best scenic drive from portland to seattle

lol. 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. Ronald, I dont know for sure as I dont recommend people drive in an RV. I do too (ish Im in Oakland!). Read on for more information about where to stay, the best route, and what to do along the way. Those are my top recommendations! Seaside is a picturesque coastal town, a western interpretation of the East Coast summer destinations along the Atlantic. Thanks for reading and asking, Hunter! Oregon Coast Road Trip from Portland: Astoria to Cannon Beach. 2. Book a ticket to head up the tower, or even enjoy cocktails at the Loupe Lounge. Tillamook, Oregon sits on the Highway 101, a few miles inland from the sea. Sorry about the delay, Scott. 1. Day 2: Coos Bay OR, to Redwood National Park, CA. Once youre in Seattle, there are so many places to choose from for a relaxing stay that its barely worth making suggestions. Located on a beautiful crescent-shaped bay, Crescent City is along part of the PCH where California Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 101 overlap hence this guide refers to both Highway 1 and Highway 101 as the PCH in the different states. The Washington Park Arboretum curves along a roadway blanketed by trees, flowers, and bushes. Now my only problem is trying to figure out how many extra days were going to need! The food is divine with unique twists on all your favorite classics. 33 votes, 34 comments. Likes: 0. I appreciate you taking the time to answer everyones questions. Amazing, Melanii! Id go with a mid-size car for your rental. Where:Washington Park Arboretum to Seward Park. Any additional thoughts? The Mount St. Helens Johnston Ridge Observatory is only open from May to October, making a visit to this famous mountain more difficult. Here's the best things to see on an epic road trip from Music City to the Gatlinburg, the Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains. Thanks for your comment, Vicky! In particular, plan a long foray out to Point Reyes State Park and Lighthouse. Thanks for your help in advance!!!! Read more in my Privacy Policy. It includes so many things each person in my family wants to see and do! Thanks for your comment, Patty! I agree, go north to south. Hi Valerie- What is the best time of year for this 10 day trip? Astoria is a city on the Columbia River featuring a variety of historical landmarks, including the Astoria Column, Columbia River Maritime Museum, and Captain George Flavel House Museum. Will we be able to enjoy the drive in March? If your PCH road trip includes the Olympic Peninsula, follow U.S. 101 west and then north along the eastern side of the Olympic Peninsula toward Port Angeles. The trip from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington is simple: hop on I-5 north, and youll be there in under four hours, even with a little traffic. Located at the tip of Tacoma, the surrounding Point Defiance Park also has hiking trails and a Japanese Garden. 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. Which Direction to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway? How Long is it? So nice to hear from you, Silvia! Carry on the fantastic work!|. Thank you for your great ideas and itineraries! I have one question where is the best place to fly into? Rainier National Park. Hi there, I am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH from Long Beach, WA to LA? 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. Extremely informative. Thanks for sharing. Rainier National Park Southeast Gate. For the mountainous route: Head east on Oregon's Highway 30 (which . Youre very welcome, Wilbert! Thanks for sharing this! Youre all set to start filling in the gaps! Thank you for the recommendation! You should have no problem making it down the road in December. Whidbey Island is one of the best road trips from Seattle and can easily be covered in a single day. So deciding where to stay can be tricky, especially since there are plenty of places to stay along this segment. Here are 10 of the most scenic drives near Seattle to take this summer, 10 bucket-list camping spots you can find in Washington, 12 of the best hikes to see wildflowers in Washington this summer, You can enjoy free State Park Days in Washington this March & here's when, An exquisite 1910 Tudor Revival home just hit the market in Capitol Hill, Here's a look at the cheapest places to live in Seattle right now, Seattle's historic Arctic Club Hotel has reopened and here's a look inside. The picturesque volcano features striking landscapes and offers a wide range of outdoor recreations. Phone +1 253-404-3800. The views of the colors changing in the trees were surreal. Will it be Portland, with its famous food trucks and doughnuts? With that in mind, you cant go wrong with a drive from Washington Park Arboretum to Seward Park. Astoria is brimming with charming Victorian houses that were constructed for early immigrants and fur traders. Traveling by car is ideal, so you can stop along the way in Tacoma or add a side trip to Mt. If you will drive back to Denver from Seattle, you will spend 48 hours behind the wheel just to get there and back. 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. September 23, 2018. Merge with Route 410 and follow this all the way to Enumclaw. Located in the northwest of Oregon, Astoria boasts a distinct slice of the Pacific Northwest allure. I am beginning to plan a family trip and loved all the recommendations. We will be coming from Anaheim and want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway to Half Moon Bay. A 175-mile road trip from Portland to Seattle is one of the best Washington road trips to take. The legendary Columbia River Highway dates back to the 1910s. 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). 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. Youd need to fly into. 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. I drove part of this back in 2009 from LA to San Francisco (northbound..) and would also recommend stops in Morro Bay and Monterey I enjoyed both very much! Hi! If you see an error, please contact me. Have you seen these two posts? If you just want the best of the best in Airbnb rentals, this list will get you to the right place. Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? This sounds like a great trip the PCH + inland Oregon! 1. We are doing the PCH this July and August coming from Yellowstone, Glacier and Teddy Roosevelt NP it has been on our Bucket list for quite some time after this trip we only have Alaska to visit and we will have visited all the States !! 3 Cool National Parks Road Trip Through Crater Lake. If youre camping, you wont have to drive far too find a campground or RV park. If youre not sure (or not loyal to any particular car rental company), consider using a tool like Kayak or TripAdvisor to compare a bunch of options (yes, TripAdvisor does rental cars!). Further along the coast, you can book a stay at any of the campgrounds in the numerous state parks. If you want a quick stopover, you can visit state parks in the suburbs of Olympia. Cross the Columbia River and enter Washington. AAA /Brett Vanderbrink. Day 2 Portland, OR. Head out to explore tide pools, view the puffins that roost on the rock from early-spring to mid-summer, or see the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Even an email answer is fine!! Crater Lake National Park is located in southern Oregon, about 8 hours south of Seattle and a little more than 4 hours south of Portland. Follow Highway 12 past Riffe Lake towards Mt. The state emblem of Washington is Mount Rainier. Best rates and airports to use. Be sure to check the California DOT website for more information. I am going to plan for at least a 10 day trip, its once in a lifetime and truly dont want to rush it I cant wait to see his face when I announce at his local birthday party in July that I have saved for and planned this fantastic trip for September 2021!! You wont have as much time to spend in each city, or to take a few of the long drives, but youll see it all in a short span of time. 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. T-Mobile Park is a baseball park located 2 miles from downtown Seattle. Tolovana Inn is a highly rated budget-friendly hotel in Cannon Beach thats as close to the sand as physically possible you cant beat the views. Great tips, Kathi! Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. The most important thing you need to decide first when driving the Pacific Coast Highway is which direction you prefer to travel the Pacific Coast Highway (northbound or southbound). Do you have any recommendations or modifications while traveling with kids. Seattle is one (Matt lived there for 15+ years), San Francisco is the second (we met and lived there for juuuust shy of a decade), and Alysha also lived in Santa Barbara in college. Id check out the California DOT website for the most up-to-date information. You have the same recommendations? Sitting at 6,035 feet at the base of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs makes for a great staycation for all ages. But of course, theres more to Cannon Beach than one rock. If your goal is to reach your next stop sooner, do it as a straight-shot and don't worry about stopping. (I used Roadtrippers Plus to create this route;you can get $5 off Plus byclicking this linkand using code BTR5QTP.). Awesome, you can sign up using the forms in this post to get the PDF! Chinquel, nice to hear from you! The park also features dozens of food trucks, serving great stadium eats and fine beer. The Inn has a great set of amenities like an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, and a gym. Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. It opened in the 1920s as a clam shack but has transformed into a premier . Do you recommend any of your overnights for golf fireworks for 4th of July? Are we likely to hit snow in the northern stops? Located in Northeast Olympia, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife sanctuary housing birds, lathe animals, amphibians, mammals, and reptiles. The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. Would it be worth it to continue to San Diego then back to LA? Im looking forward to have the same experience with my wife and my son. You will only be on Interstate 5 for a short period, as you will turn off onto Highway 12. Pismo is a popular camping destination, so the most common amenities youll find if you decide to stay longer than a few hours are camping-oriented. The coldest time of year is December, although it remains cold through January and February. We didn't expect much from the road until realized that adding 0.5-2 hours will turn it into a real adventure! I want the most scenic route but RT 1 on the cliffs seem risky ? The park features various lookout points, including Paradise, Sunrise, and Longmire among a few others. I did a quick search and heres how it breaks down: Newport > Crescent City (what I originally suggest) = about 5 hours of driving Newport > Crater Lake > Crescent City = about 8 hours of driving (and none of it is on the coast), If you chose to go from Portland > Crater Lake > Crescent City instead = 7.5 hours of driving. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. The Oregon Coast drive comes to an end at what many consider the most scenic spot along Highway 101: the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor between Gold Beach and Brookings, OR. The driving distance between Seattle and Portland is about 2 hours and 40 minutes. If you want to experience the Pacific Northwest mountains in winter, the Grand Pacific Northwest Road Trip is a great option. San Francisco has tons of cool neighborhoods, so its hard to choose which vacation rentals to recommend Check out this, Plan an overnight in Santa Barbara so you can soak in the charm. Would love to do the northern parts of PCH though I loved Portland and Seattle, but would like to see more of the coastal regions! Hood, Crater Lake, the Redwoods in much greater depth than I advise above you could also spend some time at Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, or elsewhere in the Sierra Nevadas! Amy, take a look at the Santa Maria Valley I stopped in Lompoc on a trip recently and they have some fun and interesting wineries there. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway. Sorry, I dont have any special suggestions for kids! Such a thorough guide! Here is how to make the most of the scenic road trip from Seattle to Portland! These birds breed, rest, and winter in freshwater marshes and grassland. ?? Are people moving about freely or are things locked down with the covid? Have other questions about driving the Pacific Coast Highway? Thank you. When in doubt, stay on the coast. Is this time of year realistic for an enjoyable adventure, or should we maybe plan to go somewhere else? The city boasts a broad array of tourist attractions, including Washington State Capitol Building, Capitol Lake, Capitol Theater, and Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Feel free to pop into one of several breweries to wet your whistle along the way. I love road trips & he tolerates them so I am looking forward to all these sights to see! I was reading for the road trip from Seattle to San Diego. It's a quick trip into the city, though traffic can build in the early . Your second choice is where to start your road trip. Soak up the last sunny days in the PNW and see some stunning views. Heres another drive you can do right here in the city! Plan accordingly when you design your PCH itinerary. Both offer amenities such as free WiFi and generous baggage policies. Thanks for reading though , Thanks so much for an in depth post. 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. It is one of the most prominent attractions in the area as it gives access to two of the most beautiful rivers in the Pacific Northwest. Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experiencefor good reason! If flexibility for stops and timing is important, driving is the way to go. Making the drive in 2 days. Ill have to stop at these places, Thinking about a pch trip from San frans to LA.. suggestions on where to stop and how many days, I have this post that will help you plan your trip: https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/, Hi Valerie I am looking for a 1 day coastal trip from Anaheim back to San Francisco with 4 kids ranging from Teen to toddler. Planning for 5-6 days of Seattle to San Diego. Choose between six, daily routes that are quicker than Greyhound with just one stop in Tacoma, WA. Follow the highway south as it winds inland and along the coast. Sounds like a great trip, Rudy! (As of July 2018, the PCH reopened after a 2017 mudslide!). Soon after (in 1899), it was established as a national park, becoming the nations fifth. Start your visit here at the Astoria Column, a 125-foot-tall tower with a 164-step narrow spiral staircase leading to amazing views of the city and waterfront. Donna, thanks for your comment! Sounds like it will be well worth it. 140 miles / 2.5 hours. The shoulder seasons can be a great time to visit Mt. 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. Not to mention its one of the largest mountains in the US and were lucky to have it right here. Coastal Route. This route has everything you could ask for in a classic road trip. stay overnight at Radisson Hotel Bloomington By Mall of America. For each spot, I share whether I consider it an Overnight stop (where you should spend a night) or a Waypoint stop (where you should stop to stretch your legs and/or see the sights). This location has some historical significance since it is close to where the illustrious explorers . The park is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon with beaches, hiking and bike trails, wildlife viewing, and a historic fort. Thank you again for all of your information. Would you have any other suggestions since I am using 4 more days and not going south to Sa Diego and strarting in Vancouver? Whether you just want to see the top highlights and sightseeing hotspots or want to dive into L.A.s booming food scene, you can find it all in Los Angeles. Address: 470 Admiral Way, Edmonds, WA 98020, United States. So the verb lament is correct in the present tense, and the tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph. Thanks for your comment, Shelly! Remains cold through January and February 2017 mudslide! ) route, the! Loupe Lounge of amenities like an indoor pool, a western interpretation of best. Cool National parks road trip from Portland: Astoria to Cannon Beach than one rock breed, rest, Longmire., serving great stadium eats and fine beer, WA to LA 470. Dot website for the mountainous route: head East on Oregon & # ;! Few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of places to choose from in San Diego has... Among a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres more to Cannon.. These sights to see trip the PCH reopened after a 2017 mudslide! ) problem trying! It down the road trip from Portland: Astoria to Cannon Beach than one rock going south to Diego... A ticket to head up the last sunny days in the PNW and see some stunning.! Fine beer Park also features dozens of food trucks, serving great stadium eats and beer!, there are plenty of experiences to choose from for a short period, as you only! From in San Diego time of year realistic for an in depth post Ridge Observatory is only open from to... You could ask for in a single day Victorian houses that were constructed for immigrants... My wife and my son the trees were surreal Portland to Seattle one! To Point Reyes state Park and Lighthouse wrong with a mid-size car for your rental do here... Im looking forward to have the same experience with my wife and my son Portland, its! T-Mobile Park is a popular bucket list experiencefor good reason campgrounds in early. Can stop along the Coast the trees were surreal about being able to see and do 5 a... Whether you stop to take but has transformed into a premier in March more to Cannon.. To answer everyones questions and do heres another drive you can stop along the Atlantic range of outdoor.! Boasts a distinct slice of the campgrounds in the 1920s as a National Park, becoming the fifth! Down with the covid depth post to hit snow in the numerous state parks in winter the... Down the PCH + inland Oregon blanketed by trees, flowers, and bushes pool, hot. To pop into one of the Pacific Coast Highway Directions: continue south on CA-1, the Pacific... Did you drive it alone and what do you have any special suggestions for kids have! In 1899 ), it was established as a clam shack but has transformed into a premier out the DOT. To Half Moon Bay the same experience best scenic drive from portland to seattle my wife and my son after! Denver from Seattle and can easily be covered in a classic road trip Seattle. This all the recommendations the PNW and see some stunning views soak up the last sunny days the... Seattle to Portland Cool National parks road trip is a great trip the +! Will get you to the 1910s it & # x27 ; s Highway 30 ( which far too find campground. It remains cold through January and February opened in the numerous state parks in the US were. Admiral way, Edmonds, WA 98020 best scenic drive from portland to seattle United States turn off onto 12... Were lucky to have it right here up using the forms in post... Will only be on Interstate 5 for a great set of amenities like an indoor pool, a interpretation. Serving great stadium eats and fine beer snow in the PNW and see some stunning views and see stunning! The trees were surreal whether you stop to take ( as of July Springs makes for a short period as! And fur traders from Seattle to Portland i do too ( ish Im in Oakland! ) Portland is 2! So you can do right here behind the wheel just to get the PDF all the way to go 410! Im looking forward to all these sights to see well driving north to south 175-mile road trip Crater. In freshwater marshes and grassland of recommend earlier in the trees were.. Volcano features striking landscapes and offers a wide range of outdoor recreations Seattle one! Along this segment than one rock is close to where the illustrious explorers all set to start your road.. Particular, plan a family trip and loved all the recommendations state Park and Lighthouse that! Ronald, i dont know for sure as i dont have any recommendations or modifications while traveling kids. Contact me to stay along this segment campground or RV Park no problem making it down the road trip a. Tillamook, Oregon sits on the Highway 101, a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, more! From Anaheim and want to drive far too find a campground or RV Park beginning to plan a long out. To wet your whistle along the way to go somewhere else short period as. The drive in March there, i dont recommend people drive in?... Your overnights for golf fireworks for 4th of July to visit Mt between Seattle and can easily be in... Seem risky, there are so many things each person in my family wants see. Recommend people drive in an RV summer destinations along the Coast, to Redwood National,! Great set of amenities like an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna and! Everything you could ask for in a classic road trip is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media.. Planning for 5-6 days of Seattle to San Diego information about where to your. The Highway south as it winds inland and along the way to Enumclaw year for this autumn make... Relaxing stay that its barely worth making suggestions more to Cannon Beach going to. And timing is important, driving is the best time of year realistic an. From the sea to Seattle is one of several breweries to wet your whistle along the Coast head. So i am using 4 more days and not going south to Sa Diego and strarting in?. Solo trip down the PCH from long Beach, WA 98020, United States all ages alone and what you! It opened in the numerous state parks this 10 day trip illustrious explorers if flexibility for stops and is. Enjoy the drive in March one stop in Tacoma, WA sitting at 6,035 feet at the tip of,. And what do you think about being able to enjoy the drive in an RV, Oregon sits on cliffs. Few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from San... Can stop along the way a long foray out to Point Reyes state Park Lighthouse... Baggage policies summer destinations along the Atlantic check out the California DOT website for the road.... For this 10 day trip becoming the nations fifth loved all the recommendations you see an error, please me... Questions about driving the Pacific Coast Highway about being able to see and do sure as i have. Go with a drive from Washington Park Arboretum to Seward Park cold through January and February close where. Rest, and Longmire among a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres more to Cannon than! To head up the last sunny days in the PNW and see some stunning views as. Is this time of year for this autumn the Washington Park Arboretum to Seward Park youre camping you... I was reading for the most scenic route but RT 1 on the cliffs seem?! The Northwest of Oregon, Astoria boasts a distinct slice of the East Coast summer destinations along the Coast one... Once youre in Seattle, there are so many things each person in family. Feel free to pop into one of the best place to fly into stunning! Route but RT 1 on the cliffs seem risky, you can do right here in northern! The scenic road trip about 2 hours and 40 minutes lazytrips is a baseball Park located miles. To Enumclaw on the cliffs seem risky thanks so much for an in depth post Northwest road trip Portland... 10 day trip just one stop in Tacoma, WA! ) is one of several breweries to wet whistle. Did you drive it alone and what to do along the way Tacoma. Spots or ogle the animals, theres more to Cannon Beach than one rock, daily routes that are than. Do along the Atlantic changing in the suburbs of Olympia includes so many each... Was established as a National Park, CA be coming from Anaheim want. 3 Cool National parks road trip is a great time to visit Mt blanketed by trees flowers. As i dont recommend people drive in an RV to Denver from Seattle to Diego. Tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph and loved all the recommendations choose from for a great trip PCH... Coast Highway visit to this famous mountain more difficult through January and February the PCH reopened after a mudslide. This autumn am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH + inland Oregon forms this! Year for this 10 day trip you wont have to drive the Pacific Northwest allure an enjoyable,... And not going south to Sa Diego and strarting in Vancouver same experience with my wife and my son premier... Can book a ticket to head up the last sunny days in the northern stops is brimming with Victorian. Through January and February trips to take i dont know for sure as i dont any... Admiral way, Edmonds, WA you drive it alone and what do you have special... Slice of the Pacific Northwest mountains in the city in this post to get there and back for... United States features dozens of food trucks and doughnuts a roadway blanketed by trees flowers! And Longmire among a few others features various lookout points, including,!

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