In addition, it serves as a haven for a variety of seabirds and other intertidal creatures like starfish and crabs. Again, thank you so much!! A 175-mile road trip from Portland to Seattle is one of the best Washington road trips to take. If you have the experience to take on the challenge, book a few extra days for a summit. For accommodation, try a small hotel like the. This first segment is about 114 miles and has two-and-a-half hours of driving if you do it all at once. We figured booking hotel in Seattle for 1 or 2 days for arrival and checking the college. There are 4 daily trains from Portland to Seattle. Stretching from Washington to California, the Pacific Coast is picturesque, with cliffs, sea stacks, gorgeous urban spaces, and the raging ocean. We continued on until we picked up the beginning of CA Hwy 1. The picturesque volcano features striking landscapes and offers a wide range of outdoor recreations. We can only do a quick trip. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along U.S. 101 to Crescent City always stick to the coast! Travel on both sides of the river and experience the majestic beauty of the Columbia River Gorge in both Washington and Oregon. Enjoyed this 14 day article! I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. It was actually quite a lot colder than I expected so I usually ended up too cold with the top down. Seattle and Portland, as the top two Pacific Northwest cities, are often compared. But even the most straight-shot . Thanks for reading, Lynda! I would love to receive the PDF version of this, please. Thanks for your comment, Anthony! Show only these on map. Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? We already have this email. my best friends and I have talked about driving down from San Francisco to some of the Orange County, CA cities. Lastly, Pismo is a great stop for a midday workout on the road, with a huge stretch of beach to walk/run on. What a great and comprehensive post! Im sure someone else has asked this but..When is the best time to travel PCH (traveling Southbound through California to San Diego in hopes of warm days and cool(ish) nights)? We would be flying from GA, so I guess I go fling to Seattle, and the book one home for San Diego? To be honest, Id opt for the long route you only have one day, and Point Reyes is one of my favorite parts of California. My first true adventure began as a six month voyage around South East Asia as a fresh faced backpacker and ever since Ive lived a semi nomadic existence, clocking up visits to over 40 countries. Also, how many days should we take for the one-way trip back. Read more in my Privacy Policy. Try another? Thank you very much for providing a road map! Your help is appreciated. I would rather guess on the high side than the low side so Im prepared. Get onto the 520 bridge and take Lake Washington Boulevard to Washington Park for one of the easiest Seattle scenic drives. We took this trip several years ago. I hope this helps! We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. But my priority for this trip is just going straight down the PCH so that should help me prioritize. It sounds like youll have a great trip no matter what! Im pretty confident theyll be wowed by these sights. Astoria is brimming with charming Victorian houses that were constructed for early immigrants and fur traders. This route is broken into three legs and will take a few days if you choose to drive right through. On some byways, you'll drive from the high desert to snowcapped peaks to verdant valleys in one go. Be sure to check out my Ebook: USA Wine Guide For Travelers. Thanks for your comment, Manny. (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!). Thanks so much from a couple of Canucks! Next, youll pass through Point Reyes, which again seems underwhelming. I plan to rent a car in Los Angeles in the summer and make a similar journey, Hello! This information is great!!! Ive done Yosemite and Sequoia, so no need for inland stops. Thanks for reading, Thomas. The Eco Park Resort has several cabins and yurts and is the closest accommodation to the park that isnt exclusively a campground. For the most scenic (and slow) route, drivers can veer to the coastline and hop the cities there. Rainier National Park gates open in winter are the Carbon River entrance and the Nisqually entrance. 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. Those are my top recommendations! Im looking forward to have the same experience with my wife and my son. Book well in advance, and youll find the best dealsas in $1 ticketswith. If you want to unwind to the sound of crashing waves, this is by far your best option. I was a truck driver for 29 years and could not drive that road. But of course, theres more to Cannon Beach than one rock. Start your trip from Portland right with a hearty brunch at Jam on Hawthorne Cafe and Arthouse. The legendary Columbia River Highway dates back to the 1910s. Thanks so much. Your article was just what I needed!! It was also formed by wave erosion, and now the huge hole is a beautiful vista or hiking spot. The views of the colors changing in the trees were surreal. Located at the tip of Tacoma, the surrounding Point Defiance Park also has hiking trails and a Japanese Garden. While you are driving from Portland to Seattle, you must have a stopover at this unique garden built by Chinese artisans from Suzhou. Greyhound USA also services this route once daily. Thanks so much for this comprehensive look at the PCH. You thinks thats safe or should I make some. From Astoria, take the sea-hugging U.S. Route 101 south 40 minutes to Ecola State Park. 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! Regarding openings, Im sorry but I cant keep up with all of the places and changing restrictions in the various counties and states. 1. We are planning a trip next year from New Orleans while my husband has a conference in Portlandwe were thinking of driving Hwy 1 down to Disneylandand catching some of the beautiful beaches and state parks. If you need to stretch your legs on your day of driving between Los Angeles and San Diego, Huntington Beach is a great spot to stop. The rest of time will hopefully be in small towns all along the coast. 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. We stayed in Seattle and drove south to Olympia, to pick up the beginning of the 101. The lake comprises four parts that are connected through a bridged road. 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 !! The place is definitely expensive given the number of cheaper alternatives in Seattle, but no hotel in the area can even come close to matching it. The tower is decorated with artwork chronologically depicting the regions history. It's a 760-acre urban park, which includes a huge zoo and . Best PCH road trips from Seattle 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. Hello good morning my name is Cherie Carmona, Wealth to California a little over a year ago I love it I live in Dana Point California, my husband will be moving here in a few weeks and Im so excited my daughter lives in Seattle so we were considering a road trip to Seattle realistically how long do you think it would take thank you so much God-bless. Once you've got your Original Starbucks coffee, your first Seattle to Portland stop should be the Point Defiance State Park. AAA has no candle to this. Then wake up early the next morning to get to Pike Place Market to watch the fish-tossers or grab some freshly baked scones and coffees and take a stroll along the water. Super excited. Along the way we plan to stop at the Benbow Inn near Garberville, CA and in Newport. The park is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon with beaches, hiking and bike trails, wildlife viewing, and a historic fort. Making the drive in 2 days. If you would like a customized itinerary, I offer that for a fee to help cover the time it takes me to put those tips together. Tickets cost $14 - $55 and the journey takes 3h 35m. 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 my idea of an itinerary but I need to cut out one of these days or consolidate one since I really only have 8 days. Thank you again for all of your information. Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! The park also features dozens of food trucks, serving great stadium eats and fine beer. I have a question in regards to your amazing experiences and my hopes to travel the PCH with my older kids. My only additional rec for anyone would be to add the Great Tide Pool in Monterrey to check out little worlds of marine life. Rainier, as it is typically quieter, and the weather is cooler. Hi We have just 1-day and will be starting in Fortuna and heading to San Francisco. Great post. Vancouver to Victoria: 70 miles/3 hours. Thanks for your feedback, Alice, but I lived in California for several years and never heard anyone say Im going to drive PCH Ill be keeping the the if only because its proper English if Californians want to abandon that elsewhere, thats up to them . Do you highly recommend the LONG route OR is thru Mendocino only enough? In the summer months the entire 33-mile stretch should be open save a . 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. In particular, plan a long foray out to Point Reyes State Park and Lighthouse. I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. Tim & Janice, what kind words! In the city, the San Francisco CityPass is a good option its super helpful for getting around and seeing the citys top sights. Merge with Route 410 and follow this all the way to Enumclaw. 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. Take your car on the Bainbridge Ferry to Bainbridge Island.The ferry ticket costs $20.40 (for the vehicle and the driver) and . It probably means deviating from PCH for a bit and were ok with that. Chinquel, nice to hear from you! Highlights: Des Moines, Omaha, Salt Lake City, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Boise. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. I was wondering if you would recommend any wine tasting spots along the way? I was far more interested in the hundreds of miles of coastal roadways. Thanks so much for any tips you can suggest on having adequate funds! 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. March is a fine time to drive the PCH the weather on the Pacific Coast is pretty similar all year long! We are from FL and east coast and know very little about west coast, so this is great!! There are very few things more beautiful than the Skagit Valley. The drive from Portland to Seattle is one I've made numerous times. 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. Thanks for reading, Angel! Thank you so very much. P.S. Crescent City! of the PCH? 1-2 days in Portland to visit college and check out Portland. St. Helens RV Resort. Thanks for reading, Dave. While you cannot use Portland to San Francisco road trip planner in just 4 days, you can visit Astoria or Cannon Beach. 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. We exist to help people navigate it all. The stadium has a retractable roof which makes it perfect for both indoor and outdoor events. Its the best time for good weather on the whole coast! It includes so many things each person in my family wants to see and do! Back in Portland, we enjoyed lunch at Virtuous Pie, an airy vegan pizza place that non-vegans would . My wife doesnt particularly like high bridges or steep drops (one reason we are driving north), so any advice on where we might avoid such things is appreciated. And other than his military time at Ft Lewis many years ago, we have never lived nor toured the west coast at all. Also, niece is vegan and I am meat eater. These cities make a great vacation pair with Mount Rainier, Mount St Helens, Cannon Beach and a lot more to see . Thanks for your comment . I hope you had a great drive, Mindy! Some of the most prominent attractions of Tillamook include Cape Lookout State Park, Cape Meares Light, Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site, Tillamook Forest Center, and Tillamook Air Museum. Have a safe trip!! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: At this point in Northern California, the PCH is still U.S. 101. These birds breed, rest, and winter in freshwater marshes and grassland. Were making a shortlist of 3 or 4 likely hotels for each expected stopover. I do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. Bend is a great city to tack onto your visit, located just 1.5 hours northeast of Crater Lake, 3.5 hours southeast of Portland, and 6.5 hours southeast of Seattle. Im thinking of a four day road trip for easter next year but thinking along the lines of vegas to grand canyon and so. The short drive eventually finishes in Bellingham, a great place to stay or get a bite to eat. Drive time from Portland to the Gorge: 35 minute / 30 miles to the closest hike at Latourell Falls. Now that you have all the details you need to plan a PCH road trip, you need to know which destinations are worth a stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. Please drop the the. After driving across the famous Columbia River bridge, stop and give yourself a self-guided tour of popular Goonies spots in Oregons northwest-most town. 5 Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary. San Jose is a creative and thriving high-tech culture epicenter. Glad to help, Dan! Travel from Portland to Seattle easily to explore both of these top PacNW cities. Thanks for your comment, Patty! Segment 1: Portland to Cannon Beach Area . My question is: how to best use our time? Thanks so much for reading, Teresa! If you just want the best of the best in Airbnb rentals, this list will get you to the right place. You can choose the spots you want to stop at that way . 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. You could see Canada and the river valley. Thanks for reading, Tony! Blow your budget and stay the night at Fairmont San Francisco, one of the nicest hotels in town. What day of the week would you recommend starting from WA? Thanks for sharing. There is so much to see and do in downtown Seattle you are going to want to spend at least one night there. Flew into Seattle and drove back. We will probably book Airbnb if cost effective. Portland is approximately 634.9 miles away from San Francisco. Alternatively, Flixbus USA operates a bus from Portland Bus Stop to Seattle 4 times a day. Im definitely going to try to do it sometime! I stopped here to eat a to-go lunch I had purchased earlier in the drive, with my toes in the sand. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. I will be driving from Dallas to Seattle. Having an America the Beautiful Pass is the easiest and most cost-effective way to visit over 2,000-federal recreation sites. One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. We are just looking to site sea on our way back home from Disneyland I was looking at Hearst Castle and the Elephant Seal Vista Point but dont see much reviews on them with kids. We detoured at Reedsport to go to Crater lake, which turned out awesome, there was a ELK reserve on the way, it took about 3 hrs to get to Roseburg, where we stayed the night, the next day the drive to Crater lake was about 3 hrs, the drive was absolutely beautiful. Both offer amenities such as free WiFi and generous baggage policies. Accessing Mt. 2. A post shared by Jason Morse (@jason.morselandscape). I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! If you also want to explore Portland and Seattle, I'd add at least one day in each city (preferably two). Im not sure there are many good airports to leave a rental car in the region youre suggesting you may end up driving into L.A. to do so and to fly home. If youve ever seen The Goonies, you know exactly what I mean. 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. Im driving with our 5 kids (ages 1 -13) and my wife. . I do have the same recommendations youll see A LOT of fellow bikers/trikers out on the PCH; its a great ride on 2-3 wheels as well as 4 wheels . Pacific Coast Highway Directions: As you might have guessed continue following California Highway 1 south! Thanks for reading, Heather! It is the home stadium of Seattle Mariners, a professional American baseball team based in Seattle. 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. 21 of the world's best cities for coffee lovers, Pacific Northwest road trip - Scenic round trip from Seattle, Road Trip From Seattle To Yellowstone National Park, Road Trip From San Francisco To Portland, Oregon, Note: mountain route may be unavailable during winter due to road closures, The Kathryn Riverfront Inn is a spectacular beachside hotel with a gorgeous interior, The Lotte Hotel has the perfect combination of location, price, and luxury. Am planning to do a 10 day PCH drive in August. There are many scenic spots, state parks, and hiking trails near Olympia, including Dash Point State Park, Discovery Park, and Ainsworth State Park. find more stops. But, we need to go the opposite way; starting in San Diego and heading north. The Oregon Coast Aquarium lets visitors explore the marine ecosystems around this part of the Pacific Ocean. We stay in San Diego on Pacific/Mission Beach a lot so no need to travel this far south for us. Rainier National Park. Our kids will be 15 & 10Im just afraid it will be a boring ride for them in the car. Tim and Janice. Portland! If you are short on time to drive the PCH, as I was, a Pacific Coast highway itinerary for 5 days is ideal. However, there are a few options if youre looking for something indoors. Heres a Pacific Coast Highway map and schedule for 10 days: One of the most popular questions I get about driving the Pacific Coast Highway is about when to drive the PCH. The hotel has private parking, perfect for your road trip. Jam on Hawthorne is a great place to start your trip and load up on their homemade jam for future breakfasts. If flexibility for stops and timing is important, driving is the way to go. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. Thank you for the article. 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. AND, I did it in November in a PT Cruiser with the top down.all bundled up with the heat on full..but man, what a view! I love Portland and San Diego. This was a 6 day trip. 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! Just starting to think about a 1st time road trip from Az to Washington and back among the PCH!!?? Thanks for reading, Jan. Basically, you cant start/end in Crescent City if you want to rent a car. There are plenty of things to do in Long Beach for more than an overnight stop! Love it. If it's summer and you want mountain scenery, try the mountain route past Mt. Nothing scream Pacific Northwest like the striking Oregon coastline. If you want a weekend adventure, then the road trip from Portland to Seattle could be the perfect way to experience these incredible states. This time I plan to take a friend and start in Portland. We didn't expect much from the road until realized that adding 0.5-2 hours will turn it into a real adventure! I live near one of the ferries going here, so I am lucky to be able to visit the area often. Related Read:11 Awe-Inspiring Glamping Spots in Oregon. Just wondering about restrictions? Day 2 Portland, OR. 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! This will be a great resource for the trip that we are planning. This is such a great article. It is also the hub of two thriving metropolises. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a protected estuary spanning 762 acres of natural land. Thanks for your comment, Catherine. Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. Can you share with me how long this should take us?? Im saving this post to reference when I think about doing this trip, because that has to happen! Seattle is perfect for anywhere between one day and three days if you have the time. The Pacific Northwest is probably best-known for its coffee (thanks, Starbucks), followed by its stunning nature, including Mount Rainier, Mount Saint Helens, the Olympic National Rainforest, and miles upon miles or largely unadulterated coastline from the San Juan Islands to Gold Beach. 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. If you are a wildlife lover, you must make a stop at this wildlife refuge center while traveling from Portland to Seattle. There are several ways to go from Seattle to Portland. Stargazing along the PCH depends a lot on the weather; since there arent a lot of roads that connect the PCH inland, you kinda have to make do with what happens out on the coast. Im thinking I might end my trip at Santa Barbara. Around the lakes, there is a 3.6 miles long loop trail that can be used for running, hiking, and strolling. 2. This is exactly what I was looking for. You have the same recommendations? Thanks for sharing this great itinerary. The weather in Seattle in winter can be cold and overcast. If you make it out this way, let me know, as Im now in the Bay Area! Its only 180 miles of interstate between the two cities and even on the interstate, the scenery is beautiful. Im at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! I would love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. After some great urban exploration, pull out the hiking shoes, drive a bit out of the city, and check out some of the fantastic hikes that the Seattle area has to offer. The best route depends on what type of scenery you want and the time of year. Starting point: 107 miles from Seattle. Address. Paradise is a lookout that lies at the height of 5,400 feet and offers mesmerizing views of nearby mountains and meadows. The road trip between the two cities, on the . My wife and I (with our dog) are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. 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! Amazingly great article. The picnicking area boasts several picnic tables arranged round in a grassy area. Ime hoping the trip will run about $10k. The 90-minute boat trip arrives in Swartz Bay. If not, spend your day exploring the Seattle waterfront to see all of the city from above. Have a great trip and drive safely! If you will drive back to Denver from Seattle, you will spend 48 hours behind the wheel just to get there and back. For travellers and road trippers checking out the Pacific Northwest, Tillamook is a popular stopping point. Rim Drive and the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. Then round out your trip to Astoria by visiting the Astoria-Megler Bridge and the Columbia River Maritime Museum. This Portland icon has been voted Portlands Best Brunch for three years by the readers choice awards from the Willamette Week newspaper, from 20182020. Before you get started, making sure you pay the feebefore you arrive and nail down a mountaineering/climbing permit from the Park Service. 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). Have a wonderful trip! Thanks for reading, Oleg. Youve put together one awesome road trip! (If you decide to fly to SF, heres a recent post I wrote: https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/). If you want to explore the magic of the Oregon coast, spend a night at the Kathryn Riverfront Inn. If I were youI would do a leisurely drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles/San Diego. I hope this helps! Awesome, Im hoping to do the PCH and NorCal next summer. I hate cold! Karen, great question! We both have a lot of vacation all the time, so 10 days or more would be fine. Some of the biggest tourist destinations are in LeMay, including America's Car Museum, Antique Row downtown, and the Museum of Glass. Near one of my favorite destinations in Washington that are connected through a bridged road kids be! 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