Related: 9 Sights To See On The Way From Portland To Seattle. Related Read:When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Seattle? Popular activities: Whidbey Island is a popular Seattle day trip for people who love food, drink, shops, and hikes. From Paradise, Stevens Canyon Road heads east to meet State Route 123 north of Ohanapecosh; the Grove of the Patriarchs trail there makes for a stomach-settling short hike between windy stretches of road. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue along CA-1 to San Diego, your final stop on this PCH road trip. Start in Seattle and end in San Diego. Seaside is a picturesque coastal town, a western interpretation of the East Coast summer destinations along the Atlantic. Although mighty, the falls are extremely accessible! Thanks for your comment, Vicky! The food is divine with unique twists on all your favorite classics. 1. Portland! Theres a nice public parking area near a lake that overlooks the Washington State Capital building. riverine, estuarine, or the Nisqually Reach nearshore. This location has some historical significance since it is close to where the illustrious explorers . I also agree that Point Reyes (and the lighthouse) is spectacular and my top place to go when in North Ca. 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. I have a few questions. Were on day 2 of our 8-day PCH Tour.and its great to have your help! Thanks for reading though , Thanks so much for an in depth post. But you missed it and it was so incredible. There are very few things more beautiful than the Skagit Valley. Our cities are ever-evolving and full of exciting, untapped potential. There and back that is? I have a question in regards to your amazing experiences and my hopes to travel the PCH with my older kids. Best of all, theres no cell service so theyll have to look around to see them . Save. 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. Hi, My wife and I are planning a 7-day drive from San Fran to Portland in late June of this year. It is the home stadium of Seattle Mariners, a professional American baseball team based in Seattle. The big complex has two aquariums, a zoo, and several botanical gardens. St. Helens or the coast. Is this time of year realistic for an enjoyable adventure, or should we maybe plan to go somewhere else? 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. If youve just stayed overnight in Santa Barbara or started your road trip in San Diego, that may not make as much sense. anything you can suggest extra the girls would be wowed by would be great. Cruise across the lake's sapphire waters, kayak or join a whitewater rafting trip. We want a mix of National/State Parks, cities, and coasts. Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air 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. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow CA-1 south out of L.A. to avoid the citys notorious traffic as you make your way along the coast. Thanks for reading, Heather! A post shared by Manuel Sauceda (@msaucl). You can also attend music concerts at the park. I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? I would love to receive the PDF version of this, please. Portland has loads of great hotels, but my favorite is the, For vacation rental options, consider this. I was, for the most part, ambivalent about the cities along the PCH. Sorry, I could not get past it, and I may not even be correct, but I truly loved this page. San Luis Obispo with Paso Robles). Not sure it matters when you set out from Seattle; itll be great no matter when you go! So deciding where to stay can be tricky, especially since there are plenty of places to stay along this segment. Its almost unfair that there are so many great stops in this segment, given the (probably) limited time you likely have to drive it. Along the way we plan to stop at the Benbow Inn near Garberville, CA and in Newport. Located on the Pacific side of the Olympic Peninsula, Hoh Rainforest qualifies as a rainforest due to the amount of precipitation that occurs each year. Also being from Colorado, we would love to camp oceanside, do you have any recommendations on campsites? Where:Washington Park Arboretum to Seward Park. Taking your advice, flying into Seattle (from KC), and heading south. Thanks for your comment, Anthony! And there are plenty of options along the north shore of the Colombia River that offer stunning views and a relaxing stay. We have lived, collectively, in exactly three cities. Cherie, thanks for your comment. Address. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. Despite the weather being slightly worse, shoulder seasons are definitely a great time to do the road trip from Portland to Seattle. Briefly, here are some of the other must-see attractions in Seattle: If you want to spend a few days in Seattle, consider purchasing the Seattle CityPass. Make memories exploring the diverse, natural beauty of our public lands. Thanks so much for reading, Teresa! Want more? Youd need to fly into. Seaquest State Park is an urban park covering 475 acres of a natural island along a mile of the lakeshore. If I wanted to follow your trip but stop off a day at Yosemite what might the drive look like? If you want a true Seattle experience, opt for a stay on a refurbished and romantic houseboat. The suggested route below zigzags a bit and adds quite a bit of distance. Follow Interstate 5 through the suburbs and into the center of Seattle. First thank you for all the work you put into this! I appreciate this guide. 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. Thank you for all this information. Sounds like youre well on the way to it . Return to Route 123 after visiting the park and follow it north. If you're pressed for time, make Cannon Beach your top priority. Its worth it! Just give yourself more time and end n LA. Thank you. Hi, and thanks for this terrific resource. Related Read:9 Best Hikes in Washington State for Epic Outdoor Adventures. 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. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a protected estuary spanning 762 acres of natural land. It adds a couple hours and 140 miles to the journey. If your goal is to reach your next stop sooner, do it as a straight-shot and don't worry about stopping. Thanks for asking! This is the best section of the route for hiking, rock climbing, and water sports (not to mention breweries). 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. Thanks for putting this fantastic guide together! 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. Kim, December should be a pretty good time, but plan for classic marine layer weather (chilly and cloudy this is whats normal on the Pacific coast!). I have no idea what the case will be for forest fires next year, unfortunately! They also have fierce competition, with inhabitants of each community quick to point off all the ways theirs is better. We were 70s teenagers all around! T-Mobile Park is a baseball park located 2 miles from downtown Seattle. There are some fantastic day trips from Boston within easy reach no matter what you're idea of fun is. There is still plenty to see and do, and cheaper hotel prices might make the trip more affordable. Thanks for asking, Helen! 140 miles / 2.5 hours. Basically, you cant start/end in Crescent City if you want to rent a car. Here, a huge boulder towers above the shore and offers beach lovers several up-close photo opportunities. This day marked our last bit of time spent in Portland. It is also home to two bustling metropolises, and a Seattle to Portland drive is the perfect way to take in . On some byways, you'll drive from the high desert to snowcapped peaks to verdant valleys in one go. Oregon & California are both pretty vegan friendly states so Id expect lots of restaurants have at least an option thats animal-free. Im thinking of doing this trip from Seattle to San Diego. A short, paved walk from the parking lot takes you right to the falls. You can look out over beautiful sea stacks that dot the northern part of the Pacific Coast and stroll along the sand covered with huge driftwood formations and seafoam. I appreciate your asking for clarification! Located at the tip of Tacoma, the surrounding Point Defiance Park also has hiking trails and a Japanese Garden. 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! How long is the Pacific Coast Highway? Any thoughts on this as it pertains to weather? Ronald, I dont know for sure as I dont recommend people drive in an RV. Distance: 2183 miles. We are thinking Crescent City to Santa Barbara? Great article. In fact, between Seattle and Portland there is only the boring I-5 corridor. Liz is a freelance writer and editor who lives on the road. Thanks for all of this great information! The city also boasts other attractions, including the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, and Ecola State Park. If you want to head over to the peninsula and have some serious Twilight vibes then you need to check out Highway 12. Thank you again for all of your information. 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)? I did drive it alone and I still recommend heading southbound. 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 . Thank you. 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! Tickets cost $35 - $50 and the journey takes 3h 25m. Great name btw . Sorry about the delay, Scott. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: When youre ready to continue on your PCH road trip, make your way back to California Highway 1 and head south. I did a bit of research into this seems like its a Los Angeles thing to drop the the but as I lived up in Northern California, we use the the. Since my post is referring to a much larger area than just SoCal, Im still going to keep the the. Thanks for providing me this opportunity to learn about a quirky bit of California lingo! Seattle and Portland, as the top two Pacific Northwest cities, are often compared. In the summer months the entire 33-mile stretch should be open save a . 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! Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! 1-2 days in Portland to visit college and check out Portland. Or. Valerie, First off, congratulations on your recent wedding! To see Oregon's Mount Hood up close, consider the Mt Hood Scenic Loop, Hood River County Tour Route Road Trip. Thanks so much from a couple of Canucks! 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. So if picturesque fields of flowers and amazing farmland sound like something you want to see, the Skagit Valley is only a short drive from Seattle. Ime hoping the trip will run about $10k. What do you think of Coos Bay/North Bend or better places for overnight, seemed a good split between Seattle and San Francisco? Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. ), a Jeep Liberty, or most Subarus. Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. Hope that helps you plan! Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive deals, stories, info & more! Located in Northeast Olympia, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife sanctuary housing birds, lathe animals, amphibians, mammals, and reptiles. The legendary Columbia River Highway dates back to the 1910s. Thanks for your comment, Shelly! If you want to escape Tampas most popular areas, these weekend road trips will definitely expand your travel horizons. 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. Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experiencefor good reason! Great question, Judy. The winter is a quieter season to be traveling on the coast, meaning hotels may be available at discounted prices. 1. The 5-star hotel is very modern, and bedrooms have large windows, affording great views of the city and bay. Cross the Columbia River and enter Washington. Route Option #3: Southern Route on I-80. 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. If it's winter, the coastal route is a better choice. Here you can stretch your legs on the temperate rainforest . 2 Most Direct Seattle to San Diego Road Trip: I-5. This blog has been incredibly helpful. From Astoria, follow Route 30 inland along the Columbia River. My wife and I are planning an 18 day trip in the coming months to fly into San Diego and then make the drive up to Seattle. To help you get the most out of your road trip, here are some of the main attractions along the way. I hate cold! 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 . Dont drive down to SD and back up to LA. Tourists will enjoy watching the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean in Astoria, a stunning coastal town, along US Route 30. This means traffic shouldn't be a problem anywhere along the route. 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. Im glad you booked LA and Seattle, because those are the two you most need to have arranged! Id check out the California DOT website for the most up-to-date information. Many thanks, alex, Alex, unfortunately, this might not be the trip for you. 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. Day 1 Mount Rainier National Park, WA. You can take the same route back to downtown Seattle. Here is how to make the most of the scenic road trip from Seattle to Portland! Greyhound USA also services this route once daily. Instagram. Maybe worth checking another site thats more expert in RV travel! Also, how many days should we take for the one-way trip back. 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