Day 1: Seattle, WA to Coos Bay, OR. Thanks for your comment, Catherine. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along California Highway 1. The fastest route is via the I-5 N highway, which takes you through some of the most beautiful areas of the Pacific Northwest. You can hike on an extensive 275-mile trail network or explore by bike on the park roads. A frequent Cali traveler warned me of smog in the late summer and recommended late Sept. early Oct. What are your thoughts? This will be a great resource for the trip that we are planning. Thanks for your comment, Anthony! Waterfall Alley, Columbia River Gorge. If you are a baseball fan, you must make a stop at T-Mobile Park even before heading to the city center. Drive safely! Point Defiance State Park is one of the most scenic stopovers between Portland and Seattle. The three-hour drive along I-5 from Seattle to Portland is fairly unremarkable. I do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. We are coming from Pennsylvania. Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. Book a ticket to head up the tower, or even enjoy cocktails at the Loupe Lounge. I have been reading your blog posts about the PCH and think I read where you mentioned a couple of crossover vehicles that would be good rental cars. Starting point: 107 miles from Seattle. Also wondering if you can tell me where I could get a printable version of your article. This site uses cookies. The park also features dozens of food trucks, serving great stadium eats and fine beer. To those of us in Washington, this has become a pretty normal part of our everyday existence. 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. You can learn more about our editorial policies. Sorry, I dont have any special suggestions for kids! Related Read: The 10 Best Scenic Drives in Washington. I love that the Pacific coast has those little hideaways! ), Valerie, My wife and I are planning this very trip you outlined. Hood. If you want to make a stop midway through your journey, Seaside may be the perfect place. Alternatively, Flixbus USA operates a bus from Portland Bus Stop to Seattle 4 times a day. 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. We were thinking October, but after reading all the comments, I think we will make it September. Sounds like youre well on the way to it . I am currently living in crescent city and plan to make the drive in a couple of weeks. Im at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Dont drive down to SD and back up to LA. The weather should be okay but be prepared for coastal fog and chill (as you would experience pretty much all year long!). You can meander the quaint shops in Langley, go kayaking, explore Whidbey Island wineries, eat at the best Whidbey Island restaurants, and more. Youll have a great time! I want to fly out to the NW and drive to Crescent city, then go inland to see the redwoods, Bend, and Mt. The best way to get from Portland to Seattle without a car is to train which takes 3h 25m and costs $35 - $50. Both have way more to explore once you stop or pull off the road. 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). It also features a boardwalk, boathouse, beaches, trails, an off-leash dog park, and an old-growth forest. We fly out of LA. Follow Interstate 5 north out of Portland alongside the Columbia River. Here, a huge boulder towers above the shore and offers beach lovers several up-close photo opportunities. day 4 driving 4 hours. Great trip! Whats the best time of year to do this? Traveling by train from Portland to Seattle usually takes around 3 hours and 32 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Cascades train can make the trip in 3 hours and 25 minutes. I hope you have a great trip whenever you can make it! The coastal route outline is suitable for a road trip all year round. This magnificent 14,410-foot (4392.16-meter) peak with a glacier above it is gorgeous and intimidating. After all, you might as well enjoy one of the most unique things about Washington, our ferry system. 1. Thank you . We figured booking hotel in Seattle for 1 or 2 days for arrival and checking the college. Re: Scenic drive from Seattle to Portland, Oregon. do you have a printable version of this? At this point you should take the exit to CA-1; this is now the Pacific Coast Highway. I dont feel we missed a lot of Oregon coast the views we seen before & after Crater lake were absolutely stunning. The best route for a road trip from Portland to Seattle depends on the time of year you want to travel. If you want to make the most of the popular and beautiful journey, here are the best stops on the Portland to Seattle drive. It is a haven for wildlife lovers, featuring 24 species of fish located in three habitats i.e. Its also a great place to play volleyball, although youll have to bring the volleyball net yourself. Bend is a great city to tack onto your visit, located just 1.5 hours northeast of Crater Lake, 3.5 hours southeast of Portland, and 6.5 hours southeast of Seattle. Thanks for your comment, Archimedes. A post shared by Elliot McGucken 45EPIC (@elliotmcgucken). It looks so cute! This will be tricky as there are no rental cars in Crescent City or anywhere near it. I dont think you can do Yosemite in a day its a four hour drive from the coast to Yosemite (one-way) and youll probably want a full day in the park at minimum. Or. I hope this helps! Start here. The traditional definition of the Pacific Coast Highway is to drive California Highway 1 from San Diego to Leggett (or vice versa); you can extend by adding on U.S. Highway 101 through Northern California and Oregon and Washington coasts. Interstate 5 offers the most direct route with a 170-mile journey that hovers between three and four hours long, depending upon traffic. Before you get started, making sure you pay the feebefore you arrive and nail down a mountaineering/climbing permit from the Park Service. However, given all there is to do along this leg, its worth taking at least an overnight along this segment to see it all. The reason I recommend doing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip north to south is that youll be on the coastal side of the road. Best PCH road trips from Portland. Your number one stop is Garden of the Gods. 5 Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary. You cant go wrong with seeing the views of Puget Sound. Thank you! Im assuiming youve read the whole post, as I do cover a 7-day suggested itinerary, and cover overnight stops along the Oregon coast. Im going to publish a suggested 7-day PCH guide soon! Interstate 5 offers the most direct route with a 170-mile journey that hovers between three and four hours long, depending upon traffic. Planning for 5-6 days of Seattle to San Diego. I hope you can do at least part of the PCH someday soon . I travelled alone from San Francisco to LA while on a work trip years ago and havent stopped thinking about getting my husband out there. I have a few questions. Thanks for your amazing feedback, and Im so glad to help! I especially appreciate your links to stays and dine. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are doing a quick Pacific Coast Highway road trip, head south from Olympia along I-5 to Portland. The Cascades train has four daily departures, while the Coast Starlight offers one daily roundtrip. Youll see signs for Hoh Rainforest, a left turn that takes you inland to the forest. If you're heading up north you can't go wrong with a cruise on Chuckanut Drive. Its only 180 miles of interstate between the two cities and even on the interstate, the scenery is beautiful. (As of July 2018, the PCH reopened after a 2017 mudslide!). Also, about how many miles a day are you traveling on your 10 day itinerary? Day 2: Coos Bay OR, to Redwood National Park, CA. 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. I would love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. Combine the two cities for an exciting two-fer of a vacation, via plane, train, car or bus. You will only be on Interstate 5 for a short period, as you will turn off onto Highway 12. Not sure it matters when you set out from Seattle; itll be great no matter when you go! The first leg of the trip was relatively short thanks to us . Your email address will not be published. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Number of Days: 3. Oregon Coast Road Trip from Portland: Astoria to Cannon Beach. Our kids will be 15 & 10Im just afraid it will be a boring ride for them in the car. My husband are I are planning 20 days to do the PCH(starting in Seattle and ending in San Diego) We are using your the ultimate pacific coast road trip itinerary as a guide. It includes winding roads, elevation changes, coastal cliffs, and beaches. Ferry to Victoria. Heather, you saw the rest of the post, right? The driving distance between Seattle and Portland is about 2 hours and 40 minutes. Eileen, thanks for your comment, and for reading! The views of the colors changing in the trees were surreal. Its really up to you to decide where you want to end and figure out the closest rental car/airport option from there, but there are airports of all sizes throughout the region. Additionally, the substantial rocky outcrop is protected and considered a component of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Thanks Teena. Now we want to take our girls on the same trip. The entrance road takes you through lush Sitka spruce forests that are home to deer and elk. I cant even imagine how incredible it must have been to experience all this in person. Southern California has great weather year-round. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along CA-1. Do you have any tips? What is the average speed on the 101? My wife and I (with our dog) are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. While travelers are here, they may also check out the Coaster Theater, Haystack Gallery, and Les Shirley Park. One day, I would LOVE to make this road trip. Hi there, I am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH from Long Beach, WA to LA? If you are going in winter, follow the coastal route, which will cover 270 miles and take you about 5 hours to drive. You should drive the Pacific Coast Highway southbound! To help you get the most out of your road trip, here are some of the main attractions along the way. Please drop the the. This article appears in print in the October 2018 issue, as part of the . Rainier National Park. Located a mile southwest of downtown Edmonds, Marina Beach Park is a beachfront park featuring a playground and picnicking area. This is great information and very helpful! Thank you for this wonderful review. This is the nearest national park to Portland, Oregon and, on clear days, the mountain is even visible from Portland. I hope this helps! Seen in: Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Road Trips, Washington. By Niki Stojnic. With a curated slate of what matters in your city, Curiocity presents you with the most relevant local food, experiences, news, deals, and adventures. Want to stop over a few nights, and hit some of the destinations you listed. I hope you had a great drive, Mindy! 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! Thanks, Larissa! Seattle skyline over South Lake Union, Washington, Seattle To Portland: How To Make The Most Of This Scenic Road Trip, Where To Stop To Taken In The Most Scenic Views, experience all that the Pacific Northwest area has to offer, 9 Sights To See On The Way From Portland To Seattle, where the illustrious explorers Lewis and Clark finished their cross-country journey in 1805, Astoria: Why Its Any Traveler's Perfect First Oregon Trip. Thanks for reading, Dave. Here are the stops I suggest for a Pacific Coast Highway California road trip itinerary. We are thinking of late September of 2022 doing a two week drive from north to south. Trails, an off-leash dog Park, and Les Shirley Park and checking the college to choose in! The Cascades train has four daily departures, while the Coast Starlight offers one daily roundtrip part! Experiences to choose from in San Diego are planning destinations you listed a great to! Inland to the forest i dont feel we missed a lot of Oregon Coast road from... 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