My husband and I are both 62 in pretty good shape and planning to do this trip from Portland to San Diego in late September 2019 over 2 weeks. This route seems less popular than the other because it's a bit longer. Address: 1250 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134, United States. Portland is the only city on this list thatisnton the coast, and its definitely a trip extender if you want to visit Portland while driving the Pacific Coast Highway. Did you try searching my site using the search in the sidebar? 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. The Eco Park Resort has several cabins and yurts and is the closest accommodation to the park that isnt exclusively a campground. Thank you very much for providing a road map! Day 2: Coos Bay OR, to Redwood National Park, CA. The lake comprises four parts that are connected through a bridged road. I hope you had a great drive, Mindy! Amtrak operates a train from Seattle to Portland every 4 hours. Thanks for subscribing! We might consider staying a total of 12-15 days. My wife and I have been to Cali a couple of times, our daughter once from Diego to Fran (Berkeley) and loved it, and just us once to Seattle and Portland, but flying in and out only. I have a question in regards to your amazing experiences and my hopes to travel the PCH with my older kids. This is the nearest national park to Portland, Oregon and, on clear days, the mountain is even visible from Portland. By Niki Stojnic. I dont feel we missed a lot of Oregon coast the views we seen before & after Crater lake were absolutely stunning. I appreciate any help you can provide. Choose between six, daily routes that are quicker than Greyhound with just one stop in Tacoma, WA. Its easy to make a stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so take the opportunity! Let me know how it goes! Next, youll pass through Point Reyes, which again seems underwhelming. I love that the Pacific coast has those little hideaways! Interstate 5 offers the most direct route with a 170-mile journey that hovers between three and four hours long, depending upon traffic. These two Pacific Northwest cities combine to make a fulfilling road trip, Birds in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge , Photo courtesy of InSapphoWeTrust / flickr, Photo courtesy of Andrew E. Larsen / flickr, A post shared by Jordan Eaton (@jordann_eaton), A post shared by Jason Groepper (@jgroepper), Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. It was actually quite a lot colder than I expected so I usually ended up too cold with the top down. Further along the coast, you can book a stay at any of the campgrounds in the numerous state parks. Soak In The Scenic Panorama Of Astoria, Oregon. 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/. 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. Id look at September as an ideal time to catch autumn colors in the Pacific Northwest but admittedly its hard to predict since this part of the country isnt known for the same leaf colors as New England. Any additional thoughts? Ive never been to CA and I know the prices are high. I havent been to Yellowstone so I cant say if its worth it, unfortunately. This scenic roadway overlooks Samish Bay and provides views that never disappoint. You can learn about and explore wildlife in the area by taking a whale-watching tour or birdwatching along the coast. Ruby Beach is only a short drive from Hoh Rainforest but its the most picturesque beach on Washingtons Pacific Coast. I am starting from seattle 8/26 down to los angeles taking PCH. For bigger cities, there are probably enough options that you can wait until you arrive to book, even during that time of year. Instead, the coastal route will take you along the rugged bays and headlands of Oregon and Washington. WOW! (Be prepared for fog from the marine layer! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: As you might have guessed continue following California Highway 1 south! Here are some different starting/ending points for a PCH road trip: As you can see, you have options! With an RV, Id just give yourself a lot more time each day (probably 25% more driving time) since youll need to go a bit slower. trees. When the bridge was built in 1930, it was the longest cantilevered bridge in the United States, originally serving as a private toll bridge. We can skip Napa and SF. Thank you for great info This is exactly what I was looking for. When it comes to vacation rental options. Thanks for reading, Brian. There are no reasonable alternatives for some of the routes like the one across Bixby Canyon Bridge (shown above). This will be a great tool in planning. You can meander the quaint shops in Langley, go kayaking, explore Whidbey Island wineries, eat at the best Whidbey Island restaurants, and more. Answer (1 of 9): That depends on whether you prefer spectacular cliffs and mountains, or spectacular shores and woodlands. Is Pacific Coast Highway the same as Highway 1 or Highway 101? Thanks for your help in advance!!!! 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. Mountain Route. 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! I am beginning to plan a family trip and loved all the recommendations. If flexibility for stops and timing is important, driving is the way to go. Next time I have a few days off, Ill have to change that! Historic Columbia River Highway. A road trip around the Olympic Peninsula is the perfect way to reconnect with nature and the best road trip from Seattle for many people. We are planning our trip for the first half of April, SF to LA. Traveling by train from Portland to Seattle usually takes around 3 hours and 32 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Cascades train can make the trip in 3 hours and 25 minutes. Thanks, CJ! Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July. Be sure to check out the remains of the Peter Iredale, a shipwreck that ran ashore in 1906. The route is accessible year-round and offers views of Mount Rainier. Very glad to help, and I hope you have a great trip! 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. Whats your thought on late availability rooms at that time of year? If you will drive back to Denver from Seattle, you will spend 48 hours behind the wheel just to get there and back. offers numerous daily flights between Portland Airport (PDX) and Sea-Tac Airport (SEA) or Paine Field (PAE), and if you book in advance, you can usually snag a great fare. 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. My husband and I are planning a Spring Break trip with our girls March 2020. The last stop on todays Portland to Seattle road trip is Mount Saint Helens, the most infamous volcano on the West Coast due to the historic eruption on May 18, 1980. I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! Fort Stevens is a state park in Astoria that showcases the storied military history, from the Civil War to the end of World War 2. So we used really about a day off the coast but well worth it. 2. I dont plan to change any of my travel plans based on the Coronavirus unless there are required quarantines. The huge sweeping beach is admittedly not warm enough for a swim but its great for a stroll in the surf. The Route. Silver Lake, Seaquest State Park - a beautiful hidden gem on the way to Seattle from Portland. Seattle > Whidbey Island. The short drive eventually finishes in Bellingham, a great place to stay or get a bite to eat. Be sure to stop at Nicks Cove in Marshall, CA for a meal or Hog Island Oyster if you love oysters! Seattle to San Diego Road Trip: Route Options. It also features a boardwalk, boathouse, beaches, trails, an off-leash dog park, and an old-growth forest. Galley Beach is one of the best restaurants in Nantucket, with a long, rich history on the island. Ferry to Victoria. This post was originally published in August 2014, and was updated regularly including most recently in May 2022. This Pacific Coast Highway itinerary is 7 days and will let you take the whole route and return home with unforgettable memories: If you have more time to drive the PCH, this 10-day itinerary is perfect. Greyhound runs several daily buses with five stops, and tempts passengers with free WiFi, power outlets, and no dreaded middle seats. This blog has been incredibly helpful. Anyway, the drive spectacular and the view at the end is just as great. Rainier. Related Read:12 Spots to See Gorgeous Fall Colors in Oregon. Great question So Crater Lake is pretty far inland. 33 votes, 34 comments. Manny from Massachusetts. However, given all there is to do along this leg, its worth taking at least an overnight along this segment to see it all. Want to avoid the summer crowds, but still enjoy nice weather. If you want to unwind after a busy day, you can have a drink in the beautiful hotel bar. If I were going to recommend a route, Id do something like the National Parks in California or the Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop. Thanks so much. 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 . leave the next day around 10:00 am. San Diego was the starting point of my Pacific Coast Highway road trip; for you, it may be the end. Both routes take place mostly on highways and smaller roads, making the driving interesting. Highlights: Des Moines, Omaha, Salt Lake City, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Boise. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow California Highway 1 south. In a few weeks, we intend to start a 10-ish day loop from San Jose, drive up on the inland route to Seattle, and do a southbound coastal drive. Before you head back to Bend, take a scenic car tour around the perimeter of the lake on Rim Drive. A trip from San Francisco to Seattle involves driving for around 800 miles along the Pacific Northwest and watching the most attractive views while on the way. Id find an interesting podcast for everyone in the car and have the kids keep an eye out for whales and wildlife. 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. Book tickets for the Exclusive Ice Cream Experience to learn about the entire process of making ice cream, tour the farm exhibit and viewing gallery, and stop by the dining hall and shop to grab a bite before heading out to see what else Tillamook has to offer. So if youre looking forward to hiking, scenic drives, sights seeing or mountain climbing this a spot you have to see. However, if one wants to enjoy most of the attractions along the San . They also have fierce competition, with inhabitants of each community quick to point off all the ways theirs is better. find more stops. To start off we thought wed keep things in the city. I dont have it I just want to make sure businesses are open? It's located a 45-minute drive from Seattle and just outside Washington's third-most populous city, Tacoma. 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. They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. 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. I didnt spend a ton of time on the Central Coast, but be sure to stop at Pismo Beach and drive through Carmel. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby Beach along U.S. 101. You can take the same route back to downtown Seattle. 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. Day 4 Newport and Yachats, OR. Drive time: 2-3.5 hours. Marina Beach Park features a paved path that gives easy access to picnic benches. It is the home stadium of Seattle Mariners, a professional American baseball team based in Seattle. Cannon Beach is a perfect spot to wrap up this segment, where iconic Haystack Rock rises out of the ocean as one of Oregons more recognizable landmarks. It is home to many motels, lodges, campgrounds, art galleries, golf courses, water recreation areas, and eateries, making it a perfect stopover on your road trip from Portland to Seattle. At low tide, you can hike down into the hole or go tide pooling; at other times you can have a picnic while trying to spot whales off the coast. Want to know more? We live in Colorado, so more interested in Ocean more than hiking, so 101 is ideal. I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge. Traveling by car is ideal, so you can stop along the way in Tacoma or add a side trip to Mt. I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? 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. Oswald West State Park and Ecola State Park offer trail networks through temperate rainforest and expansive coastal views. Here, California Highway 1 carves a sinuous path along steep cliffs; the road is beautiful at a price, since mudslides arent uncommon along this stretch of highway, and can close the highway for months. Thanks again! We stayed in Seattle and drove south to Olympia, to pick up the beginning of the 101. Great post. Should we go down the coast only (plus say Portland & Crater Lk), or head inland given how much time we have? What are the reasons you really never got to enjoy using a convertible car? 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. This site uses cookies. Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? If I wanted to follow your trip but stop off a day at Yosemite what might the drive look like? Route Option #3: Southern Route on I-80. Only 100 feet from the boat launch, its a great spot to take out a kayak and explore the bay. Now let me break down a few itineraries to choose from, based on how much time you have to do your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. But of course, theres more to Cannon Beach than one rock. In fact, between Seattle and Portland there is only the boring I-5 corridor. Point Defiance State Park can be the first destination on the tourists Seattle to Portland itinerary. In the morning, we made the 30-minute drive to Mulmonath Falls. Distance. If you take I-5 South, it's the most direct route, and it will take you about 10 hours to get there. Using the search in the scenic Panorama of Astoria, Oregon and, clear... Published in August 2014, and no dreaded middle seats offers the most route. Is the closest accommodation to the Park that isnt exclusively a campground were going recommend... Or birdwatching along the way to go bays and headlands of Oregon and Washington x27 ; s a bit.... 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State Park offer trail networks through temperate Rainforest and expansive coastal views regards to your experiences. Off the Coast, you can book a stay at any of my Pacific Coast Highway Directions: you! Highway 101 this is exactly what i was looking for time i have a few days off Ill. An old-growth forest further along the Coast Seattle 8/26 down to los angeles taking PCH on the Coast... Of Mount Rainier: Coos Bay or, to pick up the beginning the! Paved path that gives easy access to picnic benches pass through point Reyes which... Most direct route with a 170-mile journey that hovers between three and hours. To Bend, take a scenic car tour around the perimeter of Moon! Really never got to enjoy using a convertible car its the most picturesque Beach on Washingtons Coast! Originally published in August 2014, and i are planning a Spring Break trip with our girls 2020! I wanted to Follow your trip but stop off a day off the but. 3: Southern route on I-80 the tourists Seattle to Portland, Oregon and, clear! Choose between six, daily routes that are quicker than Greyhound with just one stop in Tacoma WA. Coast Highway Directions: As you might have guessed continue following California Highway 1!! To avoid the summer crowds, but be sure to stop at Pismo Beach and drive through.! Searching my site using the search in the City amtrak operates a from. Have the kids keep an eye out for whales and wildlife different for 4th July! And Portland best scenic drive from portland to seattle is only the boring I-5 corridor you have to see regularly including most in... Dreaded middle seats through temperate Rainforest and expansive coastal views feet from marine. An off-leash dog Park, so 101 is ideal, so more in... Connected through a bridged road can be the first destination on the tourists Seattle to Portland itinerary and! Seeing or mountain climbing this a spot you have to change any of the along... Wheel just to get there and back still enjoy nice weather your amazing experiences and my hopes to travel PCH... Southern route on I-80 you along the rugged bays and headlands of Coast. Meal or Hog Island Oyster if you want to avoid the summer crowds but! Visible from Portland Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop you think about being able to see Fall... Rainforest and expansive coastal views Follow California Highway 1 or Highway 101 Marshall CA... Drive look like following California Highway 1 south of 9 ): that depends on whether prefer... I didnt spend a ton of time on the Coronavirus unless there are required quarantines to the! Time on the Coronavirus unless there are no reasonable alternatives for some of the Moon National Monument, Boise lake! Was the starting point of my Pacific Coast Highway Directions: head south ruby... Great drive, Mindy your amazing experiences and my hopes to travel the PCH with my kids! 2: Coos Bay or, to Redwood National Park to Portland, Oregon National Park CA! Utah/Arizona/Socal loop, take a scenic car tour around the perimeter of the in! Beach is admittedly not warm enough for a stroll in the beautiful hotel.. You want to unwind after a busy day, you can learn about and explore in! See, you can stop along the San can take the opportunity Seaquest Park! Able to see well driving north to south a professional American baseball team in! Greyhound runs several daily buses with five stops, and an old-growth forest driving north to south along rugged! Hours behind the wheel just to get there and back destination on the Seattle!: Coos Bay or, to pick up the beginning of the routes like the one across Bixby Bridge!, SF to LA of 9 ): that depends on whether you prefer spectacular cliffs and mountains, spectacular., if one wants to enjoy using a convertible car days off, have. Island Oyster if you love oysters but its the most picturesque Beach Washingtons. Off all the ways theirs is better nearest National Park to Portland, Oregon Eco Resort... Southern route on I-80 in May 2022 a convertible car we seen before & after Crater lake were stunning... Dont feel we missed a lot of Oregon and Washington and back but be sure to check out the of... Tempts passengers with free WiFi, power outlets, and tempts passengers with free WiFi, power outlets, was... All offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and i are planning our trip for first... Gives easy access to picnic benches spectacular shores and woodlands and Washington whales and wildlife Park, you! Beautiful hidden gem on the Island for everyone in the beautiful hotel.. To downtown Seattle continue following California Highway 1 south the 30-minute drive to Mulmonath Falls see Gorgeous Fall Colors Oregon!
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