If you plan on making this drive over a weekend, you should stop once halfway and then another night in Seattle. The seaside towns of Astoria and Cannon Beach are both within a two-hour drive of Oregon's most populous city. This 20-mile (one way) detour will take you out on Point Reyes, and has a stark and beautiful landscape because its so far out at sea. Additionally, youll get a sense of the magnitude of the San Andreas fault line, which comes inland along the northern part of Point Reyes. The food is divine with unique twists on all your favorite classics. The garden also has a tea shop where light snacks are available for purchase. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. If flexibility for stops and timing is important, driving is the way to go. South of Seaside, be sure to stop in Cannon Beach to admire Haystack Rock. I have suggestions on dates earlier in the article to help you figure out how long to do the trip and where to stop. How long does it take to get from Portland to Seattle? When you picture the Pacific Coast Highway, its Big Sur that comes to mind. Glad this was helpful! Drive time from Portland to the Gorge: 35 minute / 30 miles to the closest hike at Latourell Falls. So the verb lament is correct in the present tense, and the tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph. Sorry, I dont have any special suggestions for kids! Southern California has great weather year-round. Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July. 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. Maria promotes initiatives that make the world a better place to live and enjoy! Thinking of Seattle to San Diego on US 1 in late September or early October, is the weather still good for a 10 day driving trip? Any thoughts on this as it pertains to weather? Silvia, not to minimize risks but I think the issue is not being represented realistically by the media. Choose between six, daily routes that are quicker than Greyhound with just one stop in Tacoma, WA. Chinquel, nice to hear from you! 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. Tillamook, Oregon. Related: 9 Sights To See On The Way From Portland To Seattle. Thanks again for this excellent resource. Now that summer is slowly on the way out, its the perfect time to hit the road. 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. Marina Beach Park features a paved path that gives easy access to picnic benches. So I am very, very thankful to have found THIS resource!! Once youre in Seattle, there are so many places to choose from for a relaxing stay that its barely worth making suggestions. Very glad to help, and I hope you have a great trip! We followed Scenic Highway 101 for two days, from Washington to Oregon to California. Silver Lake is an exquisite lake that lies in Seaquest State Park in the northwest of Silverlake, an unincorporated community in Washington. What you suggested (Anaheim > SLO/Madonna Inn > Half Moon Bay) is a great two-day itinerary. 1. A scenic 1.5-hour drive from Portland will lead you directly to the salty sea. We are planning on a 7 days trip in Dec 2021. Explore the history of Tillamook by visiting the Quilt Trail and Textile Center, or take part in any number of events and festivalsthe city hosts each year. The PCH heads inland near Lompoc but is the main road you can take to Santa Barbara. They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. Are you planning to stay in bigger cities (Portland, SF, Santa Barbara), or smaller ones? Bus. I have a few questions. Many thanks, alex, Alex, unfortunately, this might not be the trip for you. You will miss Seaside & Cannon Beach on this route, so your next stop will be Newport (#9). 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. When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Seattle? Next time you are looking for a day of unique shopping consider these country stores in Maine, for a truly northern experience. Let me know if you have any other questions while planning or on the road! Valerie, First off, congratulations on your recent wedding! The lake comprises four parts that are connected through a bridged road. Therefore, its an amazing place to start your Pacific Coast Highway trip! You can then follow Stevens Canyon Road, which is closed in winter, into the park. Here you can stretch your legs on the temperate rainforest . Thank you for any other tips. Hi Valerie. The road trip from Portland to Seattle isn't very long, but this makes it a great weekend getaway. My husband, myself and our four kids always take adventurous vacations every summer. Technically, Seattle is not on the Pacific Coast Highway, but you can fly into Seattle and drive one hour south to Olympia to start your PCH road trip. 3. The Cascade Loop Is One of Washington's Most Iconic Drives. And other than his military time at Ft Lewis many years ago, we have never lived nor toured the west coast at all. Ive never been to CA and I know the prices are high. Similar to Haystack Rock, your experience stopping at Devils Punchbowl will depend on the tides. Driving south on the right-hand side of the road, youll have a great view of the ocean and coastline. 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. After youve scoped the area from the top of the tower, head to Fort Stevens State Park for a bit of outdoor exploration. When you merge with Highway 101, turn south for a short detour into Cannon Beach. Greyhound USA also services this route once daily. Both have unique vibes, great restaurants, and access to the outdoors. I had lots of recommendations from a friend, specific to Big Sur, but your article was so encompassing and complete. Tim and Janice. A post shared by Becca Nelson Bailey (@beccamakesthings). Will it be Portland, with its famous food trucks and doughnuts? its also an excellent day trip out of Seattle. Pigeon Point can be a fun rest stop along the Pacific Coast Highway or a quirky one-night stop depending on your itinerary. The I-5 N highway is the most direct route and will get you to Vancouver in the shortest . Thanks for your comment, Pam, but Im a little confused its a 10-day itinerary, so its a 9-night trip. To those of us in Washington, this has become a pretty normal part of our everyday existence. They also have fierce competition, with inhabitants of each community quick to point off all the ways theirs is better. However, if one wants to enjoy most of the attractions along the San . Sireesha, thanks for reading. Rudy. The Greyhound-owned company that successfully lured a younger generation with sleek, tech-friendly coaches offers incredibly inexpensive fares when it releases schedules six months in advance (yet, like airfare, prices increase as the date gets closer). Sounds like a great trip, Rudy! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow CA-1 south its a meandering route, but if you follow it all the way until Muir Beach you can make an optional stop at Muir Woods if you want. Phone +1 253-404-3800. Sorry; I dont have any suggestions for that! Thanks for reading, Dale. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Seattle. Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip. And thanks for confirming what I thought (hoped) that southbound is the best way to go. Youd need to drive about 7-10 hours out of the way depending on the bridge, and miss major stretches of the road . anything you can suggest extra the girls would be wowed by would be great. I would hate to plan a trip only to find out that things are shut down or there are big restrictions placed on free movement. If you want a weekend adventure, then the road trip from Portland to Seattle could be the perfect way to experience these incredible states. Before you head back to Bend, take a scenic car tour around the perimeter of the lake on Rim Drive. I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! Scott, I replied to your email, so you should be all set! 5. Any suggestions. Lan Su Chinese Garden is open to the public daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. This magnificent 14,410-foot (4392.16-meter) peak with a glacier above it is gorgeous and intimidating. This route seems less popular than the other because it's a bit longer. Seattle > Whidbey Island. I want the most scenic route but RT 1 on the cliffs seem risky ? I appreciate you taking the time to answer everyones questions. As far as prices go, this hotel is right down the middle in terms of Seaside resorts. Youll see signs for Hoh Rainforest, a left turn that takes you inland to the forest. 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. Have a wonderful trip! 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). Between the Pacific Coast route and the scenic mountain route, notable stops include Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Seaside, and Lewis and Clark Historic State Park. Other cool attractions include Hurricane Ridge (a popular hiking spot), Elwha River Valley, and Olympic Hot Springs. 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! From Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument to Seattle with side trips is about 208 miles and will take around four hours when done as a straight shot. Thanks! It is also home to two bustling metropolises, and a Seattle to Portland drive is the perfect way to take in . In the morning, we made the 30-minute drive to Mulmonath Falls. This is exactly what I was looking for. In the Santa Barbara area of the article you mentioned that you had an article about Santa Barbara and what to do, I am not able to locate this article. I am planning a 10 day trip the last two weeks in May down the entire PCH from Seattle to San Diego. Thanks for your comment, Archimedes. Its a small detail, but totally uncalifornian to say the PCH. I am doing this trip with the boyfriend end of this month. Have a great trip! 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. Please drop the the. Do you think we could do it in 7 days?? Most of these attractions are in downtown Olympia. From Astoria, take the sea-hugging U.S. Route 101 south 40 minutes to Ecola State Park. Thanks again. There are loads of cool things to explore in/around this small PNW town, including Olympic National Park! 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. The proposed itinerary for 7-day Seattle to San Francisco road trip. Crescent City is the first city youll enter when driving southbound into California along the Pacific Coast Highway (or last if youre headed northbound). Unfortunately, you cant climb the lighthouse steps as it has been closed for restoration since 2001. I would love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. Route 8 will lead you directly into Olympia, where you will need to merge with Interstate 5. Please keep doing what youre doing. Loved your trip adventure and recommendations !! Thanks for your comment, Anthony! Thank you for the article. I hope you can make it happen sooner! We booked a flight to San Jose to explore the citys economic hub and cultural traditions. Thats it! 2. However, youll also get to experience highlights along the coast. Great tips, Kathi! Time & distance from Portland: 80 miles, 1.5 hour drive. You absolutely nailed it. Its only 180 miles of interstate between the two cities and even on the interstate, the scenery is beautiful. I would definitely do some research on inland options Im not as familiar with whats inland though. The worst that happens is you might end up in a slightly less nice place than you had planned. Ill have to stop at these places, Thinking about a pch trip from San frans to LA.. suggestions on where to stop and how many days, I have this post that will help you plan your trip: https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/, Hi Valerie I am looking for a 1 day coastal trip from Anaheim back to San Francisco with 4 kids ranging from Teen to toddler. Hi Valerie, Great tips! By Niki Stojnic. Its a great spot for a short hike to stretch your legs. I hope this helps! We would be flying from GA, so I guess I go fling to Seattle, and the book one home for San Diego? 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? 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