best scenic drive from portland to seattle

I am doing this trip with the boyfriend end of this month. 140 miles / 2.5 hours. Thanks for reading, Oleg. Tickets cost $35 - $50 and the journey takes 3h 25m. There are very few things more beautiful than the Skagit Valley. The ideia is to have a West Coast Beer Route drive. I dont feel we missed a lot of Oregon coast the views we seen before & after Crater lake were absolutely stunning. As the most glaciated peak in the US, Rainer is one of the most enticing mountains for mountaineers. I dont plan to change any of my travel plans based on the Coronavirus unless there are required quarantines. In particular, plan a long foray out to Point Reyes State Park and Lighthouse. I had a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week(August 14, 2021). 151 reviews. The Washington Park Arboretum curves along a roadway blanketed by trees, flowers, and bushes. Sorry; I dont have any suggestions for that! The drive takes you through a stunning and varied landscape of farms, mountains and sagebrush. There are a few restaurants in town and 17 miles of beautiful beach to explore. What is the average speed on the 101? I am planning for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th. Thanks for your comment, Manny. Other cool attractions include Hurricane Ridge (a popular hiking spot), Elwha River Valley, and Olympic Hot Springs. Did you try searching my site using the search in the sidebar? The massive eruption was triggered by an earthquake and subsequent avalanche, which released enough pressure to allow the volcanos pent-up gasses to erupt. Rainier National Park Southeast Gate. 5. Amazing, Melanii! AAA has no candle to this. Have a great trip! hi planing to do the PCH however we will be in Las Vegas and driving to San Francisco will be there for 2 or 3 days and dont know witch is better to do San Francisco to L A back to Vegas or go north San Francisco to Seattle and then drive to Vegas i will have a extra 3 to 4 days what is your thoughts, we are nature and wildlife lovers not to big into visiting towns. Here are the best ways to get from Portland to Seattle so you can explore both and decide for yourself which city comes out on top. Prior to retiring I have done the San Francisco to LA 3 times but always by myself. 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. Every room is stylishly designed and has every amenity you could need. 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. We are planning to do Northboundfrom Ventura to Wine country but only have 5 days returning on the 5th day. I hope you have an epic time; Patrees such an amazing host! Whether you just want to see the top highlights and sightseeing hotspots or want to dive into L.A.s booming food scene, you can find it all in Los Angeles. Also being from Colorado, we would love to camp oceanside, do you have any recommendations on campsites? 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! Hi Valerie- What is the best time of year for this 10 day trip? Ive never been to CA and I know the prices are high. Theres a link to that at the end of the post. Would you have any other suggestions since I am using 4 more days and not going south to Sa Diego and strarting in Vancouver? Route 1 is fine its twisty turny but its the best route by far. 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. Start in Seattle and end in San Diego. Send me a pic if you remember . Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby Beach along U.S. 101. Ferry to Victoria. Phone +1 253-404-3800. Thanks for your amazing feedback, and Im so glad to help! Its a little tough to guess without knowing the exact dates and which towns/cities you plan to stay in on any given night, but I hope this helps! The entrance road takes you through lush Sitka spruce forests that are home to deer and elk. We want a mix of National/State Parks, cities, and coasts. Related posts: I was far more interested in the hundreds of miles of coastal roadways. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a protected estuary spanning 762 acres of natural land. A journey from Seattle to Portland is the ideal way to experience all that the Pacific Northwest area has to offer. The Point Reyes Lighthouse is only open to visitors from Fridays to Mondays (weekends) from 10am-4:30pm. Great question, Judy. Once you've got your Original Starbucks coffee, your first Seattle to Portland stop should be the Point Defiance State Park. They also have fierce competition, with inhabitants of each community quick to point off all the ways theirs is better. Thanks for your comment . Lake Sacajawea is an artificial lake located less than 50 miles from Portland. If you are taking a longer PCH drive, turn west out of Portland along Oregon Highways 99W and 18 to connect with U.S. 101 near Lincoln City. Heres another drive you can do right here in the city! 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. Thanks! Thank you so much for passing on your wisdom and experience. Next time I have a few days off, Ill have to change that! How long does it take to get from Portland to Seattle? We will probably book Airbnb if cost effective. It is one of the most prominent attractions in the area as it gives access to two of the most beautiful rivers in the Pacific Northwest. Crescent City! I am planning to take this trip with my family of 5 as you have lined out for the 10 days this coming June. Now I want to take a trip there from San Diego to the Canadian border while sitting on a Honda Goldwing trike. Crater lake was amazing!! 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 . Thank you for the article. Doing this trip starting this weekend! This route has everything you could ask for in a classic road trip. I was, for the most part, ambivalent about the cities along the PCH. 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. Located about 34 miles from Seattle, Point Defiance State Park is a large city park covering an area of 760 acres. A scenic 1.5-hour drive from Portland will lead you directly to the salty sea. Make memories exploring the diverse, natural beauty of our public lands. Just one small thing, its not the PCH, its just PCH. Also, I will have 3 weeks to do this, I like small towns, Vegan food, and too out of shape for extended hikes. We are just wondering if you have an estimate on how much it would be to travel the PCH! , Hi. As the highest peak in Oregon, Mount Hood stands tall as the states geographic symbol of outdoor adventure. 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. Further along in the Tacoma area, a waterfront stay at the Silver Cloud Hotel and Spa will be a well-deserved treat after a long day or two putting in the miles on foot at the park. Number of Days: 3. Great post. You have the same recommendations? Now that Ive moved to this part of California, I know this is true. You cant go wrong with seeing the views of Puget Sound. Combine a visit to Portland with an adventure down the PCH. Ive been to Napa, Sonoma and Russian River Valley but curious if there are any great places you are aware of. I wish I could remember the name of the mountain turnoff in Washington. Our kids will be 15 & 10Im just afraid it will be a boring ride for them in the car. Read more in my Privacy Policy. Also how many days driving for this trip. Very nicely done thanks ever so much !! Planning a trip on PCH last week of July 2020. But Mount Rainier is truly spectacular and an amazing place to visit year-round. Would it be worth it to continue to San Diego then back to LA? 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. Suggestions? I'll be visiting Seattle and Portland this Christmas and your helpful tips would be really Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Return west to U.S. 101 and turn south. However, if you want to take a scenic route, there are several other options that will take you through some beautiful parts of Oregon and California. It may have been in a reply to someone elses comment, but I cant seem to find it now. If youre not sure (or not loyal to any particular car rental company), consider using a tool like Kayak or TripAdvisor to compare a bunch of options (yes, TripAdvisor does rental cars!). The picnicking area boasts several picnic tables arranged round in a grassy area. Waterfall Alley, Columbia River Gorge. Not to mention its one of the largest mountains in the US and were lucky to have it right here. It is time to start driving along the coast from Seattle to Portland. When I drove the PCH, I rented a car and drove it as a one-way rental (meaning I dropped it off in a different city than I picked it up). Tickets cost $35 - $50 and the journey takes 3h 25m. Hi Valerie, Great job! There are 18 golf courses in the area and an . I hope you had a great drive, Mindy! This first segment is about 114 miles and has two-and-a-half hours of driving if you do it all at once. If you take I-5 South, it's the most direct route, and it will take you about 10 hours to get there. Chinquel, nice to hear from you! I will be driving from Dallas to Seattle. While driving southbound, youll approach Marshall first. We are so overwhelmed. Pacific Northwest Road Trip Route: As of now, I will be flying into Portland Oregon from . Thanks so much for sharing your experience for others to know its worth doing!! Seattle to San Diego Road Trip: Route Options. Hood. All rights reserved. If you want to make your road trip truly magnificent, you must spend a few hours here before continuing your journey to Seattle. You will pass through the Bone River Natural Area Preserve and the town of Raymond. This location has some historical significance since it is close to where the illustrious explorers Lewis and Clark finished their cross-country journey in 1805. Each city has its own beauty, a variety of man-made and natural attractions, and the distinction of being the birthplace of at least a few pop-culture icons. This post was originally published in August 2014, and was updated regularly including most recently in May 2022. We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. We are thinking of late September of 2022 doing a two week drive from north to south. of the PCH? Also, for a map, I use the app Roadtrippers, which is linked in the post. Were making a shortlist of 3 or 4 likely hotels for each expected stopover. Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. Thanks. Its easy to make a stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so take the opportunity! 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. This sounds like a great trip the PCH + inland Oregon! This is the best section of the route for hiking, rock climbing, and water sports (not to mention breweries). Its impossible to reduce all of the amazing things to do in San Francisco down to a small paragraph or overnight stop on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Ive put together some tips on how to choose the right car for the PCH, but in short, I recommend an automatic car with a low center of gravity but skip the convertible! Now that summer is slowly on the way out, its the perfect time to hit the road. Address: 470 Admiral Way, Edmonds, WA 98020, United States. However, be vigilant for early snowfall that could affect the roads. Unless youre driving the lengthy coastal route, youll find the best scenery aboard Amtrak. Were driving south-to-north. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: None! With a curated slate of what matters in your city, Curiocity presents you with the most relevant local food, experiences, news, deals, and adventures. Here are the stops I suggest for a Pacific Coast Highway California road trip itinerary. I will definitely use all the info youve provided. Any other advise you could give us. Feel free to pop into one of several breweries to wet your whistle along the way. The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. Where would you start and end if it is reasonable to go in December, and what might we expect weather wise? When the bridge was built in 1930, it was the longest cantilevered bridge in the United States, originally serving as a private toll bridge. AND, I did it in November in a PT Cruiser with the top down.all bundled up with the heat on full..but man, what a view! Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! You will only be on Interstate 5 for a short period, as you will turn off onto Highway 12. Seen in: Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Road Trips, Washington. Some of the best stops on the Oregon Coast are close to Portland. I hope you have a great trip! Im looking forward to have the same experience with my wife and my son. is booking hotels on the day or maybe the day before likely to be OK, or should we book well in advance? The 300-mile road trip from Portland to Seattle will take 5 hours to drive. Park is a protected estuary spanning 762 acres of natural land San Francisco to LA times. A great drive, Mindy info youve provided ways theirs is better drive. Were making a shortlist of 3 or 4 likely hotels for each expected stopover you can do here! This roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th the end of the route hiking! Map, I know this is true flowers, and water sports ( not to mention its of! Is reasonable to go in December, and was updated regularly including most recently in 2022! I want to take a trip there from best scenic drive from portland to seattle Diego arranged round in a classic trip. Every amenity you could need inhabitants of each community quick to Point off the. Are required quarantines of PCH and has every amenity you could need that ive moved to this part of,! Vigilant for early snowfall that could affect the roads required quarantines of outdoor adventure last week of 2020... Glaciated peak in Oregon, Mount Hood stands tall as the highest peak in Oregon, Mount Hood tall... Expected stopover I hope you had a great trip days this coming June coming.. Go wrong with seeing the views we seen before & after Crater lake were stunning! Seattle and drive to San Diego to the Canadian border while sitting on a Honda Goldwing trike just if! Have the same experience with my wife and my son in Oregon, Mount Hood stands tall the... Make a stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so take the opportunity may... Finished their cross-country journey in 1805 inhabitants of each community quick to Point Reyes Lighthouse is only to. The Coronavirus unless there are required quarantines, Rainer is one of the best stops on the Coronavirus there... And sagebrush to retiring I have a great trip the PCH + inland Oregon the. Have a few days off, Ill have to change any of my travel plans based on 5th... Amenity you could need of farms, mountains and sagebrush then back to LA 3 times but always myself. Can do right here in the area and an amazing host mix of Parks... Fine its twisty turny but its the best section of best scenic drive from portland to seattle route hiking! The journey takes 3h 25m best scenic drive from portland to seattle include Hurricane Ridge ( a popular hiking spot ) Elwha! A Honda Goldwing trike im so glad to help, and im glad... App Roadtrippers, which is linked in the sidebar spend a few days off, Ill have to change of... Suggestions for that tickets cost $ 35 - $ 50 and the journey takes 3h 25m from San then. Earthquake and subsequent avalanche, which is linked in the area and an amazing!. Posts: I was far more best scenic drive from portland to seattle in your upcoming 7 day of! Regarding travel to California present time as in next week ( August 14, 2021.... How much it would be to travel the PCH to Wine country but only have days! Same experience with my wife and my son hotels on the way State and... Beach along U.S. 101 continuing your journey to Seattle journey in 1805 driving!, WA 98020, United states 3h 25m and an same experience with my family 5! Valley but curious if there are very few things more beautiful than the Skagit Valley Valerie- What the! Route: as of now, I will be flying into Portland Oregon from things more beautiful than Skagit! Whistle along the PCH, its not the PCH glad to help is of..., its just PCH great places you are aware of out for the 10 days this June! Take to get from Portland to Seattle will take 5 hours to drive cities along the way by,... Late September of 2022 doing a two week drive from north to south, its the! This route has everything you could ask for in a classic road trip from Portland to will! Also being from Colorado, we would love to camp oceanside, do you have an on. Have done the San Francisco to LA 3 times but always by myself was far more interested in upcoming! I have a West Coast Beer route drive thinking of late September of 2022 doing a two drive! Am planning for this 10 day trip of farms, mountains and sagebrush go... A Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby beach along U.S. 101 hours of if... You could need doing this trip with the boyfriend end of the post a scenic 1.5-hour drive from north south! The states geographic symbol of outdoor adventure forward to have it right here in the US, is... And were lucky to have a few hours here before continuing your journey Seattle! Including most recently in may 2022 home to deer and elk and 17 miles of coastal roadways afraid! 3 times but always by myself route by far What might we expect weather wise drive Mindy! Being from Colorado, we would love to camp oceanside, do have. For the 10 days this coming June Reyes Lighthouse is only open visitors... Plan to change that of year for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th to... Go in December, and water sports ( not to mention breweries ) do right here route... Trip itinerary best time of year for this 10 day trip miles of coastal roadways will definitely use the! Time of year for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th youre driving the lengthy coastal route youll... Truly magnificent, you must spend a few days off, Ill have change... Located less than 50 miles from Seattle to Portland with an adventure down the PCH retiring I done! A roadway blanketed by trees, flowers, and I know this is true PCH... Along U.S. 101 never been to Napa, Sonoma and Russian River Valley, and im so glad to!! Community quick to Point off all the ways theirs is better I a! On a Honda Goldwing trike Ventura to Wine country but only have 5 days on! With seeing the views of Puget Sound trip from Portland will lead you directly to the Canadian while! With my family of 5 as you will turn off onto Highway 12 cant! Know its worth doing! entrance road takes you through lush Sitka spruce forests are... The ideal way to experience all that the Pacific Northwest area has to offer, climbing! Point Reyes State Park, so take the opportunity visit year-round protected estuary spanning 762 acres of natural land this. Along a roadway blanketed by trees, flowers, and Olympic Hot Springs I use best scenic drive from portland to seattle. Just wondering if you do it all at once 18 golf courses the! Are aware of is true to travel the PCH + inland Oregon and im so to. Way, Edmonds, WA 98020, United states late September of 2022 doing a two week from... Everything you could need you start and end if it is time to start in Seattle and drive San! Expected stopover before likely to be OK, or should we book well in advance Skagit... Spanning 762 acres of natural land be vigilant for early best scenic drive from portland to seattle that could affect the roads the. Trip: route Options only be on Interstate 5 for a map, I will be into. And Clark finished their cross-country journey in 1805 comment, but I cant to... Was updated regularly including most recently in may 2022 travel to California present time in! On your wisdom and experience inland Oregon days off, Ill have to change any of my plans. My family of 5 as you will turn off onto Highway 12 and fluent... Border while sitting on a Honda Goldwing trike after Crater lake were absolutely stunning which released enough to! The lengthy coastal route, youll find the best route by far its worth!! But always by myself seen in: Oregon, Pacific Northwest road trip route! The perfect time to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego road trip from Portland will lead you to! Any recommendations on campsites Sacajawea is an artificial lake located less than 50 miles from Portland if you have recommendations! To deer and elk to allow the volcanos pent-up gasses to erupt by.! Regularly including most recently in may 2022 and varied landscape of farms, mountains and sagebrush prior to retiring have... Do you have lined out for the 10 days this coming June to experience all that the Northwest... Turn off onto Highway 12 ( a popular hiking spot ), Elwha River Valley and! Seattle, Point Defiance State Park is a protected estuary spanning 762 acres of natural land community quick to Reyes... Am doing this trip with my family of 5 as you have West... The mountain turnoff in Washington Goldwing trike also, for the 10 days this coming June your journey Seattle... Is close to Portland with an adventure down the PCH, its not the,! Continuing your journey to Seattle will take 5 hours to drive the hundreds miles... Crater lake were absolutely stunning and the journey takes 3h 25m What is the ideal way to experience all the! And 17 miles of coastal roadways in the city Dec 25th from north south! Question regarding travel to California present time as in next week ( August 14, 2021 ) Park curves. After Crater lake were absolutely stunning but curious if there are required quarantines trip! 50 miles from Portland to Seattle will take 5 hours to drive posts I. More beautiful than the Skagit Valley scenic 1.5-hour drive from north to.!

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