Due to many cold months, Portland has great coffee culture as well as numerous microbreweries. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Get one last look at Crater Lake, then hit the road; its time to make our way to the Oregon coast! If I were you, Id stay away from the hotels near Fishermans Wharf as this place is tourist central and therefore uber crowded ALL THE TIME (although Hotel Zephyr looks pretty rad). 1) HOME SFO, 2) SEA HOME. Rainier). Newport is a great mix of attractions, interesting museums, seaside beauty, and delicious food. If you are up for a short hike, head to YaXaik Trail (1.15 mile long). Make a short detour to meet friendly owners and taste their wines while being educated about each wine and how to drink them. If you are looking for centrally located hotels, we recommend looking into The Society Hotel 3* or Washington Plaza Portland. : The perfect stop for a late lunch, depending on how much exploring/sand-duning you did earlier. However, if finding accomodation inside the park is important to you, book super early, as there are only two inns located within. A gem of the Pacific Northwest is the Willamette Valley, known for its 1300 wineries and vineyards. San Francisco to Seattle - A 12-day Road Trip - Leisurely Drives (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Today is the final day of our trip the day we cross the Golden Gate Bridge into The City by the Bay. If its not too late, have a look at Carson Mansion. The quicker, more direct route along the I-5 is still a hefty 807-mile drive. Promise me you wont miss a day or two in. 1) HOME SFO, 2) SEA HOME. Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most spectacular national parks in Washington, with stunning Mount Rainier being the highlight of this park. If you had to choose between Napa and Sonoma, which one would you? Thankfully there are numerous options outside the park in nearby communities, including Packwood, Lewis County, and Mineral Lake. Where to Stay: You can choose to stay within the park or just outside, your choice. Just my recommendation but Id hate to miss that amazing area! The Ultimate San Francisco To Seattle Road Trip: 55+ Stops You Need To Make In Between July 26, 2022 Looking for a West Coast road trip that features unbelievable waterfalls, coastal villages, wineries, redwoods, or volcanic geological sights? In order to drive from San Francisco to Seattle in a reasonable amount of time (1-2+ weeks depending on the length of your trip), youll be driving almost every day, with some being longer driving days than others. San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip: Take a Pacific Northwest Drive. TIP: hike counter-clockwise, this way you will meet fewer crowds along the way. Rainier. Read Next: Multnomah Falls and the Colombia River Gorge. The trip from San Francisco to Seattle can span 810 to 980 miles depending on your route of choice. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Once you arrive, get ready for some small-town nature fun. The trails starting in Paradise intersect with several waterfalls along the way. A few recommended stops between Coos Bay and Cannon Beach, where well be ending the drive today. Proving Travel is Possible with a Full-Time 9-5, last Updated: November 2, 2022california crater lake lassen national park mendocino napa oregon portland road trip san francisco Seattle Washington. Youll find plenty of options in Redding, I can promise you that. All the portions are very generous so you can split starters and dessert. Tip go to Mos Seafood and Chowder for the best crab in town! Make an early start for a roughly 2-hour drive to Toketee Falls. 7:38 pm Mount Rainier. This is a great beach to watch the sunset! The route would take you through Portland to the Columbia River Gorge, Hood River and Mount Hood. The lake was formed in a 2,148-foot (655 m) deep caldera around 7,700 years ago and is only filled with snow and rainfall. Thank). Your email address will not be published. surely steals the show when it comes to coastal road trips, but Oregons coast is one for the bucket list as well! Be sure to stop at 1) Bastendorff Beach (never-crowded and always beautiful), 2) Sunset Bay State Park (protected by towering sea cliffs with beautiful sandy beaches and amazing tide pools), 3) Cape Arago Lighthouse Viewpoint (cant go in but you can get fantastic views from here), 4) Shore Acres State Park and Botanical Gardens (for those who cant get enough blooms in their life), 5) Simpson Beach (tons of migrating whales and hundreds of seals and sea lions among other wildlife), 6) Shell Island (breeding and rest areas for seabirds and Marine mammals), and finally 7) Cape Arago State Park. As much as we loved San Fran, getting there was just as gorgeous (if not even more so). Seattle We could come up with many combinations. First of all, youll probably want to spend the morning and early afternoon in Cannon Beach since you most likely arrived at night the previous day. If you choose to venture on over to Napa for a few days, your best bet is to drive West to Bodega Bay from Napa, and continue your drive up north via Highway 1 (also commonly referred to as the Pacific Coast Highway all my favorite stops here!). Head out on an early morning balloon flight above the valley, worth the ridiculous AF wake-up call. Sure, the bed and breakfasts look cozy, but they come with a hefty price tag. Seattle to San Francisco road trip is one of the best ways to explore three different states while traveling through various climate zones. Mendocino is designated as a Historic Preservation District with lots of historic mansions and other attractions as well as homely diners and cute inns. Rainier. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I promise that each park will give you those towering redwoods youre so looking forward to (and theres actually three different types!) Hit the road and head south to Portland for the next fun day. Newport, Oregon 5. Todays primarily a driving day, but dont worry, theres tons of scenic stops along the way, including scenic seaside towns, sand dunes, spectacular lighthouses, and cheese! Over the course of the road trip, expect to drive approximately, 38 hours (one way) and around 1800 miles. And lucky for you (any myself), I already did this same exact road trip , If you choose to venture on over to Napa for a few days, your best bet is to drive West to Bodega Bay from Napa, and continue your drive up north via Highway 1 (also commonly referred to as the, , dont miss Patricks Saltwater Taffy, Wild Flour Bread, a quick stop in the spooky town of Jenner, Salt Point State Park, and the Point Arena Lighthouse (my favorite! If youre feeling fancy definitely check out the Palace Hotel, Hotel Vitale (complete with rooftop yoga), and Intercontinental Hotel Mark Hopkins SF (super elegant and sophisticated), and Hotel Zetta (Yerba Buena), the Phoenix Hotel (funky and a pastel paradise), and Clift Hotel (in the super cute Nob Hill) if quirky boutique hotels are more your thing. From sculpture parks and waterfront activities, to. The straight drive from San Francisco to Seattle is 808 miles and takes about 14 hours. Looking to check something off your bucket list? Since this is such a beautiful part of the country, with numerous national parks, scenic vistas, and iconic destinations, you'll want to spend some time at each location. Since youll probably be pressed on time during this San Francisco to Seattle road trip, itll be difficult to plan your day in Mt. If youve never visited the city before and/or have ample time to explore, check out my favorite things to do in San Francisco (Ive listed out all my favorite tourist attractions, big city views, restaurants, and oh so much more). Check out lodging in, Had enough of the trees and craving some 1,940+ foot deep lake time? . The complete drive around the lake is 33 miles, which is completely paved and easily drivable in the summer months, with tons of scenic overlooks to view and ooh and awe at! I like to search via this site in order to compare rental companies to see who has the best price. Road Trip from San Francisco to Seattle - 3 Day Itinerary. 2. That mountain sure is something. The Ace is close to all the sites with plenty of public transport options nearby as well if needed. There is a good chance to see lots of wildlife, including marmots and bears! WorldNomads offers travel insurance for attractive rates. Once you are finished with the hike, relax and have lunch at Paradise Inn lunch room. After lunch (hopefully of freshly caught crustaceans), your route south connects the jutting headlands of the Three Capes Scenic Loop and winds through green pastures, small beach towns, sand dunes and . For more sea glass you may want to visit the Sea Glass Museum. I strongly encourage you to go up during both daytime and at night as you get totally different aspects of the city this way. However, if finding accomodation inside the park is important to you, book super early, as there are only two inns located within. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. And as a plus, the beach isnt too sore on the eyes! *** Want to extend your trip even further?! If you want to ensure youll be able to drive around the perimeter of the lake (Rim Drive), schedule your trip for late July, August, or September. Road Trip The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco By Jess Moss That Pacific Coast Highway route from San Francisco to Los Angeles gets all the attention, but it's not the only West Coast drive that should be on your map. Yachats is at one of the most beautiful parts of Oregon Coast. Located a little north of San Francisco, Sonoma is composed of small and picturesque towns such as Healdsburg, Guerneville (the best option to a night of party) and Forestville. Check out lodging in Crescent City, Arcata, and Trinidad. ), and The Courtyard (great location). Thanks! drive for about 2.5 hours. Seattle To San Fran: What To Do During This Epic Road Trip Yachats shore is rough and rugged shores due to volcano lava flows forming black basalt rock. Another popular stop is the marvelous Shasta Lake, surrounded by mountains with barren trees that create a magnificent effect with the lake's crystal clear waters and the blue color of the sky. Reach out to Gabi on kyrillosgabi3@hotmail.com, Road Trip Patagonia: Driving Scenic Ruta 40 From Esquel To Bariloche, Napa Valley in California is the most famous stop on the San Francisco, Need A Day Trip from Las Vegas? Pacific Coast Highway road trip summer washington Post Summary: The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary + All The Stops Along The Way The Pacific Coast Highway is easily considered to be one of the most iconic road trip routes in the world! San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip Click on the link below for a list of the West Coast USA road trip itinerary. With quiet seaside coves, bustling beach towns, and secluded hideaways, you wont want to miss the beauty that is Oregon. and leave at 5:22 pm. If you enjoy quiet walks and being alone with nature, this park may be for you! ), plus the cost of hotels on the way back). Doesnt get much better than that! Washington Park is highly rated among both locals and visitors A great retreat in a busy city. , including olive-oil tasting (carb-loaded drizzled tastings, anyone? Visitor? Rainier throughout your hike. San Francisco to Seattle drive - plan a road trip It's not hard to believe either. Yes, you read that right the EARTH! A few other Seattle suggestions for your few days in the city: take a harbor tour along the Puget Sound for unbeatable city and water views, check out the madness of the Museum of Pop Culture (formerly the EMP Museum), take photos at Olympic Sculpture Park, eat everything at Pike Place Market, visit the gum wall and the first Starbucks, and stuff your face with all the noms throughout the city. : This is a popular whale watching site and displays an intriguing geology. wait in line for Cowlicks Ice Cream. Rather stay in the car (why though?) Fun fact: Mount Rainier is actually a volcano! This is also a great place to spend the night if youll be splitting the drive from Coos Bay to Cannon Beach into two days. Crater lake is the deepest lake in the United States 594m at its deepest point. Its a good idea to make your way back to Portland to slice off a few hours of drive time to Mt. Eugene city, the birthplace of NIKE, is next on the list and is best to visit during summer for hiking trails. Dont get confused though Redwood National Park is actually a series of a few stunning National and State parks of protected forests, beaches and grasslands along the rugged Northern California coast. I teach 9-5 professionals how to maximize their limited time off with carefully planned out itineraries, long weekend inspiration, and general travel planning tips. Bandon, Oregon 4. Theyre both absolutely stunning and feature lush, rolling hills full of vineyards, so the scenery wont really help make up your mind.