Interstate 5 offers the most direct route with a 170-mile journey that hovers between three and four hours long, depending upon traffic. 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. Im planning on doing the PCH from Seattle to SF next Sept. (We did SF to SD in 2019). This day marked our last bit of time spent in Portland. Sounds like a great trip either way drive safe! Lastly, Pismo is a great stop for a midday workout on the road, with a huge stretch of beach to walk/run on. From Astoria, follow Route 30 inland along the Columbia River. Extremely informative. Old Highway 101 is now called the Avenue of the Giants, and I highly recommend slowing down to enjoy this 31-mile stretch through some of Californias oldest living and tallest! I hope this helps! Love all the comments ideas and suggestion, will try and make this trip happen in about 2-3 years . Planning a trip on PCH last week of July 2020. From there we are planning on 4 days drive/stop on high 1 (PCH) up to Santa Monica/Malibu then flight out LAX. Thanks for reading, Brianna! 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. Thanks for reading, Lynda! Required fields are marked *. Thanks for reading, Tony! Sorry; I dont have any suggestions for that! Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. Thanks again! Additionally, the substantial rocky outcrop is protected and considered a component of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. ENJOY the sightseeing trip of a lifetime. If I were going to recommend a route, Id do something like the National Parks in California or the Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop. I am going to mostly follow the path you outlined in your 10 day itinerary. Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? If you just want the best of the best in Airbnb rentals, this list will get you to the right place. Sounds like a great trip, Rudy! So if youre feeling really hyped about Mount Rainier you might as well check out Mount Baker too. 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! We are so overwhelmed. P.S. 3 days trip to Joshua Tree/stay at Twentynine Palms, then swing to San Diego. The Kathryn Riverfront Inn is a spectacular beachside hotel with a gorgeous interior, located right at the center of the town of Seaside. The Eco Park Resort has several cabins and yurts and is the closest accommodation to the park that isnt exclusively a campground. Coastal Route. . Is it worth waiting to do this trip in summer? 5 Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary. Travelling from Australia and would like to spend 3 weeks driving around . If you want to unwind to the sound of crashing waves, this is by far your best option. Route 1 is fine its twisty turny but its the best route by far. The lake comprises four parts that are connected through a bridged road. Its a very winding cliff-side road and doing it in an RV is going to be laboriously slow and probably make you a bit nervous at times. Hah, sounds like a good bonding experience, Angela! Day 2 Portland, OR. Aretta, thanks for your comment! Thanks Valerie. Also, niece is vegan and I am meat eater. Thanks for your comment, Archimedes. Silvia, not to minimize risks but I think the issue is not being represented realistically by the media. I recommend researching/contacting each one individual to confirm theyll be open. 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. The jagged coastline, infinite blue water, sunny days, gorgeous sunsets these are just a few of the reasons California Highway 1 became a popular route in the first place! I live in Florida and have never been to the pacific coast. The flight time is usually a quick 45 minutes, but when you factor in transfers between the two airports, its probably just as long as other options listed above. You can find out more information about the data we collect on our Privacy Policy page. Have a great trip!! Accessing Mt. There are 18 golf courses in the area and an . #addittothelist. Unfortunately, when I drove the PCH it was pretty foggy and cool most of the week. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby Beach along U.S. 101. Your number one stop is Garden of the Gods. When I first moved to Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula was one of the first road trips I made. 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! From Astoria, take the sea-hugging U.S. Route 101 south 40 minutes to Ecola State Park. For travellers and road trippers checking out the Pacific Northwest, Tillamook is a popular stopping point. Youre very welcome, Wilbert! Crescent City is a great spot for an overnight stop (or longer) depending on your itinerary. Some of the best stops on the Oregon Coast are close to Portland. Thanks for reading, Oleg. How Long is it? Seattle to Portland. Merge with Route 410 and follow this all the way to Enumclaw. You can meander the quaint shops in Langley, go kayaking, explore Whidbey Island wineries, eat at the best Whidbey Island restaurants, and more. . I love all the details and recommendations! The PCH heads inland near Lompoc but is the main road you can take to Santa Barbara. Traveling by car is ideal, so you can stop along the way in Tacoma or add a side trip to Mt. If you want to explore the magic of the Oregon coast, spend a night at the Kathryn Riverfront Inn. Here are my suggestions: Therefore, the best month to drive the Pacific Coast Highway is September, when youre most likely to have great weather along the entire length of the road trip. 12 of the best hikes to see wildflowers in Washington this summer, A post shared by capturing the bliss of life (@capturing_bliss_of_life). 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. Thank you. Would there be a place where the rental could be left in those regions? I would rather guess on the high side than the low side so Im prepared. There are a wide range of activities you can indulge in at Silver Lake, including camping and boating. For campsites, Im not super sure as Im not a big camper, but this might help: https://www.theoutbound.com/theoutbound/camping-along-the-pacific-10-seaside-campsites-for-your-west-coast-road-trip. From camping to hiking Mount St Helens offers all types of outdoor adventures. From touristy attractions to woodsy explorations, theres something for everyone to enjoy in the hip city. The huge sweeping beach is admittedly not warm enough for a swim but its great for a stroll in the surf. When the bridge was built in 1930, it was the longest cantilevered bridge in the United States, originally serving as a private toll bridge. Ive put together some tips on how to choose the right car for the PCH, but in short, I recommend an automatic car with a low center of gravity but skip the convertible! Enjoyed this 14 day article! I can really tell that you love traveling, Valerie . Travelers can take various pathways between Portland and Seattle. 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. As I mentioned above, both are southbound itineraries. ?? Thanks for your comment, Vicky! 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. 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. In this forest, youll find amazing old growth trees and is incredibly verdant. Hi there, I am desperate to do the road trip next year however, I am not keen on driving over bridges (I am fine on coastal roads/cliff edges), so are there any places that i definitely need to avoid or that you cant get through/past without crossing a bridge? Or Seattle, with its top notch restaurants, famed attractions and beautiful parks? But even the most straight-shot . Still figuring it out. San Diego is known for its Zoo and was made Instagram famous for Potato Chip Rock. This stunning road winds through the Columbia River Gorge along the river, passing tons of incredible waterfalls, lookout points, and more. To access the map on Roadtrippers, you just need to click the map! Have a great trip! Have a great trip! No matter which you choose, youll enter SF by driving across the Golden Gate Bridge; you can either stay along the coast and drive down Ocean Beach or head east into the city. You can even stretch it out by spending a few extra days exploring some of the cities along the route if you want to. If you will drive back to Denver from Seattle, you will spend 48 hours behind the wheel just to get there and back. I hope you have a great trip! Thanks for your help in advance!!!! And there are plenty of options along the north shore of the Colombia River that offer stunning views and a relaxing stay. Often called a National Park Pass, it offers 1-year unlimited entrance to so much more, and includes National Parks, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, Bureau of Land Management sites, Bureau of Reclamation sites, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites!Share time outdoors with family and friends. The driving distance between Seattle and Portland is about 2 hours and 40 minutes. If flexibility for stops and timing is important, driving is the way to go. We definitely want to visit the redwood forest, which is the main reason we want to go so far north. 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. The coast near Crescent City is dotted with the gigantic rock formations out at sea that characterize most of the northern and central California coastline. Check out the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa to add a little pampering to your road trip. The mountain route will take you past the famous Mount St. Helens and into the spectacular Mt. Love it. Magnolia is an excellent place to head for amazing water views. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. The best route for a road trip from Portland to Seattle depends on the time of year you want to travel. Loren Kerns / Flickr. But take your time: Both Olympia (the capital) and Tacoma (home of the. This location has some historical significance since it is close to where the illustrious explorers Lewis and Clark finished their cross-country journey in 1805. What a drive! Stop and admire the views in Big Sur, too! There is still plenty to see and do, and cheaper hotel prices might make the trip more affordable. Congrats on the trip, Michael! Thanks so much for any tips you can suggest on having adequate funds! 1 Most Scenic Ocean Drive: Pacific Coast Highway. The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. Have a great drive! Astoria is brimming with charming Victorian houses that were constructed for early immigrants and fur traders. from Seattle to San Diego along this route . Eileen, thanks for your comment, and for reading! Rainier National Park Southeast Gate. Here is how to make the most of the scenic road trip from Seattle to Portland! Unless youre driving the lengthy coastal route, youll find the best scenery aboard. September and October are definitely best for visiting NorCal, so I recommend that time of year too! I appreciated your take on the drive, and now Im sorry we will be going north rather than south, but we are planning on going back the I-5 and stopping in Ashland. You should have no problem making it down the road in December. I have 22 foot van camper are their any length height(9.5 ft) restrictions I am hoping their are amp sites along the way? My blog posts likely contain affiliate links, including for the Amazon Associates program.If you click, book, or buy from one of these links, I may earn a commission. You can hike on an extensive 275-mile trail network or explore by bike on the park roads. But the key here is the ferry ride. As the highest peak in Oregon, Mount Hood stands tall as the states geographic symbol of outdoor adventure. Its easy to make a stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so take the opportunity! Thank you for the recommendation! The suggested route below zigzags a bit and adds quite a bit of distance. If it is summer and you enjoy hiking and mountain scenery, then take the mountain route. 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. I know a lot of people would probably prefer the one hour flight from San Francisco to Portland as opposed to the ten hour drive but we didn't want to miss all of the beauty that lies between. Especially watching the sun set over Morro Rock in the distance! Head to the Mount Saint Helens Visitor Center to learn more about the area and history, then head out on the trails to explore the region on foot. 1. I would love to receive the PDF version of this, please. South of Seaside, be sure to stop in Cannon Beach to admire Haystack Rock. This route has everything you could ask for in a classic road trip. Before you head back to Bend, take a scenic car tour around the perimeter of the lake on Rim Drive. Alternatively, Flixbus USA operates a bus from Seattle to Portland twice daily. 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. If you want to unwind after a busy day, you can have a drink in the beautiful hotel bar. They also offer a complimentary breakfast and free coffee and cookies in the lobby. my best friends and I have talked about driving down from San Francisco to some of the Orange County, CA cities. 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. Related Read:The 10 Best Scenic Drives in Washington. Best PCH road trips from Portland. The first leg of the trip was relatively short thanks to us . I hope you can do at least part of the PCH someday soon . September 23, 2018. Also how many days driving for this trip. My husband are I are planning 20 days to do the PCH(starting in Seattle and ending in San Diego) We are using your the ultimate pacific coast road trip itinerary as a guide. I was far more interested in the hundreds of miles of coastal roadways. However, you can extend it into as many days as youd like, especially if you have the opportunity to do an overnight camping trip in Mt. I am going to drive PCH 1 this summer and was going to drive from North to South but my son has driven it and suggested going South to North. A road trip implies a trip between two destinations with some (generally unplanned) stops along the way, whereas a trip between point A and point B with a specific timeline in mind is more a trip by car than a "road trip.". Hi, we are flying into Seattle 7/27 and out from San Diego 8/7, we are visiting colleges in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and San Diego for my daughter. National Park Roads from Paradise to Chinook Pass. You should have no problem finding vegan options! It includes winding roads, elevation changes, coastal cliffs, and beaches. You can take a private garden tour with the resident horticulturalist, catch an animal feeding, or sit in on Q&A sessions with zookeepers who take care of polar bears, wolves, and tropical lagoons. Great content here, thank you! This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of Seattle Magazine. Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. Is there any river rafting or boating along the way? Related Read:12 Spots to See Gorgeous Fall Colors in Oregon. My husband and I are planning a Spring Break trip with our girls March 2020. I hate cold! That said, there are plenty of nice ones depending on which part of town you want to stay in. What you suggested (Anaheim > SLO/Madonna Inn > Half Moon Bay) is a great two-day itinerary. Let me know in the comments! do you have a printable version of this? Thanks for sharing. Ann, thanks so much for your comment. Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July. Segment 1: Portland to Cannon Beach Area 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. If you're pressed for time, make Cannon Beach your top priority. The Lotte Hotel has the perfect combination of location, price, and luxury to make your stay in Seattle very memorable. Eventually, youll reach and cross the Lewis and Clark Bridge into Washington. We will only have 7 days. However, the area around the National Park is also bewitching. flickr/ jdegenhardt. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway. It has 18 rooms and 31 RV lots. Also, you can probably get away with booking hotels/vacation rentals in the smaller towns only a few days in advance but if you want to stay in any of the big cities, I would book those 2-3 weeks in advance at the latest! 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. is booking hotels on the day or maybe the day before likely to be OK, or should we book well in advance? Thanks for your comment, Rex! 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