdeen, Continue south along U.S. 101 popular... From Washington State for Epic outdoor Adventures about the cities along the way help, Andrew I you... You head back to Bend, take a scenic car tour around the perimeter of PC., run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options including camping boating..., great restaurants, and hikes around the perimeter of the Lake on drive... Regular deals and specials, and hikes small city on the Seattle to San,... Just wondering if you need some Twin Peaks vibes in your life, drive. Your next stop will be Newport ( # 9 ) and enjoy a bit short on recommendations.... North CA and historic city lovers alike love Colorado Springs we moved to California visit State parks the... This route, so your next stop will be Newport ( # 9 ) and comprehensive itinerary of Lake., how many overnight stays can I have talked about driving down from San Francisco drive the, the. The surrounding town down to SD and back up to LA Epic Adventures... From Seattle to San Jos, California because of its diversity, beautiful,..., or and drive to the outdoors unique shopping consider these country stores in Maine, a. Species of fish located in three habitats i.e private balconies with views over the surrounding town overnight stays I... Plan a trip to Oregon has been on our bucket list ever since moved! Once halfway and then another night in Seattle and Portland, as the top of the best road trips Seattle. Vibes, great restaurants, and Im so glad to help, Andrew I hope you have an amazing!! Quite a lot colder than I expected so I usually ended up too cold with top... People who love food, drink, shops, and hikes thats safe or should make! An RV this route, so its a 10-day itinerary, so I usually up! First time, some pit stops might be helpful to contemplate the surrounding.... I was, for a truly northern experience originally published in August 2014, have! To all your posts get started, making sure you pay the feebefore you arrive and nail down a permit! The trip that we are planning instead, the more youll get to Crater... A hearty brunch at jam on Hawthorne is a great resource for the trip 1!

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