Shasta Lake. Guided tours take you through the entire boat and tell you about its past. Mount Rainier is most definitely a landmark in Washingtons landscape. The best thing is that you can get in the water accompanied by professional divers to get an even closer look. Drive past Netarts all the way to Cape Lookout. Together, they make up a World Heritage Site, so definitely not to be missed, considering they are the tallest trees on Earth! 14+ days would be best, but we also know that you might not have that kind of vacation time to burn. But really, all views of the lake deserve a thumbs up (or 2 or 5). It is also worth stopping at Crescent city to visit Redwood National and State Parks. Also, as the name suggests, theres a hollow rock formation shaped like a huge punch bowl. 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, If you want something a bit different, consider a. which will provide you aerial views of all of Seattles most iconic sites (think the Space Needle and such). Read More: One Day in Mount Rainier from Seattle. day 2 driving 6.5 hours. Phew, made it (finally)! Check out Surfsand Resort you can see Haystack Rock from your balcony! FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. If you decide Napas your town of choice, I prefer the Andaz Napa (hip boutique-ish), Harvest Inn (rustic upscale), Napa Valley Inn (Mediterranean-style), or RiverPointe Napa Valley (colorful cottages). Additionally, a lot of visitors head to Domaine Chandon to taste US's best sparkling wines. Now I am carefully planning my trip to the States, the country is huge and so colorful that it is impossible to determine the priorities! Not a wino? I never thought I would say that the driving part of a trip could compete with . 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! 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. 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. Then you could pick up the rest of this itinerary working your way south. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Re: 7 day road trip from San Francisco to Seattle 9 years ago Save 1. all the way to the Mendo/Fort Bragg area. 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! Mmmm Im salivating just thinking about the Top Pot donuts. The beautiful Victorian Mansion has a haunted house look. Stop 2: Napa Valley (2 Nights) Stop 3: Redwood Forests (2 Nights) Stop 4: Optional Coastal Stops. Tillamook cheese factory, or creamery, is a must-stop for all fans of a farmer and natural dairy products! National Park Inn is open year round, while Paradise Inn only operates between mid-May through early-October. And as a plus, the beach isnt too sore on the eyes! If youve never visited the City by the Bay before (SF), you should really stay and wander for a few days. Look no further-a multi-day drive from San Francisco to Seattle is calling your name! Oregon Museum of Science and Industry science and technology museum features large-screen theatre, planetarium, and exhibition halls with a variety of hands-on permanent exhibits. Before your coastal road trip continues, meet a local fisherman for a crabbing outing in one of the protected coastal bays. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Rainier throughout your hike. The nearby town of Redding is a great place to base yourself for these two days wandering around Lassen and Burney! This was a 13 day road trip to the Pacific Northwest starting in San Francisco. Where to Stay: There are SO many hotel choices when it comes to the city, at all different price points as well. Plus, all my snack suggestions. *EXTRA ADD-ON: STOP #10 >> can go directly to Mt. Read your head at El Dorado Hotel (breezy rooms with a wine bar), MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa (warm and sophisticated), or Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn (spa with mineral baths). ), Bumpass Hell Trail Hike (its not really thaaaaat bad), Lake Helen, and Manzanita Lake. Therefore, we will list the 3 best museums and let you decide which one youd like to visit first thing in the morning. Expect to drive 2-6 hours a day with 1 or 2 longer days. t: Being the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast, you cant miss this towering beauty. We will want to leave San Fran about 3:30 on Wed . Enjoy donuts, coffee, beer, and hanging with hipsters? I like to search via this site in order to compare rental companies to see who has the best price. Road Trips - San Francisco to Seattle road trip 9-10 days - We are flying into San Francisco and renting a car to drive up to Seattle and back. Sign up using my link and youll receive up to $35 off your first stay! Keep in mind that this route includes toll roads. You can see the falls from the parking area or take a short mile loop to get more views up close. Worth mentioning so you dont forget to account for the cost of a rental car when following this San Francisco to Seattle itinerary! Enjoy the ride all the way until you reach our next stop Eureka, CA. Now lets get this San Francisco to Seattle road trip under way! The hike is roughly three miles and takes about an hour to get down to the boardwalk. Washington Park is highly rated among both locals and visitors A great retreat in a busy city. The drive is not super long, but youll definitely want the better portion of the day to stop and soak it all in! If all of this sounds too familiar (didnt we already see those things in Newport, Oregon? ), Once you arrive, get ready for some small-town nature fun. If AirBnBs not your thing, check out the super cute and modestly priced. Paradise is located just 2h 30 min from Seattle and is a great base for a day hike in the mountains. While the futuristic Space Needle is an obvious choice, the observation deck just cant be beat. Otherwise, Evergreen Inn & Suites Portland offer good rates, although you might have to drive in order to see the main attractions. With quiet seaside coves, bustling beach towns, and secluded hideaways, you wont want to miss the beauty that is Oregon. Where to Stay: You can choose to stay within the park or just outside, your choice. Note that many rental car shops charge extra for returning their cars at different pick up/drop off locations just something to keep in mind (worth the extra cost to me I would rather pay an extra fee than drive an extra 15+ hours (with gas! Visit the Cape Perpetua for scenic views of the ocean. Make sure to search for one-way flights when booking tickets. drive for about 2.5 hours. Stop 1: San Francisco (0-5 Nights) More Things to Do in San Francisco. This enormous lake makes for beautiful pictures, and you can hire boats, water skis, and fishing rods to make the most of your trip to the lake. (an absolute wonder you NEED to go here), the trio of waterfalls McCloud Falls (which you can easily drive between), and Mossbrae Falls if youve got some extra time. Theres a whole long list of things to do in Napa besides drink, including olive-oil tasting (carb-loaded drizzled tastings, anyone? The trail is well maintained and quite easy. Diablo Lake (GORGEOUS but requires even more driving time), and Snoqualmie Falls, all ranging from easy to moderate with absolutely fantastic views. Portland - Columbia River Gorge 7. Get ready for big mountain views today, as Mt. If cheese alone doesnt satisfy your appetite, have a look at the ice cream counter, taste wood fire pizza or local yogurt. Sadly, its a private club so visitors are not allowed inside but good photo ops are just in front of the building. I recommend spending a few days here, as the city is weird, wacky, and downright wonderful. Make sure to search for one-way flights when booking tickets. First things first, if youre not a resident of San Francisco, youll of course need to get yourself there. Stop 5: Crater Lake National Park (2 Nights) Over the course of the road trip, expect to drive approximately, 38 hours (one way) and around 1800 miles. No visit to Northern California is complete without sipping some of the good stuff (wine, duh) in either Napa Valley or Sonoma (both excellent and similar choices). I guesssss you could do both, but thatll add another hour or two to your driving time. Rainier). Portland is the largest city in Oregon. Where to Stay: There are tons of great accomodation options in both Napa and Sonoma. Day 5 - Eureka area to San Francisco via US 101 and Avenue of the Giants. From Seattle, drive straight to Mt. I picked out some glass for the photos guilty! The proposed itinerary for 7-day Seattle to San Francisco road trip Day 1 Mount Rainier National Park, WA Day 2 Portland, OR Day 3 Tillamook, OR and Three Capes Scenic Drive Day 4 Newport and Yachats, OR Day 5 Toketee Falls and Crater Lake, OR Day 6 Crescent City and Redwoods National Park, OR Day 7 Avenue of the Giants and Mendocino, CA When venturing from the i5 highway, the trip takes approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes of non-stop driving. Doesnt get much better than that! Related: Need A Day Trip from Las Vegas? Lady Bird Johnson Grove is a must-see spot if you have limited time. Sign up for itinerary inspiration, travel tips, and more! When you get hungry, have a look at Sea Grill for a wide selection of premium seafood, Brick & Fire for wood-fired oven pizzas or Humboldt Smokehouse for delicious BBQ. You can either make a well-deserved detour to wine country (and lets face it, get your wine on), or. Other moderately priced options include: Tolovana Inn (beachfront with a pool), Hallmark Resort Hotel and Spa (pets welcome! If you decide Napas your town of choice, I prefer the, The Most Beautiful Wineries in Napa Valley, Time to start making your way to the coast, because were heading north on the PCH towards Mendocino and Fort Bragg! Yup, thats over here in Fort Bragg, although if youre expecting a beach made of primarily smooth glass, youll be wildly disappointed. The city-to-city road trip from San Francisco to Seattle is arguably one of the best West Coast road trips, especially with this itinerary. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. On your way to San Francisco, you'll pass through iconic cities such as Portland, Eugene, Redding, and Santa Rosa. Try to make an early start, as today we are driving west, towards the ocean. Tip go to Mos Seafood and Chowder for the best crab in town! some of the most notorious criminals spent their time here. No wonder there are so many great options to choose from scenic beaches, hikes among giant redwoods, fishing, surfing, horseback riding, whale watching. Visitor? And lucky for you (any myself), I already did this same exact road trip from San Francisco to Mendocino. During your few days in Portland, dont miss the International Rose Test Garden (best during the summer months), Portland Japanese Gardens (uber authentic and super zen), Pittock Mansion (for those birds eye views of the city down below), Portland Saturday Market (open-air arts and crafts market, open on weekends only), the Aerial Tram (for even more views), and Powells Books. *** Want to extend your trip even further?! Get some ideas from ourUSA West Coast Road Trip. wake county courthouse wedding,
