best scenic drive from portland to seattle

Sorry, but theres no way to do the drive to Seattle and back along the PCH in just 7 days. Driving south on the right-hand side of the road, youll have a great view of the ocean and coastline. Hi Valerie, I am doing the PCH drive southbound from Seattle and as far as we can go for 5 days. Instagram. What is the average speed on the 101? . 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. Thats right folks, West Seattle, uou really cant go wrong with a cruise on Alki because youll get to see stunning views of the Sound, Olympics and downtown. Silvia, not to minimize risks but I think the issue is not being represented realistically by the media. We will be stopping to see the sights along the way but not for strenuous hikes. Its approximately around 180 miles in length and will take around three hours to get there. Plan accordingly when you design your PCH itinerary. Further along the coast, you can book a stay at any of the campgrounds in the numerous state parks. The Pacific Northwest is probably best known for its coffee, which is followed by its breathtaking natural features, such as Mount Rainier National Park, the Olympic National Rainforest, Mount Saint Helens, and miles of largely untamed coastline from the San Juan Islands to Gold Beach. The park is open to the public daily from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mount Rainier National Park is a national park located about 60 miles from Seattle. At this point you should take the exit to CA-1; this is now the Pacific Coast Highway. Another great option is the Chinaberry Hill Inn, located a bit closer to downtown Tacoma. While the glass is technically part of MacKerricher State Park and you cant take it home you can still spend time out of the car searching for different colors and shapes of beautiful sea glass that wash up from the Pacific Ocean. You can learn more about our editorial policies here. In the morning, we made the 30-minute drive to Mulmonath Falls. The next stop on this tour is the north end of Tacoma, Washington. haha. It's located a 45-minute drive from Seattle and just outside Washington's third-most populous city, Tacoma. When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? leave the next day around 10:00 am. 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! Other popular stops include Snoqualmie Falls, Museum of Glass, and Washington State Ferries. It's titled, Scenic Drive from Seattle to Portland, but the items listed in the text aren't on the route between Seattle and Portland; rather they are detours from it or separate trips out of Portland. We plan a trip to San Jos, California because of its diversity, beautiful scenery, and exceptionally high outputs. A post shared by Addicted Travellers (@addictedtravellers). After all, a little time on the road never hurts. My husband and I are planning a Spring Break trip with our girls March 2020. Thanks for sharing this great itinerary. Thank you for your great ideas and itineraries! I wouldnt go all the way to Seattle, especially if you dont like big cities. If you have the experience to take on the challenge, book a few extra days for a summit. Hi there, I am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH from Long Beach, WA to LA? Day 6 Crescent City and Redwoods National Park, OR. Furthermore, Stevens Canyon Road near Mt. There are 4 daily trains from Portland to Seattle. Are we likely to hit snow in the northern stops? Related Read:The 10 Best Scenic Drives in Washington. So I am very, very thankful to have found THIS resource!! The drive takes you through a stunning and varied landscape of farms, mountains and sagebrush. Ranked as a top Travel Authority in the UK by Agility PR Solutions, Nominated as the best female travel blogger in the Teletext Holiday Awards 2019, British Annual Canada Travel Awards Finalist 2018, Nominated for the Best UK Travel Blog 2018, Cheapflights Travel Blog Awards Nominee 2017, GLOBAL GRASSHOPPER. My problem is going to be deciding what not to do because Ill only have so much time (and money). We will only have 7 days. Hood. After the town of Longview, take Route 504 towards the infamous Mount St. Helens. My best advice is to take a look at the app Roadtrippers and start plugging in where you might want to go to get a sense of travel time then you can decide whats must-do, what extra you have time for, and what needs to be cut.I hope that helps! Portland is approximately 634.9 miles away from San Francisco. AAA /Brett Vanderbrink. Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China, featuring rare plants indigenous to China and classical Chinese decorative stonework. Manny from Massachusetts. Travelers can take various pathways between Portland and Seattle. I am going to mostly follow the path you outlined in your 10 day itinerary. Drive time: 32 hours. Related Read: 12 Romantic Getaways in Washington to Take Your Sweetheart. Were staying just outside of Long Beach, in cute little Ilwaco, WA, at Salt Hotel & Pub. You can stretch your legs with a short walk before getting back on the road. Is this possible?? The 300-mile road trip from Portland to Seattle will take 5 hours to drive. In addition, it serves as a haven for a variety of seabirds and other intertidal creatures like starfish and crabs. I love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. The drive from Seattle to Vancouver takes approximately 2 hours and 37 minutes, depending on traffic and weather conditions. stay overnight at Radisson Hotel Bloomington By Mall of America. Im glad you booked LA and Seattle, because those are the two you most need to have arranged! Seattle is perfect for anywhere between one day and three days if you have the time. Additionally, there are various hiking routes and lovely, fragrant wildflower meadows in Paradise Overlook, which is 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) lower. I love that the Pacific coast has those little hideaways! This time I plan to take a friend and start in Portland. Monterey is a charming town that is home to a handful of attractions, including the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, the historic Cannery Row, and the scenic 17-Mile Drive, which winds along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. PCH bucket list road trip done! I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? We were planning on 10 days total for driving, site seeing and ending it with 2 days in Disneyland. The thing is, Lake Tahoe is a fun place to visit any time of year. Thanks for sharing. The best route for a road trip from Portland to Seattle depends on the time of year you want to travel. Read more in my Privacy Policy. And of course, you can also check out Discovery Park while youre in the area for a great stroll. March is a fine time to drive the PCH the weather on the Pacific Coast is pretty similar all year long! Thanks for reading, Laurie! So the verb lament is correct in the present tense, and the tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph. In Tillamook, pick from any number of hotels or Airbnbs. Again, thank you so much!! 1 question: weve booked hotels at both end (Seattle and LA) and would prefer not to book hotels until were on route and know how far were along and how long we want to stop in each place. I hope you had a good trip! We were thinking October, but after reading all the comments, I think we will make it September. 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. Mike, great to hear from you and thanks for reading! It includes so many things each person in my family wants to see and do! Drive time: 3 hours / 155 miles. If you're heading up north you can't go wrong with a cruise on Chuckanut Drive. Thank you so much for sharing this informative article with all of us. This site uses cookies. Thanks so much for reading, Teresa! Territory Supply is reader-supported and may earn a commission when you book or purchase using our links. drive for about 4 hours. One of the requests I get asked for is a Pacific Coast Highway map with all of the stops I suggest, so I used Roadtrippers to put together this one. 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. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are on a quick PCH road trip, turn inland along the Columbia River and then south on I-5 to Portland.If your Pacific Coast Highway road trip includes the Oregon Coast, skip Portland below and drive south along U.S. 101 to Seaside & Cannon Beach (#8). Sorry about the delay, Scott. My favorite place is Mendocino if the skies are clear! Any thoughts on this as it pertains to weather? I was hoping to see autumn colours in the northern area. Rainier is inaccessible during winter. The first leg of the trip was relatively short thanks to us . This will be tricky as there are no rental cars in Crescent City or anywhere near it. 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. 1-2 days in Portland to visit college and check out Portland. Hi Valerie. 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. The Point Reyes Lighthouse is only open to visitors from Fridays to Mondays (weekends) from 10am-4:30pm. Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? Greyhound runs several daily buses with five stops, and tempts passengers with free WiFi, power outlets, and no dreaded middle seats. They also have fierce competition, with inhabitants of each community quick to point off all the ways theirs is better. There are a few restaurants in town and 17 miles of beautiful beach to explore. A post shared by Elliot McGucken 45EPIC (@elliotmcgucken). Once youre in Seattle, there are so many places to choose from for a relaxing stay that its barely worth making suggestions. They also offer a complimentary breakfast and free coffee and cookies in the lobby. Related read: 25 Stunning Hikes on the Oregon Coast. Seaside has a nice range of shops and dining options, and the beach is popular with surfers. find more stops. There are a wide range of activities you can indulge in at Silver Lake, including camping and boating. San Luis Obispo with Paso Robles). Distance: 2183 miles. I can really tell that you love traveling, Valerie . Now we want to take our girls on the same trip. Maria promotes initiatives that make the world a better place to live and enjoy! I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. Crescent City is the first city youll enter when driving southbound into California along the Pacific Coast Highway (or last if youre headed northbound). Here, a huge boulder towers above the shore and offers beach lovers several up-close photo opportunities. 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. The lake, however, spans 3,000 acres in area. The longer you spend, the more youll get to see and enjoy. Would it be worth it to continue to San Diego then back to LA? Crescent City! This is a great itinerary! Bob's Java Jive is a terrific spot to stop to have a beer with the locals, too. This post was so helpful! Looking to fly into Crescent City Ive tried to locate flight from Oakland to Crescent City but havent been able to, do you have any info on this flight? I am planning a trip in late July. This is such a great article. Flew into Seattle and drove back. If you are short on time to drive the PCH, as I was, a Pacific Coast highway itinerary for 5 days is ideal. 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. I have looked up the different uses of the word and grammatically correct samples, and I believe you needed to use it in past-tense. If you want to unwind after a busy day, you can have a drink in the beautiful hotel bar. Thank you so very much. Although I live in San Francisco, Ive yet to visit several of these places on this list. In the summer months the entire 33-mile stretch should be open save a . Fort Bragg is home to a beautiful glass beach, pictured above, where the entire beach is made of sea glass from past trash dumps. The island lies just between the Lewis River and the Willamette River. AAA has no candle to this. That includes missing the Devils Punchbowl and Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in the southern part of the state; you would however get to drive through Oregons Redwoods on your way from Crater Lake to Crescent City. Valerie, First off, congratulations on your recent wedding! Wifey and I did the PCH trip a while ago, shortly after we got married. The three-hour drive along I-5 from Seattle to Portland is fairly unremarkable. We are thinking of late September of 2022 doing a two week drive from north to south. 15 years ago. Book a ticket to head up the tower, or even enjoy cocktails at the Loupe Lounge. 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. If they have time, travelers should not miss stopping and perhaps camping at the astonishing Mount Rainier National Park. Driving Time. Hoping to do this mid Sept 2020. Lan Su Chinese Garden is a Chinese botanical garden in Northwest Portland. 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. Awesome suggestions and itinerary! Despite the weather being slightly worse, shoulder seasons are definitely a great time to do the road trip from Portland to Seattle. What type of car would you rent for 4 of us? There are plenty of things to do in Long Beach for more than an overnight stop! Tickets cost $15 - $55 and the journey takes 3h 35m. The total distance is about 1,500 miles! Rainier, as it is typically quieter, and the weather is cooler. Congrats on finishing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. All rights reserved. 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. Astoria is a small city on the Columbia River. Very glad to help, and I hope you have a great trip! Even an email answer is fine!! We were planning on a 7day road trip with our 8, 6 and 20 month olds in June. There are, however, a few options further west along Silver Lake and in Castle Rock that are still close enough to the monument for a quick hike or sunrise photo safari. I think once we hit Los Angeles we will just take the I10 home to Phoenix. Are you hoping to do a one-way rental car for your PCH drive? I was considering driving from San Jose with overnight stops at Mt Shasta or Lassen NP, Crater Lake, Portland, and Seattle (maybe a few nights in the cities). If you want to make a stop midway through your journey, Seaside may be the perfect place. If you just want the best of the best in Airbnb rentals, this list will get you to the right place. Instagram. Super excited. Its the best time for good weather on the whole coast! The PCH is on my bucket list since my daughter did it with Teens Westward Bound over 10 years ago. We didn't expect much from the road until realized that adding 0.5-2 hours will turn it into a real adventure! Both are very much worth a visit, and at less than 200 miles between them, getting from Portland to Seattle and back is easy. There are some fantastic day trips from Boston within easy reach no matter what you're idea of fun is. The city is a great stopover for history buffs while traveling from Portland to Seattle. If youre considering a drive down (or up) the western coast of the U.S., look no further. Then flying back to Michigan. It was a great help! Related: 9 Sights To See On The Way From Portland To Seattle. We will be coming from Anaheim and want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway to Half Moon Bay. If we have 10 days to do this and could skip San Francisco, because we just did that 2 years ago, could we drive from Seattle to either Los Angeles or San Diego in an RV? Have a wonderful trip! A few miles south of Cannon Beach lies Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site, a beach and state park with a massive picnic area. After all, seeing some snow can do all of us well. Thank you. But its its well worth taking your time and experiencing what each of these stops has to offer. Youll still be at the mercy of traffic, but if you want to leave the driving to someone else, hop aboard one of numerous buses shuttling between Portland and Seattle. We might consider staying a total of 12-15 days. Hi Valerie- What is the best time of year for this 10 day trip? 7. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Carry on south on CA-1, the PCH. 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. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary Options, How to Choose a Car for the Pacific Coast Highway, Step-by-Step Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Directions, this gorgeous 3-bedroom oceanfront property, plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego, https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/, Wandering the Olympic Peninsula - Valerie & Valise, https://www.theoutbound.com/theoutbound/camping-along-the-pacific-10-seaside-campsites-for-your-west-coast-road-trip, https://www.valisemag.com/visit-san-juan-islands/, https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-seattle/, https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-san-francisco/, https://www.valisemag.com/portland-city-guide/, https://www.valisemag.com/pacific-coast-highway-guide/. Thanks for reading, Jennifer. The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: In Washington and Oregon, the best weather of the year happens between June and September. Route Option #3: Southern Route on I-80. Is this going to be a big disappointment? Thanks again for this excellent resource. However, if one wants to enjoy most of the attractions along the San . Hi Valerie, Great tips! As we will be married 40 years! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on U.S. Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast to Newport. Glad to help, Ashley! Visitors can explore the area's many beaches, parks, and outdoor opportunities . (As of July 2018, the PCH reopened after a 2017 mudslide!). A post shared by Jason Morse (@jason.morselandscape). skip Santa Cruz, skip San Francisco Day 2 and just hit the highway) OR if you had a suggestion on swapping out one of the spots with a different one (ex. The Cascades train has four daily departures, while the Coast Starlight offers one daily roundtrip. Any recommendations will be appreciated! Im thinking of doing this trip from Seattle to San Diego. 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). Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. 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. Getting excited. Downtown is a series of taffy-colored storefronts filled with beach gear, kitschy coastal crafts, and the Funland Seaside Arcade, which harkens back to the heydays of coastal vacations. Send me a pic if you remember . 5 hours 0 minutes. Read on for more information about where to stay, the best route, and what to do along the way. Now hear us out on this one, we know technically a good chunk of this journey doesnt involve driving. Were on day 2 of our 8-day PCH Tour.and its great to have your help! Not sure it matters when you set out from Seattle; itll be great no matter when you go! Head west out of Oregon along Highway 26. 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 route is accessible year-round and offers views of Mount Rainier. Thank you again for all of your information. Youve put together one awesome road trip! Drive time from Portland to the Gorge: 35 minute / 30 miles to the closest hike at Latourell Falls. Posts: 10,966. However, a pleasant drive along I-5 is the best alternative if tourists desire to drive a car in either city and if the cost of . One of the most popular Seattle scenic drives, you don't even have to leave the city for breathtaking views of lush greenery and ancient trees. 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. Seattle > Whidbey Island. The fact that there are multiple routes for a road trip from Portland to Seattle means you can go at any time of year. The Inn has a great set of amenities like an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, and a gym. The park spans 236,381 acres of natural land, including all of Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano in the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest. I appreciate this guide. A 175-mile road trip from Portland to Seattle is one of the best Washington road trips to take. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated: Day 1: San Francisco (Arrive late in the evening) Day 2: San Francisco Day 3: Santa Cruz Day 4: Carmel-By-The-Sea Day 5: Big Sur Day 6: San Luis Obispo Day 7: Santa Barbara Day 8: Los Angeles Day 9: San Diego (leave early in the morning). The marvelous park, nestled in Tacoma which is Washington's third-largest city outside of Seattle, is a vast urban park with a sizable zoo, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, aquarium, beaches, rose and rhododendron gardens, and trails. There are loads of cool things to explore in/around this small PNW town, including Olympic National Park! Thanks Teena. The state emblem of Washington is Mount Rainier. We are planning our trip for the first half of April, SF to LA. Book well in advance, and youll find the best dealsas in $1 ticketswith. 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. If you have some more time, head to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. From camping to hiking Mount St Helens offers all types of outdoor adventures. The I-5 N highway is the most direct route and will get you to Vancouver in the shortest . Amtrak operates a train from Seattle to Portland every 4 hours. Nope, headed northbound is not a bad way to go its actually the way I went on my first drive! Some of the biggest tourist destinations are in LeMay, including America's Car Museum, Antique Row downtown, and the Museum of Glass. Thank you for the comprehensive narrative! 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! My husband, myself and our four kids always take adventurous vacations every summer. From there we are planning on 4 days drive/stop on high 1 (PCH) up to Santa Monica/Malibu then flight out LAX.

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