(If you decide to fly to SF, heres a recent post I wrote: https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/). Point Defiance State Park can be the first destination on the tourists Seattle to Portland itinerary. If you want to experience the Pacific Northwest mountains in winter, the Grand Pacific Northwest Road Trip is a great option. Youll have a great time! Great questions, Julie. my best friends and I have talked about driving down from San Francisco to some of the Orange County, CA cities. Depending on the region of the town, the drive often takes three hours on a good day. Am planning to do a 10 day PCH drive in August. You will then reach the Chehalis River. 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. Maria is a travel passionate who loves to share her knowledge and experience with others to help them enjoy their planned excursion. How long does it take to get from Portland to Seattle? Oregon & California are both pretty vegan friendly states so Id expect lots of restaurants have at least an option thats animal-free. We always wanted to do an RV trip, but maybe the PCH is not the one to do that on?? We will go from Seattle to San Diego using your itinerary as our planning guide. Heather, you saw the rest of the post, right? Enjoyed this 14 day article! As the tallest lighthouse on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Pigeon Point Lighthouse is picturesque, and you can view it from several different angles along the nearby coastline. Wed like to be flexible so, if we like somewhere we could stay an extra night, or if we need to push on, we could pull the itinerary forward. Seattle > Whidbey Island. I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! 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. Cherie, thanks for your comment. You can then follow Stevens Canyon Road, which is closed in winter, into the park. You should have no problem finding vegan options! Do you have any recommendations or modifications while traveling with kids. Coastal Route. Also, for a map, I use the app Roadtrippers, which is linked in the post. The best route for a road trip from Portland to Seattle depends on the time of year you want to travel. Were on day 2 of our 8-day PCH Tour.and its great to have your help! When the bridge was built in 1930, it was the longest cantilevered bridge in the United States, originally serving as a private toll bridge. 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. 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). Below are some recommendations or places to stop overnight along the route. Hi, My wife and I are planning a 7-day drive from San Fran to Portland in late June of this year. When it comes to vacation rental options. This is my idea of an itinerary but I need to cut out one of these days or consolidate one since I really only have 8 days. Sign up for Weekend Wanderer and join thousands of readers getting epic travel ideas weekly. 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. I am planning 14 days to take in the sights. 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. Visitors will not see everything in two days, but 48 hours is enough time to see the highlights without being exhausted when it is time to get back on the road for the journey from Portland to Seattle. A post shared by Addicted Travellers (@addictedtravellers). Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? Seattle to San Diego Road Trip: Route Options. Every room is stylishly designed and has every amenity you could need. The road trip between the two cities, on the . If it is summer and you enjoy hiking and mountain scenery, then take the mountain route. Also how many days driving for this trip. If the coast is calling you, make sure you take a route that is enjoyable such as this scenic journey. I appreciate you taking the time to answer everyones questions. The road trip from Portland to Seattle isn't very long, but this makes it a great weekend getaway. Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. We are thinking of late September of 2022 doing a two week drive from north to south. My only additional rec for anyone would be to add the Great Tide Pool in Monterrey to check out little worlds of marine life. I recommend checking out California resources for the pandemic before you book anything. This is such a great resource. Thats it! If you plan on making this drive over a weekend, you should stop once halfway and then another night in Seattle. Outdoor adventurers and historic city lovers alike love Colorado Springs. haha. Ive done Yosemite and Sequoia, so no need for inland stops. It includes winding roads, elevation changes, coastal cliffs, and beaches. Suggestions? I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. To help you plan your road trip, here are two possible road trip itineraries you could take. This was more expensive than a round-trip rental, but I didnt want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway both ways! Whats your thought on late availability rooms at that time of year? Washington State eventually bought the bridge and renamed the Lewis and Clark Bridge in 1965 in honor of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. After making the trip myself in 2014 and exploring the PCH extensively while living in Washington and California, Ive put together this comprehensive guide to the great stops, breathtaking sights, and sense of unbelievable freedom you can find if you drive the Pacific Coast Highway. 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. I know we wont see everything, but its the only time frame we have. Drive time: 2-3.5 hours. Hello good morning my name is Cherie Carmona, Wealth to California a little over a year ago I love it I live in Dana Point California, my husband will be moving here in a few weeks and Im so excited my daughter lives in Seattle so we were considering a road trip to Seattle realistically how long do you think it would take thank you so much God-bless. Can you share with me how long this should take us?? A visit to Tillamook is not just about the cheese; however, a stop by the Tillamook Creamery is still a must-do. Thanks for your comment, Jorge! On some byways, you'll drive from the high desert to snowcapped peaks to verdant valleys in one go. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for sharing your travels and still helping others along their journey! Sounds like a great trip either way drive safe! Los Angeles is the last major city on my list of Pacific Coast Highway stops, and though I have a guide to spending one day in L.A., you can and should spend as much time as you like. Astoria is a small city on the Columbia River. Im planning a trip for end of this year most probably the California part only. Rainier, as it is typically quieter, and the weather is cooler. I am flying into Portland to meet my niece and we will rent a car and drive down the coast to LA to meet another nephew. You can definitely do that! I would like to follow the route on the map. You could easily spend a weekend here, so give it an extra day if you like playing outside. Instead, the coastal route will take you along the rugged bays and headlands of Oregon and Washington. Were renting an RV in Seattle (after few days in hotel) and have 30 days before we drop it off in San Fran (and hotel for a few days). In this post, I promote travel across lands that are the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups. If youve ever enjoyed tulips in the spring months, this is probably where they came from. 33 votes, 34 comments. Choose between six, daily routes that are quicker than Greyhound with just one stop in Tacoma, WA. I havent been to some of those national parks, but they sound amazing! 2. We booked a flight to San Jose to explore the citys economic hub and cultural traditions. Although mighty, the falls are extremely accessible! By Niki Stojnic. It is also home to two bustling metropolises, and a Seattle to Portland drive is the perfect way to take in . Now that Ive moved to this part of California, I know this is true. Very glad to help, and I hope you have a great trip! This first segment is about 114 miles and has two-and-a-half hours of driving if you do it all at once. For accommodation, try a small hotel like the. The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. Day 1 Mount Rainier National Park, WA. drive for about 4 hours. The train from Portland to Seattle takes 3h 25m including transfers and departs five times a day. Vancouver to Victoria: 70 miles/3 hours. From there we are planning on 4 days drive/stop on high 1 (PCH) up to Santa Monica/Malibu then flight out LAX. 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. 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. 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