Thanks to the Pacific Coast and rugged mountains, Oregon and Washington are filled with natural beauty. Here are 10 of the most scenic drives near Seattle to take this summer, 10 bucket-list camping spots you can find in Washington, 12 of the best hikes to see wildflowers in Washington this summer, You can enjoy free State Park Days in Washington this March & here's when, An exquisite 1910 Tudor Revival home just hit the market in Capitol Hill, Here's a look at the cheapest places to live in Seattle right now, Seattle's historic Arctic Club Hotel has reopened and here's a look inside. Lastly, Pismo is a great stop for a midday workout on the road, with a huge stretch of beach to walk/run on. from Seattle to San Diego along this route . You can hike on an extensive 275-mile trail network or explore by bike on the park roads. Enjoyed this 14 day article! I recently discovered Mendocino on a weekend trip and fell in love with the small town. And other than his military time at Ft Lewis many years ago, we have never lived nor toured the west coast at all. When I first moved to Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula was one of the first road trips I made. Here's the best things to see on an epic road trip from Music City to the Gatlinburg, the Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains. From touristy attractions to woodsy explorations, theres something for everyone to enjoy in the hip city. Thank you so much for this information! And thanks for confirming what I thought (hoped) that southbound is the best way to go. Heres one more spectacular spot to drive in the city. I will be driving from Dallas to Seattle. Portland is the only city on this list thatisnton the coast, and its definitely a trip extender if you want to visit Portland while driving the Pacific Coast Highway. I had lots of recommendations from a friend, specific to Big Sur, but your article was so encompassing and complete. The leading independent voice for aviation news and insight. of the PCH? The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. Now if you need some Twin Peaks vibes in your life, a drive to the stunning Snoqualmie Falls will surely do you well. After all, seeing some snow can do all of us well. Would there be a place where the rental could be left in those regions? Relaxing in a secluded cabin deep in the woods under a starlit sky is one of the best experiences you can have in Oregon. Taking my granddaughter on an epic journey. San Diego is known for its Zoo and was made Instagram famous for Potato Chip Rock. If you just want the best of the best in Airbnb rentals, this list will get you to the right place. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Its mostly side trips places where youll have divert from the most direct route until you reach Seattle. Oregon's nearly 400-mile coastline is famous national-wide for good reason. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue along CA-1 to San Diego, your final stop on this PCH road trip. We just did this trip in October 2019, We started in Portland to Cannons beach then headed south on HWY 101. Scott, I replied to your email, so you should be all set! Whether youre planning a San Diego to San Francisco, Seattle to San Francisco, San Francisco to San Diego, Seattle to San Diego road trip, or somewhere in between (Los Angeles! You did a fantastic job with this giude, everything is straight to the point but provided in a fun and educational way. Seeing some nice beaches is also of interest. 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. The suggested route below zigzags a bit and adds quite a bit of distance. Thank you for the article. 270 miles. Astoria, like Aberdeen in Washington, is a great destination for lovers of pop culture. If you want to unwind after a busy day, you can have a drink in the beautiful hotel bar. 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. Best of all, theres no cell service so theyll have to look around to see them . We are so overwhelmed. 2. Well folks we have to say were pretty dang blessed to have multiple beautiful and scenic mountains in our state. Its a small detail, but totally uncalifornian to say the PCH. Where is Crater Lake? Further along the coast, you can book a stay at any of the campgrounds in the numerous state parks. Do you have any recommendations or modifications while traveling with kids. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Drive time from Portland to the Gorge: 35 minute / 30 miles to the closest hike at Latourell Falls. Thanks so much for any tips you can suggest on having adequate funds! You probably wont have any snow its usually just rain in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon & Washington). flickr/ Maciek Lulko. Nothing scream Pacific Northwest like the striking Oregon coastline. Any other advise you could give us. You can make a quick stop at Lake Sacajawea while driving from Portland to Seattle. The top stops along the way from Portland to Seattle (with short detours) are Chihuly Garden and Glass, Pike Place Fish Market, and Space Needle. I was wondering if you could suggest a place for stargazing. You cant go wrong with seeing the views of Puget Sound. The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. Instead of rushing, taking a more scenic route will turn this road trip into the perfect weekend adventure. 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. So if youre feeling really hyped about Mount Rainier you might as well check out Mount Baker too. Near Mount Saint Helens, lodging is almost exclusively campgrounds. Now we want to take our girls on the same trip. 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. Thanks for your comment, Catherine. Have a great drive! The weather on the coast in winter is typically very wet, although there can be quite a lot of variation depending on the month. We are planning a trip next year from New Orleans while my husband has a conference in Portlandwe were thinking of driving Hwy 1 down to Disneylandand catching some of the beautiful beaches and state parks. . We are from Ohio. 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. Question, if we were to add a stop, possible one night stay at Crater Lake, where would you suggest doing this from without missing much, (or any?) Regarding openings, Im sorry but I cant keep up with all of the places and changing restrictions in the various counties and states. The Cascades train has four daily departures, while the Coast Starlight offers one daily roundtrip. . Im sure someone else has asked this but..When is the best time to travel PCH (traveling Southbound through California to San Diego in hopes of warm days and cool(ish) nights)? Thanks again for this excellent resource. Just 15 minutes from the California border, the 12-mile long forested park clings to a spectacular, craggy coastline dotted with sandy beaches and sea stacks, which . Thanks for reading, Jan. Then flying back to Michigan. staying at decent places 3-4 star properties. Bob's Java Jive is a terrific spot to stop to have a beer with the locals, too. This route seems less popular than the other because it's a bit longer. 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 all of this great information! We are planning on a 7 days trip in Dec 2021. Maria promotes initiatives that make the world a better place to live and enjoy! Angie, thanks so much for your comment! Id go with a mid-size car for your rental. Day 3 Tillamook, OR and Three Capes Scenic Drive. I dont have it I just want to make sure businesses are open? I have suggestions on dates earlier in the article to help you figure out how long to do the trip and where to stop. Do you happen to know or can you suggest a source with info about the road conditoin in the light of recent terrible weather in California. Rainier National Park. A couple of reasons: 1. Sitting at 6,035 feet at the base of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs makes for a great staycation for all ages. If not, spend your day exploring the Seattle waterfront to see all of the city from above. Do you highly recommend the LONG route OR is thru Mendocino only enough? Ann, thanks so much for your comment. Just starting to think about a 1st time road trip from Az to Washington and back among the PCH!!?? Please drop the the. Many thanks, alex, Alex, unfortunately, this might not be the trip for you. Combine the two cities for an exciting two-fer of a vacation, via plane, train, car or bus. Hi Valerie- What is the best time of year for this 10 day trip? Id find an interesting podcast for everyone in the car and have the kids keep an eye out for whales and wildlife. I already have the vista points where we will stop for photos and eating. Extremely informative. Thanks! If you go as big as a Suburban or Tahoe, youll be way to big and clunky to enjoy the road! Manny from Massachusetts. Every room is stylishly designed and has every amenity you could need. Have other questions about driving the Pacific Coast Highway? I love all the details and recommendations! We took this trip several years ago. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. This will be a great tool in planning. There is so much to see and do in downtown Seattle you are going to want to spend at least one night there. Your email will not be provided to third parties. I plan to rent a car in Los Angeles in the summer and make a similar journey, Hello! You can also attend music concerts at the park. Thanks for your comment, Patty! I do have the same recommendations youll see A LOT of fellow bikers/trikers out on the PCH; its a great ride on 2-3 wheels as well as 4 wheels . I make all of my must see recommendations in this post, so I recommend checking out the section on California to find the ones that sound interesting to you. But, we need to go the opposite way; starting in San Diego and heading north. When venturing from the i5 highway, the trip takes approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes of non-stop driving. In this post, I promote travel across lands that are the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups. Related read: 10 Serene Cabin Rentals Near Seattle, Washington, 12 Romantic Getaways in Washington to Take Your Sweetheart, 10 Marvelously Unique Places to Stay in Washington, The 9 Best Beaches in Oregon to Enjoy the Pacific Vibes. Tickets cost $35 - $50 and the journey takes 3h 25m. At this point you should take the exit to CA-1; this is now the Pacific Coast Highway. 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