The World Was Here First

The Ultimate Seattle to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary

Last Updated on February 6, 2024

by Maggie Turansky

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california road trip from seattle

The west coast of the United States is one of the most beautiful, dynamic and interesting places to visit in the entire country, and one of the best ways to see the entirety of this area is by planning a Seattle to Los Angeles road trip.

Spanning three states, there is so much to see when driving from Seattle to LA and it is the perfect way to experience some of the best places the West Coast has to offer.

While the distance from Seattle to Los Angeles is approximately 1135 miles, and 18 hours of drive time along the I-5, the route is best experienced if you take the time to get off of the interstate, hop on the PCH and see some of the highlights of one of the most iconic road trips in the world.

Table of Contents

Planning a Seattle to Los Angeles Drive

Before I get into the day-by-day logistics of your road trip, we need to discuss a few things about planning your trip first. And more than anything, we need to discuss how you’re planning on getting around.

If you’re not driving your own vehicle while on your West Coast road trip, you’re likely going to need to rent a car.

While most major car rental companies have offices in Seattle and Los Angeles , we would suggest searching on Rentalcars.com to find your car hire. This platform aggregates prices across many major rental companies, ensuring that you can get a great deal on your car hire.

Alternatively, if you want to take this road trip with an RV or campervan, you’ll find a great range of options on Outdoorsy – one of the leading online marketplaces for motorhome rentals.

Once you’ve got your wheels sorted, you need to think about how long you have to devote to this road trip. While you can certainly just drive from Seattle to Los Angeles or San Diego in a couple of days, if you want to make a proper trip out of it, we would recommend spending a bit longer on the road.

This entire Seattle to LA road trip itinerary spans about two weeks and it actually doesn’t contain the time that you should be spending in both Los Angeles and Seattle. It also doesn’t cover even a fraction of the amazing places that you could step, however, it does cover the absolute highlights.

Of course, if some of these stops don’t interest you, you can absolutely do this road trip in a shorter period of time, it’s just important to know that you won’t be able to see and do everything on this itinerary.

2 Week Seattle to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary

Days 1-2: seattle to portland, mount rainier national park, washington.

Leaving Seattle towards Portland, your first stop on your road trip to California is at the incredible Mount Rainier National Park . A true paradise for outdoor lovers, this national park is home to one of the highest peaks in the United States and is littered with incredible natural scenery and countless hiking trails.

You can easily stop off at the national park and go for a day hike before continuing further south into Oregon, or, if you have more time on your hands, you can always opt to spend longer around Mount Rainier to really do this incredible national park justice.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

From Mount Rainier, it’s time to continue further southwest into Oregon and to visit one of the most beautiful coastal towns in the state, Cannon Beach. Located close to the border with Washington, this city is known for its incredible beach and beautiful scenery.

Make sure to get out of the car and go for a long walk down the expansive beach and take in the iconic Haystack Rock, which is a massive rock formation just off of the beach and the attraction that Cannon Beach is famous for. Make sure to take the time to explore the main town of Cannon Beach, as well, as it is absolutely charming.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

End your first day on your Seattle to LA drive in the cool, hip city of Portland , Oregon. As Oregon’s largest city, Portland has a lot to offer visitors including interesting sites, a very cool culture, great restaurants and cool bars.

Make sure to take the time to spend at least one full day in Portland itself on this west coast road trip, however, we would suggest spending at least two or three nights here in order to use it as a base to explore the towns and sites nearby.

If you’re short on time and want to see the highlights, consider this half-day city tour.

Where to Stay in Portland

Private Rental — In Portland and really on the entirety of this drive, finding a private holiday rental is a fantastic option for accommodation. Whether you’re on a budget and looking for a private room in a local’s home or want to stay in unique lodgings like this chic house near downtown Portland , there are countless properties available.

The Society Hotel — Centrally located within close proximity of all of the best sites in Portland, this hotel is an excellent option for those looking for a comfortable place to base themselves in the Oregon city. They have an array of rooms available and a tasty restaurant on site.

Travelers House — If you’re on a budget or travelling solo, then this hotel is a great option for you. They have both dorm and private rooms available, self-catering facilities, and good commons areas that make it easy to meet other travellers.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more hotels in Portland!

Portland, Oregon

Day 3: Portland Day Trips

Columbia river gorge, oregon.

Located just east of Portland, this makes for an excellent first stop from the Oregon city on your third day of this road trip. The Columbia River Gorge is a top sight in the state of Oregon and is absolutely beautiful and worth a stop. Make sure to take the time to go for a walk and enjoy the gorgeous scenery that you’re about to surround yourself with.

Tillamook, Oregon

If you’re a cheese-lover, then you absolutely cannot go wrong with a stop in the charming little town of Tillamook. Known for its dairy, the Tillamook Creamery makes for a great stop along the way. Sample its iconic sharp cheddar cheese or even get a scoop or two of delicious Tillamook ice cream.

Lincoln City, Oregon

If you want to experience more of Oregon’s beautiful coastal regions, then make sure to head west to lovely Lincoln City. Boasting a gorgeous beach and charming main town filled with kitschy shops, local artists studios and great food, Lincoln City makes for a great day trip from Portland while on your road trip from Seattle on the way to Los Angeles.

Coastline near Lincoln City

Days 4-5: Southern Oregon

Willamette valley, oregon.

From Portland, it’s time to head south and experience the wonderful Willamette Valley or Oregon — the state’s premier wine-growing region!

Oregon wines are gaining renown and have achieved some critical acclaim in recent years, however, this region isn’t nearly as well-known as the California regions that you may be visiting later in this Seattle to Los Angeles road trip.

You can take the time to hop from winery to winery and do some tastings (just make sure that you have a designated driver!) or just enjoy the gorgeous scenery while driving through and maybe stop in at one of the many fantastic restaurants in the valley.

Eugene, Oregon

South on the I-5 of Portland lies the city of Eugene, a bustling university town with a hip environment and a great atmosphere.

Packed full with fantastic restaurants, cool bars and a bustling craft beer scene, there are also lots of outdoor activities near Eugene that make the city worth visiting, as well.

Bend, Oregon

And your final stop for the day on the drive from Portland — and a wonderful place to spend the night — is the charming city of Bend. Located just east of Eugene, Bend is known for being an outdoor lover’s paradise and is surrounded by countless hiking trails and beautiful natural spots to visit. The town itself is also worth exploring, with lots of cool shops an great restaurants.

Where to Stay in Bend

Hampton Inn & Suites — If you’re looking for a consistent and comfortable chain hotel in Bend, then this is a good option for you. They have myriad clean and comfortable rooms on offer, good amenities and facilities, and a central location perfect for exploring Bend.

Oxford Hotel — This boutique hotel is an excellent place to stay if you’re looking for a cute, locally run and eco-friendly place to stay in Bend. They have a range of rooms available, fantastic amenities, a central location, and a great breakfast sourced from local farmers in the morning.

Private Rental — If you value your privacy or simply would rather stay in a house than a hotel, then there are lots of private rentals to choose from in Bend. For instance, this historic Belle Millhouse within walking distance of the city centre is an excellent option.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more hotels in Bend!

Drake Park in downtown Bend

Day 6: Crater Lake & Crescent City, CA

Crater lake national park, oregon.

The second of the national parks to visit on this trip, Crater Lake National Park is an incredibly beautiful natural area located in the Cascade Mountains of Southern Oregon. Surrounded by stunning forest, this lake is formed by a collapsed cinder cone volcano.

There are countless hiking trails in the national park that are great if you want to get out and stretch your legs, however, there are also viewpoints that are easy enough to access if you don’t want to go for a hike.

You can also spend the night in Crater Lake after driving down from Portland instead of Bend on Day 5 if you prefer.

Crescent City, California

A Washington to California undoubtedly takes you by some of the most incredible natural scenery that the West Coast has to offer. And some of these world wonders include the incredible California Redwoods — the largest trees in the world.

While you can begin seeing these gigantic trees from this point until you reach Big Sur in California’s central coast, Crescent City is one of the best places to go for a walk amongst these giants.

The town itself also boasts a historic lighthouse, a lovely beach and charming main area filled with cute shops and great restaurants.

Where to Stay in Crescent City

Want a unique place to spend the night? Check out this deluxe cabin nestled amongst the Redwoods!

Lighthouse Inn — This quaint hotel boasts spacious rooms and a great, continental breakfast each morning, making it an ideal place to base yourself in Crescent City. They are centrally located and have numerous rooms available.

Travelodge Crescent City — Another fantastic option if you’re after a small yet basic hotel in Crescent City. Centrally located, they have clean and comfortable rooms to choose from and an option to include breakfast.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more hotels in Crescent City!

Crater Lake National Park

Days 7-8: Crescent City to San Francisco

Fort bragg, california.

Northern California doesn’t get near the amount of recognition that everything south of San Francisco does, however, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t areas that aren’t worth visiting in the north of the state.

Begin your day working down to San Francisco in the charming coastal city of Fort Bragg in Mendocino County. The city boasts a wonderful beach and a lovely city centre that is very much worth exploring before hitting the road and continuing south.

Napa & Sonoma, California

Next stop on this road trip is one of the premier wine regions in the world, and certainly in the United States — Napa Valley and Sonoma.

Located directly next to each other, Sonoma is known for being a bit more laid back and cool than its more well-known neighbour of Napa, however, both are very much worth visiting if you’re interested in sampling some of the best wine in the world or sampling some world-class cuisine.

This area of California is home to many Michelin-starred restaurants, including Thomas Keller’s famous The French Laundry .

Vineyards of Napa Valley

Sausalito, California

Just north of the Golden Gate bridge before you properly enter the city of San Francisco lies Sausalito, a charming little city with a great maritime history in Marin County.

The city itself has absolutely incredible views of San Francisco itself, along with the Bay and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. There is also a lovely town centre to explore coupled with some great restaurants.

San Francisco, California

Of course, no Los Angeles to Seattle road trip would be complete without spending time in one of the most iconic cities in the United States — San Francisco.

This dynamic metropolis has so much to offer visitors that it is very much a destination in its own right, however, on this road trip, we recommend planning to spend at least two full days exploring the city itself.

There is so much to see in the city from historic neighbourhoods to beautiful architecture to fantastic museums that you’re sure to be taken by this fantastic city by the bay,

Where to Stay in San Francisco

Orchard Hotel  —  A boutique hotel in the downtown area this is a great centrally located place to stay in the city. They have great rooms available and breakfast is included in the room rate.

Green Tortoise Hostel – An excellent option for solo and budget travellers in San Francisco, this hostel has dorm and private rooms on offer and great common areas for meeting other travellers.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more hotels in San Francisco!

The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

Days 9-10: San Francisco to Monterey

Half moon bay, california.

Leaving San Francisco, you don’t have to drive far before you reach the lovely coastal town of Half Moon Bay.

Located about an hour south of the city, Half Moon Bay makes for a pleasant place to stop and wander around before hitting the road once more. There is a gorgeous beach and a lovely main street packed with cute shops and restaurants that are worth browsing.

Santa Cruz, California

Making your way to California’s central coast, you will reach one of the most iconic CA surf towns on the PCH — Santa Cruz!

Famed for its seaside boardwalk complete with a classic wooden roller coaster and other carnival games and rides, there is also a wonderful seaside promenade that you can walk along here and watch the surfers hit the waves.

Monterey & Carmel, California

Your final stop on this day of driving is in the city of Monterey and the nearby charming town of Carmel. These central coast towns are the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the wonders of Big Sur, however, they have a lot to offer as destinations in and of themselves, as well.

Monterey is famed for its world-renowned aquarium and the iconic Cannery Row — it was also the hometown of legendary American writer John Steinbeck!

Carmel has an incredible charm and a small-town feel. It is packed with great restaurants, lovely shops and countless wine-tasting rooms showcasing vintages from nearby wineries.

It is also worth it to explore the state parks near Carmel, particularly the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and, of course, going for the scenic 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach.

Where to Stay in Monterey & Carmel

Carmel Green Lantern Inn — If you want to stay in Carmel, this boutique bed and breakfast is a great option for you. They have a handful of cosy rooms with private entrances and a fantastic location close to Carmel Beach. 

The Stevenson Monterey – If you’re looking to stay in Monterey , then this budget motel is a fantastic choice for you. Situated just off the Pacific Coast Highway, they have several rooms available that are fantastic for those looking to explore the splendours of the area.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more hotels in Monterey or Carmel!

Cannery Row in Monterey

Day 11: Big Sur

Big sur, california.

On day 11 of your Seattle to LA road trip, spend the entirety of it exploring the absolute jaw-dropping beauty of Big Sur .

This is definitely one of the highlights of this drive and it may truly be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Big Sur boasts incredible coastal vistas, stunning Redwood forests, interesting waterfalls and iconic feats of architecture.

Make sure to stop off at any of the countless vista points along the road and take in the beauty — you’re sure to see some otters floating around in the surf! If you’re up for it, we would also readily recommend that you go for a day hike in the surrounding area to really garner a great appreciation for just how lovely this land can be.

Viewpoint from a coastal walk at Big Sur

Days 12-13: California’s Central Coast

Pismo beach, california.

The drive between Monterey and Santa Barbara is one of the prettiest stretches of this California to Washington road trip as it takes you past some truly incredible landscapes along with some quintessential beach towns. And one of these such towns is Pismo Beach.

If you’ve ever wanted to see what an iconic California surfer town looks like, then Pismo is the perfect place for you. The town has a charming centre and a wonderful pier that makes it ideal for observing the countless surfers vying to catch the perfect wave.

A bit further north, you can also take in the lovely town and scenery of Morro Bay. This coastal town is known for Morro Rock Beach and its own lovely state park.

Solvang, California

A bit of a detour from the coastal highway but a great stop on the drive between San Francisco and LA nonetheless, the town of Solvang lies in the Santa Inez Valley and the road there will take you through hills of farmland and wine country that will have you thinking that you’ve been transported to Tuscany. However, the town of Solvang will leave you thinking that you’re in an old version of Copenhagen .

This town was incorporated by Danish settlers and it still holds onto some odd Danish charms that seem a bit out of place in the hills of central California — especially with the mild climate!

However, Solvang is filled with cute shops and restaurants and, as it’s situated in the heart of central coast wine country, there are lots of tasting rooms, as well.

Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara is a small city in southern California and it is well-known for being one of the premier destinations for Los Angelenos looking for a weekend getaway — and it’s not hard to see why! Santa Barbara is incredibly charming, has a great laid-back vibe and is filled with interesting things to see and do.

Known for its beautiful beach, there are also myriad wine tasting rooms in the city that the tourism office has put together something known as the Urban Wine Trails that can help you walk between them — no designated driver necessary!

The iconic Stearns Wharf also has some great restaurants and shops to browse and, because it is a student city, Santa Barbara boasts a vibrant nightlife.

Spending at least one day in Santa Barbara is an excellent last stop on your drive before you reach Los Angeles.

Where to Stay in Santa Barbara

The Presidio Hotel — A lovely boutique hotel, this is a great place to stay for couples in Santa Barbara. Centrally located, they have clean and comfortable rooms to choose from and a great location to explore the majority of the city on foot.

Cheshire Cat Inn   — A charming B&B in central, downtown Santa Barbara, this is another great choice to rest your head in the city. They have many fantastic rooms available and a hearty and healthy breakfast available each morning.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more hotels in Santa Barbara!

Santa Barbara day trip itinerary

Day 14: Santa Barbara to LA

Malibu, california.

Located just north of Los Angeles and the last stop on your road trip (or your first stop if you’re doing a LA to Seattle drive!), Malibu is one of the most iconic Southern California beach settlements in the world.

Known for its dramatic scenery, beautiful beaches and million-dollar homes, Malibu is really an interesting place to drive through on your route down south.

Some of the best beaches in LA County are in Malibu and, if you’re up for it, I would recommend stopping at one or two, squinching your toes in the sand and watching the surfers come and go.

Los Angeles, California

And that’s it — you’ve reached your final destination! Los Angeles is the United State’s second-largest city and it is eclectic and incredibly dynamic.

There are lots of cool things to see and do in LA including taking in some of the main sites like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, or browsing the designer shops on Rodeo Drive.

If you want to experience something kitschy and weird, make sure to head to Venice Beach for some of the best people-watching in the city or if you want to get active, take a hike in Griffith Park or Runyon Canyon for incredible views of the city. LA can be a difficult city for tourists to digest, however, it is worth spending the time to get to know it.

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

Hollywood Inn Suites Hotel — Located in Hollywood, this hotel is a perfect place to stay in LA. They have a number of great rooms available and fantastic amenities to ensure that your stay is a great one. 

Freehand Los Angeles — If you’re on a tight budget while in Los Angeles, then this hostel is a fantastic option. Perfect for both budget and solo travellers, they have both dorm and private rooms available and good common areas for meeting other travellers. 

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more hotels in Los Angeles!

california road trip from seattle

Have more time?

If you want to make your road trip an entire drive down the west coast of the United States, then you’re going to have to continue down south from Los Angeles to San Diego. This Southern California city has a completely different vibe to LA and there are lots of things to see and do on the drive from Los Angeles to San Diego .

Make sure to take in the sites in Orange County like Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach, the historic mission in San Juan Capistrano or even the pier in San Clemente. In San Diego County before you hit the city proper, make sure to take in the beauty of La Jolla — one of the most expensive areas in the USA.

The cliffs and scenery in this posh town is second to none and there are lots of cool shops, restaurants, and outdoor activities to enjoy.

All in all, embarking on a Seattle to San Diego road trip is one of the most epic drives that you could do in the entirety of the US!

For those who want to go a bit inland rather than staying along the coast, you can opt to drive to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco if that interests you, as well.

Alternatively, if you’re driving to Seattle, consider visiting stop of the stops on the Seattle to Vancouver drive!

Where to Stay in San Diego

Urban Boutique Hotel — A cool boutique hotel located in Little Italy, this is ideally situated to exploring the best of Downtown San Diego. They have a number of stylish and comfortable rooms and a number of amenities to make your stay fantastic. 

Private Rental — A private holiday rental is a very popular option in San Diego. There are tons of great properties available, like this charming studio in Pacific Beach right on the oceanfront.

California Dreams Hostel   — Located in the cool, hip area of Pacific Beach, this hostel is a great option if you’re trying to stick to a tighter budget while on your road trip. Perfect for both budget and solo travellers, they have both dorm and private rooms available and great common areas and self-catering facilities. 

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more hotels in San Diego!

Downtown San Diego

Planning a Seattle to LA drive is one of the best ways to see the highlights and beauty of the American West. Taking you through countless different landscapes and incredible towns and cities, there really is no other road trip quite like it.

Are you planning on driving between Seattle and Los Angeles? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!

california road trip from seattle

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About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

I would stay in Mendocino over a Fort Bragg, but that’s just me! It’s only a few more miles south. Macallum House, Mendocino Hotel or renting an AirBnB or camping are all great options.

Thanks for the tip, Whitney!

Hi, I’m planning a round trip road trip from LA to Portland orWashington at the end of july. July 27- Aug 7. What car rental do you recommend? I arrive at Union Station at 6 am in La, maybe picking the rental car at the airport since it is cheaper.

I am coming all the way from Texas.Taking the train from Texas to LA then renting a car to drive up the coast then back down, to take the train back to Texas.

Do you have any additional suggestions?

Sounds like you’ve got a great trip planned! I would recommend browsing RentalCars.com to find the best deal on a car rental – you may find a good option from Union Station there Hope you have a great time!

Hi Rene, I’ll be driving from LA to Seattle in a couple weeks. Now that you’ve made a similar trip, I’m wondering if you have any additional must-sees or things you wished you knew before your trip?

I’m making this same trip next week with my husband and dog.having done this trip, do you have any tips? Suggestions? Regrets?

Hi Rene I have booked 3 nights Seattle 3 nights Anaheim ca And 3 nights San Diego ca I am driving the pch only have 14 days which leaves me 5 days left my plans are not to stay in Napa or San Francisco any suggestions would be appreciated

We are doing the trip from Seattle to San Diego , 🤩

Hope you have a great time!

Hi we are coming from the uk to do Seattle to la but only have 9 days on the road. We’re doing the coast road so do u think that will be ok time wise? There’s 2 of us driving Thanks nick

Hi Nick, 9 days should be enough, however, I wouldn’t expect to make all of these stops and plan for a couple of days with longer driving times. Just prioritise what you want to visit and you should have a great time!

It is an interesting itinerary. However, at our age of early 70s, is driving from Seattle to LA possible ? Plus we are in a country of right-hand drive? I have been driving for years (50 years) and has driven in Australia, Hong Kong (long time ago) but not in USA. Would like to concentrate on coastal drive and avoid cities like San Francisco and San Diego – had been there many years old.

Would love to hear your comments if possible.

Appreciate very much!

Thanks & cheers Sue

Hi Sue, it really depends on your comfort level with driving whether you feel confident doing this road trip. I will say that the driving conditions are generally fine, with perhaps the exception of the Los Angeles area. Having driven both left- and right-hand drive throughout the world, it isn’t all that difficult to adapt to surprisingly! Especially if there are other motorists on the road whose lead you can follow.

We are planning a west coast trip from Seattle to Los Angeles in late September to October 2022, about 21 nights – was thinking of going via San Francisco on route also to Olympic Park, Oregon , Portland, Florence or Crater Lake – Redwood, Nappa Valley, Monterey/Carmel, Big Sur, Santa Barbara and maybe Yosemite or Death Valley, though not sure how many nights to stay in each, was thinking of 3 in Seattle, San Francisco and LA but not sure if they are enough or could combine some of the other places, what do you suggest. Cheers

Hi. Thank you so much for all the information. I’m from Shreveport LA ( But don’t hold that against me). My girlfriend and I are planning to make this trip between Seattle Washington and San Diego California between the 2nd September through the 10th is through the 10th of September. Planning This is daunting. We are somewhat on a budget as far as hotel stays what would you estimate the cost would be asked would be for hotel stays during this 8 or 9 day. And where would you stay

What are your thoughts on doing this trip in Feb?

February is a great time of year – just know that it will get chillier the further north you go 🙂

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Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip - Big Sur

The Perfect Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (25 Stops + 3 Itineraries!)

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 !

It’s not hard to believe either. From the moody beaches in Washington to the spectacular natural bridges in Southern Oregon to the winding roads of Big Sur, California , there is something new to see around every bend.

california road trip from seattle

Berty and I drove the entire route back in 2017, and have returned to deeply explore sections every year since then!

Because we know this route so well, we wanted to create this comprehensive guide for iconic stops and places to see along the entire length of the Pacific Coast Highway, all 1,700-ish miles between Seattle, Washington and Orange County, California !

In this power, we’ll share the best PCH stops in Washington, Oregon, and California to make your Pacific Coast Highway road trip your most epic trip yet.

Let’s get planning!

california road trip from seattle

Step By Step Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Directions (Download)

Where is the pacific coast highway how long is it.

The Pacific Coast Highway has many names.

You can also recognize it by its abbreviation (PCH), and referred to as the California Coast road trip , Pacific Coast Highway road trip, Route 1, Highway 101 (through Washington and Oregon), or even just Highway 1 (in California).

All names aside, they all lead you down the same road, which is the route that parallels the Pacific Ocean and the western border of the contiguous United States.

The traditional Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1) is 655 miles long. The full Pacific Coast Highway (Orange County to Seattle) is just over 1,700 miles.

We’ll be talking about the entire Pacific Coast Highway itinerary in this blog post. (Seattle to Orange County)

california road trip from seattle

Pacific Coast Highway Map, Directions, & Best Times

Which direction to drive the pacific coast highway.

Where should you begin your Pacific Coast Highway itinerary? Northbound or Southbound?

There are two directions to do a Pacific Coast Highway road trip – driving south or driving north! Honestly, both are great options but being from Washington, Berty and I began in Seattle and made our way south.

If you are searching for the best weather conditions, here are pros of each direction:

  • Southbound (Seattle to Orange County): Driven during spring break, you can escape the Pacific Northwest rain and enjoy the warmth of Southern California.
  • Nortbound (Orange County to Seattle): Driving north will help you escape California’s hot weather in late summer and fall.

The Hoh Rainforest - Twilight Tour in Forks

Pacific Coast Highway Start and End Points

Traditionally, the Pacific Coast Highway is considered to be the entire Highway 1 of the California Coast. This spans between Capistrano Beach is Orange County to Legget in Nortoerhn California. Highway 1 is 655.84 miles.

However, we like to think of this drive spanning three Pacific Coast states: Washington, Oregon, and California.

The traditional starting point in Washington is Seattle (with a detour through the Olympic National Park). The traditional starting point in California is San Diego .

When To Drive The Pacific Coast Highway

We also began our trip in June, but this trip is good to take any time of year.

If you decided on making it a winter road trip route , that means you’ll have a lot fewer crowds to deal with! Driving along the coast, the weather is more temperate and usually doesn’t get cold enough for snow, so you won’t run into many driving issues.

However, if you’re looking for the “windows-down, sunsets every night” kind of trip, we recommend taking this drive any time between June-September for the best chance of good weather.

Pacific Coast Highway Map

Top Tips For Driving The Pacific Coast Highway

So, how can you plan a Pacific Coast Highway road trip? Here are our suggestions of things to do before your trip:

Plan Your Stops Carefully: Carefully creating an itinerary will help make reserving hotels and activies a LOT easier. However, make sure to leave just a little wiggle room for surprises! Book Accommodations In Advance: The Pacific Coast Highway is a popular road trip route. Once you know your trip dates, plan to book hotels and campgrounds ASAP. We like to split accommodations between car camping and hotels for a good mix. On a budget? Here are 20 car camping hacks to consider. Check Road Closures: Check you route for any major road closures. This actually happens a lot more often than you might think Big Sur often has landslides. Rent a Great Car (or RV!): You can rent a car and book hotels, OR you can rent a campervan and book campgrounds for a budget-friendly trip. Outdoorsy has cool recreation vehicles vans to rent – it’s like Airbnb but for RVs! Decide When To Embark: Determine when to plan your PCH trip and how many days you have. Keep scrolling to the bottom of the post for PCH itinerary examples. Use a Good Navigation App : Good navigation apps make a huge difference. Read our favorite road trip planner apps here. Get a Convertible…or a Harley! If you are driving only a small section of the PCH, rent a fun vehicle! This isn’t mandatory, but it sure is iconic to drive on the highway in one of these cool rides. Ask Great Questions: You’re in the car for a long time. Make sure to have these road trip questions ready to brighten those dull moments. Download Podcasts + Playlists : Download these road trip podcasts and personalized playlists when you have wifi. You’ll thank me later. Pack Your Car With The Essentials: Here’s a list of road trip essentials you need to be packing. Prepare To Stop Frequently: The whole point of driving the Pacific Coast Highway is to take in the sights!

Cape Kiwanda Oregon, Pacific Coast Road Trip Stops

How To Choose a Car For The Pacific Coast Highway

Choosing the right vehicle for your Pacific Coast Highway road trip is probably THE most important decision you will make.

Option 1: Drive Your Own Car Make sure your car has had a tune-up, and its oil changed. It’s worth it to get checked out now, than risk something going wrong mid-way through your trip.

Option 2: Rent a Regular Car Renting a car is a great option for a reliable drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. Personally, we like Avis becuase they have a great rewards program. You can find cheap options

Option 3: Rent a Campervan or RV Renting a campervan is an awesome way to experience a little bit of vanlife. Search for the best campervans at Outdoorsy . Just note, it may be a little tricky to drive a campervan one-way. You may have to return it at your starting point via I-5!

Option 4: Take The Public us (Kind of possible, but not recommended) Yes, it’s possible to cobble together transportation on local transit. You’ll find that you can get around easiest in Southern California and the central Oregon Coast. However, there will be stretches of road with no transporation avaiable, or you may have to leave the coast and venture inland to find a route. It’s cheap yes, but takes quite a bit of pre-planning.

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip On A Budget

Are you hoping to plan a Pacific Coast Highway road trip route on a budget ? Here are some budgeting hacks we like to use to plan a budget PCH trip:

Use The Dyrt To Find Campgrounds: The Dyrt is the largest online campground database. We use the offline campground search feature to find spots on the go (no service needed!). The Dyrt gave us a code for you, our epic reader, to try the pro membership for 30 days free!   Click here to unlock your 30-day free trial . Find Free Campsites: Road tripping around the west coast for years, we’ve learned a thing or two about finding free campsites in the USA . Our guide includes campground searching hacks, backcountry packing guides, and tips on how to find the best camping spots on the PCH. Cook Your Own Meals: Save money on the road by making your own quick & easy camping meals . Manage Money On The Road: Learn how we travel on a budget in the Pacific Northwest .

Grab your gear and let's go! If you are like us and love to be outside, we've written this comprehensive post about the best winter coats & jackets to wear in the Pacific Northwest this season. We're covering everything from rain gear, parkas, to puffers, even utility jackets! TheMandagies.com

What To Pack For A Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

A good Pacific Coast Highway road trip will take you through the rainy gloom of Washington, as well as the sunny beaches of California. This makes packing slighly more challenging – you’ll have to account for tons of variable weather!

Rain Jacket: You’ll need one in Washington and Oregon, especially during winter and spring. Here are our favorite rain jackets to wear in the Pacific Northwest . Light Layers: Once you reach California, it’s nice to have light, packable layers to bring on your day adventures. We like this windbreaker and this colorful fleece for easy layering. Down Jacket: Down jackets are an excellent option for extra warmth, especially when paired with a rain jacket. Get this packable one to save space in your suitcase. Sunglasses: You’ll need some, since you’ll be watchin the sunset every night! Grab this pair of inexpensive but HIGHLY rated sunglasses to knock around on your adventures. Hiking Shoes: Hiking in the PNW for over a decade, we know a thing or two about boots! Read our list on the best hiking boots , to pick the right ones for you. Walking Sandals : From walking around Huntington Pier to strolling around your campsite, walking sandals are essential to your Pacific Coast Highway packing list. Portable Phone Charger: This Goal Zero 24 is the perfect companion to charge your phone on a day trip. Camera: Here’s our guide on how to take smartphone landscape photography, or you can check out the travel photography gear as media professionals. Hiking Clothes: You’ll want to bring these highly-coveted hiking shorts , a day pack , and the 10 hiking essentials .

Here are some posts we’ve written about what to pack for certain parts of the Pacific Coast Highway:

  • 5 Essentials to Bring On The Washington Coast
  • The Ultimate Packing List For San Francisco
  • What To Pack For A Weekend in Los Angeles

The Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops (State By State)

If you’re planning to experience the entire Pacific Coast Highway (including extending it to Oregon and Washington), you probably know that there is an insane amount of beautiful stops to take.

We’re going to break locations down state by state, to give you bite-sized chunks of information for each place.

Each state provides something unique and exciting for your Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary, so read below for location inspiration in Washington, Oregon, and California!

Cape Flattery - Pacific Coast Road Trip Stops

Pacific Coast Highway Stops In Washington

Washington is not all rain and gloom!

While the movies portray this evergreen state in a constant shroud of clouds and moodiness (Thanks, Twilight) , its nothing farther from the truth.

Here, you can find powerful waterfalls, secret coves, and lush green forest, and amazing hikes in every corner of this beautiful state.

Keep on reading to read about some highlights along the Pacific Coast Highway in Washington!

Cities in Washington State - Seattle, Washington - TheMandagies.com

Seattle, Washington

This is where we suggest starting your Pacific Coast Highway road trip.

Seattle is a great place to stock up on all the road trip essentials , grab rental cars, and arrive by plane to stay on your journey on the Pacific Coast Highway. If you’re flying in to begin your journey, you’ll fly into Sattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Have a little bit more time on your hands? Stick around for a few days and try these unique things to do in Seattle , or take these incredible day trips from Seattle .

Fun things to do in Seattle, Washington:

  • Visit Pike Place Market
  • Go to the first-ever Starbucks Coffee store
  • Visit The Museum of Pop Culture
  • Watch the sunset at Jose Rizal Park
  • See the Space Needle up close at Kerry Park
  • Have a bonfire with friends at Golden Gardens Park
  • Go to A Husky Football game in the University District

Read More: What To Pack For The Pacific Northwest

Girl overlooking Mount Storm King

Port Angeles

If you are starting in Seattle or Vancouver, chances are you’ll need to take a ferry across the Puget Sound to reach the Olympic Peninsula . It’s also possible to drive around through Olympia, if you don’t want to put your car on the ferry.

From here, you will pass the cities of Sequim and Port Angeles. Before hitting to Pacific Coast Highway, we recommend taking a stop by Lake Crescent for some classic PNW vibes and maybe a quick lunch break too.

If you want to see what the lake looks like from above, test your limits and hike Mount Storm King . The 4.7-mile round trip hike gains over 2,000 feet in elevation, including scrambling up the side of a cliff with the help of a few installed ropes.

This hike isn’t for the faint of heart, but your attempts will be rewarded with experiencing one of the most spectacular places to see in the Olympic Peninsula .

Stay Overnight: Book a stay at The Olympic Lodge in Port Angeles . It’s right in town, and central to other adventures like Hurricane Ridge, Salt Creek, and Lake Crescent.

california road trip from seattle

Sol Duc Falls

Sol Duc Falls is located in the Olympic National Park , and along Highway 101 on your way towards the coast.

It’s a small detour before heading to the ocean. However, the detour is worth every minute! The short trail to Sol Duc Falls leads to one of the most gorgeous waterfalls in Washington state.

If you are wanting a unique place to stay in the Olympic National Park, consider staying at the Sol Duc Hot Springs, a natural pool resort in the park.

Doing this, you can wake up early to visit the falls and beat the crowds!

Emily Mandagie standing at Cape Flattery, Makah Land - TheMandagies.com

Cape Flattery

If you’re looking for the most northwest location in the lower 48 United States, you’ve found it at Cape Flattery !

This jaw-dropping piece of coastline is owned by the Makah Tribe. It includes beautiful sea stacks just offshore and expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

If you are planning your Pacific Coast Highway itinerary for epic photo spots, don’t miss this place! You’ll need an entry pass ($10 per vehicle) and you can pick it up at the gas station or grocery store at Neah Bay.

Forks, Washington

Emily at La Push Second Beach - Pacific Coast Road Trip Stops

La Push Beaches (First, Second, and Third)

You may know these beaches from the movie Twilight but rest assured there are no vampires in sight. (Partly because it’s werewolf territory anyway, DUH) In fact, we’ve seen some of the most incredible sunsets right here on Second Beach.

When visiting, it’s important to note that there are three beaches to choose from. First Beach provides easy and instant beach access, so it’s a popular choice for families.

Second Beach requires a hike on a short trail to reach the beach, and you can also camp on this beach. Second Beach is also the most popular option for its beautiful rock formations and vast shoreline.

Third Beach requires a longer hike and is the least visited of all the beaches.

Any of these Washington beaches you choose, don’t forget to pack these 5 beach essentials!

Read More: La Push Beach + and Beach Camping Tips

Ocean Shores, Washington

california road trip from seattle

Ocean Shores is a quaint little town on the Washington Coast, just north of Grays Harbor.

Here, you will find tons of vacation rental homes, small seafood restaurants, and tons of beach activities. Berty and I came with our friends last summer and opted to rent motorbikes on the beach, eat our weight in crab, and explore the jetty!

Restaurants to try in Ocean Shores:

  • Murphy’s Candy & Ice Cream Shop
  • Galway Bay Irish Pub
  • Ocean Beach Roasters and Bistro
  • Oyhut Bay Bistro

Want more beach fun on the Washington Coast? Check out Ruby Beach and Rialto Beach !

Read More: 7 Fun Things To Do In Ocean Shores, Washington

Pierce County Area (Gig Harbor, Tacoma, and Puyallup)

california road trip from seattle

If you’re looking to spend a little extra for a comfortable room and some great food, spend some time exploring Gig Harbor and boating around the South Puget Sound . You will be able to spot wildlife all around you, whether it’s jellyfish or a pod of orcas!

Some of our favorite cities in Pierce County to explore: Puyallup (Washington State Fair), Tacoma, and Gig Harbor!

Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park - On The Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

Take your journey slightly inland to explore Mount Rainier National Park. Here, you can test your limits and backpack up to the summit (training required!) or simply take a nice stroll at the base of the mountain like on Nisqually Loop Trail .

Mount Rainier is best explored if you spend 2-3 days in the park! There are so many different areas to cover (Paradise Area and Sunrise Area are the most popular), so give yourself time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors here in the Pacific Northwest.

Most Popular Activities To Do At Mount Rainier:

  • Hike the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail
  • See Silver Falls
  • Hike the Skyline Divide Trail
  • Visit the Longmire Museum

Cape Disappointment State Park

california road trip from seattle

Cape Disappointment is located in the far southwestern corner of Washington State. Here, you can discover miles of trails, play on the beaches, and maybe even spot an orca offshore!

For a memorable photo opportunity on your Pacific Coast Highway road trip, take the trail down to Deadman’s Cove and capture this hidden beach at sunset!

Read More: Cape Disappointment + Deadman’s Cove

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Stops In Oregon

Emily Mandagie at Secret Beach on the Oregon Coast

The Oregon Coast itself is worthy of its own road trip but lucky you – you get to see it all and more!

We’re sharing all the best stops along this part of the Pacific Coast Highway and what you can expect in this beautiful state.

Not enough time for the whole thing? Take an Oregon Coast Road Trip instead!

Cannon Beach

Emily sitting at Cannon Beach, Oregon - TheMandagies.com

Cannon Beach is a family and dog-friendly beach located 1.5 hours west of Portland. Here, you can explore the many quaint seaside shops, take a walk on the beach, and explore the many tide pools.

There are many services available here, so it’s a great stop for camping, resting, or even getting a seaside Airbnb! (By the way, y ou can get $40 off your first reservation at this link! )

Read More: Spending The Day At Cannon Beach

Cape Kiwanda

california road trip from seattle

Cape Kiwanda  is a popular beach on the Oregon Coast. Here, you can walk along the beach and enjoy Pacific City’s own “Haystack Rock”, or climb the nearby sand dunes to discover incredible views, coves, and rock formations!

Too busy for you? Venture just a 5-minute drive south to Bob Straub State Park, where you can walk along the less-traveled and peaceful beachfront.

The area of Oregon can be rainy and cloudy year-round, but if you’re lucky you can experience one of its gorgeous sunsets (that is if the weather cooperates!). Make sure to pack a rain jacket!

Read More:  10 Epic Adventures To Take Aroun Cape Kiwanda

God’s Thumb Hike, Lincoln City

california road trip from seattle

The hike to God’s Thumb is a moderately difficult hike along the Oregon Coast. A 4.6-mile round trip hike will bring you to a curved landscape on an oceanside cliff. 

It gets its name “God’s Thumb” because it slightly resembles a thumb… but we think it kind of looks like a soft-serve ice cream swirl!

Located in Lincoln City, Oregon , this is a perfect place to get out of the car, stretch your legs, and see a beautiful area of the Oregon Coast.

Read More: Hike To God’s Thumb in Lincoln City On The Oregon Coast

Devil’s Punchbowl

california road trip from seattle

Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area is a perfect stop on your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Here, you can experience the power of the ocean slamming and swirling into a carved-out bowl.

From the top, you can see down inside the “punchbowl”. During high tide, the waves swirl and crash around inside, but during low tide, you can walk down on the beach and explore inside.

Stay a while for a roadside picnic, to explore tide pools, or climb around on the rocks on the shore.

Thor’s Well

california road trip from seattle

Thor’s Well in another one of the Oregon Coast’s amazing natural phenomena. You can experience the most dramatic sights at high tide, but beware – it’s the most dangerous time to visit too.

Similar to the Spouting Horn in Kauai , this sinkhole looks like water is just draining into a huge abyss, but it’s actually a natural rock tube that sucks and shoots water our according to the adjacent waves.

Don’t get too close to it though, it pushes and pulls water with a powerful force , meaning if you get too close you risk being swept off your feet into the hole!

This area is located just south of the Cape Perpetua Visitor’s Cente r, with lots of wheelchair accessible walkways AND walk-at-your-own-risk paths too.

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area

california road trip from seattle

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area is an amazing spot on the Pacific Coast Highway, and probably home to one of the best photo spots on the PCH!

For a quick side trip, take the drive up to Cape Perpetua Lookout , where you can see the Oregon Coast meet the winding highway below. It’s an incredible view – make sure to bring your camera!

This is also a great stop for some camping on the Oregon Coast, as well as exploring the many ocean features and scenic trails in the area.

Read More: 10 Epic Things To Do In Cape Perpetua Area Of The Oregon Coast

(Bonus Side Trip!) Umpqua Hot Springs + Toketee Falls

california road trip from seattle

Got an extra day to spare?

Since you’re already in Oregon, consider taking a side trip east to the Cascade Mountains. The Umpqua National Forest has a lot to see, but it’s shining stars have got to be Toketee Falls and the Umpqua Hot Springs.

Both of the trails to Toketee Falls and Umpqua Hot Springs are nearby one another, short, and easy to follow.

They can be accomplished in a morning or afternoon trip. If you haven’t visited a Pacific Northwest hot springs  yet, this is the perfect chance to do it!

We would suggest that you Visit Toketee Falls first, so you can save your soak for last!

Read More: 5 Essential Tips For Soaking at Upmqua Hot Springs

Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor

Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor - Oregon Coast Road Trip Route

Of all the stops on the Oregon Coast, Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor is a MUST visit. Offshore rock formations, dramatic cliffs, and crashing waves make this place a magical stop on the Pacific Coast Highway.

To fully experience this area, we suggest scheduling your visit for sunset. The sun sets over the Pacific Ocean, and on a clear day the skies light up with beautiful colors. Don’t forget to stop at other iconic spots in the park including Secret Beach, Natural Bridges, Arch Rock, and Indian Sands Trail!

Located on the Southern Oregon Coast , Samuel H Boardman spans around 10-miles of rugged, scenic coastline. There are many hikes to choose from around Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor . Take some time to explore a few (many trails are short) , and pick your favorite spots for sunset.

Pacific Coast Highway Stops In California

Congratulations! You’ve made it to California!

This is technically the beginning of the official Pacific Coast Highway (also called Highway 1) , but we all know you’ve put in too many miles on your car and see too much epic-ness for it to be just starting.

While you’ll be encountering a lot more sunshine in this section of the road trip, the Northern California coast can be a little temperamental! Don’t put away your rain coast just yet.

California road trip stops on the Pacific Coast Highway are some of the most breathtaking and beautiful areas of the whole trip. Read on to discover where to go and what to see below in the sunshine state.

Redwood National and State Parks

california road trip from seattle

If your Pacific Coast Highway road rrip is taking you southbound, your first California stop will be at the Redwood National and State Parks.

The Redwoods are known for their spectacularly tall and beautiful trees. Furthermore, this area is home to some of the tallest trees on earth!

There are several scenic drives to take here, but the prettiest Northern California drives are through the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (the scenic route) and the Avenue of The Giants at Humbolt Redwoods State Park. For a lot of stops and viewpoints of the ocean, consider stopping at Patrick’s Point State Park !

Read More: 10 Things To Do In The Redwood National Park

Fern Canyon

Emily Mandagie in Fern Canyon Trail, Redwoods California

Wait, did we just travel through time? You’re not far off if you felt like you just stepped foot into Jurassic Park. In fact, scenes from the movie were filmed right here in Fern Canyon!

Fern Canyon Trail in the Redwoods is a very short route – just 1.1-miles to revel in the 50-foot tall fern-covered walls and lush surrounding forest. The hike is easy, but getting there is a different story. The trip requires a few creek crossings and winding, narrow dirt roads to reach the trailhead. We’ve got everything you need to know about Fern Canyon right here !

Black Sand Beach

california road trip from seattle

Have you been looking at thos e famous black sand beaches in Iceland ? Get a taste of the beauty (without the price of a plane ticket) and come visit a look-alike on the California Coast.

Shelter Cove is a little town located in the King Range National Conversation Area. Here, there are craggy coastlines, dramatic scenery, and a black sand beach. The waves are tall and powerful here.

Warning: The road is winding and treacherous, which can be dangerous in bad weather.

This is also an extremely out-of-the-way detour, with one route going in and out from the beach. Make sure to have a full tank of gas, and be prepared to drive on narrow roads and near tall cliff edges!

Read More:   How To Get To California’s Iconic Black Sands Beach

Point Reyes National Seashore

california road trip from seattle

Love the California beach? Explore the Point Reyes National Seashore , a protected coastline of rolling pastures, historic landmarks, and even a secret docked ship!

Start your journey in the town of Inverness, where you can stock up on food, gas, and even camping gear if you choose to spend the night in one of their many campgrounds .

Some of the best things to do in Point Reyes National Seashore are visiting the historic lighthouse (make sure to pay attention to its hours of operation! ), driving down the canopy of Cypress trees , and even whale watching if you come at the right time of year!

Read More: Spending The Day At Point Reyes National Seashore

Bolinas Ridge

california road trip from seattle

If you have a scheduled stop in San Francisco on your Pacific Coast Highway itinerary, make sure to make a sunset stop just north of the city , on Bolinas Ridge .

This area of golden, glimmering rolling hills is located on the edge of Mount Tamalpais State Park in Marin County, California.

Our favorite scenic road to drive is Ridgecrest Boulevard , which includes pullouts ever so often to quickly park your car and enjoy the beautiful and consistent sunsets on this piece of the California coast.

Read More: A Golden Sunset At Bolinas Ridge

Mount Tamalpais

california road trip from seattle

Keep the spirit of adventure alive , even in a bustling city like San Francisco !

If you’ve got a pit stop in the Golden City, journey just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and experience Mount Tamalpais State Park for a quick break from city life.

Here, you can take many amazing trails with stunning views of big city buildings across the bay. Some of our favorite trails for city views are the East Peak Hike  (to a stone lookout tower) and the Verna Dunshee Trail. 

Going when it’s cold outside? Read our San Francisco Winter Packing List .

Read More: 10 Adventurous Things To Do Outside of San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge

california road trip from seattle

No trip along the Pacific Coast Highway is complete without seeing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge!

On either side of the bridge, there are several incredible viewpoints to check out. Some of the best places to view the Golden Gate Bridge are from Battery Spencer, Kirby Cove, and the North Vista Point.

Remember: The Golden Gate Bridge is a toll bridge . Motorcycles and regular cars will get through and be billed $8.00 to the address your car is registered at.

San Francisco, California

Pacific Coast Road Trip Itinerary - San Francisco Stop

If you’ve been driving southbound on your Pacific Coast Highway road trip, San Francisco will be the first large city you will encounter. 

Here, you can experience many iconic and famous landmarks. Here are some places to see while in San Francisco :

  • See the sunrise at the Golden Gate Bridge
  • Visit Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Stop By The Painted Ladies
  • Wander through the neighborhoods and see the beautiful Victorian-era houses

Need a place to stay in San Francisco? Click here and get $40 off your first booking on Airbnb!

Shark Fin Cove

california road trip from seattle

Click here to see more amazing pictures from our visit to Shark Fin Cove.

Shark Fin Cove is a beautiful California coast beach located south of San Francisco – in Davenport, California. It’s named for its rock formation just off the shore that resembling a shark’s top fin. 

You aren’t able to see this cove from the road, which makes finding access a little difficult . There are no signs indicating the location, so you must rely on Google Maps to help guide to you the parking lot off the California Coast Highway 1.

This place provides absolutely stunning views from above AND below. Start your visit at the top and walk along the trails near the cliffs (but be careful!). Finally, climb down into the cove via a steep trail to find beach access.

On a weekday, it’s very likely you will get this beach all to yourself! 

Read More: What To Expect At California’s Shark Fin Cove

Big Sur State Park

california road trip from seattle

When you think of driving down the California Coast , Big Sur is what Pacific Coast Highway dreams are made of. Sunny coastline, winding roads, dramatic cliffs, and beautiful bridges are scattered along 90 miles of this beautiful West Coast drive.

Some of the highlights on this part of the PCH include:

  • Pfeiffer Beach
  • McWay Falls
  • Bixby Creek Bridge
  • Pebble Beach
  • 17-Mile Drive (Monterey/Pacific Grove)

Pro Tip: A day trip to Big Sur, California is absolutely the most quintessential activity  of any good Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Don’t miss this.

Read More: How To Pull Off A Day Trip To Big Sur, California

(Detour Off Highway 1) Yosemite National Park

california road trip from seattle

While you’re in the area, might as well take a little detour to one of the greatest national parks in America!

Yosemite is home to the tallest waterfall in North America, home to giant Sequoia trees, and has more than 800 miles of trails for hikers to enjoy.

Only have 24 extra hours to spare for Yosemite? Click here for our 24-hour guide to Yosemite National Park.

Pro Tip: If you are hoping to spend a few days in the park, make camping reservations extremely early in advance.

Camping spots generally get full six months before the reservation date. A trip to Yosemite National Park requires a lot of pre-planning.

Los Angeles, California

Pacific Coast Road Trip Stops - Los Angeles

Another major city on your Pacific Coast Highway road trip will be Los Angeles California. For many going northbound, this is a common starting point (as well as San Diego).

If you’re like us and coming to LA on a southbound Pacific Coast Highway trip, this is a fun pit stop to take a few days and recharge from all that driving.

Again, if you are looking to book a place on Airbnb, click here to get $40 off your first booking!

Here are some fun things to do in Los Angeles:

  • Santa Monica Pier + the Amusement Park on the boardwalk.
  • Venice Beach
  • Griffith Observatory
  • The Getty Museum
  • Hollywood Boulevard
  • Hike to the Hollywood Sign

Read More: How To Spend a Fun Weekend in West Hollywood, California

Orange County, California

california road trip from seattle

Orange County California is just south of the city of Los Angeles. With a slower lifestyle, less traffic, and a lot more beach space, this place is a perfect getaway for sunshine lovers and surfers alike.

There are a few opportunities to camp on the coast, like RV sites in Huntington Beach and tent sites at Crystal Cove State Park. Either way, it’s definitely worth it to spend a few days in Orange County and experience all it has to offer!

Must-see spots to visit in Orange County:

  • La Tour (Secret Oceanside Castle in the cliff)
  • Huntington Beach (Sur City, USA)
  • Newport Beach Harbor and Balboa Island
  • Laguna Beach
  • Here are our favorite restaurants in Orange County to try!

Looking to travel to the OC on a budget? Check out our list of free things to do in Orange County to have maximum fun, with money still left in your pocket!

Read More: 10 Amazing Outdoor Activities in Orange County, California

San Diego, California

You did it!

San Diego will be the likely the end (or the beginning!) to your Pacific Coast Highway itinerary.

However, it’s still worth visiting for a few days. There are so many amazing things to do in San Diego that this city is an excellent way to kick off or wrap up any Pacific Coast Highway road trip.

Don’t miss out of Torrey Pines State Reserve! This network of outdoor trails have some of the best views in the entire city. Spend some time exploring the trails during sunset for a magical stay in San Diego.

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary Examples

Wondering if you can see all these iconic landmarks in one trip?

To accommodate different trip lengths, we’re sharing some example itineraries for a five-day trip , one-week trip , and two-week trip down the Pacific Coast Highway.

Read below to find your perfect one!

5 Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary

Five Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary

Five days to drive down the Pacific Coast is absolutely doable! During these days, you have time to experience the highlights of the coast, and whet your appetite for another future trip!

  • Day 1: Seattle, WA to Coos Bay, OR
  • Day 2: Coos Bay OR, to Redwood National Park, CA
  • Day 3: Redwood National Park, CA to San Francisco, CA
  • Day 4: San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA
  • Day 5: Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA

7 Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary

One Week Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary

One week on the Pacific Coast Highway will allow you to see the most iconic locations. One week is great for travelers who want to fit in the entire trip during a school break, or only have so many days to take off of work.

A one-week Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary will allow you to see the highlights without feeling rushed. Here’s an example PCH itinerary:

  • Day 1: Seattle WA, to Forks, WA
  • Day 2: Forks, WA to Cape Kiwanda, OR
  • Day 3: Cape Kiwanda, OR to Redwood State Park, CA
  • Day 4: Redwood State Park, CA to San Francisco, CA
  • Day 5: San Francisco CA, to Big Sur, CA
  • Day 6: Big Sur, CA, to Orange County, CA
  • Day 7: Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA

10 Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary

Two-week pacific coast highway road trip itinerary.

Two Week Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary

If you have two weeks to spare, this is the ideal amount of time for a Pacific Coast Highway road trip!

Two weeks gives you ample time to see all the highlights, take some day hikes, and even some off-coast detours like Yosemite or Toketee Falls! You will be able to see everything you want and more, and not feel rushed in your process.

  • Day 1: Seattle, WA to Port Angeles, WA
  • Day 2: Port Angeles, to Forks, WA
  • Day 3: Forks, WA to Astoria, OR
  • Day 4: Astoria OR, to Cape Kiwanda, OR
  • Day 5:  Cape Kiwanda OR , to Brookings, OR
  • Day 6: Brooking OR, to Redwood State Park, CA
  • Day 7:  Redwood State Park, CA to Mendocino, CA
  • Day 8: Mendocino, CA to San Francisco, CA
  • Day 9:  San Francisco, CA to Santa Cruz, CA
  • Day 10: Santa Cruz, CA to Big Sur, CA
  • Day 11:  Big Sur, CA to Santa Barbara, CA
  • Day 12: Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles, CA
  • Day 13: Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA
  • Day 14: End in San Diego

Some of our Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Inspiration

Creating this Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary was quite the workload! Lucky for us, this is the kind of work we live for, and it was fun, inspiring, and most of all helpful!

We hope this helps in your own Pacific Coast Highway road trip and makes planning a little bit easier for you.

Here are some of the pins we’ve created to share with our followers on Pinterest. Feel free to save some too for your own inspirational road trip!

Pinterest ( Find us at @themandagies )

Have you taken a pacific coast highway road trip what were some of your favorite stops, ready to plan your own pacific coast highway road trip read these helpful posts:.

8 Steps For Planning A Flawless Weekend Trip

2o Energizing Hikes In The PN W

The Essential 2017 PNW Bucket List

Want more Pacific Coast Highway road trip inspiration? Follow our curated board on Pinterest!

Looking for the best route to take on the Pacific Coast Highway? We're sharing the complete PCH route, including the best stops in Washington, Oregon, and California for the ultimate west coast road trip! #westcoast #PNW #california #oregon #washington #roadtrip #PCH #pacificcoasthighway #Pacificcoastroadtrip

So excited for you guys! My hubby and I did a similar (but quicker, so we didn’t see everything) trip in the summer of 2010 (a LONG time ago!). It was amazing. There is an amazing hike in Redwood National Park (Gold Bluffs Beach Section) that leads down to this secret beach. Even in summer (August) there wasn’t anyone on the trail. We were pretty new to the “planning” travel business so didn’t really plan anything when we went, but this hike was a highlight of our trip. I’m dying to go to the Painted Hills and Hot springs so excited to see what you guys think. Have so much fun!!! We’re secretly living through both of your photographs and blogs dreaming of our move one day back to this beautiful region of the world. We love Ireland, but the PNW truly can’t be beat.

Hi Danielle! I’m so glad you like our photographs and blog! That means so much to us 🙂 I’m so intrigued about the Gold Bluffs Beach Hike in the Redwoods. Now we need to go back and do that one!!!

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Are you ready for a Road Trip? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.!

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Pacific Coast

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The Great River Road

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Atlantic Coast

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Home / Pacific Coast

Pacific Coast

The Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

Pacific Coast Highway road trip driving distance map from California to Oregon and Washington

For some reason, when people elsewhere in the country refer to the Pacific Coast, particularly California, it’s apparent that they think it’s a land of kooks, an overbuilt suburban desert supporting only shopping malls, freeways, and body-obsessed airheads. All this may be true in small pockets, but the amazing thing about the Pacific Coast—from the dense green forests of western Washington to the gorgeous beaches of Southern California—is that it is still mostly wild, open, and astoundingly beautiful country, where you can drive for miles and miles and have the scenery all to yourself.

Planning a West Coast Road Trip

Road Trip USA’s Pacific Coast route begins at the northwest tip of the United States at Port Townsend near Olympic National Park, and remains within sight of the ocean almost all the way south to the Mexican border. This 1,650-mile (2,655 km), mostly two-lane route takes in everything from temperate rainforest to near-desert. Most of the Pacific Coast is in the public domain, accessible, and protected from development within national, state, and local parks, which provide habitat for such rare creatures as mountain lions, condors, and gray whales.

A misty day at rocky Cape Flattery on Washington's Olympic Peninsula.

Heading south, after the rough-and-tumble logging and fishing communities of Washington State, you cross the mouth of the Columbia River and follow the comparatively peaceful and quiet Oregon coastline, where recreation has by and large replaced industry, and where dozens of quaint and not-so-quaint communities line the ever-changing shoreline. At the midway point, you pass through the great redwood forests of Northern California, where the tallest and most majestic living things on earth line the Avenue of the Giants, home also to some of the best (meaning gloriously kitsch) remnants of the golden age of car-borne tourism: drive-through trees, drive-on trees, houses carved out of trees, and much more. The phenomenally beautiful coast-line of Northern California is rivaled only by the incredible coast of Big Sur farther south, beyond which stretches the beachfronts of Southern California. The land of palm trees, beach boys, and surfer girls of popular lore really does exist, though only in the southernmost quarter of the state.

Along with the overwhelming scale of its natural beauty, the West Coast is remarkable for the abundance of well-preserved historic sites—most of which haven’t been torn down, built on, or even built around—that stand as vivid evocations of life on what was once the most distant frontier of a new nation. While rarely as old as places on the East Coast, or as impressive as those in Europe, these diverse sites include the Spanish colonial missions of California, Russian and English fur-trading outposts, and the place where Lewis and Clark first sighted the Pacific after their long slog across the continent.

Last but certainly not least are the energizing cities— Seattle and Portland in the north, San Francisco in the middle, and Los Angeles and San Diego to the south—that serve as gateways to (or civilized respites from) the landscapes between them. Add to these the dozens of small and not-so-small towns along the coast, with alternating blue-collar ports and up-scale vacation retreats, and you have a great range of food, drink, and accommodations options. Local cafés, seafood grills, and bijou restaurants abound, as do places to stay—from youth hostels in old lighthouses to roadside motels (including the world’s first, which still stands in lovely San Luis Obispo, California) to homespun B&Bs in old farmhouses.

10 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops

For more insight into each stop along a West Coast road trip, our content is arranged by state, with California’s coastline broken into its northern, central, and southern sections. Here are ten major sights along the Pacific Coast Highway where travelers aiming to follow only a section of the full cross-country route may wish to use to plan their drive:

Sunset at McWay falls in Big Sur along the Pacific Coast Highway

  • Olympic National Park, Washington – Combines the features of Maine’s rocky coast, the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains, and the unique rainforests of the Pacific Northwest
  • Astoria & Fort Clatsop, Oregon – Part of the extensive Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, Fort Clatsop is just outside the oldest American city west of the Rockies
  • “Dune Country,” Oregon – Hop out of the car and into a dune buggy to travel through some of the tallest sand dunes in the world
  • Redwood National Park, California – Stretch your legs with a walk through Lady Bird Johnson Grove
  • Mendocino, California – One of the prettiest towns on the California coast, and extra fun for fans of the TV show Murder, She Wrote
  • San Francisco, California – Easily one of the most enjoyable cities in the US and a great place to start, end, or spend a weekend along the Pacific Coast Highway
  • Monterey, California – Home to the excellent Monterey Bay Aquarium and the internationally famous Monterey Jazz Festival
  • San Simeon, California (Hearst Castle) – One of the truly unique attractions to see on a classic Highway 1 road trip
  • San Luis Obispo, California – A lively college town with a beautiful 18th-century Spanish mission to tour, and the Madonna Inn, one of the quirkiest places to spend a night
  • Los Angeles, California – Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard, and an intersection with another storied road trip: Route 66
  • San Diego, California – Beautiful beaches, grand buildings, and home to the San Diego Zoo, one of the largest and most popular zoos in the world

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Road Trip From Seattle To Los Angeles

Seattle To Los Angeles Road Trip: Top 19 Tips

Traveling from Seattle to Los Angeles is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA . The 1,137 miles of a road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles takes around 17 hours and 44 mins of driving without stops.

In this article, we share the 19 top tips that turn your Los Angeles trip into an unforgettable journey. So if you’re looking for the best hotels, restaurants, and places to visit on the road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles, keep reading!

Table of Contents

7 Best Hotels On The Way From Seattle To Los Angeles

On the way from Seattle to Los Angeles, you may want to stay at some points on the way. Here are the top seven hotels on the Seattle – Los Angeles route!

  • Hampton Inn & Suites Olympia Lacey: Hampton Inn & Suites Olympia Lacey is one of the best hotels where you can stay on the Seattle – Los Angeles route. Driving from Seattle to Los Angeles might take around 1 hour and 3 mins . It has nicely sized and comfortable bedrooms. The coffee is excellent, and you’ll love making your waffles. Check the Hampton Inn & Suites Olympia Lacey on TripAdvisor and Booking.com for recent reviews, prices, and availability.
  • Hotel Lucia: Another top hotel where you can choose the stay on the road trip to Los Angeles from Seattle is Hotel Lucia. The hotel is 173 miles away from Seattle, and it would take 2 hours and 51 mins to drive. Portland is well-known for its abundance of great restaurants and attractions, so it’s a great place to stay if you want to rest and rejuvenate. Hotel Lucia is a unique small hotel that offers comfortable beds, a well-equipped gym, cozy conversation areas, and welcoming staff. If you want to learn more about Hotel Lucia you can check it on TripAdvisor or Booking.com .
  • Inn at the 5th: Didn’t our first two hotel suggestions interest you? So we would like to introduce you to the Inn at the 5th. The inn at the 5th is 283 miles away from Seattle, and you can arrive there with 4 hours and 34 mins of non-stop driving. The Inn at the 5th is a boutique hotel that is well-planned and very comfortable. I appreciate walking to the shops and restaurants, as it is easy to access the University of Oregon campus. Check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Inn at the 5th for more information.
  • Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Redding: The next hotel suggestion is Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Redding, 590 miles from Seattle. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Redding is also 310 miles away from the previous suggestion, Inn at the 5th. Again, the staff was friendly, and check-in went smoothly. Our room was clean and comfortable, and they had full-service breakfast now. If you need more info about the price and availability of Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Redding, check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages.
  • Hampton Inn & Suites Sacramento at CSUS: Our next hotel is Hampton Inn & Suites Sacramento at CSUS. It will take 12 hours and 1 min of car ride o reach this hotel from Seattle. The staff was professional, hardworking, and friendly. The room we stayed in was large and well-designed. The breakfast included was excellent. Check the Hampton Inn & Suites Sacramento at CSUS on TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Hampton Inn & Suites Sacramento at CSUS for reviews, prices, and availability.
  • Hilton Stockton: Another hotel you can accommodate on the Seattle – Los Angeles route is Hilton Stockton. It’s possible to arrive at this hotel within 12 hours, 35 mins drive from Seattle. This Hilton hotel is located near several attractions in the Stockton area, including the Stockton Arena and Haggin Museum. It’s also close to Lodi Wine Country and Francisco Or Sacramento. The rooms are comfortable, with good beds and pillows. You can also charge your electric car here. Before making the reservation, we suggest you read the latest reviews on TripAdvisor and Booking.com .
  • The Prospect Hollywood: Another hotel that deserves to be on the list is The Prospect Hollywood. It’s 1,129 miles from Seattle, and you can arrive there within 17 hours and 33 mins of car drive. The architecture, the cleanliness, and the friendly service are all great features of this location. It’s a great place to take a class or to relax after work. If you need further information, you can check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of The Prospect Hollywood.

In this part, we explained seven different hotels you can stay at on the road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles. You can pick one of them that suits your taste. Don’t forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. It will help people who will take the same Seattle to Los Angeles route.

Now, it’s time to discover the best restaurants from Seattle to Los Angeles. We have seven restaurant recommendations worth your attention.

7 Best Restaurants On The Way To Los Angeles From Seattle

If dining is a pleasure, some restaurants will please you on your Seattle to Los Angeles road trip. In this section, we list the seven different restaurants to dine at on the road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles. Stay hungry and enjoy!

  • Gardner’s Restaurant: We would like to start our restaurant recommendation list from Seattle to Los Angeles with Gardner’s Restaurant. It is 61.6 miles from Seattle and would take 1 hour and 9 mins of driving. The restaurant is family-owned and staffed by kind friends. The food is exceptional, with consistently friendly service. The steak was cooked perfectly, and the risotto and prawns were delicious. For more information about Gardner’s Restaurant, visit the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of Gardner’s Restaurant.
  • Q Restaurant & Bar: Another top restaurant you can choose to eat at on the road trip to Los Angeles from Seattle is Q Restaurant & Bar. The restaurant is 174 miles from Seattle and would take 2 hours and 52 mins of driving. This restaurant has some of the best food and service I’ve ever experienced. I ordered bacon-wrapped dates as my appetizer, osso buco for my entree, and piña colada trio leches cake for dessert. Each portion of my meal was fantastic, and I can’t wait to come back! If you want to learn more about Q Restaurant & Bar, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps .
  • Sabai Cafe & Bar: Another restaurant that can be preferred by those who are fond of food is Sabai Cafe & Bar. It will take 4 hours and 33 mins of car drive to take 282 miles from Seattle. It is a longstanding restaurant that specializes in authentic Thai cuisine. The ingredients are all fresh and sourced from Thailand, and the food quality has improved significantly in recent years. This place is a favorite among Bangkok residents for its delicious dishes. You can check Sabai Cafe & Bar on TripAdvisor or Google Maps for more information .
  • Cattlemens, Redding: Cattlemens, Redding deserves to be on our list. The food at this restaurant is always top quality, and the portions are enormous. I had the prime rib, and it was cooked to perfection. My friend had the BBQ bacon burger, and she was very impressed. Cattlemens, Redding is 594 miles away from Seattle, and it would take 9 hours 31 mins of non-stop car driving. If you want to learn more about Cattlemens, Redding, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps .
  • Tower Cafe: If you enjoy dining, Tower Cafe would be an excellent choice. It’s 754 miles from Seattle and would take 11 hours and 55 mins of car driving. The eclectic and varied menu at the restaurant reflects the diversity of Sacramento. The service is excellent, and the dining room is delightful. If you want to learn more about the Tower Cafe, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps .
  • Dave Wongs: Another restaurant we recommend you to visit on the route from Seattle to Los Angeles is Dave WongsIt will take 12 hours and 34 mins of driving to reach Dave Wongs from Seattle. The food is reasonably priced and has a slightly different flavor than fast food. The portions are generous, and the staff is polite. For more information about Dave Wongs, you can check the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of the restaurant.
  • Brent’s Deli Northridge: Ranked seventh on our list, Brent’s Deli Northridge appeals to those who want to turn their Los Angeles vacation into a memorable experience. It’s 1,123 miles from Seattle, and it’ll take 17 hours and 33 minutes to drive. Brent’s Delicatessen & Restaurant is a Californian restaurant specializing in quality meals and premium cuts of meat. In addition, they have an excellent selection of coffee drinks to pair with their desserts, making it the perfect spot for a delicious meal. If you want to learn more about Brent’s Deli Northridge, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps .

This section lists our seven restaurant recommendations for you to eat on your Seattle to Los Angeles road trip. We hope these suggestions will help you turn your 1,137 miles journey into a feast of taste. Of course, you can choose a suitable restaurant from the list according to your preference. Remember, like you, people planning a Los Angeles road trip need your opinion. Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post.

In the next section, we list the destinations worth seeing along the route from Seattle to Los Angeles. Keep reading.

5 Places To Visit On The Way From Seattle To Los Angeles

A unique experience awaits you in Los Angeles. However, there are also some unique destinations on the road trip. We want to explain the top five destinations we recommend on the Los Angeles route.

  • Portland Japanese Garden: Portland Japanese Garden will be the first destination we recommend you to stop by on your Seattle to Los Angeles road trip. Portland Japanese Garden is 174 miles away from Seattle, and it would take 2 hours and 55 mins to drive. The Portland Japanese Garden is considered one of the most authentic Japanese Gardens outside of Japan. In 2017, the Garden opened its new Cultural Village, which includes new garden spaces, classrooms, exhibitions, and gallery spaces. The Umami Cafe is also open in this area. If you want to learn more about the Portland Japanese Garden, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website .
  • Cascades Raptor Center: Cascades Raptor Center is one of the destinations we recommend you to stop by on the Seattle to Los Angeles route. It’s 291 miles from Seattle, and it’ll take about 4 hours and 45 mins of driving. The nature center and wildlife hospital specializing in birds of prey, including owls, falcons, hawks, and bald and golden eagles. They rescue birds of all kinds from all over the United States and have an incredible collection of resident birds. The center is open Tuesday-Sunday and on some significant Monday holidays. If you want to learn more about Cascades Raptor Center, you can check it on TripAdvisor or their website .
  • Turtle Bay Exploration Park: One of the stops you should not neglect to stop by when you take the road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles is Turtle Bay, Exploration Park. You can arrive at Turtle Bay Exploration Park after 9 hours 29 mins of driving. The Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a fun and educational place that features the Sundial Bridge, a museum, forestry & wildlife center, arboretum, and botanical gardens. The Park has air conditioning to keep visitors comfortable during hot days and shaded trails for those who want to enjoy nature in peace and quiet. You can visit TripAdvisor and the official site of Turtle Bay Exploration Park for more information.
  • Griffith Observatory: Do you also like to travel and experience new things? Then, it would be best to visit Griffith Observatory on the road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles. Griffith Observatory is 1,133 miles from Seattle, and you can arrive there after the 17 hours 44 mins of drive. The Observatory offers a planetarium, exhibits, public telescopes, a cafe, a bookstore, and the best views of the Los Angeles skyline from its patios. This is a great place to see the skyline views of Hollywood and the surrounding area. In addition, you should check TripAdvisor and the official website of Griffith Observatory before going there.
  • Universal Studios Hollywood: Brent’s Deli Northridge ranks fifth in our list of tourist destinations on the Los Angeles road trip. You must take 17 hours 31 mins of driving to arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood.The Hollywood Experience is a full day of action-packed entertainment all in one place.If you want to learn more about Universal Studios Hollywood, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website .

FAQ of the Road Trip From Seattle to Los Angeles

Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about the Seattle to Los Angeles drive.

How Long Is The Road Trip From Seattle To Los Angeles?

  • With ideal traffic and weather conditions, the road trip takes approximately 17 hours and 44 mins to drive. The distance between Seattle to Los Angeles is 1,137 miles.
  • If you want to make the Seattle to Los Angeles road trip by bike , the time you spend on the road will be four days and 6 hours .
  • If you are crazy enough and plan to walk the Seattle-Los Angeles route, you will have to walk for 15 days and 17 hours .

Where Do You Stop On Driving From Seattle To Los Angeles?

There are many beautiful pit stops along the way to Los Angeles. Here we list five of them . For more information about the best places on the Seattle to Los Angeles journey, you can check the 5 Best Places To Visit On The Way From Seattle To Los Angeles .

  • Portland Japanese Garden: 174 miles / 2 hours 55 mins to drive from Seattle | 966 miles / 15 hours 4 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Cascades Raptor Center: 291 miles / 4 hours 45 mins to drive from Seattle | 859 miles / 13 hours 23 mins of moving to Los Angeles.
  • Turtle Bay Exploration Park: 593 miles / 9 hours 29 mins to drive from Seattle | 545 miles / 8 hours 20 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Griffith Observatory: 1,133 miles / 17 hours 44 mins to drive from Seattle | 9.2 miles / 23 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Universal Studios Hollywood: 1,126 miles / 17 hours 31 mins to drive from Seattle | 9.4 miles / 19 mins of driving to Los Angeles.

Where Should You Stay On The Road Trip From Seattle To Los Angeles?

There are many excellent hotels during your Seattle to Los Angeles road trip. We have selected seven hotels for you. These hotels are listed below. Remember, you can find detailed information about these hotels in the 7 Best Hotels On The Way To Los Angeles From Seattle section.

  • Hampton Inn & Suites Olympia Lacey: 57.1 miles / 1 hour 3 mins to drive from Seattle | 1,080 miles / 16 hours 46 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Hotel Lucia: 173 miles / 2 hours 51 mins to drive from Seattle | 965 miles / 15 hours 1 min of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Inn at the 5th: 283 miles / 4 hours 34 mins to drive from Seattle | 857 miles / 13 hours 22 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Redding: 590 miles / 9 hours 27 mins to drive from Seattle | 547 miles / 8 hours 21 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Hampton Inn & Suites Sacramento at CSUS: 758 miles / 12 hours 1 min to drive from Seattle | 389 miles / 6 hours 0 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Hilton Stockton: 796 miles / 12 hours 35 mins to drive from Seattle | 342 miles / 5 hours 16 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • The Prospect Hollywood: 1,129 miles / 17 hours 33 mins to drive from Seattle | 7.4 miles / 17 mins of moving to Los Angeles.

Where To Eat Between Seattle to Los Angeles?

If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your Seattle to Los Angeles journey, you can consider the seven restaurants we have chosen. In addition, you can read detailed information about the restaurants in the section titled 7 Best Restaurants On The Way From Seattle To Los Angeles .

  • Gardner’s Restaurant: 61.6 miles / 1 hour 9 mins to drive from Seattle | 1,078 miles / 16 hours 46 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Q Restaurant & Bar: 174 miles / 2 hours 52 mins to drive from Seattle | 964 miles / 15 hours 0 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Sabai Cafe & Bar: 282 miles / 4 hours 33 mins to drive from Seattle | 858 miles / 13 hours 20 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Cattlemens, Redding: 594 miles / 9 hours 31 mins to drive from Seattle | 544 miles / 8 hours 19 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Tower Cafe: 754 miles / 11 hours 55 mins to drive from Seattle | 384 miles / 5 hours 56 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Dave Wongs: 795 miles / 12 hours 34 mins to drive from Seattle | 342 miles / 5 hours 15 mins of driving to Los Angeles.
  • Brent’s Deli Northridge: 1,123 miles / 17 hours 33 mins to drive from Seattle | 31.9 miles / 42 mins of driving to Los Angeles.

So, there you have it- a complete guide to planning a road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles. We have listed seven hotels, seven restaurants, and five places to visit on the way. We have also given you detailed information about each place so that you can make an informed choice about where to stay, eat, and what to see. We hope |this guide has helped make your road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles as enjoyable as possible.

Video: Los Angeles Road Trip

If you are looking for suggestions about the city of angels, you should check this video.

Other Road Trips Worth Your Attention

  • Seattle To Sacramento Road Trip: Breath-taking Views
  • Yosemite National Park To Los Angeles Road Trip: Mesmerizing Views
  • Seattle To Salt Lake City Road Trip: The Unforgettable Adventure

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PCH1 Road Trip

The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Planner

Planning to go on the best road trip in the world? You have come to the right place.

Welcome to our ultimate Pacific Coast Highway road trip planner!

We are the #1 resource dedicated to planning a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway. 

Pacific Coast Highway road trip ranks pretty high among bucket list travel experiences – in fact its one of the most scenic drives in the entire world!

Highway 1 is a gorgeous drive along sprawling cities, charming coastal towns, beautiful beaches, majestic forests, and stunning landscapes.

Whether you are planning a trip to California, Oregon, or Washington….

….or planning the ultimate West Coast Road Trip from San Diego to Seattle;

We have multiple Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary recommendations that cover different areas of the West Coast!

That means you can use this as a Washington / Oregon Highway 101 road trip planner or California coastal road trip planner for Highway 1.

This Pacific Coast Highway road trip planner will help you plan your entire trip and cover the following:

  • The Best Cities to begin your Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
  • Best PCH Itineraries for all types of travelers
  • Best Stops / best attractions to visit on the Pacific Coast Highway
  • Where to stay along the Pacific Coast Highway
  • Best places to eat along the Pacific Coast Highway
  • Hidden Gems / Offbeat attractions along the Pacific Coast Highway

This Pacific Coast Highway road trip guide also covers other useful and important information including

  • Best time to visit the Pacific Coast
  • How much to drive each day along the PCH
  • What to pack for Pacific Coast Highway road trip
  • How much does a Pacific Coast Highway road trip cost aka Budgeting for your PCH trip

It is quite easy to plan a PCH road trip by yourself using our Highway 1 / Highway 101 trip planners and online booking sites to reserve your flights/rental car/hotels.

Awesome, right? Then let’s start planning your Pacific Highway road trip itinerary now.

Before you begin

As an American, you probably know what goes into planning an epic cross country road trip.

After all, we are pretty road-trip obsessed country!

However, what if you are traveling from abroad and are interested in the Pacific Coast Highway drive itinerary?

You’re in luck – we have many resources to help you plan your trip including information on visas, renting a car, and driving in America.

Our detailed PCH road trip planners will take you step by step through the process of planning your trip:

  • The initial steps in planning the Pacific Coast Highway road trip involve: Deciding what part of the PCH will you drive How many days will you devote to the entire trip and When is the best time to visit. Information to help you in deciding these is covered in Step 1: PCH FAQs and Step 2: Best PCH Stops
  • You also need to pick a PCH gateway city, decide how will you reach there, and whether you need to rent a car or drive your own. Find information on the best cities to start your PCH Road Trip in Step 3: PCH Gateway Cities
  • If you want to see the highlights of central California, specifically Highway 1, then refer to the California coast road trip planner. If you want a Pacific coast trip through PNW, then focus on the Oregon coast and Olympic peninsula. Information on specific Itineraries is covered in Step 4: PCH Itineraries
  • Finally, book your trip! Find our recommended hotels, car rental companies, and flight aggregators in Step 5: Book your PCH Road Trip .

Also, don’t forget to join our Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Facebook Page where you can ask questions or share your photos or itinerary with fellow travelers.  Click here to join now . 

Ready to get started? Let’s start planning the ultimate Pacific Coast Highway road trip together! 

Don’t believe us when we say that the PCH road trip is the most beautiful road trip in the world?

Then check out these beautiful photos from the USA West Coast!

Step 1: PCH FAQs

The Pacific Coast Highway is pretty large and rather confusing.

It is essential to understand the PCH before you plan a trip.

Here’s some basic information:

Where does the Pacific Coast Highway start and end?

Wondering where is the Pacific Coast Highway and how long it is? Also, where does the PCH start and end?

One of the things that creates confusion while planning a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is that the road is simply huge.

Plus everybody seems to be talking about a different stretch of the road when they refer to the PCH.

We experienced this several times while planning our first trip to the region. 

The coastal route or the PCH starts at San Diego near the Mexican border and ends near Seattle in the city of Olympia in the Pacific Northwest.

It is not officially named the Pacific Coast Highway but has always been called so since it parallels the Pacific Coast.

The routes to follow for the road trip include Highway 1 in southern and central California and Highway 101 in northern California, Oregon, and Washington.

How long is the Pacific Coast Highway?

Since it goes the entire length of the West Coast, just how long is the Pacific Coast Highway?

The road beginning in San Diego to its end in Olympia, the capital of Washington State is roughly 1700 miles long!

And yes, it really does go parallel to the Pacific Ocean for the most part!

What is the PCH1?

The road officially called the PCH1 is located in California. Its other name is California State Route 1 (SR1) or Highway 1.

Where does Hwy 1 start and end?

The PCH1 drive extends from the I-5 intersection in Orange County, Southern California to Highway 101 intersection near Leggett in Northern California.

Also, the name PCH 1 is interchangeably used with Highway 1 (Hwy 1) or Route 1 or California 1 or SR 1. 

Add to that, certain parts of California PCH 1 near Pismo Beach on Central Coast are known as Cabrillo Highway while a section north of San Francisco is called the Shoreline Highway.

Many times Hwy 1 merges with Hwy 101, creating even more confusion.

This is most noticeable from Pismo Beach to San Luis Obispo and along the Golden Gate Bridge where the two roads merge.

The Hwy also simply disappears and takes street names in San Francisco (19th Avenue) and in Santa Monica (Lincoln Blvd).

If you are planning a trip along this route, then the Highway 1 trip planner will help you discover attractions between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

So how do you ensure you don’t get lost while planning a road trip up PCH?

The easiest way is to ensure that you are following the PCH1 between Monterey and San Luis Obispo in California.

This is the most spectacular stretch that passes through Big Sur and the road here is clearly marked, causing no confusion.

Our California Highway 1 road trip planner will guide you towards the best stops on Highway 1 California in Big Sur including McWay Falls and Pfeiffer Beach.

Which section of the Pacific Coast Highway should you drive?

For first-timers, we recommend driving the California Highway 1 or PCH 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles for multiple reasons.

This stretch of PCH1 passes through the beautiful Big Sur region.

For many people, Big Sur is the #1 attraction along the route.

Also, the gateway cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco are very well connected and easy to fly in or out after your trip.

One-way car rentals between the two cities are easily available or you also have the option of a loop road trip.

Our San Francisco road trip planner will help you plan your trip to SF, LA, as well as the attractions in between.

Have already been to this part of California Coast? Don’t want to begin in SF? You have many other options to customize the itinerary as you want!

After the PCH 1 ends, you can either drive south along the coast to San Diego or all the way up to Olympic National Park and the Canadian border in the north.

Alternatively, you can also begin the Pacific Coast Highway road trip from San Diego and drive north.

The entire route is scenic and has plenty of attractions.

In northern California you will find beautiful redwood trees while in Oregon, you can see stunning capes and lighthouses as well as unique geological formations.

In Washington, you will find everything from deep blue lakes and dense rainforests to sea stacks and driftwood covered beaches.

And that’s why it is so important to decide which stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway you want to drive before you plan your trip.

Which direction to drive the Pacific Coast Highway?

All right, so you have decided which section of the Pacific Coast Highway you are going to be driving.

You know how much time you have in hand.

So which gateway city do you begin your PCH Road trip?

Is it better to drive north or south on the Pacific Coast Highway?

While many people recommend driving from south to north, our favorite is to drive south.

Yes, you will see the most gorgeous sites first and might end in the chaotic city of Los Angeles but you will be closer to the stunning views plus have easier access to parking lots and pull-outs.

That being said, if you have enough time to savor the trip then the direction won’t really matter much!

When to visit the Pacific Coast Highway?

The best part? You can drive the Pacific Coast Highway year round! 

There are, however, certain times of the year when the PCH road trip is more scenic than others.

Spring is our personal favorite.

You can see wildflowers along the Pacific Coast Highway plus spot wildlife including migrating whales.

The temperature is pleasant for hiking, during the daytime it is neither too hot nor too cold.

An added bonus, the crowds are fewer than in summer or winter holidays.

However, you should skip spring break week, if possible.

Remember: Spring can be too windy and cold but the gorgeous wildflowers tip the scales. 

Our second favorite time of the year for this road trip is from late summer to early fall, just after the schools are in session.

September and October on the coast are mild and sunny.

A pleasant breeze flows from the ocean making hikes more fun.

Wineries along the PCH in Napa, Sonoma, and along the Central Coast have beautiful fall colors and are ready for harvest.

Visitors can enjoy grape stomping at wineries if they time it right.

Winter and summer both have their pros and cons.

In winter, you can whale watch and enjoy the scenic beauty without the fog.

But temperatures, especially for northern California, can be quite chilly.

It can also rain, causing landslides and slippery trails.

The PCH may stay closed for days due to extended storm damage. 

The very end of winter – from mid to late February – is a good time with mild weather and low crowds.

The summer months of June, July, and August can be quite foggy.

Big Sur looks beautiful and dramatic in the fog but the roads can be treacherous for driving.

The fog usually prevails in the morning and evening so you should still have clear blue afternoons.

As you continue south, it can get too hot to hike or stay outdoors for longer times.

Peak tourist times are winter holiday season and summer vacations.

Expect accommodations to fill up faster, potential delays on the road, and full parking lots at major attractions like Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls.

To read more about the best time to visit and see photos in different seasons, read our post When to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway .

How to rent a car for a PCH road trip? Which car should you rent?

The best way to travel Pacific Coast Highway is by car!

Look for one way car rentals unless you plan to do a round trip.

However, one-way rentals can be expensive so factor that in while planning your itinerary.

If you have more time and want to do the Pacific Coast Highway road trip on a budget, then you can definitely return to the original destination to reduce costs.

An SUV is really useful while negotiating the twisting turns of the PCH however, it is also easy to break in into.

Because of that, we prefer a sedan if we are driving with kids and have a lot of luggage in the trunk.

A muscle car or a convertible is also a great option for driving the Pacific Coast Highway.

The coast has stunning views and a top down lets you feel the ocean breeze and enjoy the panorama.

A recently popular option is to rent an RV for the Pacific Coast Highway travel itinerary.

This allows you to enjoy the natural attractions along the coast to the maximum.

How much should you budget for Pacific Coast Highway road trip?

The famous question, how much does it cost to drive the Pacific Coast Highway?! Or what should be your Pacific Coast Highway road trip budget?

In general, we recommend budgeting $200 per person per day including hotel, car, and food for road tripping the Pacific Coast Highway.

That’s why the easiest way to do the trip on a budget is to choose a shorter Pacific Coast Highway trip itinerary.

The fewer number of days on your trip, the fewer the costs.

That said, California, in general, is expensive and we have never been able to go on an extended California trip under $1000 per person including airfare.

You can also consider road tripping the PCH 1 along Oregon or Washington to reduce costs as these states are somewhat cheaper than California.

More Pacific Coast Highway FAQs

To read more Pacific Coast Highway FAQs including the following common doubts, click here .

  • Is the Pacific Coast Highway dangerous to drive?
  • What should you not miss on the Pacific Coast Highway?
  • Which part of California should you visit?
  • How long does it take to drive the entire Pacific Coast Highway?

Step 2: Best PCH Stops

If you have decided to visit the most popular part of coastal California:

Begin your Pacific Coast Highway road trip planning by exploring the major attractions and things to do along California’s Hwy 1.

Popular attractions including West Coast lighthouses , waterfalls, state parks, hiking trails, beaches, coastal towns await you on this marvelous drive – and off course the iconic Bixby Bridge!

You can find information about these and other essential attractions in our California Coast trip planner.

Also, explore other stops on Highway 101 in northern California if you have more time.

Here you will find majestic redwood trees and the Redwoods State and National parks.

Road trip the Redwoods Scenic Byway and explore cities like Eureka and Crescent City.

There are also plenty of stunning stops along the Pacific Coast Highway in both Oregon and Washington.

You can read more about the best stops along the PCH here.

This will give you an idea of the most important places to visit and help in planning the trip around your interests.

Step 3: PCH Gateway Cities

Once you have selected your itinerary, you need to select which West Coast cities you can fly into.

While there are many cities on the West Coast, the 5 major ones which make perfect places to begin your PCH road trip are these:

Begin a Pacific Highway trip around the Evergreen State in the Emerald City of Seattle.

Read our post on things to do in Seattle now to plan your trip.

To see Oregon’s dramatic coastline, redwood trees, rock formations, and sand dunes, start a Hwy 101 road trip in Portland.

Read our post on Things to do in Portland now.

San Francisco

San Francisco is our personal favorite to start an epic Pacific Coast road trip.

It also makes an excellent starting destination for California fly drive route planner.

Read our post on things to do in San Francisco now.

Los Angeles

Tinseltown is exciting and glamorous.

It also happens to be cheap to fly into and makes a perfect start to PCH drive.

You can plan a California coastal highway itinerary up or down the coast and have whale of a time.

Read our post on Best Things to do in Los Angeles now.

San Diego is the perfect destination to plan a trip using our SoCal trip planner.

Read our post on Best Things to do in San Diego now.

How to reach the PCH Gateway Cities?

The major airports for road tripping the Pacific Coast Highway 1 in California are San Francisco and Los Angeles.

San Francisco actually has three airports: San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.

You need to research airfares to all three to ensure you are getting the best deal.

Similarly, Los Angeles also has a couple of nearby airports including Long Beach, Burbank, Orange County, etc and is a great California PCH trip start point.

If you are extending your trip along the West Coast, then fly into San Diego, Portland, or Seattle to start your Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary.

Budget airlines that often have great deals to California or the Pacific Northwest include Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Alaska Air, and Southwest.

To get the best flight deals, we recommend booking using flight aggregators like Skyscanner or CheapOair.

Step 4: PCH Itineraries

This is our favorite part of trip planning!

This is also where we can help you the most as we have been planning road trips since the past 12 years.

We recommend that you go through our many itineraries, pick the one that is the best fit, and customize it to suit your needs.

Let’s plan the perfect Pacific Coast Highway road trip ever!

Fly and Drive PCH Itineraries by number of days

Since you will already be driving a lot every day along the PCH we generally recommend fly and drive itineraries.

However, if you happen to live nearby or have enough time to travel, then you can definitely drive to California and then go on the Pacific Coast Highway road trip. 

You can spend anywhere from 4 days to 10 days on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Here are the highlights of our popular itineraries.

Click the link to read in-depth each itinerary for Pacific Coast Highway.

Pacific Coast Highway 4 day itinerary

The simplest California road trip planner.

If you have only 4 days, then spend one day in San Francisco and see the highlights including the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alcatraz.

Visit one of the beaches: Ocean Beach, Crissy Field Beach, or Baker Beach are the most popular ones!

The next day, leave early from San Francisco and explore Half Moon Bay and Monterey.

See the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row, visit the sandy beaches of Half Moon Bay, and take some time to explore Santa Cruz or Pebble Beach.

Stay the night in Carmel or Monterey and leave early for Big Sur.

See Bixby Creek Bridge, hike McWay Falls, spend time at San Dollar Beach before reaching San Luis Obispo for the night.

Spend some time to see SLO attractions including Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Historic Downtown, Bubblegum Alley, and the Madonna Inn – a famous hotel with eclectic decor!

Then stop at Santa Barbara. Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez mountains, this coastal city feels very Mediterranean.

Santa Barbara has many attractions including the charming white colonial downtown, Mission Santa Barbara, museums, zoo, and more!

Enjoy shopping or dining at Stearns Wharf or take a whale watching cruise before heading for Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, visit the Walk of Fame, see Griffith Observatory, and the Hollywood Sign before calling it a day.

You can read this itinerary here for this Highway 1 trip planner. 

Pacific Coast Highway 5 day itinerary

Looking for Pacific Coast Highway itinerary of 5 days?

We would recommend following our 4-day pacific highway 1 itinerary with just a few changes: you can spend the extra day exploring either San Francisco, Big Sur Coast, or Los Angeles.

In San Francisco, use your second day to see Muir Woods, Mission District, Chinatown, and Twin Peaks.

If you chose to stay in Big Sur, then stay at the romantic Ventana Resort or Post Ranch Inn.

Stop at each pull-out and look for wildlife.

Tour the Point Sur Lightstation, photograph the Bixby Bridge, and see the seals at Elephant Seal Rookery in Piedras Blancas.

Make the detour to explore Central Coast’s wine country.

If you chose Los Angeles then the sky is the limit.

You can explore the museums especially the Broad and LACMA or spend a day at Universal or Disney!

If you ask us, we would pick Big Sur over the cities, any day!

You can read about this itinerary in detail here for the 5 Day PCH trip planner. 

Pacific Coast Highway 7 day itinerary

Our favorite! A week is a perfect time to drive this stunning route.

On your first day of California pacific coast highway itinerary 7 days, start at the northern end in Leggett and see those majestic coastal redwoods.

Drive your car through the Chandelier Tree tunnel.

Then eat oysters in Tomales Bay and visit Point Reyes Lighthouse before spending the night in San Francisco.

For the rest of your coast to coast road trip planner, spend 1 day each in San Francisco, Monterey, Big Sur, Solvang, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles.

With 7 days in hand, you have enough time to explore Big Sur’s hidden gems such as Henry Miller Memorial Library and Andrew Molera State Park.

View this itinerary now to read all the details of the 7 day Pacific Coast Highway trip planner.

Pacific Coast Highway 10 day itinerary

With 10 days in hand, you have so many options.

One way is to follow the 7- day itinerary but drive all the way down to San Diego to create the ultimate California driving trip planner.

Another is to start in Los Angeles, follow our 7-day itinerary heading north, and explore up to the Avenue of Giants in northern California.

If you love slow travel, then drive from Leggett to Los Angeles but spend time hiking in Point Reyes and Point Lobos, visiting the remote Channel Islands National Park, and touring the wineries of Santa Ynez Valley.

The epic 10 day California road trip for families and RVers.

The ultimate chilled-out California Pacific Coast Highway trip!

You can also do a Northern California road trip from San Francisco for the Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary 10 days.

Or you can drive all the way up to Portland and see the Oregon coast attractions along the way.

You can also visit the Olympic Peninsula on a Pacific Coast Highway 101 road trip in Washington.

To decide which itinerary to choose, click here now . 

If you have less than 4 days

If your Pacific Coast Highway drive time is too long, then you won’t have enough time to enjoy all the attractions on the way.

We would not recommend driving the entire length of the PCH or Highway 1 if you have less than 4 days.

For short weekend trips, consider the below trips in our California road trip route planner.

We also suggestions for PCH day trips in Oregon and Washington.

Best PCH road trips from San Francisco

If you have 3 days or under, then it is not feasible to drive the entire length of PCH.

You can make the drive but will miss out on a lot of attractions.

Instead, consider day trips and weekend getaways along the coast for Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary 3 days.

Our top 3 getaways for Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary 1 day from San Francisco are Point Reyes, Monterey, and Big Sur.

Carmel by the Sea, only a short drive from Monterey and Pebble Beach, is also a great weekend trip from San Fran.

Best PCH road trips from Los Angeles

For day trips and weekend getaways along Hwy 1 from Los Angeles, consider visiting La Jolla, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Solvang, Pismo Beach, or San Luis Obispo.

Or drive south towards San Diego, Newport Beach, and La Jolla.

These destinations are just a few hours away from LA and great to visit.

Visiting Big Sur from Los Angeles is hectic if you have only 2 days but possible with 3 days in hand.

Best PCH road trips from San Diego

You can also road trip up the pacific coast highway from San Diego to Los Angeles or Anaheim.

Enjoy Hollywood or city life in Los Angeles or see Disney and other theme parks in Anaheim.

Relax at Huntington Beach. Or visit Coronado island for a different type of trip.

The San Diego trip planner has many ideas to enjoy the attractions of southern California.

Best PCH road trips from Portland

Combine a visit to Portland with an adventure down the PCH.

While you cannot use Portland to San Francisco road trip planner in just 4 days, you can visit Astoria or Cannon Beach.

Go hiking in Ecola State Park or drive the Three Capes Scenic Loop.

Best PCH road trips from Seattle

There are plenty of PCH trips from the Emerald City.

Drive the Highway 101 south to Tacoma or Olympia.

Or take the ferry to Port Angeles and Olympic peninsula and follow Highway 101 all around the peninsula.

If you have more than 10 days

If you have anywhere around two weeks, we would recommend driving either down to San Diego in the south or driving towards Portland or Seattle in the north from LA or SF.

You can also drive from San Diego to Seattle or vice versa using our west coast road trip planner.  

2 Week West Coast Road Trip Itinerary

2 weeks is the ideal time to go on an epic US West Coast Road trip.

From the Olympic peninsula in Washington to southern California, you can use our border to border coast trip planner to plan the most amazing, once in a lifetime, USA West Coast Road Trip Itinerary.

You can either start in San Diego and drive towards Portland or Seattle or start in the Pacific Northwest and drive south.

The entire drive is over 1700 miles and should be done only if you have 2 weeks or more in hand.

Point to Point PCH Itineraries

You can also plan PCH road trip itinerary depending on your start city and destination rather than days.

Pacific Coast Highway Itineraries by State

San diego to los angeles drive.

Wondering how to plan a trip to California coast between Los Angeles and San Diego?

This California Highway 1 road trip itinerary will take you through stunning beaches of La Jolla, Laguna Beach, and Oceanside.

You can see charming coastal towns and enjoys SoCal’s relaxed vibe.

California Coast Road Trip from LA to SF

This is the ultimate CA road trip planner.

Visit two of California’s biggest cities and visit the natural attractions on the coast including beautiful Big Sur, McWay Falls, and 17 Mile Drive.

This Pacific Highway 1 road trip is our favorite road trip along the West Coast! Read this itinerary now.

Northern California Coast Road Trip

This Highway 101 road trip itinerary in Northern California will take you through giant, majestic redwood trees and the most remote parts of the coast.

From attractions like Point Reyes and Muir Beach to charming cities like Mendocino and Eureka, this itinerary for driving Pacific Coast Highway will leave you spellbound.

See the glass beach at Fort Bragg, tour the famous Point Arena Lighthouse, enjoy hiking at Mendocino State Parks, and drive the Avenue of Giants on this epic PCH itinerary.

Oregon Coast Road Trip Planner

Plan a trip from Brookings in the south to Astoria in the north using our Oregon Highway 101 road trip planner.

Visit attractions such as Cannon Beach, Natural Bridges, and Devil’s Punchbowl on this amazing Oregon Coast Road trip .

Washington Olympic Peninsula Road Trip

Our Highway 101 trip planner in Washington follows the road around the Olympic peninsula.

It can be used to visit attractions such as Ruby Beach, Hoh Rainforest, Hurricane Ridge, Port Angeles, and Seattle. Read this itinerary now .

We would recommend going through our list of Suggested PCH Itineraries and deciding upon an itinerary based on your interests before finalizing your trip.

Pacific Highway Road Trip Map

Looking for map of Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip?

Among our resources, we have plenty of Pacific Coast Highway road trip maps, depending on the section you want to drive.

If you are interested in Big Sur, use the California Highway 1 road trip map.

Use the Northern California road trip map planner to see the redwoods.

Follow Pacific Highway itinerary maps for Oregon or Washington to plan a Pacific Northwest trip.

Be sure to finalize your Pacific Coast Highway Map and print copies before you embark on your trip.

Step 5: Book your PCH Road Trip

And finally we come to the task of booking your PCH vacation.

When to book and plan your PCH trip

In general, we recommend booking your trip at least 6 months in advance, though ideally, earlier is better.

While you can always plan a last-minute PCH road trip, especially if staying nearby, it is not recommended.

This especially applies if you are traveling in peak periods and in the Golden State.

Every California trip planner suggests booking in advance.

As we have experienced, booking hotels closer to the trip can definitely make the trip twice as expensive.

Before booking your trip, we recommend researching destinations and finalizing your Pacific Coast Highway Road trip itinerary.

In some instances, we have booked first and then planned the trip but this can lead to more hectic trips.

Here’s what all you need to book for your trip.

Book flight tickets to the West Coast

For best deals, book your tickets to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, or Seattle by checking on Skyscanner or Google flights.

Book car rental

All major companies have their branches in California.

You can rent from a variety of companies including Hertz, Fox, Enterprise, Dollar, and Thrifty for your trip. 

Book hotel accommodations as per the itinerary

There are a variety of hotels, resorts, and motels for every budget along the PCH.

We have covered the best places to stay along the PCH in detail in this post.

Purchase travel insurance

We recommend getting travel insurance from World Nomads.

Purchase attraction tickets, if any

There are several attractions along the PCH for which you can purchase tickets in advance.

We recommend the advance purchase of tickets for attractions like the Monterey Aquarium, San Francisco museums, etc.

Purchase tours and cruises, if any

You can go on a variety of wildlife watching cruises along the PCH including whale watching, dolphin cruises, etc.

You can also reserve tickets for the Alcatraz cruise prior to your trip. 

Recommended group tours

There are no tour companies that take you the entire length of PCH.

This is very much a self-drive trip.

However, there are companies that will take you to Malibu from Los Angeles or to Monterey from San Francisco.

Also in Monterey, you can take whale watching tours.

Reserve a table at restaurants, if needed

You will find amazing restaurants serving a variety of cuisine along the PCH.

Our favorites are seafood restaurants in Monterey, oysters in Tomales Bay, Mexican food in Mission District of San Francisco, and a variety of cuisines in Los Angeles.

If you like to plan every detail or want to plan for a special meal for birthdays or anniversaries, then you can reserve a table at the hotel of your choice in advance.

Prepare, pack, and go on the best road trip ever!

What other preparations should you make.

If you are traveling internationally then check your passport validity and visa status.

Apply for visas, if necessary.

Also, check whether you need IDP (International Driving Permit).

Other preparation includes print and/or having virtual copies of all maps, itineraries, tickets, and bookings easily accessible on your phone.

Also, budget your trip and convert currency, if needed.

Read below for more detailed information.

Understand internet and phone coverage

You will find that there is extremely poor and at times zero cell coverage along many stretches of the PCH, especially in the Big Sur region.

That’s why we recommend carrying a GPS in addition to your phone as well as saving offline maps on your phone.

You can also get printed maps of PCH1 for the section you are planning to drive.

If you are traveling internationally

The three main areas to take care of if you are traveling internationally include taking care of passports and visas, renting a car and driving in USA, and converting money to USD. 

If you are traveling with kids

Pacific coast highway road trip with kids? Been there, done that!

Our final section of the ultimate Pacific Coast Highway road trip planner.

Did you know that you can drive the Pacific Coast Highway with kids?

The first time we went with our kids was when our daughter was just a 6 months old baby and our son was 3 years old.

We started in San Francisco, cycled the Golden Gate Bridge with the kids, drove through Big Sur, watched the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas rookery near San Simeon, and ended our trip at Anaheim in Disney.

Both the kids loved every bit of it.

Also, most places and businesses in California, Oregon, and Washington and especially along the Pacific Coast Highway are kid-friendly.

When we road tripped, most hotels provided crib or baby cots, all the restaurants had high chairs, and even the wineries had kid-friendly areas.

Throughout our trip, we met friendly people who smiled and waved at our kids.

We always felt welcome wherever we went and felt quite at ease.

Read our post on Best Kid-friendly resorts along the Pacific Coast Highway to book your accommodations.

There are so many things to do along the Pacific Coast Highway road trip that are perfect for the kids.

They will love exploring nature: hike through redwood forests, discover tide pool creatures, play in the sand and on the beach, splash in the water, hike to see waterfalls, whale watch using binoculars, plus spend quality time with the parents.

There are also many kid-friendly attractions on the route including the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Oceano Dunes Railroad museum, sand dune buggy rentals, whale watching tours, Santa Monica Pier, Disney theme parks, etc.

For more information, read our post on the Best Things to do on the West Coast with kids.

In fact, driving the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most fun family holiday vacations for families. 

Other things to consider

Stretches of the Pacific Coast Highway can get closed due to storms or landslides or wildfires, so we recommend keeping an eye on the news before your trip and getting travel insurance for just in case anything goes awry.

What should you pack for Pacific Coast Highway road trip?

It can get chilly along the PCH any time of the year, so we recommend packing in layers: long sleeve shirts, short sleeve t-shirts, and tank tops.

Pack long hiking pants for the northern and central coast and shorts for SoCal.

Pack a rain jacket and a sweater for the chilly days.

Take hiking shoes and socks and water shoes for beachcombing.

Pack some heels and a silk blouse for date nights in San Francisco, Monterey, and Los Angeles.

If you plan to drive north towards Portland and Seattle in the winter, then add thermal underwear and a packable jacket.

In summer, take sunglasses, a sunhat, and sunscreen.

Do not forget to pack a camera and binoculars.

Read this before you leave

We have got many excellent resources on planning a Pacific Coast Highway road trip.

We suggest that you browse around the site  – take a look at our PCH Road Trip itineraries , bookmark us for a later visit, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on social media to know more about the Pacific Coast Highway. 

If you need to ask us questions about the trip, then join our Pacific Coast Highway Facebook Community now – it’s the perfect place to ask any itinerary related questions and plan your PCH road trip.

We hope that our Pacific Coast Highway road trip planner helps you in planning an awesome road trip.

Other useful posts to plan your Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

Pacific Coast Highway 4 day Itinerary PCH 5 day itinerary Pacific Coast Highway 7 day itinerary Pacific Coast Highway 10 Day itinerary All PCH Itineraries Best Places to Stay along the Pacific Coast Highway Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops

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Wheatless Wanderlust

How to Plan an Amazing Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip

Looking to plan a road trip that takes you from Seattle to San Francisco? We basically spent a full two months on this route a few summers ago, after we quit our corporate jobs and lived in a converted Honda Odyssey for the better part of two years, and it was every bit as memorable, beautiful, and amazing as you might imagine. 

Since then, we regularly drive it because our families are located in San Francisco and Seattle, respectively. And we live in Portland, Oregon now, so many of the stops on this itinerary are basically in our backyard. 

There are a nearly unlimited number of route combinations you could take to get from San Francisco to Seattle, but which is the best? 

Well, that depends on a bunch of different factors, like what time of year it is, how much time you have, whether or not you’re looking to do some hiking, if you’re a beach or mountain person, and too many others to list. 

Your experience is largely going to be dictated by the amount of time you have. If you only have three days, you’re obviously not going to be able to hit some of the far flung destinations like Crater Lake and Bend.

In this guide to planning your Seattle to San Francisco road trip, we’ll give you the best stops to make along the drive from San Francisco to Seattle, and do our best to present you with itinerary options for the various factors we mentioned above (namely time of year and amount of time you have, in this case). 

Oh, yeah, we should probably mention that we’ve done some version of this road trip at least three or four times in the past couple of years, since Alysha’s family lives in the Bay Area, and Matt’s lives in Seattle. We’ve driven the coastal route, the central route, and the “drive-it-all-in-one-shot” route (which we definitely don’t recommend at all). 

The point is that we have plenty of personal experience to draw from to help you plan an amazing road trip from San Francisco to Seattle. 

In this guide, we’ll give you our perspective on the best possible route, and cover the practical information to help you actually plan your road trip. 

california road trip from seattle

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

Where to Fly In and Out of

Usually, this section is “where to start and end your road trip” but, given that this guide is about driving between two specific cities, I feel like that’s pretty self explanatory here. 

Instead, let’s talk about what airports to fly in and out of if you’re planning on flying to the west coast. 

One note : If you’re doing this road trip in the summer or fall, we’d consider renting a campervan from Escape (who have locations in both Seattle and San Francisco) for a fun way to experience the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. We first did this road trip in our Honda Odyssey, and fell in love with short term campervan living.

Flying Into Seattle

This one is far less complicated. There’s only really one major airport in the Seattle area – Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) . It’s about 30 minutes south of the core of Seattle, but it’s well-connected to the city. 

There’s a second, much smaller airport – Paine Field (PAE) – just north of Seattle, but the convenience of flying out of a small airport (and time saved going through security) is offset by the fact that it has very, very few flights available. 

Flying Out of San Francisco

Flying into San Francisco can be a bit of a nightmare thanks to weather delays caused by the infamous fog that flows in and out of the city in the morning and afternoon. We lived in San Francisco for almost a decade, and experienced those delays firsthand. 

You have two airport options in the San Francisco area. 

First is San Francisco International Airport (SFO) which is the bigger airport with more direct flight options. It’s also the most convenient airport for getting into San Francisco itself. However, it’s also the airport that is most famous for delays. 

The second airport option in the Bay Area is Oakland International Airport (OAK) , which is across the Bay Bridge in Oakland, California. It’s a smaller airport with fewer flight options, it’s a little harder to get into San Francisco, but it isn’t subject to the fog, and therefore usually has fewer weather delays. 

DO NOT FLY INTO SAN JOSE . It’s over an hour south of San Francisco, sometimes more with the ugly Silicon Valley traffic that clogs up the freeways there. 

How Many Days to Spend on This Road Trip?

You can totally do a Seattle to San Francisco road trip in one day. 

It’ll take 13 hours, and it’s going to be miserable. 

Trust me, I’ve done it. 

Twice. 

In the past two years. 

Instead, we suggest spending AT LEAST 7-10 days to drive between Seattle and San Francisco. The guide below is written with a two week trip in mind.

This route has a total of 24 hours of driving – split up between 10-14 days when you follow our recommendations below. 

That could be more time than you have. If that’s a few too many days, then we recommend heading down the I-5 corridor through Oregon instead, skipping Bend and Crater Lake, which are further inland. 

You can choose from the stops below based on how much time you have to spend – think of it as a “choose your own adventure” sort of thing (used to LOVE those Goosebumps books!). Except the authors have strong perspectives on what adventures you should choose. 

  • With 3-5 days , you’ll be a bit pressed for time, and you won’t be able to deviate from the direct route straight up I-5 as much. Still, there are some worthwhile stops to make along the way, which we’ll cover in the alternate routes section below. 
  • 7-10 days will give you more time to explore along the way, both the beautiful landscapes at places like Crater Lake and Mount Rainier, and amazing cities like Bend, Portland, and Mendocino. 
  • 14+ days would be best, but we also know that you might not have that kind of vacation time to burn. 

However much time you have, we’ll do our best to give you the information you need to make the most of it.

The Best Route for Your Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip

Before we get into the details of where to stop and what to do and see, let’s zoom out and talk about what route to take.

Believe us, there are plenty of options, and we want to help you make the best choice for your interests. 

The fastest and most direct route is to hop on I-5 south in Seattle and take it alllll the way down to San Francisco.

It takes about 13 hours, and I’ve personally driven it countless times, including several times where I drove the entire thing in one day. Which I do not recommend. 

It’s also the least interesting route, passing through hours and hours of farmland in Northern California. 

If you have more than a few days (probably only realistic with 7+), we’d recommend making some detours from that direct route to enjoy the unique landscapes and staggering natural beauty that Northern California and the Pacific Northwest have to offer. 

Here’s the route we’d take if you have 7 or more days, which takes in the Cascades, Crater Lake, and the Northern California coast. 

An Alternate Route for Winter / Spring Road Trips

In the winter and spring (even into late June, some years), the central route through Oregon and the stop at Mount Rainier will be either inaccessible, or not worth the effort because things will be closed and covered in a deep layer of snow. 

If you’re planning a winter/spring road trip from Seattle to San Francisco, we’d hit the coastal route all the way from Seattle to San Francisco. In fact, we did this exact road trip each of the past two winters, and while it can be a little stormy at times, the scenery is incredible. 

Lucky for you, we have a few guides you can put together to form an incredible coastal road trip. 

Start with our Olympic National Park itinerary , roll into our Oregon Coast road trip , and finish with our Northern California road trip .

This route is going to be best with 7+ days because the driving is a little slower than the less windy, more straightforward highways on the main route below. 

16 Great Stops to Make on the Drive from Seattle to San Francisco

Now, onto the main attraction. We’re going to give you 15 stops to make on your drive from Seattle to San Francisco that we like and think are worth your time. 

First, we’ll give you the stops that are along the route we’ve mentioned above. Some stops are bigger stops that deserve the better part of a day, some are smaller stops that might take a few hours. We’ll leave it up to you to decide. 

Then, we’ll give you a couple of changes that you can make in the winter and spring to avoid the snowy mountain passes and park closures, and explore the coast instead. 

Mount Rainier National Park

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Seattle: 2 hours 30 minutes / 110 miles

Mount Rainier National Park is the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest. In most of Western Washington, the definition of a “good day” usually involves whether the Mountain is visible or not. It is called Tahoma (or Tacoma ) in the Salish language, but the name “ Rainier ” is so named after a friend of a British officer in the Royal Navy, which is pretty classic. 

Mount Rainier, the tallest peak in the Cascades that range from Washington down through Oregon, is an awe-inspiring place to visit. 

Everything from the abundance of wildflowers in the early summer to the lenticular cloud that swirls over the peak, building in strength throughout the day, is spectacular. 

california road trip from seattle

We can’t get enough of Mount Rainier National Park, and would encourage you to make an effort to visit on your drive from Seattle to San Francisco. 

There are five distinct areas of the park, but if you’re coming from the I-5 corridor, the most convenient place to explore is going to be Paradise , which is on the south side of the Mountain. 

From here, you’ll get a taste of all the things that make this area special. Countless waterfalls, alpine lakes, and increasingly impressive views of Rainier around every corner. 

Here are the things we think you shouldn’t miss in Paradise, which to us is an accurate name for this slice of natural beauty. 

Hike the incredible Skyline Trail : This hike is in the top three of our list of the best hikes in Washington State . From start to finish, the views of Mount Rainier are nothing short of spectacular, and they get better the higher you climb towards the 14,000 foot peak. The Skyline Trail Loop, which we’d do counter-clockwise, starts from the parking lot at the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center, and immediately takes you past Myrtle Falls, a gorgeous waterfall, and through a meadow bursting with wildflowers with Rainier looming over it. You’ll climb to Panorama Point, where you’ll have an unparalleled view of Rainier and the surrounding Tatoosh Range and Mount Adams. It’s a great hike. The shorter, easier Nisqually Vista Trail or Bench and Snow Lakes Trail would be good alternatives if you’re not confident in your ability to do the Skyline Trail. 

california road trip from seattle

Visit Reflection Lakes : This is a great spot with a picture-perfect reflection of Mount Rainier in the water of the lake. It’s very popular with humans and mosquitoes alike, especially in the summer. Stop here for a spectacular sunrise or sunset. 

Admire the waterfalls : This part of the park is full of gorgeous waterfalls. The easiest to access are Narada and Christine , which are basically just off the road. Myrtle Falls – our favorite of the bunch – is a half mile hike from the main parking lot along a paved trail, and Comet Falls involves a four mile hike. 

Of course, the other areas are well worth visiting too. 

You can read our other guides to Mount Rainier’s best hikes and the best things to do in Mount Rainier National Park to help you venture out to the other parts of the park. 

Mount St. Helens

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Mount Rainier : 3 hours / 130 miles (though it’s shorter if you’re coming from I-5)

Mount St. Helens is just a couple of hours north of Portland, but most people skip it in favor of the more famous mountain just north, Mount Rainier. 

And to be honest, we get it. If you’ve only got a couple of days in the area, it’s better spent around Rainier. And the fact that both St. Helens and Rainier are a solid hour from the I-5 corridor means that you’re probably picking one or the other.

But with more time, we’d give Mount St. Helens a look. Especially if you want to avoid the crowds that descend on Rainier in the summertime. 

The western side of the mountain is the easiest to access from the I-5 Corridor, though the less-visited eastern side is gorgeous. If you find yourself over there, definitely do the hike up to Norway Pass – one of our favorite hikes of all time.

The Johnston Ridge Observatory is your destination on the western side.

It’s about an hour inland from I-5 along a steep, climbing road that passes Coldwater Lake before you emerge onto a ridge with spectacular views of the volcano that wrought so much destruction on the surrounding landscape 40 years ago. 

Even 40 years later, you’ll be surrounded by evidence of the destruction that St. Helens’ 1980 eruption brought upon southern Washington and northern Oregon. Logs from downed trees are scattered on all of the hills surrounding the volcano.

While you’re there, we’d make sure to hike at least a portion of the hike out to Harry’s Ridge , which takes you along the ridge and gives you an incredible view of Mount St. Helens.

Check out the Johnston Ridge Observatory , and make a stop at Coldwater Lake for lunch and a short stroll along the lakefront on the way back down towards the freeway. 

You only need about half a day to explore the area on the western side of St. Helens, though with the driving it turns into the better part of a full day. 

Portland, Oregon

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Mount St. Helens: 2 hours 20 minutes / 110 miles

Ah, Portland! We love Portland, which is why we decided to relocate here a few years ago after nearly a decade of talking about it. 

Portland takes the things we love about living in Seattle and San Francisco and makes them better because the cost of living is (slightly) lower, which means there is more opportunity for innovation from local artists, chefs, and other small businesses that just doesn’t exist in places where it costs a million dollars to do anything. 

Specifically, Portland has unrivaled access to nature and green spaces in the city center, a thriving food and drink scene with a surprisingly diverse set of offerings (given the fact that Portland is NOT diverse), and access to both the ocean and the mountains within 90 minutes or so. 

california road trip from seattle

Now, if you’re on a road trip, chances are you’re looking to spend most of your time outside of major cities. Which we totally get.

However, we’d strongly recommend a stop in Portland for a meal, at the very least. Specifically, a meal at a food truck!

Here are a few things to do in Portland that we think are worth your time, even if it’s limited. 

Powell’s Books: The biggest independent bookstore in the world! We take all visitors here, and regularly visit ourselves. It’s worth going to their flagship in downtown Portland, which is a massive multi-story building full of books from all genres. 

Eat at a Food Cart Pod: Portland is famous for its food cart pods, which are somewhat unique and offer a really important part of Portland’s food scene: a lower cost way to try a concept without investing in a full restaurant. Take a look at many of Portland’s hottest restaurants and you’ll find that they actually started as a food truck, slowly expanding their empire into brick and mortar. It’s cool, and it’s part of what makes Portland such an interesting food city. Our favorite pods in the city are the Prost! pod near Mississippi Avenue in NE Portland (we used to live nearby) and Hawthorne Asylum in the Central Eastside. 

The International Rose Test Garden: Stop and smell a massive amount of breathtaking roses at the International Rose Test Garden , which has 10,000 buds that bloom from June to October, roughly. Great views of Portland and Mt. Hood (on a clear day) too!

california road trip from seattle

Eat Some Doughnuts: Donuts : For doughnuts, which are a must-try in Portland, a city full of artisanal donut shops, enjoy delicious donuts at Pips Original (sadly not gluten-free, but they offer chai flights, need we say more?), Blue Star (also not gluten-free), or Petunia’s (100% gluten-free!). You’ll notice that we skipped Voodoo, the most famous doughnut spot in Portland, which has average doughnuts, but does deliver on the Portland vibe (though they have a location at Disney World these days). If you MUST go to Voodoo, go to the one on the east side of the river ( here on Google Maps), which is a much more pleasant experience.  

The Columbia River Gorge

california road trip from seattle

We’re not including drive time here, because it starts just after you leave Portland, and ends in Hood River. 

In this section, we’re going to give you a route between Hood River and Portland that has you enjoying our favorite stops in the Columbia River Gorge. 

The drive between Hood River and Portland is about an hour, but with all the stops to make along the way, it will take you at least a half day to complete. You’ll see three waterfalls along the way, which is what the Gorge is arguably most famous for. 

The Vista House and Women’s Forum Viewpoint : Both along the Historic Columbia River Highway, these are two of the best views of the Gorge you’ll find anywhere. The Vista House is here , and just a bit further up the road, the Women’s Forum Viewpoint is here . 

Latourell Falls : A quick and easy waterfall hike that takes you up to the upper falls, then loops down around, crossing under the highway to bring you to the base of the more spectacular lower falls. Don’t settle for the view from the parking lot, it’s worth doing the short hike! More trail information here . 

california road trip from seattle

Multnomah Falls : While this is the most famous waterfall in Oregon, it’s not our favorite. That’s not to say that it’s not spectacular – it absolutely is – but it’s SO CROWDED. You should get out and see the waterfall, but there are better waterfall hikes nearby to tackle instead. If you’re looking for a less visited waterfall, head to Dry Creek Falls , which intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail and ends at a nice waterfall with far fewer visitors. 

california road trip from seattle

Horsetail and Ponytail Falls : A little bit further down the Historic Columbia River Highway are two of our favorite waterfalls in the Gorge – Horsetail and Ponytail. Horsetail is visible from the parking lot, and you can do a quick half mile hike up to Ponytail, where you can walk back behind the falls, which is cool. 

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Portland: 1 hour / 63 miles

Hood River is a charming town in the Columbia River Gorge that generally marks the point where the landscape turns from the temperate, wetter climate of western Oregon to the drier, warmer climate of the central and eastern parts of the state. 

The town is known for windsurfing thanks to its position right on the Columbia River Gorge. The wind whips through the gorge and creates an ideal pocket for windsurfers. As you drive towards Hood River from Portland, you’re likely to see a bunch of windsurfers on the water on days where the conditions are right. 

It sits on the northern edge of one of the most fertile areas in all of Oregon. Cherries, apples, pears, and grapes all grow here with great success, and it’s a perfect area to sample local produce. 

california road trip from seattle

Here are some things not to miss in Hood River – we’re not including activities in the Columbia River Gorge here, because we have a whole section on that above. 

Drive the Fruit Loop : Speaking of amazing produce, the Hood River Fruit Loop is just south of town, and you’ll drive right through it as you’re approaching from Bend. This is where the apple trees go as far as the eye can see, backed by jaw-dropping views of Mount Adams, Mount Hood, and Mount St. Helens. Stop by Hood River Lavender during the summer to see blooms of purple lavender in the foreground, with Mount Hood in the background. Draper Girls Country Farm is the place to go for farm-fresh (and u-pick) produce, including cherries in the summertime. And the Gorge White House is a nice stop for lunch, wine, or cider in a gorgeous setting. 

Drink at a brewery in town : There are a couple of famous breweries in Hood River that were among the first craft breweries in Oregon. Full Sail has a taproom right in downtown Hood River, and Double Mountain Brewery is just a few blocks away, making it easy for you to hit both and decide which is your favorite. 

Wine tasting : Though not as famous as the Willamette Valley, the area around Hood River produces some pretty solid wine. We really like the wine on the Washington side from Loop de Loop , who have a very cute winery dog and a great view of Mount Hood from the vineyard. 

Mount Hood (Government Camp) 

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Hood River: 45 minutes / 42 miles

Mount Hood is our favorite hiking spot near Portland, and you’ll find us up here every single summer.

In a lot of ways, Portland’s relationship to Mount Hood is similar to Seattle’s to Mount Rainier in that it’s one of the most popular outdoor destinations near the city and it’s a barometer of how nice the weather is (whether or not you can see the mountain). 

If you’re coming from Hood River, you’ll be approaching Mount Hood from the eastern side, driving up Highway 35, which skirts the eastern face of Hood. Which puts you in the perfect position to stop and tackle one of our favorite hikes in the state, Tamanawas Falls . 

california road trip from seattle

It’s a great waterfall hike, it’s accessible in terms of difficulty, and it’s right off the side of the highway.

The vast majority of the things to do and see at Mount Hood are around the southern side of the mountain, near the town of Government Camp.

It’s a ~15-20 minute detour from your route, and we think it’s worth it if you’re looking for a) some of the best hiking on this entire route and b) one of the most picturesque lakes in the state. 

In terms of hiking , you have lots of options near Government Camp. 

Our favorite hikes here are Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain , which climbs to the summit of one of the mountains across the valley from Hood with a magnificent view looking back at the mountain, and the hike to Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass , which ends at another jaw dropping view of Hood. 

california road trip from seattle

There’s also Mcneil Point , which is a brutal climb up to one of the highest points you can reach on foot. That’s a full day excursion though, and it’s probably best for a trip where you have more than a day in the area. 

We also really enjoy the majestic and historic Timberline Lodge , which is a century old and feels like a relic from a different time. It’s perched high up on the slopes of Mount Hood’s southern face, and is a great ski destination in the winter, and an equally great hiking destination in the summer and fall. 

Timberline Lodge to Zigzag Canyon is a great, relatively easy hike that traverses both ski runs and the Pacific Crest Trail en route to a great view of Hood. 

The last place we’d call out here is the aforementioned lake with an unbeatable view, which is called Trillium Lake .

We’ve camped here almost every summer for the past several, and the view from the far end of the lake looking back at Hood is one of our favorites (roughly here on Google Maps). 

california road trip from seattle

We even have that photo, which we took here at sunrise a few years ago, framed on the wall of our living room in Portland. 

Smith Rock State Park

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Government Camp: 1 hours 45 minutes / 85 miles

Just north of Bend in the town of Terrebonne, you’ll find Smith Rock State Park. We like Smith Rock because, while Bend still feels vaguely like it’s in the mountains, Smith Rock State Park is much more indicative of the types of landscapes you find in central and eastern Oregon. The high desert. 

Towering rock formations, dry and dusty, with a dose of rattlesnakes. That’s the high desert for you. 

It’s a beautiful park, with a winding river snaking (ha!) its way through deep, rocky canyons.

It also happens to make a great stop between Mount Hood and Bend, which is your next destination as you head south. You only need a few hours to see it, and you can continue north after a jaunt in the high desert. 

california road trip from seattle

There’s exactly one thing we think you should do here, and it’s hiking the Misery Ridge Trail .

There are two different versions of this hike, but both of them involve a steep climb to ascend to the ridge, and then a similarly steep descent past Monkey Face – a famous climbing destination that looks like a monkey’s face from a certain angle – where you’ll hit a trail junction. 

From that trail junction, a right puts you on the Summit Trail , which is a longer, harder, but more beautiful hike up and around the rim of the canyon. 

A left puts you on the River Trail , which is a shorter, easier, mostly flat walk along the river back to the parking lot. 

We prefer the longer version, but both are beautiful. It will be hot in the summer, so make sure to bring lots of water and sunscreen with you on your hike.

Bend, Oregon

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Smith Rock: 30 minutes / 26 miles

Bend is one of the best adventure towns on the west coast, if not the entire country. It’s close to the Cascades, and is a veritable hiker’s or skier’s paradise, depending on the season. 

However, we’re going to assume you’re here in the summer or fall, which is when this area is at its best (at least in our opinion). 

Bend’s location on the eastern slopes of the Cascades put it in a unique position.

It’s close to the mountains, but it’s at the start of the high desert, which is the primary landscape you’ll find in central Oregon, east of the mountains. In every direction, you’re likely to see snow-capped peaks like the Three Sisters, Jefferson, and Bachelor (among others). 

california road trip from seattle

The Deschutes River runs directly through town, creating a playground for lovers of water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding, and Bend’s Downtown and Old Mill District are full of great local restaurants and breweries, the latter of which the town has become famous for over the past decade or two. 

Here are some of our favorite things to do in Bend. 

california road trip from seattle

Hiking near Bend : We have a few favorite hikes around Bend. The Green Lakes Trail , which is near Sparks Lake (worth a stop at sunrise or sunset) is an incredible journey following a babbling creek to a trio of three turquoise lakes sitting at the feet of the South Sister and Broken Top, two towering peaks. Tumalo Falls is a relatively easy hike out to a nice waterfall. Right in town, the Pilot Butte Trail takes you up to the top of a small inactive volcano with great views of the surrounding landscape, including a handy guide to all of the mountain peaks dotting the landscape to the west. This hike is a nice, easy walk along the river. 

Floating the river : Escape the summer heat by jumping in the river with a tube and spending the day on a leisurely float. You could also do it via kayak or SUP (stand up paddleboard), depending on what you’re up for. More information here . 

In terms of eating , you’ve got plenty of options in Bend (including just heading to a brewery and ordering their food). Head to the Lot , a food cart pod on the west side of the river, with a bunch of different food trucks and carts for you to choose from. Go to El Sancho Taco Shop for, well, tacos. Spork is good for a fusion of all sorts of different cuisines. Go to the popular Lemon Tree for brunch. 

When it comes to drinking, Bend is known for its breweries . Crux Fermentation Project has a lovely outdoor space, perfect for relaxing in the sun with a pint in the summer. Bend Brewing Co. has a nice outdoor space near Downtown and the river. Silver Moon Brewing has a fun trivia night on Thursday nights that’s worth stopping by. 

Crater Lake National Park

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Bend to the South Rim: 2 hours / 110 miles

Formed almost 8,000 years ago, Crater Lake is the result of the eruption of Mount Mazama, which used to stand where the crater is today. The eruption caused the volcano to collapse, and here we are. 

We think this stop is worth a day or less. It’s beautiful, but there’s really only a couple of things to do in the area, and anything more than a day is probably better spent elsewhere. 

Heads up : There are very, very few places to stay near Crater Lake. There are the campgrounds – Mazama Campground is the main one – and there’s the Crater Lake Lodge . Other than that, there’s not a whole lot. Book early!

california road trip from seattle

Here are our favorite things to do at Crater Lake. 

Drive the Rim Road : The road around the rim of the lake is 33 miles long, and we think you should make an effort to drive the entire thing, making stops along the way and marveling at the sapphire blue water of the lake from all sorts of different angles. The drive is best before 9:00 am, when the traffic on the road starts to build and it becomes a whole lot harder to find parking at the various pullouts. The road around the eastern edge of the lake opens in the summer and closes during the fall – check road conditions here . 

Hike to the highest and lowest points in the park : There are a couple of hikes we think are worth doing at Crater Lake. Mount Scott takes you to the highest point in the park for fantastic views of the lake and surrounding area. Cleetwood Cove is the only place in the park where you can get down to the water level. Both are fantastic. 

Watch the sunset from the rim : Close out your day by watching the sun set from the rim. We have spent sunsets at Cloudcap Viewpoint ( here on Google Maps), which is on the east side of the lake facing the setting sun. Get there an hour before sunset for a prime parking spot. The other spot to go for sunset is Garfield Peak , which involves a steep 3.4 mile hike to a viewpoint with a great view of the lake and the setting sun. 

Redwood National and State Parks 

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Crater Lake’s South Rim: 5 hours / 230 miles

And finally, you’ve made it to California! 

Getting to the coast from Crater Lake involves a long drive, but it’s worth it. You’ll head west form Crater Lake to get back to I-5, then continue on towards the coast on Highway 199, which leaves from Grants Pass and meets up with 101 near Crescent City, California. 

Your next destination is a complex of national and state parks – Redwood National and State Parks – which, collectively, are the best place in the world to see towering coastal redwoods. 

What exactly is included in this complex of parks, you ask? It includes Redwood National Park and three California State Parks – Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek – forming a complex that is prime redwood territory. The complex was protected under the National Park Service through activism by the Save the Redwoods League , who fought to preserve the best example of coastal redwoods in the state against the desire of logging companies

Howland Hill Road : Drive through the redwoods – and we really mean that – along this 10 mile long stretch that used to be a stagecoach road. It’s narrow, but it’s about as up-close-and-personal as you can get to the redwoods. We drove it in our minivan in the winter, and it wasn’t bad at all – should be suitable for most (if not all) vehicles. More information here . 

california road trip from seattle

Stout Memorial Grove : A short, beautiful hike featuring huge redwoods that were used in various movies, from Return of the Jedi (keep an eye out for Ewoks!) to Jurassic Park. The size of some of these trees – particularly the downed trees – is staggering. More information here . 

Fern Canyon : The most famous hike in this part of the state, this hike starts at a trailhead that is hard to access in the wetter months, as rain can wash out the road. If you’re doing this in the winter, you probably need a high-clearance vehicle. The hike itself enters a canyon that is, you guessed it, full of ferns. Like, ferns lining the walls of the canyon top to bottom. It’s surreal, and feels like it should be in a Jurassic Park movie. Can’t access the trailhead because of the washed out road? Here’s an alternate route that takes you into the canyon from the end of the well-maintained road.  

Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway : Similar to Avenue of the Giants, this scenic drive takes you parallel to 101 through Prairie Creek State Park and a nice string of redwoods. 

Avenue of the Giants

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Trinidad: 1 hours 20 minutes / 70 miles

While the Avenue of the Giants is basically parallel to 101, the main highway you’ve been driving on, it is truly a whole different world. 

You’ll meander along a windy, two lane road through massive redwoods for 31 gorgeous miles. It starts here , and there are countless points to pull over and walk into the redwoods that are often thousands of years old, marveling at their size. 

For what it’s worth, we loved the Bull Creek Westside Loop , which is a three mile hike through the redwoods, with enough up and down to get the blood pumping after a long drive. 

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from the Avenue of the Giants: 2 hours 30 minutes / 100 miles

This is a long drive, but it’s not like there aren’t stops to make along the way. This is the part of the journey south where you meet up with world-famous Highway 1 (don’t let Google Maps tell you to cut inland, which is slightly faster and far less scenic) south along the Northern California coast towards San Francisco. 

california road trip from seattle

Make your way down the coast to Mendocino, a lovely little town on the Northern California coast, perched on a bluff over the Pacific Ocean. We’re going to include Fort Bragg in this section too, which is a small town just a few minutes north of Mendocino. 

Here are some of our favorite things to do on this stretch of beautiful California coast.

Hike the Point Mendocino Trail : The Point Mendocino Trail takes you out onto the bluffs where Big River (creative name) meets Mendocino Bay and, ultimately, the Pacific Ocean. The short, easy hike makes a loop along the bluffs on the southwest side of town, and is a perfect location for a morning stroll. Afterwards, grab breakfast in town at the Good Life Cafe and Bakery or Cafe Beaujolais. 

california road trip from seattle

Explore Russian Gulch State Park : This sliver of land that comes inland from the coast is a gorgeous setting for an afternoon stroll in the woods. Do this lollipop hike starting from the western entrance, making your way up the canyon, and doing the waterfall loop at the eastern end of the park. There’s also a shorter loop that focuses on the area around the waterfall. Fern Canyon is another good redwood hike, just south of Mendocino. 

Go wine tasting in the Anderson Valley : Alysha took me to Mendocino for my birthday a few years ago, and one of our favorite things we did was wine tasting in the Anderson Valley, which is ~40 minutes inland from Mendocino. In a part of the country known for amazing wine, we’re used to having to fork over at least $20 for three tiny pours of wine, which we inevitably split to save money. Not so in the Anderson Valley! It’s more affordable, and the wines are a better fit for our palates (we prefer light and fruity reds and whites to big and bold, which is what Napa is known for). We loved Roederer Estate for bubbles, and Navarro for the setting (and their Gewurztraminer is great, too). Hendy Woods State Park is worth a stop out there too, for the redwoods.

Explore Glass Beach and Point Cabrillo : These are both quick stops north of Mendocino towards Fort Bragg. Point Cabrillo is home to a nice lighthouse and some coastal hiking trails. Glass Beach is a cool beach made of sea glass rather than sand ( here on Google Maps). 

Point Reyes National Seashore

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Mendocino: 2 hours 45 minutes / 135 miles

Today is a long driving day, with three and a half hours (and 140 miles) of sheer coastal California beauty waiting for you between Mendocino and Point Reyes.

There are plenty of places to get out and stretch your legs along the way. However, with limited time, we would recommend just a stop rather than spending an entire day or night here – you’ve got a long way to go!

Some good stops to make are the charming seaside town of Bodega Bay , Wright’s Beach and Sonoma Coast State Park , and Jenner Beach , to name a few.

Point Reyes is a big peninsula that juts out into the Pacific, separated from mainland California by Tomales Bay. There are two main places to explore here – on the peninsula, and in the town of Point Reyes. 

You should know that the drive time / distance above gets you to the town of Point Reyes Station, which is a charming small town that’s definitely worth a stop, but the real fun starts after another 45 minute drive out to the coast.

That drive is full of rolling hills, pastoral scenes featuring barns and cows, and coastal views as you approach your destination. 

We’re biased, because Alysha grew up about 30 minutes away from here, but we think this is going to be among the most stunning places you visit in Northern California. 

From December to May, this is prime whale watching territory. We’ve seen migrating gray whales frolicking in the shallow waters just below the Point Reyes Lighthouse before. 

california road trip from seattle

Here are some things to do in and around Point Reyes. 

Visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse : A gorgeous lighthouse set into a cliff, accessed via a steep set of stairs. This is one of our favorite lighthouses in California, and probably on the west coast. It’s a long drive to get there, but we think it’s worth it. More information here . 

Hike the Tomales Point Trail to see some Elk : The Tomales Point Trail is an excellent hike for stunning coastal views and, surprisingly to some, elk. There’s a relatively big Tule elk population that calls the peninsula home, and this hike is one of the best places to see them. The last time we did this trail, we came across numerous elk along the trail, including a cute mama and baby elk that were just hanging out, grazing with a view. It’s a long hike out to the northern tip of the peninsula, but you can do a portion of the trail to get a feel for the landscape and wildlife. 

Explore Point Reyes Station : Point Reyes Station is a cute little town with a surprisingly high number of good places to eat and drink. The two best are easily Cowgirl Creamery , a famous cheesemaker that is an excellent place to grab lunch and cheese, and Bovine Bakery , who makes Alysha’s favorite Bear Claw (among other pastries). 

Eat oysters on Tomales Bay : Tomales Bay is famous for its oysters, and you can enjoy them fresh at various places along the shores of the bay. Hog Island Oyster Co . is the most famous, and is our pick. They have an oyster bar about half way up Tomales Bay from Point Reyes Station ( here on Google Maps). 

See the Cypress Tree Tunnel : You’ve likely seen pictures of the famous Cypress Tree Tunnel from your favorite photographers on Instagram. The trees have grown over the road in a nice little canopy, and the light is particularly nice at sunrise and sunset, when the low angle of the sun means that the golden glow enters the canopy. It’s on the way to the Lighthouse, and makes for a nice stop – here on Google Maps. 

Mount Tamalpais & Around

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Point Reyes to the Mountain Home Inn: 45 minutes / 24 miles

If you thought you were going to be able to get to San Francisco without making several stops on your way into the city, you were mistaken. 

Since we lived in San Francisco for nearly a decade, there are a bunch of places just outside the city that we have visited over and over again. This is one of those places that we love, and this stop is for hiking enthusiasts .  

A couple of the best hikes in the Bay Area are found in the area surrounding Mount Tam, and we’re going to give you three of our favorites. 

The Dispea, Steep Ravine, and Matt Davis Loop : This might be our favorite hike in the Bay Area. It has it all – redwoods, babbling brooks, and coastal views. Start from the parking area near Stinson Beach ( here on Google Maps) and head downhill first before climbing back up. The scenery changes drastically over the course of the hike, which makes it fun and interesting.

Cataract Falls : A moderate hike to a cascading waterfall, be aware that you’re hiking downhill on the way there, which means you’re going to be hiking uphill the entire way back.

Mountain Home Inn to East Peak : This is a hike we’ve done numerous times. Sure, you can totally drive to the parking lot at the East Peak, but where’s the fun in that? The views are always better when you earn them, and this hike through the woods is the way to do just that. From the top of Mount Tam’s East Peak, you can see the entirety of the Bay Area, sprawling out before you.

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Mount Tam: 10 minutes / 3 miles

We went back and forth on whether or not to include Muir Woods on this itinerary at all. 

Why? Because – SPOILER ALERT – you have already seen some pretty incredible redwoods on the Northern California coast, and we think they’re much more impressive than the ones you’ll find at Muir Woods. 

But, we decided to give you the information so you can make that decision for yourself. 

Muir Woods is a National Monument, and it was created to protect 240 acres of old growth redwoods, which used to be commonplace in the Bay Area but are, sadly, now relegated to just this little slice of paradise thanks to the logging industry. Most of the trees here are somewhere between 500 and 800 years old. 

There are two ways to access Muir Woods. 

First is navigating the permit system, which is how they limit the number of people within the area. 

You’ll need to either make a parking reservation in advance (which allows you to park right at Muir Woods, which has a small parking lot) OR make a shuttle reservation in advance, where you can park at a large parking lot and take a quick and easy shuttle to and from the park. 

The shuttle is only available on weekends and holidays, but parking is much easier to get on weekdays so it shouldn’t be a problem if you plan in advance. 

More information on the permit system here . 

The second way to access Muir Woods is less known, and it involves some (beautiful) hiking. This short hike from the Mountain Home Inn is the back door to Muir Woods.

You’ll start from atop the Panoramic Highway (which is a fun drive in its own right) and drop down into the forest, winding your way towards Muir Woods from the backside. 

Whichever direction you do it, you’ll have a relatively steep uphill section to get back to your car. Make sure to get to the parking lot very, very early (especially on a weekend) because it’s tiny. There is some parking along the highway, but it also fills up by 10:00 am or so. 

The Marin Headlands

california road trip from seattle

Drive time from Muir Woods: 30 minutes / 15 miles

Your trip to San Francisco ends with a drive across the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge. It’s worth parking at the toll plaza ( here on Google Maps) to get some nice pictures of the bridge. If there’s no coastal fog obscuring it, which there probably is. 

Right before you drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, you’ll come across the towering coastal bluffs on the northwest side of the bridge. These are the Marin Headlands , and there are a bunch of amazing hikes and things to do and see here. 

Kirby Cove : A nice protected cove just north of the Golden Gate, there’s a short hike downhill to get to a sandy beach with an unbeatable view of the bridge. You can actually camp down on the beach, but reservations need to be made six months in advance, to the day. 

Battery Spencer : One of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s on the northwest side, where parking is notoriously hard to find. Consider walking to Battery Spencer after you hike to Kirby Cove without moving your car (they’re a few hundred feet apart).

Point Bonita Lighthouse : A short hike takes you to a lighthouse that was built in 1855 to help ships navigate the treacherous waters around the Golden Gate, which refers not to the bridge, but to the opening into the bay. It’s a short hike (uphill on the way back), and when you arrive at the lighthouse you cross a fun little suspension bridge. More information here . 

Rodeo Beach : A nice, wide sandy beach just north of the Golden Gate. Perfect for a nice picnic lunch before a hike. 

Hiking : There are multiple hikes in this area, but we have two favorites. First is the Rodeo Beach / Coastal / Miwok Trail , which takes you from Rodeo Beach along the coast and up and over the hill with stunning views all the way through. The second, which is a little further north, is the Tennessee Valley Trail , which is an easy hike that takes you out to a beautiful, secluded beach (extend it by hiking to Muir Beach, another gorgeous beach). 

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Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers.

Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up.

He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip.

27 Comments

Hi, first of all thank you so so much for this amazing post. We’re going to California in mid October, and thought since we’re already flying in from outside US, maybe we should do our long wished-for seattle-SF trip. However a bit unsure about the timing, how is it in mid October there? What’s the weather like and is there any concerns doing it that late? (we’re probably gonna do a 10-14 day trip).

Thank you again. /Pontus

Hey Pontus! So sorry for the late reply – I totally missed this. Hopefully you’ve found the answer you needed elsewhere, but for anyone else wondering what the weather is going to be like in mid-October, you’re likely going to get some great fall color, though the weather could be more unpredictable, with rain or even snow. It totally depends on the year. Still, totally doable in October. Early November is when the weather really starts to turn.

Came across this article and this looks amazing. I was planning a similar trip and I think I’m just going to follow your itinerary to a T!

I did have a concern though, I’m likely doing 2 weeks from October 28th to Nov 11th 2022. How’s the weather like for a Road Trip and visiting alot of these spots then? Would it be too cold in Washington/Oregon?

Thanks in advance!

As you get into November, it’s going to get more unpredictable. You might end up with more rain and snow, which isn’t necessarily a deal breaker if you’re prepared for it (pack a good rain jacket and waterproof shoes / boots!).

I’d start in Washington and move south in hopes that you get the last pieces of good weather in the Northwest, but it’s hard to say what you’re going to get at that time of year.

Cheers! Matt

Oh! And roads at Mount Rainier NP close sometime in early November, which is another reason to start in Washington if you’re planning on going to Rainier.

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10 Scenic Stops On A Road Trip From Los Angeles To Seattle

From gorgeous cityscapes to breathtaking and historical landmarks, travelers will love these scenic road trip stops from LA to Seattle!

  • Enjoy the diverse stops along the West Coast road trip from LA to Seattle, including Big Sur and Napa Valley, with plenty of scenic beauty and delicious food options.
  • Explore stunning national parks like Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite, with opportunities for hiking, breathtaking views, and majestic sequoia trees.
  • End the road trip in Seattle, where you can visit iconic attractions like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and enjoy the beautiful cityscape and outdoor activities.

Planning a road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle? One of the best drives that travelers can take with scenic stops is along the West Coast between L.A. and Seattle, with Oregon on the charming side. While the Coast Starlight train from L.A. to Seattle offers a scenic, bucket-list journey , driving in a private car gives travelers more freedom and time to make scenic stops and take their time to enjoy sightseeing.

The road trip will take almost 18 hours (1,134 miles) via Interstate 5 North-South Route. In Los Angeles, travelers will already enjoy the diversity the area offers, especially since it's a mecca of the country's film and television industry. Along the way, Oregon is also dotted with beautiful hiking trails through dense evergreen forests. Seattle, UNESCO's City of Literature beams with a wealth of outdoor excursions, marvelous coffee culture, and a gorgeous coastal setting.

For those intending to make this bucket list West Coast road trip itinerary, here are ten scenic stops from Los Angeles to Seattle, along with some short detours to see more of the natural world on this stunning side of the United States.

Related: 13 Road Trips To Take In The USA That Are Bucket-List Worthy

10 Los Angeles To Big Sur

Drive along a rugged stretch of coastline with gorgeous redwoods and historic towns.

After exploring the sprawling cityscape of Los Angeles and discovering its urban charm, drive down to Big Sur to see its picturesque rugged coastline and beautiful beaches.

Along its seaside cliffs and undulating turns, the drive to Big Sur opens up a stunning stretch of the Central Coast with beautiful state parks, including the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Also, don't give out a hard pass on Big Sur's must-try restaurants that serve mouthwatering local and international favorites!

  • Distance to This Stop: 345.9 miles
  • Average Driving Time: 5 hours and 51 minutes (via I-5 N and US-101 N)
  • Major Stops: Zuma Beach , Pismo Beach , Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

A quick stop at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park unveils some of the oldest and largest redwood forests in the US.

9 Big Sur To Sequoia National Park And Kings Canyon National Park

Stunning views of monterey bay and epic stops in santa cruz, monterey, and more.

From Big Sur's rugged coastline, a four-hour drive will take travelers to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which are adjacent to each other. Plenty of scenic stops await travelers on this journey, especially on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz; a three-mile walking path along the Pacific Ocean with awe-inspiring views of Monterey Bay.

In Sequoia National Park , travelers will get to explore the Giant Forest, home to the General Sherman tree , which is the most massive tree in the world. The Kings Canyon National Scenic Byway is also one of the amazing things to do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks .

  • Distance to This Stop: 233.6 miles
  • Average Driving Time: 4 hours and 14 minutes (via CA-152 E)
  • Major Stops: West Cliff Drive , Santa Cruz Mystery Spot , Monterey

One of the most popular attractions when taking this route is a quick stop at the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot, which seems to defy gravity as the tilted road feels like it's going uphill instead of downhill.

8 Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Parks To Yosemite National Park

A scenic drive along deep canyons, sequoia trees, and majestic waterfalls.

Less than three hours of driving from the previous stop takes travelers to Yosemite National Park; America's favorite national park. Yosemite offers lots of stunning hikes and is well known for enchanting waterfalls (particularly the Firefall that looks like flowing lava when the sun hits) . The park's deep valleys and giant, ancient sequoia trees in the Sierra Nevada mountains are also not to be missed.

Among the super scenic stops along this part of the LA to Seattle road trip route is the Trail of 100 Giants Trailhead, which comes with a rest and parking area and a path that leads to the awe-inspiring towering sequoia trees. A lovely drive in these parts, too, is the Majestic Mountain Loop within these three California national parks, which offers sweeping views of the Sierras, canyons, and spectacular landscapes that travelers won't find elsewhere.

  • Road Trip Length: 111.6 miles
  • Average Driving Time: 2 hours and 14 minutes (via CA-180 W and CA-41 N)
  • Major Stops: Trail of 100 Giants Trailhead , Moro Rock Trail , Kings Canyon National Park Scenic Byway

7 Yosemite National Park To Napa Valley

From yosemite's otherworldly landscape to napa's spectacular vineyards and scenery.

After taking in the wonders of Yosemite National Park, travelers can drive up to California's scenic wine region, Napa Valley , where they can savor some of the best wines in the world. This gorgeous portion of the road trip route from LA to Seattle winds through the wine country with sweeping views of the valley along the Tunnel View, an overlook near the park.

With Napa Valley's hundreds of hillside vineyards, one can imagine picturesque sightings along the way. The vineyards also make a great backdrop for photo ops. So, don't forget to take Instagram-worthy photos during the scenic stops!

  • Distance to This Stop: 175.7 miles
  • Average Driving Time: 3 hours and 40 minutes (via CA-12 W)
  • Major Stops: Tunnel View, Pier 39 , Domaine Carneros

Pier 39 in San Francisco is also one of the best stops from LA to Seattle for scenery and fun; it offers beautiful views of the bay and California's sea lions, along with charming shops, restaurants, and family-friendly activities.

Related: Seattle at a Glance: A Scenic Tour of Its Skyline, Waterfront, & Neighborhoods

6 Napa Valley To Klamath National Forest

Pretty ponderosa pines, majestic mountain vistas, and wonderful wineries.

Back to the wilderness! From enjoyable wine tasting in Napa Valley, a scenic drive to Klamath National Forest is one for the books.

Travelers will still be able to pass by stunning vineyards and wineries, but as the drive gets closer to Klamath National Forest, they will be in awe of the unique wilderness and natural wonders it offers. Enchanting rivers, botanical areas, and panoramic views of ponderosa pines and majestic mountains are a sight to behold.

  • Distance to This Stop: 241.1 miles
  • Average Driving Time: 4 hours and 21 minutes (via I-5 N)
  • Major Stops: Hall Wines St. Helena , Castello di Amorosa , Point Reyes Lighthouse

One of the scenic stops on this road trip is the 1870 Point Reyes Lighthouse in the Gulf of the Farallones, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

5 Klamath National Forest To Crater Lake National Park

Oregon's bluest lake, sweeping mountain vistas, waterfalls, and volcanoes.

From the gorgeous ponderosa pines in Klamath National Forest, travelers can see Oregon's bluest lake, the Crater Lake in the Cascade Mountains. The lake has no inlets or outlets, and only relies on rain and melting snow, which makes it one of the clearest lakes in the world. For travelers hoping to get out of the car and stretch their legs, there are hiking trails in Crater Lake National Park with spectacular views .

Along the way throughout this part of the route from Los Angeles to Seattle, travelers will be in awe of the sight of numerous volcanoes, waterfalls, and mountain vistas (Mount Shasta included) on the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway .

  • Distance to This Stop: 102.2 miles
  • Average Driving Time: 1 hour and 58 minutes (via Dead Indian Memorial Rd and Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway )
  • Major Stops: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park , Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway , Trees of Mystery

Travelers visiting Crater Lake National Park in winter will have to check the signs for safety. The Cleetwood Cove Trail is known to be safe to go down to the shore.

4 Crater Lake National Park To Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve

Discover oregon's marble cave and enjoy the beautiful foliage en voyage.

From the gorgeous Crater Lake, drive to Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve in Cave Junction to explore the 'Marble Halls of Oregon' in the Siskiyou Mountains, which offer majestic mountain retreats . There are guided cave tours available for travelers who want to discover the enchanting marble cave, which was formed by eons of acidic water.

Several scenic stops along the way during this part of the journey also highlight Oregon's beauty and history, including the city of Ashland, which is known for its Oregon Shakespeare Festival and gorgeous themed gardens.

  • Distance to This Stop: 130 miles
  • Average Driving Time: 2 hours and 42 minutes (via OR-62 W)
  • Major Stops: Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve , Ashland , Rogue Valley ZipLine Adventure LLC

3 Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve To Crescent City

Smell the ocean breeze, drop by the 1856 battery point light, and fish at b street pier.

After the cave detour, Crescent City (the northernmost place in California by the Oregon border) is a perfect stop for a small coastal town experience and to breathe fresh ocean air. With a crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach (hence the name), Crescent City is home to the historic 1856 Battery Point Light, which entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

For those who love fishing, the city's B Street Pier is a popular spot to drop their fishing line, or simply take scenic walks to enjoy the views of the bay.

  • Distance to This Stop: 72.4 miles
  • Average Driving Time: 1 hour and 49 minutes (via OR-46 W and US-199 S)
  • Major Stops: 1856 Battery Point Light , Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park , B Street Pier

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is also a must-visit destination in Crescent City to see the giant redwood trees towering in the park.

2 Crescent City To Cannon Beach

Among the most beautiful west coast beaches with epic rock formations, including haystack rock.

Another coastal gem from Crescent City, Cannon Beach is easily one of the most scenic road trip stops between LA and Seattle. Located in Northwest Oregon, it's popular for its long, sandy shore and amazing rock formations, including the iconic Haystack Rock; a 235-foot-tall monolithic rock accessible on foot at low tide.

There's plenty to do at Cannon Beach to spend a decent amount of time here en route; plus, after sightseeing, travelers can also drop by the nearby downtown area, which is dotted with charming boutiques, shops, and restaurants.

  • Major Stops: Ecola State Park , Arcadia Beach , Hug Point

Related: The Best Food Markets In America Every Foodie Should Visit

1 Cannon Beach To Seattle

See the beautiful cityscape at the space needle and visit pike place market for souvenirs.

From the coastal breeze of Cannon Beach, the last stop of this ultimate West Coast road trip is Seattle, which is home to the historic Pike Place Market . There are also numerous beautiful hiking trails near Seattle for travelers who love the outdoors, enabling them to explore the outskirts of the city and its stunning scenery on foot.

In the city, however, Seattle's most iconic landmark, the 605-foot-tall Space Needle, is a must-visit attraction for jaw-dropping vistas of the cityscape, the surrounding mountains, and Puget Sound. It also has a rotating restaurant serving mouthwatering Pacific Northwest cuisine!

  • Distance to This Stop: 199.1 miles
  • Average Driving Time: 3 hours and 37 minutes (via US-101 N and I-5 N)
  • Major Stops: Pike Place Market , Space Needle , Seattle Aquarium

For travelers who want to pick up some cute souvenirs on this road trip, Pike Place Market has everything they may want, including custom handmade pieces and Seattle-branded accessories.

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12 Awesome Stops on a San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip in 2024

Here’s the best route for your San Francisco to Seattle road trip. Everything you need to know for the San Francisco to Seattle drive is right here….

Exploring Seattle

While people simply love to drive through the golden coasts of California, along the Pacific Coast Highway, you might be surprised to learn that this is not the most popular route to make a road trip on the West Coast. The title for the best route goes to the San Francisco to Seattle drive – there are some incredible places to stop. 

If you’re planning a west coast USA road trip, then add San Fran to Seattle drive to my San Francisco to LA route and you’ll be all the way down the coast. Or, if you don’t have the time / money / inclination, the San Francisco to Seattle drive is stunning in itself.

You’ll see… 

Classic panoramic view of famous Golden Gate Bridge seen from scenic Baker Beach in beautiful golden evening light on a sunny day with blue sky and clouds in summer, San Francisco, California, USA

– First stop on the San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip: San Fran!

There’s something beautiful about seeing the scenery slowly change and turn greener while you reach colder parts of the USA, and any road trippers who love to be in touch with nature and a little history will get a kick out of this trip.

For those who aren’t looking to hit the Interstate-5 to save time, these nearly 800 miles that separate both cities have some real hidden treasures you can’t miss. So, keep reading to find out the 10 best stops on a San Francisco to Seattle road trip.

Your San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip

I’ll start by listing some of the great things to see on a SF to Seattle road trip, before delving into what to bring on your San Francisco to Seattle road trip, and then answering a few FAQ and itinerary tips. Just want to make sure you have everything you need !

Do you need a rental car for your road trip? Check out the award-winning comparison site Discover Cars for the BEST DEALS the world over. Book early for the best price!

1. San Francisco, California

First stop on your San Francisco to Seattle road trip is of course, the almighty San Francisco. In San Francisco you can go down to Fisherman’s Wharf and see the Pier and the seals, walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and head out to Alcatraz. You can book your Alcatraz tickets here to make sure you get in on the day you want.

california road trip from seattle

Union Square, Lombard Street and Chinatown are all great places to hang out before you drive from SFO to Seattle too. You can book a tour to take in the highlights of San Francisco here .

I’d say at least three days to explore San Fran, and to make the most of these San Francisco vegan restaurants as recommended by The Nomadic Vegan. And there’s a great two-day itinerary for San Francisco here , from wanderera.com.

  • ACCOMMODATION IN SAN FRANCISCO : HOTEL ZEPHYR IN FISHERMAN’S WHARF

Visit California Road Trip

After landing in San Francisco we went straight to the  Hotel Zephyr in Fisherman’s Wharf  to freshen up. It’s in a great location right on the waterfront – it was easy to walk to the famous Pier 39 sea lions and the Golden Gate Bridge viewing point from the front desk.

For dinner I’d recommend the  Boudin Bakery  over the road for chowder in bread bowls, fish and chips and their signature sourdough bread and butter pudding for dessert. I pretty much carb coma’d into bed that night.

San Francisco to Seattle road trip planner

Here’s your map of the San Francisco to Seattle road trip

Seattle to San Francisco

2. Sonoma, California

Your San Francisco to Seattle road trip starts off with the right foot by paying a visit to the gorgeous region of Sonoma. 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.

Sunset over vineyards in California's wine country. Sonoma county, California

Sonoma is also a wine-region with great farm-to-table food options to pick from. So on your San Francisco to Seattle drive we advise you to get to this stop early to check out one of the many small tasting rooms, and maybe later fill your tank at a fine restaurant.

Obviously you don’t want to drink and drive, so you can choose from one of many small inns or cabins in the area to spend the night before you move on.

Or, book a Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour here. You’ll visit 3 wineries and don’t need to worry about who’s driving as you’ve got an air conditioned bus to enjoy. It’s a great way to explore the area with a guide too. Take a look at this Napa Valley tour too , and see which one looks best to you.

  • ACCOMMODATION IN SONOMA: SEVEN BRANCHES VENUE AND INN

california road trip from seattle

The Seven Branches Venue and Inn is a stunning accommodation with a terrace, balconies and a city view. All units have a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a kettle, a shower, free toiletries and a desk.Popular points of interest near Seven Branches Venue and Inn include General M G Vallejo Home, Krug Event Center and Vallejo Home State Historical Monument.

3. Napa Valley, California

Speaking of Napa Valley, it’s almost an obligated stop on a San Francisco to Seattle road trip. This internationally famous wine region holds some of the best vineyards and exclusive tasting rooms in the country, and the world.

Are you undecided about which vineyard to visit for a production or cave tour?

The most recommended options are the Alpha Omega, Silver Oak, Nickel and Nickel, Chateau Montelena, Heitz, Merryvale and Shraumsberg grounds.

The grapes farm of Napa Valley, sunset time

– The vineyards are one of the highlights of the San Francisco to Seattle drive

Sure, Napa Valley might be famous for its wine; but there’s something else that makes this place worth visiting and staying in for a couple of days: the cuisine.

The Napa region holds some of the best restaurants and eateries in the country, from affordable spots to Michelin Star restaurants where you need to make reservations months before your visit. You might want to put some planning into this. You can find out more about wine tasting in Napa Valley on Gastronomblog.com.

  • ACCOMMODATION IN NAPA VALLEY: NAPA WINERY INN

california road trip from seattle

Set in a quiet country atmosphere, Napa Winery Inn offers a seasonal outdoor pool and serves a daily hot breakfast. The Napa Valley Wine Train to St. Helena is 10 minutes’ drive away. Numerous Napa Valley wineries are within 16km of this hotel, and it’s easy to book onto a hot air balloon ride nearby too. This is a great place to stay in Napa Valley to be near all the wineries!

4. Mendocino, California

You’re a third of the way through your San Francisco to Seattle drive when you get to Mendocino, California. This coastal town was built entirely with redwood in the 1800s, which make for its rustic appearance along with the old water towers that now hold cosy restaurants and B&Bs.

Mendocino Headlands, California at dawn, looking over the ocean.

Probably the best thing you’ll find in this picturesque town is art and everything about it: several artists live in Mendocino, and they have private galleries which you can explore in search for the perfect piece for your house.

There are also several unique shops to get something special you won’t find somewhere else.

Another can’t-miss in this town is the Headlands State Park, where if you visit in winter you could spot whales breaching offshore.

  • ACCOMMODATION IN MENDOCINO: INNS OF MENDOCINO

california road trip from seattle

Inns of Mendocino is just 500 metres from Temple of Kwan Tai and 600 metres from the Highlight Gallery. Stay here and you can enjoy the garden, free parking and sea views too. The stunning rooms and calming interiors will make for a trip to remember!

5. Fort Bragg, California

About 170 miles in on your San Francisco to Seattle road trip you’ll reach the beautiful and calm city of Fort Bragg.

While this town is all about nature, public beaches and open parks, the most notable attraction in Fort Bragg is Glass Beach, that owes its name to the sea glass that can be found all over the place as a result of old glass bottles that eroded into the sand.

Point Cabrillo Light House near Fort Bragg California, on the Pacific Ocean. Road leading lines into the lighthouse

If you want to keep exploring the California coasts on this part of your trip, keep walking through the Noyo Headlands Park (this is where Glass Beach is located), and breathe in the Pacific Ocean breeze.

For gastronomy fans, a can’t miss spot is the Eggheads restaurant, a ‘Wizard of Oz’ themed restaurant with great options to have breakfast.

  • ACCOMMODATION IN FORT BRAGG: NOYO HARBOR INN

california road trip from seattle

Noyo Harbour Inn is a great choice if you’re looking for a hotel in Fort Bragg on your road trip. Just 3km from Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Noyo Harbor Inn has a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant and bar. All rooms in the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, but also a balcony and sea views. You can also rent bikes at this amazing accommodation.

6. Shasta Lake, California

On this part of the San Francisco to Seattle drive you’ll part ways with the beautiful coastline of California. Shasta Lake is a beautiful spot to visit and a very popular one in the state for nature lovers.

Shasta Lake, McCloud River Arm landscape on a sunny summer day with ship approaching the shoreline, Northern California

Shasta Lake is gorgeous and shockingly big, this lake was ‘formed’ by the Shasta Dam and it’s popular because it resembles an oddly shaped hand. Just like the perfect postcard to send your relatives, Shasta Lake is surrounded by enormous mountains filled with bushy trees, and it sits below a breathtakingly blue sky.

Like any good lake, you can engage in activities such as boating, fishing, water skiing and even camping in the site. This is the last Californian stop of the road trip so you better enjoy it!

  • ACCOMMODATION IN SHASTA LAKE: MOUNT SHASHTA RESORT

california road trip from seattle

Now, this is a fabulous accommodation for a luxury stop off on your road trip. The Mount Shasta Resort is a stunning hotel in a peaceful location on the lake. You’ll stay in a chalet in among the 126 acres of resort. Stay here and you can enjoy the Sacred Mountain Spa and the Highland House Restaurant too. All the rooms have views of Lake Siskiyou or the forest. Imagine sitting by the fireplace with a hot chocolate after a day of outdoor adventures here – amazing!

7. Crater Lake, Oregon

And just like that we’ve skipped state lines in our San Francisco to Seattle road trip!

Visiting the Crater Lake National Park is a can’t-miss stop for you. The Crater Lake, which is the deepest lake in the United States, was formed when a super volcano erupted about 7,000 years ago.

crater lake national park, oregon

– An absolute highlight of the San Francisco to Seattle drive: Crater Lake

The Crater Lake has an outstanding deep blue colour because it has no inlet or outlet of water like most lakes. Whether you visit this spot in winter or summer there’ll be a fun activity for you to do on your trip from Sfo to Seattle. 

On the hottest months of the year you can take a boat ride to Wizard Island, right in the middle of the lake, and go hiking. However, on winter, you can visit the tranquil waters and engage in some country skiing and shoe snowing. No wonder it’s one of the best places to visit in Oregon !

If you have the time to delve deeper there are some great places to see along the Oregon Coast too.

  • ACCOMMODATION IN CRATER LAKE: CRATER LAKE RESORT

california road trip from seattle

Crater Lake Resort is in a stunning location, right on the lake. Guests at Crater Lake Resort can enjoy skiing and cycling nearby, or make the most of the sun terrace and outdoor fireplace. All the units here have TVs, WiFi and a little kitchen to prepare your meals too. Stay here and you’ll really feel like you’re out in the sticks, in an absolutely marvellously wonderful way.

More road trips in the USA

Your Miami to Key West Road Trip

Awesome Stops on the San Francisco to LA Road Trip

Incredible Stops on a Florida Road Trip

8. Willamette Valley, Oregon

California might be the most known state to make wine, but it’s not the only one!

If you want to visit a more affordable wine region in the US, it’s undoubtedly Willamette Valley. This region has more than 1,300 wineries and vineyards where you can enjoy delicious wine such as the awarded Pinot Noir. Some of the most popular wineries in Willamette Valley are the Alloro Vineyard, the Durant Vineyards and the Eyrie Vineyards, where the Pinot Noir that’s ‘better than the French one’ is made.

You can book a Willamette Valley Wine Tour here. Spend five hours enjoying wine tastings at three wineries, accompanied by charcuterie tray, and a tour guide too. Enjoy those scenic views of gentle rolling hills, vineyards, and valleys from your air conditioned bus.

- willamette valley, oregon - 2011: south hills of lane county

– Bit of greenery on your San Francisco to Seattle road trip? The Willamette Valley

As fun as wine sounds, this is not all there’s to see at Willamette Valley. Make sure to check out the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum , where you’ll learn more about aviation and see The Spruce Goose – the largest wooden airplane ever made by Howard Hughes.

This San Francisco to Seattle road trip itinerary is about to get even better!

Make sure you get your travel insurance sorted before you go on a solo road trip. HeyMondo offer 24/7 worldwide assistance with travel cancellation and interruption cover. They also have tailor made policies and cover medical expenses up to $10 million. Click here and you’ll get 5% off your travel insurance with HeyMondo.com too. Check out their App for more details. 

9. Portland, Oregon

Getting closer to our destination, a great stop in every San Francisco to Seattle drive is Portland, in Oregon. When you get there, you’ll be greeted by Mount Hood and the Columbia Gorge filled with waterfalls.

Portland is a very affordable option that’s filled with activities such as open-air markets, independent bookstores and grabbing a bite in one of its more than 500 food carts with the widest variety of cuisines.

Portland, Oregon, United States - Dec 19, 2017: The iconic Portland sign of Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown at winter season

If you want a good way to check out the outstanding Victorian architecture of the city or some of its many murals, rent a bike and roll around town enjoying the view. At the end of the day, Portland is worth staying the night so you can visit one of the many local pubs around.

It’s a great place to spend a few days – if you have time. Some of the best things to do in Portland include a Portland bike tour , or exploring Mount Hood on an organised tour . On this trip you can explore the Columbia River Gorge and see the second highest year-round waterfall in the US.

Remember you can just flip this road trip and drive from Seattle to San Francisco, if you need.

  • ACCOMMODATION IN PORTLAND: HOTEL ZAGS

california road trip from seattle

This boutique hotel is located in downtown Portland, 5 minutes’ walk from the Portland Art Museum. A fire pit and furnished patio is available for guests. Rooms feature a flat-screen HD cable TV, a work desk, small fridge, and coffee-making facilities. There are over 500 pieces of local art are on display in The Hotel Zags Portland . You’ll be in a great location if you stay here – Waterfront Park and Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery are both within 10 minutes’ walk.

10. Cannon Beach, Oregon

Driving west of Portland you’ll get to Cannon Beach, a small town that’s worth visiting especially in the summer. Cannon Beach is the best viewing spot of the Haystack Rock during sunset, a sea stalk of enormous proportions. You can take a tour of Haystack Rock when you get there, if you want to know more about this impressive natural view.

Oceanfront vacation homes along Cannon Beach Oregon Coast by Pacific Ocean

To extend your visit here dip in and do some surfing, watch the tide pools from afar or have a warm bonfire at dusk. We should warn you that the waters at Cannon Beach are cold almost every day and at any point of the day, but that doesn’t seem to discourage tourists from enjoying a nice swim.

When nighttime falls, Cannon Beach has a nice pier where you can get lunch or even great dinner one of its many cosy spots. A great little spot on this road trip itinerary.

  • ACCOMMODATION IN CANNON BEACH: SURFSAND RESORT

california road trip from seattle

Surfsand Resort in Cannon Beach is an incredible hotel for you to stay at on your road trip. Just click on the link to see the beach pictures to see why I think this is the hotel for you if you’re around Cannon Beach any time soon.

This oceanfront resort offers access to Cannon Beach and a clear view of the 235-foot Haystack Rock offshore. A wide array of therapeutic massage services is also available on-site. Some rooms include a private patio or balcony as well as a soaking tub. Guests may enjoy the heated indoor swimming pool and hot tub. Surfsand Kids club allows children to experience a number of crafts and activities on site.

11. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Almost at our last stop in this long San Francisco to Seattle road trip!

The almighty Mount Rainier is only 85 miles southeast of Seattle. In fact you can do a day trip to Mount Rainier from Seattle in a day , if you’d rather get to Seattle ASAP and work your way backwards. Mount Rainier is the highest peak of the Pacific Northwest and the most recognised landmark in Washington state.

Mount Rainier national park, Washington

Mount Rainier is actually an active volcano that last erupted in 1894 and has 25 breathtaking glaciers that occupy 10% of the park’s total surface. This park has two main areas called Sunrise and Paradise where many hiking trails can be walked by tourists.

Enjoy some of the best and most varied sceneries that include alpine forests, waterfalls and flower-carpeted meadows. If you enjoy extreme activities or you simply enjoy being in the outside, Mount Rainier National Park is a must.

12. Seattle 

Made it! 

You’ve completed the San Francisco to Seattle road trip itinerary…

Seattle skyline at sunset, WA, USA

And so we arrive to the end of the San Francisco to Seattle drive!

This road trip has some of the best landscapes found in the United States, and some of the most unique activities you’ll remember forever. So, get your backpack ready and fill your tank because we assure you this route has a little something for everyone in your travel party. 

If you like, you could just turn around and do the drive Seattle to San Francisco instead!

  • ACCOMMODATION IN SEATTLE: ACE HOTEL SEATTLE

california road trip from seattle

Ace Hotel Seattle is located in the Belltown neighbourhood of Seattle. This modern hotel is just 750m from Pike Place Market and 1.6km from downtown Seattle – easily accessible on public transport. Minimalist in style, each guest room at Ace Hotel Seattle includes a minibar and you’ll have access to a shared lounge. This would be a great, relaxing place to stay while you explore more of the city.

Fancy extending your trip to Vancouver? Here’s how to do the Seattle to Vancouver drive – enjoy!

FAQ about the road trip from San Francisco to Seattle

What to bring on your san francisco to seattle road trip.

The weather in the Pacific Northwest can be kind of unpredictable. I’d definitely recommend packing a rain jacket and warm trousers, along with your summer clothes. Bring snacks for the journey, an umbrella, and of course, do not forget your camera!

exploring seattle

How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Seattle?

The San Francisco to Seattle drive time is around 13 hours if you just drive straight down the I-5N. Do that though and you’ll miss out on all these great things to see along the route.

How far is Seattle from San Francisco by car?

If you road trip San Francisco to Seattle you’ll cover at least 807 miles – that’s if you do the aforementioned route and go straight down the I-5N. Do this road trip and you’ll probably do around double that. Life is all about the journey, not the destination!

seattle road trip

Where to stay on the San Francisco to Seattle drive?

There are some great places to stay between San Francisco and Seattle. I’ve given my top recommendations above, but here they are again:

What is halfway between Seattle and San Francisco?

This San Francisco to Seattle road trip planner puts Crater Lake at halfway between the two. This is an excellent spot to take stock of what you’ve seen, and the amazing sites still to come.

Me on my Emerald Coast Road Trip

What shall I do in San Francisco?

There are so many great things to do in San Francisco – you’ll totally be spoilt for choice!

Of course the essentials like Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39 should be top of your list, but my insider recommendation would be to head to the Castro. This is what’s known as the gay area of the city and has a great nightlife. Spent many a boozey night here.

What shall I do in Seattle?

So, you’ve done your road trip to Seattle from San Francisco and you need ideas for things to do in Seattle?

– Ok, I’d recommend Pike Place Market for a fascinating look at one of the coolest markets in the world.

– Go and eat at the Space Needle – a 605-foot observation deck and rotating restaurant – for your final night.

– And then go visit the Olympic Sculpture Park to see a really beautiful part of the city.

Or, this video does an amazing job at showing you more of the city…

What does the San Francisco to Seattle road trip look like in winter ?

The winter road trip from San Francisco to Seattle is only different because of threats of winter storms and landslides. Make sure you are up-to-date with weather advisories. Make sure your car has all the equipment needed in case it breaks down. 

2. How long is the driving time on a San Francisco to Seattle road trip?

It would take more or less 13 hours when driving from San Francisco to Seattle.

You road trip Seattle to San Francisco would be the same.

3. What is the distance between San Francisco and Seattle?

San Fran and Seattle are separated by a distance of 808 miles or 1300 kilometers. 

PRIMAVERA AND SEAT

4. Is there a train from San Francisco to Seattle?

Trains are another transportation option for a San Fran to Seattle trip. However, it won’t take you directly to your destination so expect disembarking and hopping into another train. All of this would take you almost a day to arrive at Seattle.

5. What to consider in planning a road trip from San Francisco to Seattle?

You can’t proceed on any road trip without considering what to bring on your road trip , what route you would take, the stops you would make, etc. The same goes when taking a journey from San Francisco to Seattle. Cover everything from weather to road conditions to traffic before starting your trip. You might thank yourself later when you do this because you never know what would happen. It’s important you prepare yourself for the unexpected!

Have a read of these road trip affirmations before you go too.

6. Is it easy to drive from Seattle to San Francisco?

Yes! Just follow this route from San Francisco to Seattle, but the other way round. It’s very straight forward, especially if you have a sat nav to plot your stops one by one.

Driving from San Francisco to Seattle

San Francisco to Seattle road trip

I hope this San Francisco to Seattle road trip blog has helped you plan your trip. Please do let me know if you have any questions below about the road trip to San Francisco from Seattle – always happy to help!

PIN THISE SAN FRAN TO SEATTLE ROAD TRIP FOR LATER

california road trip from seattle

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Hi, I'm Vicky! I wrote this. You can find me on all the social media @VickyFlipFlop. I love a bit of adventure, will try anything once, and have a strong passion for the local food and drink, whatever it may be. I'm here to help inspire you to travel to places a little out of your comfort zone, or at least to explore the usual destinations in a different way. Stay, have a look around, and if you have any questions – let me know below.

This is the perfect web site for anybody who really wants to find out about this topic. You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I really would want to?HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic that’s been discussed for many years. Excellent stuff, just excellent!

Below is my rough draft. Do I have the stops in order? What am I missing? What is the best route? Roughly how many days in each state? Thank you for all your help.

Sat 5/21 6:13 am LIT Alaska Air Conf#YJMKXG 7:45-9:00 DFW, Land at SEA 11:19 am

Find Link 1 or Link Light Rail (kiosk for tickets $3 each) runs every 8-10 minutes takes to hotel

Westin Seattle 1900 5th avenue PH 206-728-1000 1night check in 1:00 w/refrigerator

Budget Rental Car 100 4th avenue north Suite 150 conf#05277760US5 J&C drivers Paid extra $60 for insurance already amount due at pickup for car $676.37 pickup 10am Sunday 5/22

SEATTLE Saturday, Sunday Kerry Park 211 W Highland Dr 6a-10p Sun-Sat “go for view” free Space Needle observation deck 400 Broad St $35 ea or combo Space & Chihuly $57 ea use the seattle center monorail $3 ea each way buy tickets on the monorail platform Chihuly Garden and Glass museum of glass sculptures $32 ea to go inside Pike Place Market-souvenirs and food 85 Pike St (206)682-7453 free Gum Wall photo op 1428 Post Alley in Pike place mkt free Seattle Great Wheel 1301 Alaska Way (Miners landing) Pier 57 11a-10p $16 ea “go at night” Mount Rainier view from Seattle “volcano 14,410 above sea level will be snow capped”

Seattle to Oregon Hwy 5

OREGON Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday traveloregon.com buy Oregon Pacific Coast Passport $10 ea Eat oysters at Netarts Bay Oysters and Willapa Bay local favorites Mt Hood (I-5) Ride the Magic Mile Sky Ride (Timberline lodge) $20 ea Portland Cannon Beach/Northern Oregon Coast don’t swim Heceta Head Light Lighthouse & Inn tours are FREE, parking $5 725 Summer St. Florence Sand Dunes rent a razor 900 $150 hr for 2, sandboard $8 hr, 68609 Sandy Way Rd, (at the end) N. Bend, OR 541-660-5300 10a-6p Sea Lion Caves Florence- only if tide is out will you see them-stinky area $16 ea Coos Bay Watch whales in the bay Hwy 101 Black sand beach just north of the town of Shelter Cove Crater Lake Volcano east between Hwy 138 & 62

SAN FRANCISCO arrive Thursday (5/26), Friday, Saturday, leave Sunday morning Drive thru redwood “Chandelier tree” (707) 925-6464 8:30 a-7:30 p $10 car 67402 Drive Thru Tree Rd, Leggett, CA 95585 (off 101) Redwood National Forest “Prairie Creek State Park” Travel Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. exit 765 or exit 753 off 101 10-mile scenic drive through ancient redwoods. Stop and walk the 1/8 of a mile to the Big Tree wayside and you’ll quickly see more than one big redwood! Watch for Roosevelt elk and deer grazing in Elk Prairie. 6 hr drive north of SF

Lassen State Park-volcanoes/Mt Shasta hiking, fishing Mendicino glass beach/Fort Bragg, CA is a town not much to see Vineyards-Wine Country: Napa/Sonoma US 5 or Hwy 101, 1 hr to GG Bridge Golden Gate Bridge Hwy 101 Hotel RIU Plaza 2500 Mason Street SF 415-362-5500 Drop bags at motel and turn car in to rental agency takes about 40 minutes from GGBridge Budget Rental Car 780 N McDonnell Rd San Francisco Intl Airport Thurs 5/26 5pm drop off Take Hwy 101S to San Bruno Ave take exit 423 A take N McDonnell Rd to Access Rd 8 Buy https://www.clippercard.com pay extra $3 reusable card. Clipper card works for BART and MUNI for the whole SF trip. Take BART from Airport to the City of SF follow the signs for AirTrain (free tram service to all terminals) Take either the Red or Blue AirTrain line, get off at Garage G and BART stop in International Terminal G, Buy your ticket ($9.65 one way or $19.30 roundtrip to downtown SF) and board the train to San Francisco/Antioch. Cable car $8 each person per trip Start with the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps! Make sure you climb the stairs to Grand View Park for gorgeous views of the Pacific and Golden Gate Park. Golden Gate Park find the bison paddock, dutch windmill. You may want to explore the Japanese Tea Gardens for some impeccable architecture, the Cal Academy for some hands-on science-y stuff, or the Conservatory of Flowers. Stop by the Sam’s Chowder Mobile for a lobster roll and creamy clam chowder. Don’t miss the FREE views of the city from the Hamon Observation Tower! Open to everyone, even if you don’t have a ticket (just follow the signs upstairs). Check out the intriguing Turrell Skyspace exhibit outside, too. Twin Peaks at sunset 360 degree view of SF bring quarters for telescope Alcatrez tickets on email 3/21 or printed copy in folder. Depart Friday 3/27 on Ferry Pier 33, arrive 8:00am tour at 8:45, 2-3 hours audio tour https://www.alcatraztickets.com/

Sun 5/29 10:21 am SFO

What an awesome trip. The scenery looks so varied and the Willamette Valley looks positively pre-historic!

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Road Trips , United States , Washington

10 scenic road trips from seattle for the ultimate adventure.

road trips from seattle

One of my absolute favorite things to do throughout the year is to go on road trips from Seattle and explore new areas. Who doesn’t love the thrill of hitting the open road and discovering all sorts of hidden gems along the way? I know it’s not always affordable to go on vacation, or you may not have the time, so the best part about road trips is being able to go on these for any duration, any time of the year.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know there are so many amazing places to choose from in the Seattle area, so narrowing down your options can be tough. Luckily for you, I’ve been cruising around the Pacific Northwest for years now, so I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite scenic drives from Seattle that you can turn into epic Seattle road trips of your own.

To make things even easier, I’ve organized these road trips based on their length – so you can pick and choose what works best for you based on your time constraints. Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway from Seattle or an extended adventure, I’ve got you covered. With that, let’s dive into some of the best road trips from Seattle and all the essential info you need to prepare for them!

Need help planning out your road trip? I’ve been using Roadtrippers for years to see exactly how long it’ll take from one point to the next and find new places to add to my itinerary!

Table of Contents

Tips for a Seattle Road Trip

Here are some tips to consider first before going on a road trip near Seattle.

  • Check traffic first. This may seem obvious, but many people forget that traffic tends to get worse around Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia at rush hour, so this can add hours to your road trip if you don’t time it right (and I say this from experience!). The best place to check it for Washington is the WSODT website .
  • Be prepared if crossing passes. Similar to the tip above, always check the same website to see how the passes look if you’ll be crossing them. This is the worst place to be stuck, as there often isn’t anywhere to turn around. I once planned a trip to the other side of the mountains after we’d had a warm week in April, only for the day of my planned trip to get completely dumped in snow and the passes ended up closing. If it’s snow season, always bring chains , blankets, and food/water just in case.
  • Check the weather. Even if you’re not going into the mountains, you’ll want to know if the roads you plan on going around might be slick with rain or ice and pack appropriately.
  • Don’t have a tight itinerary. I know not everyone can take as many days off as they want for a vacation, but avoid the temptation to jam-pack your trip with stops. It’s more enjoyable when you know you have time to make random stops along the way or don’t have to get stressed if you do get caught in traffic.
  • Take breaks . I’m the queen of making a tight itinerary when I travel, but I’ve learned over the years this doesn’t benefit anyone. You and your passengers will get tired, which is not only unsafe for the driver but means the trip won’t be as fun. Plan for breaks ahead of time or be flexible and take one if it feels like a good time.

This post was first written in 2021 and last updated in February 2023.

What to Pack for a Road Trip From Seattle

You’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for any Seattle road trip you take, whether it’s only a few days or a week. I have an entire article on road trips essentials , but here are some of the ones I recommend most:

  • Water bottle – I fill up multiple water bottles and put ice in them so they stay nice and cool, and I’m also hydrated during my trip.
  • Cooler – Save money by bringing your own snacks and keeping them cold in your cooler. This is also helpful if you buy food on the road and don’t finish it but need to keep it cold.
  • Coffee mug – I love treating myself to a latte now and then, but I don’t want to waste cups on the road every day getting a new drink. Having a reusable coffee mug helps with that problem.
  • Polarized sunglasses – It can get really bright on the road depending on what the sun reflects on, so keep yourself safe and have a good pair of sunglasses.
  • Sunscreen – You’ll need sunscreen when you’re out and about exploring, but it’s also important to have it on when you’re in the car as well. You can have one side of your face and arm exposed for hours, depending on the time of day.

10 Road Trips From Seattle You’ll Want to Go On

With so many amazing destinations to choose from, it’s hard to narrow it down to just 10, but I’ve compiled a list of some of the best road trips from Seattle that are my favorites. Get ready to hit the open road and explore the stunning natural landscapes and charming towns of the Pacific Northwest!

1. Olympic Peninsula

seattle road trips washington coast

Distance: 361 miles Number of Days: 3 Where to Stay: Port Angeles , Forks

A road trip around the Olympic Peninsula is the perfect way to reconnect with nature and the best road trip from Seattle for many people. I live near one of the ferries going here, so I am lucky to be able to visit the area often.

Take your car on the Bainbridge ferry to Bainbridge, where you’ll find tons of things to do on Bainbridge Island . The ferry ticket costs $20.40 (for the vehicle and the driver) and will take you over Elliott Bay, offering stunning views in Seattle of the water during one of the best Seattle road trips.

Alternatively, you can also take the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston (make sure to check out all the things to do in Edmonds first).

From Bainbridge Island, head south on Highway 305 and cross Hood Canal Floating Bridge. Get onto the Olympic Highway (Highway 101) , which will take you on a picturesque drive past Discovery Bay and the west side of Sequim Bay. 

Spend the night at the quaint coastal town of Port Angeles at a place like Port Angeles Inn  during one of the short road trips from Seattle. It has a bustling marina and beautiful natural landscapes you can explore in the morning before you head out on the road again. You can also look at my full list of where to stay in Olympic National Park .

In the morning, travel inland past Lake Crescent on your way to the magnificent Olympic National Park, where you can spend the night. There are plenty of Olympic hikes to do if you want to get some exercise (my favorites are Marymere Falls and Hurricane Ridge , which are fairly easy hikes in Washington ).

hiking marymere falls

On the morning of day three, take the Olympic Highway along the west coast through Queets. Then travel south to Aberdeen and up through Tacoma to return to Seattle.

Alternatively, you could do a quick Seattle day trip here if you only have one day in Olympic .

Olympic Peninsula

Looking for the ultimate Seattle travel guide written by a local that tells you all the best places to go and what to see? My new ebook is now live, so  click here  to buy your copy!

2. Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge

Distance: 389 miles Number of Days: 3 Where to Stay: Yakima , Portland

Drive through Tacoma and Portland for 3.5 hours to get to the glorious Columbia River Gorge on your road trip near Seattle. The 4,000-feet deep canyon demarcates Washington from Oregon and offers one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the country.

The canyon spans a whopping 80 miles as the river bends through the Cascade Range. You’ll be glad you braved the long road trip from Seattle for this view. 

You can either take the same way home or make a loop trip going through Yakima and Snoqualmie Pass. The latter journey will take you one hour longer, but you may be keen on seeing Snoqualmie Pass if you haven’t before. 

On this Seattle road trip, you can spend a night in Yakima , Washington (my favorite hotel there is Hotel Maison , located centrally). Otherwise, if you’re going through Portland and looking for things to do in Portland , be sure to check out Washington Park on your way back to Seattle.

There are also plenty of short day trips from Portland to explore before you head home, or you can continue driving from Seattle to Portland .

If you’re a little tired from your journey, the 400-acre park is the perfect place to rejuvenate with some fresh air and a picnic. You can take the 3- or 4-hour road trip to Seattle in the morning, or you can continue on a Seattle to San Diego road trip .

Columbia River Gorge

3. San Juan Island

san juan island me

Distance: 214 miles Number of Days: 3 Where to Stay: Friday Harbor

Take I-5 north from Seattle north until you reach Burlington, where you can take exit 230 on your road trip from Seattle. You’ll then travel west towards Anacortes, where you can take the ferry (you’ll need an advanced reservation ).

The drive to Anacortes should take about 90 minutes, and the ferry trip is just under 1.5 hours long. I think traveling by ferry is one of the best parts of getting to the San Juan Islands, so enjoy it.

You’ll likely be exhausted once you get there, so book a room at the luxurious Earthbox Inn & Spa . You can familiarize yourself with the incredible San Juan Island in the morning. Filled with activities like whale-watching and kayaking , you’ll never be bored here during one of the more exciting road trips around Seattle.

Take a walk along Friday Harbor or take photos at the extraordinary Pelindaba Lavender Farm . I recommend taking the time to browse all the items in the store (I always get the lavender linen spray). You’ll have to take the same route back, but the ferry over the water is just as inspiring the second time around.

There are also plenty of hikes on the San Juans if you want to get some exercise in.

If you’d like to make a stop on the way home, pull over halfway home at the Boeing Future of Flight Museum . The museum has fascinating exhibits on the evolution of aviation, not to mention the actual disused planes hanging from the ceiling.

If you want to go to another island, Orcas Island and Lopez Island are both easily accessible from San Juan. I do recommend taking a day for each of these so you don’t rush through them, however.

San Juan Island

4. Sea-to-Sky Highway

road trips from seattle sea to sky highway

Distance: 436 miles Number of Days: 3 Where to Stay: Bellingham , Vancouver (BC) , Whistler

One of my absolute favorite drives in North America is Sea to Sky Highway , where you can go on a road trip to Whistler, Canada, and back. Your first stop is 90 minutes outside of Seattle in the laidback Bellingham . The area has plenty of waterfalls, lakes, and fishing spots, not to mention tons of hiking trails for you to explore.

Boundary Bay Brewing makes the perfect pit stop for lunch and a beer (and it’s my old stomping grounds from when I went to college here years ago).

Spend the night getting to know the town, or head to the rugged coastline of Larrabee Park. Watch a spectacular sunset over the water before you turn in for the night at a local Bellingham lodge, such as Hotel Bellwether .  

On Day 2, cross the Canada border on a Seattle to Vancouver drive and stop in Vancouver on your way to Whistler (want to experience more of the city? You can spend 2 days in Vancouver, BC or visit Vancouver in three days on the way up).

This stunning mountain town will take your breath away. I’ve been here in every season, and it’s hard to pick the best time to go because each season has its own charm to it. They also have amazing coffee, so you’ll love visiting all the coffee shops in Whistler .

Go mountain biking in the summer or sledding in the winter. Whistler is postcard-perfect all year round, whether you visit Whistler in the summer or are looking for things to do in Whistler in the winter.

Stay at the superb Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel for a night of luxury. You’ll want to get a good night’s rest before heading back to Seattle in the morning.

The journey back is over 4 hours, but this is your second opportunity to be captivated by the view on the Sea-to-Sky Highway. You can also stop at Canada’s famous White Rock Pier on your way back.

Sea-to-Sky Highway

5. North Cascades Highway

road trips from seattle north cascades

Distance: 424 miles Number of Days: 3 Where to Stay: Leavenworth , Winthrop

Explore Seattle’s north country on an unforgettable loop trip around the North Cascades National Park, which is one of the best national parks in Washington . The North Cascades Highway is a classic route used by locals and tourists for weekend road trips from Seattle. This is only open from about June until October, so make sure to check road conditions first.

Drive east along Stevens Pass , and you’ll see lush orchids, pine forests, and the slopes of the Cascade mountains until you reach your first stop, Leavenworth .

Stop to check out the Waterfront Park for panoramic views of the Wenatchee River and spend the night in a local lodge (I recommend Icicle Village Resort ). The park has loads of hiking trails for you to explore in the morning, or you can take a kayak out on the water before you get back on the road.

If you want to see a magical Bavarian village in the snow, visit Leavenworth in the winter . Just be aware that the pass can get heavy snow, so make sure your car is prepared with chains.

Once you’re done exploring, take Highway 97 up to visit Lake Chelan for more sightseeing, pass the town of Winthrop , and then head west until you reach North Cascades National Park.

cutthroat lake hike

There are plenty of hikes in North Cascades for you to explore the following day ( Heather-Maple Loop Pass is one of my favorites), after which you can complete the loop of your road trip. 

You can go through Rockport and Concrete, heading west towards Mount Vernon, then travel south to get back to Seattle. Since the park is only open seasonally, Seattle in the summer or fall in Seattle are the best times to visit.

North Cascades Highway

6. Vancouver Island

road trip from seattle vancouver island

Distance: 337 miles Number of Days: 3 Where to Stay: Port Angeles , Victoria (BC) , Bellingham

Head north from Seattle to Vancouver, Canada, during this international road trip from Seattle. Stop at the Mount Vernon Lions Club Roadside Park if you need to stretch your legs on this charming Vancouver weekend trip . This charming park sits on the edge of the Skagit River, and there are picnic tables where you can kick back and enjoy the view. 

Don’t leave Vancouver without catching the sunset from the Vancouver Lookout . The observation deck offers panoramic views of the city from 550 feet above the ground! This is an excellent way to get a snapshot of the city before you turn in for the night (you’ll love the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront) . 

On Day 2, take the 90-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo , a bay town on Vancouver Island that looks out over the Salish Sea. Stop at one of the many restaurants on the harbor for a bite with a waterside view, and then head to Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort for your lodging for the night. I keep staying here every time I come because it’s so charming being right on the ocean.

victoria with kids butchart gardens

After spending the night, drive south to Spectacle Lake for a pleasant swim surrounded by forest trees. Then, hit the road until you hit Victoria on this driving trip from Seattle. This town is also known as the “City of Gardens” thanks to its abundance of parklands. Be sure to check out the renowned Butchart Gardens for an afternoon stroll.

You can rest for the night in Victoria (you may like the Strathcona Hotel ). In the morning, take the ferry to Port Angeles and drive down the Olympic Peninsula to get home.

Vancouver Island

Another beautiful road trip is the Seattle to Banff drive , which takes you through Canada.

7. Willamette Valley

willamette valley youngberg hill sunrise

Distance: 554 miles Number of Days: 4 Where to Stay: McMinnville , Cannon Beach , Olympia

Discover the south coast on a drive through Willamette Valley , one of the best road trips from Seattle if you love wine. You can travel through Portland on your way to McMinnville , where you can indulge in some of the best wine tours in Oregon.

This is also a popular weekend getaway from Portland for many locals – I felt like I was in Sonoma the first time I visited!

There are dozens of wineries to choose from in the area, so you won’t need to worry about a shortage in that department. I personally love Kings Estate Winery, Irish Vineyards, and Kason Vineyards if you want to narrow down your selection. For lodging, I recommend staying at a place like McMenamins Hotel Oregon to relax for the night.

The People’s Coast, Oregon’s stunning coastline, is perfect for whale-watching, tidal pooling, and amazing Pacific Ocean views. Spend the night at the nearby Starfish Manor Oceanfront Hotel to fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean. 

oregon coast hike

On Day 3, take a detour to Ecola State Park on Cannon Beach as you make your way back to Portland (this is especially nice during wintertime in Portland ). Spot Haystack Rock – one of Oregon’s most famous landmarks – a stunning 234-foot rock formation on the edge of the shoreline. This is one of my favorite parts of an Oregon Coast drive .

Spend the afternoon exploring Portland, where you’ll find loads of coffee houses, parks, cycling trails, and microbreweries. You can check in at the Mark Spencer Hotel downtown and drive back to Seattle in the morning. 

Willamette Valley

8. Washington Coast

best road trips from seattle ocean shores

Distance: 462 miles Number of Days: 4 Where to Stay: Long Beach (WA) , Westport (WA)

When you want road trip ideas from Seattle, consider this 3-hour drive from Seattle to Astoria, Oregon . After a night in Astoria, you can embark on a 4-day adventure along the Washington Coast. This is an ideal trip in Seattle during winter , as you won’t encounter much, if any, snow.

First, visit Cape Disappointment , the headland of the Pacific Northwest. You won’t be staying here long, but the views of the lighthouse at the end of the beach are worth a quick stop. 

You can spend both your first and second nights in Long Beach (I stay at the Adrift Hotel every time I visit this area!). You’ll be delighted to wake up in this fun coastal town, where you can horse ride on the beach, swim in the ocean, or shop on the boardwalk. 

When you’re done frolicking on the sand in Long Beach, drive out to Westport for more beach activities, great views, and fishing on the pier. The trip will take you about an hour and a half, but don’t worry – it’s worth it.

what to do in ocean shores

You can book a room in Westport ( LOGE Westport is always a fun place to stay) and wake up early to explore the place (and check out some amazing Washington surf spots if you’re into that!). 

In the morning, take a picturesque drive around North Bay . You’ll go through Aberdeen (the birthplace of legendary Kurt Cobain), where you can stop for fuel. Check out the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park in town if you’re a Nirvana fan. 

Your final stop is in Ocean Shores , where you’ll be right by the ocean for your whole trip (and you’ll love all the things to do at Ocean Shores that you’ll find). The Polynesian Resort  is a good choice for an affordable hotel with a view of the water. Luckily, your drive back to Seattle will be under three hours from this charming coastal village. 

Want to extend your oceanfront trip? Head down to California for a Big Sur one day trip .

Washington Coast

9. Yellowstone National Park

one day in Yellowstone

Distance: 1,690 miles Number of Days: 6 Where to Stay: Spokane (WA) , Missoula (MT), Bozeman (MT) , Boise (ID)

People from around the world dream about one day visiting Yellowstone National Park. Here’s your chance to go on one of my favorite road trips from Seattle!

You can take a scenic drive through Snoqualmie Pass and stop in Spokane for fuel, food, and rest. If you’re looking for a great hotel, try The Davenport Grand . 

Drive past the breathtaking mountain lake Coeur d’Alene on Day 2. You’ll then take the Interstate through the gorgeous scenery of Montana until you reach Missoula. Check out the Missoula Art Museum and spend the night at the La Quinta Inn .

You can hike the Mount Sentinel trail in the morning before hitting the road. It’ll take you three hours to reach Bozeman, Montana , where you can spend the night at The Mountainview Lodge after a long day of hiking and driving.

Alternatively, you could also decide to extend your trip and do a Glacier National Park road trip before heading to Yellowstone.

Drive from Bozeman early on Day 3, and you’ll finally reach Yellowstone , the majestic national park replete with canyons, rivers, and forests. Yellowstone is massive, so you’ll want to spend another day exploring the over 3,000 acres of wilderness. 

I have a whole post on taking a road trip from Yellowstone to Seattle for a more detailed itinerary.

Additionally, if you want to spend multiple days at the park, you can look at my Yellowstone 4 day itinerary for suggestions.

To get back to Seattle, travel south through Idaho . You can stop at the Craters of the Moon National Monument and the Umatilla National Forest on your way back. If you need another stop-over town, you can spend the night of Day 5 in Boise. 

Yellowstone National Park

10. Washington National Parks

day trip to mt rainier

Distance: 705 miles Number of Days: 8 Where to Stay: Winthrop , Wenatchee , Longmire

Keep reading if you want to see all three of Washington’s national parks on one monumental Pacific Northwest road trip . The North Cascades Highway will take you to North Cascades National Park in about two hours from Seattle. 

If you arrive early, you’ll have the entire day to check into a hotel and explore the expansive park. I recommend spending two nights in the area, and Winthrop is a great base (I always stay at Hotel Rio Vista ).

After this, drive through Twisp, Chelan Falls, and Wenatchee. You can spend the night there ( Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel  is in the middle of downtown) and go to spend a day at Mount Rainier in the morning. 

Take the scenic drive through Snoqualmie Pass until you reach Mount Rainier . After a long drive, you’ll probably be quite drained, so get some shut-eye and reserve your energy.

You can stay at one of the few hotels there, such as the National Park Inn in Longmire, or a vacation rental like a cute cabin near Mount Rainier . You can spend Day 4 and 5 going on Mount Rainier hikes , riding bikes, and kayaking in the park.

bench and snow lakes mt rainier hikes

If you’re visiting Mount Rainier in the winter , make sure to read my article first to be prepared for the snow.

On Day 6, take the 702 for hours until you reach Olympic National Park . Welcome to the third and final Washington national park! There are activities aplenty in the park, such as plenty of Olympic National Forest hikes, so you can traverse the impressive wilderness for two whole days. 

On the morning of Day 8, it’s time to bid the park goodbye and drive two hours back to Seattle through Tacoma.

Washington National Parks

The hardest part will be choosing which of these road trips from Seattle to go on first!

california road trip from seattle

Marissa Pedersen

Marissa is a Seattle local who's obsessed with exploring all things Pacific Northwest, especially hiking, road trips, and national parks. She's been to hundreds of places all over the region and started this website to help others discover the beauty of the area and create their own trips.

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California to Seattle drive

California to seattle road trip planner.

Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from California to Seattle. If you're planning a road trip to Seattle, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Traveling with a dog or cat? Find pet-friendly stops . Camping along the way? Search for RV campgrounds . Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.

9:00 am  start at California drive for about 12 hours

day 1 driving ≈ 12 hours

10:00 am  leave from Modesto drive for about 2 hours

11:48 am   Napa eat at ad hoc stay for about 2 hours and leave at 1:48 pm drive for about 3 hours

day 2 driving ≈ 4.5 hours

10:00 am  leave from Redding drive for about 2.5 hours

12:19 pm   Ashland (Oregon) stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:19 pm drive for about 3 hours

4:11 pm   Eugene stay for about 1 hour and leave at 5:11 pm drive for about 2 hours

day 3 driving ≈ 7 hours

8:00 am  leave from Ace Hotel Portland drive for about 18 hours

1:51 am (past midnight)   Mount Rainier stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:51 am (past midnight) drive for about 41 minutes

3:32 am (past midnight)  arrive in Seattle stay at Ace Hotel

day 4 driving ≈ 18.5 hours

Where should I stop along the way?

Modesto   (8 answers) Napa   (85 answers)     Domaine Carneros   (14 mentions)     Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ   (11 mentions)     Artesa Vineyards & Winery   (9 mentions)     Napa Valley   (9 mentions)     Oxbow Public Market   (6 mentions)     restaurants around Napa:         ad hoc         Domaine Chandon         Redd         Morimoto         Pine Ridge Vineyards     questions about Napa:         Other foodie things to do besides wine tasting         Searching for an inexpensive and nice inn in Napa area         Restaurants in Napa for girls outing?         Limited time in Napa, help with my itinerary!         Sightseeing in Napa? Redding   (16 answers)     restaurants around Redding:         Wilda's Grill         Market Street Steakhouse     questions about Redding:         Best free things to do in Redding?         What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? Ashland (Oregon)   (31 answers)     Ashland   (15 mentions)     Oregon Shakespeare Festival   (3 mentions)     Lithia Park   (2 mentions)     questions about Ashland (Oregon):         Best free things to do in Ashland (Oregon)?         Spas in the Ashland area? Eugene   (24 answers)     questions about Eugene:         What is your favorite restaurant in Eugene? Portland   (275 answers)     International Rose Test Garden   (20 mentions)     Powell's City of Books   (17 mentions)     Japanese Gardens   (15 mentions)     Portland Saturday Market   (13 mentions)     Timberline Lodge   (12 mentions)     restaurants around Portland:         Voodoo Doughnuts         Tasty N Sons         Lardo         Potato Champion         Pok Pok Restaurant     hotels around Portland:         Ace Hotel Portland         The Nines, Portland         Hotel Monaco Portland         The Heathman Hotel         Inn At Northrup Station     questions about Portland:         What is your favorite restaurant in Portland?         Mid July: 1 week with wife and kid - what should we prioritize?         Best coffee shops in Portland         Visiting in July for 5 days with my boyfriend, where and what must we do?         Artsy area with fun little shops Mount Rainier   (14 mentions)

Where's the best place to stay in Seattle?

Are you going straight to a hotel, or looking for a vacation rental or Airbnb?

The best resource on neighborhoods, areas, and hotels is the Trippy page on where to stay in Seattle .

If you're looking for a quick answer, you can check out Ace Hotel , which was mentioned 6 times on Trippy.

Here are some more hotels people talk about:

Want to research more popular hotels in Seattle? Click the blue button below.

Where's the best place to eat in Seattle?

Need some recommendations on somewhere to get food?

Trippy members suggest Serious Pie , which was mentioned 12 times.

Here are some more restaurants people talk about:

Want to research more popular restaurants in Seattle? Click the blue button below.

What are some things to do in Seattle?

This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.

These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy:

Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!

For example, here are some questions people have asked about Seattle. Click on any question to see answers from the community!

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Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Seattle.

Do I really have to go back home?

Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!

Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a Seattle to California drive , or go to the main page to plan a new road trip .

You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from California to Seattle . Or get a full California to Seattle flight plan .

Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world.

And if you know California well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about California!

More info on this route:

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The Best Cross-country U.S. Road Trip Itinerary: Northern Route

Here are nine stops you shouldn't miss as you drive across the country — plus what to do and where to eat while you’re there.

california road trip from seattle

Ken Stanback / Getty Images

Nothing beats the experience-of-a-lifetime exhilaration of a cross-country road trip. If you're looking to get lost in adventure and pristine natural beauty, string along a coast-to-coast route that connects these nine destinations. We've mapped out the most quintessential places to check out as you venture across the northern half of the U.S. from the Pacific Northwest to the Northeast. The best part? There's no exact science to it, so feel free to begin your journey from whichever coast you prefer and add your own stops. Here are the places you shouldn't miss along the way.

Gautier Houba / Travel + Leisure

Before you depart Seattle, which is known for its skyline featuring the iconic Space Needle, swing by Pike Place Market to pick up a coffee from the Storyville Coffee Company and some fresh pastries from Honest Biscuits or The Crumpet Shop. About a 30-minute drive from downtown Seattle, Snoqualmie Falls is a great place to stop for a brief hike, with exceptional views and a stunning 268-foot waterfall. If you're starting your trip from the East Coast, Seattle will be your final stop, so we'd suggest an overnight stay at Inn at the Market — if only for the views of Pike Place and the tranquil waterfront. Save room for the all-day breakfast at Bacco Cafe , one of the three restaurants at this hotel.

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

A lakefront dining experience is a must for any visit to Coeur d'Alene. Terraza Waterfront Cafe offers Latin American fusion cuisine and its prime location will ensure you enjoy beautiful views of Lake Coeur d'Alene. After thoroughly soaking up your surroundings and checking out the local shops, pay a visit to Seven Stars Alpaca Ranch for a guided tour with friendly alpacas as you escort them to their daytime pasture.

West Glacier, Montana

Known for its lodging as much as its white-water rafting, kayaking, and fly-fishing opportunities, the Great Northern Resort makes a great base for visiting Glacier National Park . Located near the West Glacier entrance, the property offers cozy log cabins, complete with a kitchen and fireplace, and a hotel for visitors seeking more traditional accommodations. As you depart for the park from West Glacier, head toward Going-to-the-Sun Road . Once inside, spend some time taking in views of picturesque Lake McDonald .

Jackson, Wyoming

The natural beauty of America's first national park needs no introduction — colorful hot springs, gushing geysers, and cascading waterfalls are synonymous with Yellowstone. Make time to watch the famed Old Faithful Geyser erupt and visit the brilliantly colored Grand Prismatic Spring (pictured above). As you wander through the park, keep an eye out for roaming wildlife such as bison, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, deer, and black bears. After exploring all of Yellowstone's natural wonders, spend the night at Spring Creek Ranch back in Jackson.

Rapid City, South Dakota

In South Dakota, the scenic drive through Black Hills National Forest will leave you feeling in complete awe of your natural surroundings. Stay at the Bavarian Inn , about a 40-minute drive from Mount Rushmore National Memorial , one of the most iconic monuments in the U.S. Once you've taken enough photos of the four presidents' impressive 60-foot faces, head into Rapid City for a bite and some local beer at Murphy's Pub & Grill . Continue your journey east through Badlands National Park , home to a surreal landscape featuring otherworldly rock formations and plenty of scenic lookout points, all along a 39-mile loop .

Minneapolis

Johnny Nguyen/Travel + Leisure

Spend some time meandering through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden , which showcases more than 60 pieces, before venturing over the Stone Arch Bridge, a former railroad bridge that crosses the Mississippi River. Stay at Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis for a taste of Midwest-style luxury. Grab dinner at Spoon and Stable for French-inspired cuisine by a James Beard award-winning chef, or dine at Murray's , a classic Minneapolis steakhouse. Afterward, stop by Union Rooftop for cocktails with a skyline view.

Jumping Rocks / Universal Images Group / Getty Images

This vibrant city is home to awe-inspiring skyscrapers, urban beaches along Lake Michigan, and a bustling food scene. After taking time to admire the Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park, make your way to Navy Pier for some sightseeing before boarding an architecture-themed river cruise , arguably one of the best things to do in Chicago . Then, dine at Au Cheval , a diner-style eatery known for its gourmet take on a classic burger. Or head to Cindy's Rooftop , a scenic spot atop the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel featuring seasonal menus and inventive cocktails. Stay at the LondonHouse hotel to enjoy views of the river and the city around you.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Once you arrive in Steel City, check into the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in downtown Pittsburgh, a sophisticated homage to the area's creative scene. If time allows, plan a visit to The Andy Warhol Museum , where you can learn all about the artist's life and work. Point State Park — a National Historic Landmark located at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers — is just a five-minute drive (or a 15-minute walk) from the hotel. As for dining, head to the Original Oyster House , the oldest bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh, open since 1870.

New York City

Congratulations, you made it! Celebratory drinks are in order, and what better place for them than the Daintree Rooftop and Lounge at Hotel Hendricks ? After checking into your swanky Midtown room, complete with stunning views of the Empire State Building, make your way to nearby Bryant Park for a midday stroll. If you're in search of a classic New York bagel, look no further than Ess-a-Bagel , located right around the corner on West 32nd Street. For dinner, indulge in a comforting Italian meal at Max in Tribeca or Via Carota in the West Village.

If you're beginning your cross-country trip from the East Coast, New York City will be your first stop, so be sure to do some classic Big Apple sightseeing. Go for a walk in Central Park, see a Broadway show, or check out the view from the top of the Empire State Building before heading west.

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The view from Rizal Park of Seattle skyline during sunset with highway traffic motion.

Road Trip From Los Angeles To Seattle

If you have the time and energy for a drive from one end of the country to the other, a road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle might be just the trip for you. With an itinerary spanning thousands of miles across several routes, there are countless beautiful places to admire on the way to Emerald City.

A road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle can be done in about 17 hours. If you have a couple of weeks to spare, make the most of the trip by driving along the Pacific Coastline Highway through California and Oregon and admiring the breath-taking scenery.

Read on below for some help in planning out this incredible journey – you'll definitely be needing it!

How far is Seattle from Los Angeles and how long will the road trip take?

The road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle covers between 1,130 and 1,400 miles, depending on the route. If you want to get there quickly, you can split the trip into a few days and drive for a total of 17 hours, while the most scenic route can take as much as 30 hours.

The most straightforward way to get from LA to Seattle is along the I-5. You'll be passing through major cities like Sacramento and Portland, and the latter two-thirds of the drive have plenty to offer in the way of beautiful sights.

If you want to make the California stretch of the drive more scenic while still keeping the drive as short as possible, consider taking Hwy 395 out of Los Angeles past a long sequence of national forests and parks. This only takes about 2 hours more than the I-5 route, but the downside is you won't be going through Sacramento.

The iconic California State Highway 395 in Owens Valley on Eastern Flanks of Sierra Nevada Mountains with distant Mount Whitney on Horizon.

Last, but certainly not least, driving along the entire West Coast (save for Alaska) on Highways 1 and 101 is unequivocally the most epic route you can take – sticking to the Pacific Coast for most of the trip, you'll drive through an immense chain of landmarks and natural wonders.

With that said, this is not the route to take if you're short on time – the winding coastline roads necessitate slow and careful driving, meaning a one-way trip can take about 30 hours without even accounting for traffic.

Best road trip route from Los Angeles to Seattle

In terms of seeing as much as possible, the Pacific Coast route is the clear winner. If you have a long vacation ahead of you, you could probably drive this route both ways and still have places left to visit for next year's trip.

A drive like this is a huge commitment, though, and you might be tempted to take one of the other routes. If you're not particularly interested in Sacramento or making detours to the coastline, Highway 395 can offer a lot of beautiful views without adding too many miles to your trip.

Whether you're flying into Los Angeles or you simply don't have your own transport in the city, renting a car for your road trip is something you'll want to take care of ASAP.

For an easy-to-compare view of rental options for your road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle, take a look at our partner site, RentalCars.com .

The Fast Route (I-5)

Take the I-5 north out of Los Angeles, passing through Santa Clarita and Los Padres National Forest. Further north, you'll be passing by Henry W. Coe State Park and through Stockton before eventually reaching Sacramento. Splitting the trip into 3 days, this is a great stop for night one.

Past Sacramento, you'll find yourself sandwiched between Mendocino National Forest on the left and several forests a bit further east – you'll be quite close to Lassen National forest further up north, before driving through Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Further up past Umpqua National Forest, drive through Eugene and Salem, and you'll soon pass Mt. Hood National Forest before reaching Portland, another great place to stop.

After crossing the Columbia River, drive past Mt St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Capitol State forest before entering Olympia. Continuing along the interstate through Lakewood and Tacoma, it's only a matter of time before you reach Seattle.

The Coastline Route (Highways 1 and 101)

Starting the route off on a high note, take Highway 1 through Santa Monica and along the Malibu coast, passing by a sequence of national parks all the way to Oxnard. From there, take Highway 101 east through Ventura and Santa Barbara, before joining State Route 154 through Los Padres NF and past Lake Cachuma.

Take Highway 101 again through Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo, then join Highway 1 as it approaches the coast. Follow the highway along a beautiful chain of landmarks – the Big Sur and its surrounding parks, then Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey.

Bixby Creek Bridge on California's Highway 1 in the Big Sur area

Driving along Monterey Bay, pass through Santa Cruz and cross San Fran's Golden Gate Bridge. Past Mendocino, you'll briefly separate from the coast as you pass by King Range National Conservation Area along Highway 101.

Soon after, though, you'll be back to the shore and driving past Redwood National Park and Forest and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, among others.

Crossing the Columbia River into Oregon, drive through Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and along Willapa Bay.

Instead of taking State Route 105 back to the coast, stick to Highway 101 – not long after passing Artic, take State Route 107 (which segues into State Route 8) east past Capitol State Forest and into Olympia. From there, just follow the I-5 into Seattle.

The Forest Route (Highway 395)

Take State Route 14 out of Los Angeles and through Lancaster – continue going north until it segues into Highway 395. As soon as you reach the highway, you'll have Death Valley National Park to the right and the majority of California's parks and forests to the left.

Field of colorful wildflowers in the hills of Henry W. Coe State Park, California

Some of the more notable places ones you'll be passing in California are Sequoia and Inyo National Forests, Yosemite National Park, Tahoe National Forest & Lake, and Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

In Oregon, you'll be driving through Fremont-Winema, Umpqua, and Willamette National Forest before joining the I-5 at Eugene.

After getting on the interstate, you'll be following the same route outlined in the I-5 section – drive north through Portland and Olympia before eventually reaching Seattle.

Best places to stop between Los Angeles and Seattle

With 3 massive and vastly different routes to choose from, there is no shortage of great places to stop between Los Angeles and Seattle. You'll definitely want to stop as often as possible and explore, and these are some of the best places to do so:

Marvel at the elegance of Palace Hotel (San Francisco)

View of the The Palace hotel from Market street, San Francisco, USA

This is the kind of vacation where you'll constantly be on the move, so if you only have a night or two to spend in San Francisco, you might as well spend them in style! One of the absolute best hotels in the entire West Coast would have to be San Fran's Palace Hotel.

The high ceilings and gilded walls give this breathtaking hotel its castle-like ambient, and it would be easier to list the amenities Palace Hotel doesn't have – you can enjoy a meal or drink and the incredible dining area or bar, an indoor pool under a glass dome, spa and fitness centers, and 24-hour concierge service to ensure all your needs are met. To top everything off, rooms are very spacious and boast incredible views of San Francisco.

The only thing better than a fancy hotel is one with a great location, but Palace Hotel ticks both of those boxes – located in the heart of San Francisco, you can access all of the city's highlights within minutes. The rooms here don't come cheap, but you'll be guaranteed an unforgettable stay.

READ MORE - Click here for more great hotel options

Unwind at Tenaya Lodge (Yosemite National Park)

Few places in California are as scenic and iconic as Yosemite, and it's also home to some beautiful inns and hotels. Picking the best one is no easy feat, but a very strong contender would have to be Tenaya Lodge.

A typical view of the Yosemite National Park during daytime.

Combining the elegance of Yosemite's mountains with a stylish design and top-of-the-line amenities, Tenaya Lodge comes equipped with a spa, a fitness center, a fancy on-site restaurant, and an incredibly stylish interior. If you're the social type, step outside onto the gorgeous communal pool area and get to know your fellow guests.

This hotel is the perfect hub for exploring Yosemite, no matter the season. The area's varied landscape makes it perfect for skiing, snowboarding, hiking, rock climbing, and just about any outdoor activity you can think of. And did I mention Yosemite's incredible landscapes?

Things to see on a road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle

Totaling over 50 hours of driving between the 3 routes (and potentially many more if you get creative), there are far too many things worth checking out to list them all. As great as Seattle is, few vacations can compare to the experience of driving there from Los Angeles.

Here are some places you'll definitely want to check out:

  • San Luis Obispo – Beautiful city that's home to Pismo Beach and Montana de Oro State Park.
  • Big Sur/Bixby Creek Bridge – Featuring one-of-a-kind scenery, this coastline features mountains and redwood forests alike.
  • Carmel-by-the-Sea/Monterey – Two of the major cities along California's Central Coast, there's few places are better for oceanside relaxation. We highly recommend visiting Monterey State Beach .
  • Big Basin Redwoods State Park – A mixture of redwoods and many other species defines this unique forest.
  • Point Reyes National Seashore – A gigantic park preserve with one of the best views of the ocean you're ever likely to see.
  • Humboldt Redwoods State Park – A beautiful redwood forest, and the largest primeval forest existing today.
  • Klamath National Forest – A gorgeous forest spanning nearly 2 million acres, featuring lakes, ponderosa pines, and beautiful mountain views.
  • Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest – With incredible mountain views and the world's tallest pine tree, this forest is not to be missed.
  • Olympic National Park – This beautiful area boasts large beaches, forests, and wildflower meadows.
  • Death Valley National Park – One of the hottest places on earth and home to countless canyons and salt dunes, this park needs no introduction.
  • Sequoia and Inyo NF – Between these two forests, you'll see some incredibly tall sequoia trees and a large stretch of the White Mountains, including Mount Whitney.
  • Yosemite National Park – A perfect cross of mountains, valleys, and rare formations, this geological wonder is a must-see.
  • Tahoe Lake & National Forest – Features amazing greenery, beautiful lake water, and a great view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
  • Williamette & Mt. Hood National Forests – Two very scenic forests along the Willamette River – the former is thought to house the endangered Northern spotted owl.
  • Capitol State Forest – This forest is home to countless beaver dams and the inexplicable Mima mounds.
  • Mt Rainier National Park – A breathtaking park featuring meadows, waterfalls, and the stratovolcano Mount Rainier.
  • Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest – You can find some of America's most dramatic mountain expanses and beautiful valleys here.

A steep staircase to the Point Reyes Lighthouse at the Point Reyes National Seashore, California.

Best time to go on a road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle

Certain segments of the road trip from LA to Seattle are better in certain seasons. For example, driving by the Pacific Coast on hot summer mornings often means passing through thick fog, and many of the forests and parks you'll be passing along the way have wintertime restrictions.

Although there are benefits to checking out each route at a different time of year, Seattle itself is a different story – the city gets an average of 18 rainy days per month in its rainy season (from mid-fall to January), and the highest temperatures you can hope for this time of year are 50 degrees, while the lowest are around 35 degrees.

The best time to visit Seattle would have to be mid-spring to early fall. Temperatures peak at around 73 degrees in the summer, and May tends to cap off at a perfect 65 degrees. This is also when most of the city's major events take place, including the Seattle International Film Festival.

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  3. Seattle To California Road Trip Map

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  4. 20 Best Stops on the San Francisco to Seattle Drive

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  5. 12 Awesome Stops on a San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip in 2023 [2020]

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  6. The Seattle to San Diego Road Trip: A Detailed Drive Guide

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  1. California road trip 2023 San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge

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  6. California road trip #4k #satisfying #california #roadtrip d trip

COMMENTS

  1. 19 Must-See Stops On Your Road Trip From Seattle Through California

    After leaving Seattle, your first stop on your road trip from Seattle to California will be Sequoia National Park. This park is home to some of the largest trees in the world, and it's definitely worth a visit! When you enter the park, you'll be awestruck by the sight of the massive sequoia trees. These giants can reach heights of over 300 ...

  2. The Ultimate Seattle to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary

    2 Week Seattle to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary Days 1-2: Seattle to Portland Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Leaving Seattle towards Portland, your first stop on your road trip to California is at the incredible Mount Rainier National Park. A true paradise for outdoor lovers, this national park is home to one of the highest peaks in ...

  3. The Complete Pacific Coast Highway Guide:

    The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. Stretching from Washington to California, the Pacific Coast is picturesque, with cliffs, sea stacks, gorgeous urban spaces, and the raging ocean. Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experience - for good reason...

  4. Road Trip From Seattle to California

    The 2,780-mile road trip from Seattle to California will take 54 hours to drive. Highlights on this incredible trip around California include Portland, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, San Diego, plus Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks. Your imagination is the only limit on what you can make out of a trip like this.

  5. The Perfect Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (25 Stops + 3

    5 Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary. Five days to drive down the Pacific Coast is absolutely doable! During these days, you have time to experience the highlights of the coast, and whet your appetite for another future trip! Day 1: Seattle, WA to Coos Bay, OR. Day 2: Coos Bay OR, to Redwood National Park, CA.

  6. How to Plan the Ultimate Seattle to San Diego Road Trip (2024)

    Quiet Seattle Center Condo - This Belltown condo has free parking (a rarity!), a pool, and is within walking distance to places like the Space Needle. (rates start at $155 per night) 2. Gig Harbor. Your next stop on a road trip from Seattle to San Diego is only a short drive from the city.

  7. The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary

    Drive Time: About 3.5 Hours. The majority of this California road trip will take place on Highway 1, AKA the Pacific Coast Highway, AKA the PCH, AKA Cabrillo Highway, AKA Shoreline Highway, AKA The Prettiest Highway in the World. But all of those are just ways to say "The 1.".

  8. The Classic Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

    Road Trip USA's Pacific Coast route begins at the northwest tip of the United States at Port Townsend near Olympic National Park, and remains within sight of the ocean almost all the way south to the Mexican border. This 1,650-mile (2,655 km), mostly two-lane route takes in everything from temperate rainforest to near-desert.

  9. Road Trip from Seattle to Los Angeles

    1,650 miles. 35 hours. Inland Route. 1,200 miles. 21 hours 30 minutes. The road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles takes around 35 hours of driving and covers 1,650 miles. This means you can theoretically do the drive in about four days, although to make the most of it, you should consider taking at least two weeks.

  10. Road Trip to California: Heading South from Seattle

    This scenic approach to California takes you through two cultural hotspots and down the majestic Oregon Coast. Combine the Pacific Northwest's cosmopolitan cities with Northern California's majestic redwood forests, and you have a West Coast/Best Coast road-trip to suit both concrete-and-steel devotees and tree-hugging nature lovers.

  11. The ultimate 2-week Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary

    Or our San Francisco to Seattle road trip, which continues this route up the coast to Oregon and Washington. See all our road trip itineraries here. ... California coast road trip itinerary at a glance (3 weeks) Days 1-4 (3 nights): San Francisco; Days 4-6 (2 nights): Santa Cruz;

  12. Seattle To Los Angeles Road Trip & Drive (2024 Edition)

    With ideal traffic and weather conditions, the road trip takes approximately 17 hours and 44 mins to drive. The distance between Seattle to Los Angeles is 1,137 miles. If you want to make the Seattle to Los Angeles road trip by bike, the time you spend on the road will be four days and 6 hours.

  13. The Seattle to San Diego Road Trip: A Detailed Drive Guide

    Table of Contents. Seattle to San Diego Road Trip: Route Options. #1: West Coast USA Road Trip Option: Routes 1 & 101, aka Pacific Coast Highway. #2: Fastest Road Trip Option: Take I-5 All the Way. Road Trip Option #3: Inland via Crater Lake and Lassen Volcanic National Parks.

  14. The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Planner

    The epic 10 day California road trip for families and RVers. The ultimate chilled-out California Pacific Coast Highway trip! You can also do a Northern California road trip from San Francisco for the Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary 10 days. Or you can drive all the way up to Portland and see the Oregon coast attractions along the way.

  15. Seattle to California drive

    drive for about 1.5 hours. 2:15 pm Mount Shasta (California) stay for about 1 hour. and leave at 3:15 pm. drive for about 4 hours. 7:12 pm Napa. stay overnight at Bardessono. leave the next day around 11:00 am. day 2 driving ≈ 8 hours.

  16. How to Plan an Amazing Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip

    Twice. In the past two years. Instead, we suggest spending AT LEAST 7-10 days to drive between Seattle and San Francisco. The guide below is written with a two week trip in mind. This route has a total of 24 hours of driving - split up between 10-14 days when you follow our recommendations below.

  17. Road Trip from Seattle to Disneyland

    The Coastal Route. 1,400 miles. 27 hours. The Lake Tahoe Route. 1,300 miles. 22 hours 20 minutes. The driving time between Seattle and Disneyland for the Coastal Route is 27 hours non-stop. You'll cover 1,400 miles of some of America's most scenic coastlines. If you choose to take the mountainous Lake Tahoe Route, you'll cover 1,300 miles.

  18. 10 Scenic Stops On A Road Trip From Los Angeles To Seattle

    Major Stops: Tunnel View, Pier 39, Domaine Carneros. Pier 39 in San Francisco is also one of the best stops from LA to Seattle for scenery and fun; it offers beautiful views of the bay and California's sea lions, along with charming shops, restaurants, and family-friendly activities.

  19. 12 Awesome Stops on a San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip in 2024

    7. Crater Lake, Oregon. And just like that we've skipped state lines in our San Francisco to Seattle road trip! Visiting the Crater Lake National Park is a can't-miss stop for you. The Crater Lake, which is the deepest lake in the United States, was formed when a super volcano erupted about 7,000 years ago.

  20. 10 Scenic Road Trips from Seattle for the Ultimate Adventure

    Distance: 214 miles. Number of Days: 3. Where to Stay: Friday Harbor. Take I-5 north from Seattle north until you reach Burlington, where you can take exit 230 on your road trip from Seattle. You'll then travel west towards Anacortes, where you can take the ferry (you'll need an advanced reservation ).

  21. Road Trip from Seattle to Redwood National Park

    550 miles. 10 hours 40 minutes. The Volcano Detour. 630 miles. 11 hours 50 minutes. There are some great routes you can follow between Seattle and the stunning Redwood National Park. The most direct of our recommended route covers a distance of 500 miles and will take you 9 hours to drive without stopping.

  22. California to Seattle drive

    day 3 driving ≈ 7 hours. Day 4. 8:00 am leave from Ace Hotel Portland. drive for about 18 hours. 1:51 am (past midnight) Mount Rainier. stay for about 1 hour. and leave at 2:51 am (past midnight) drive for about 41 minutes. 3:32 am (past midnight) arrive in Seattle.

  23. The Best Cross-country U.S. Road Trip: Northern Route

    Point State Park — a National Historic Landmark located at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers — is just a five-minute drive (or a 15-minute walk) from the hotel. As ...

  24. Cougars Open California Road Trip Wednesday at UC Riverside

    Washington State opens a four-game road trip to southern California with a Wednesday night matchup at UC Riverside with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. ... Seattle and Boston during his 17-year career, winning back-to-back World Series titles with Toronto in 1992 and 1993. In 2001 he joined his father, John Sr., in the WSU Athletics Hall of Fame ...

  25. Road Trip From Los Angeles To Seattle

    The road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle covers between 1,130 and 1,400 miles, depending on the route. If you want to get there quickly, you can split the trip into a few days and drive for a total of 17 hours, while the most scenic route can take as much as 30 hours. The most straightforward way to get from LA to Seattle is along the I-5.

  26. Road trip.. San Diego --> Seattle in 2024

    Road trip.. San Diego --> Seattle. Trips. Rv. Wanderlust. Cali. San Diego. Seattle To San Francisco. California Road Trip Itinerary. Seattle Vacation. Bucket List. Lee Hensley. 84 followers. 1 Comment. L. Linda So, when do you actually see anything or are you just driving thru? ... The ultimate road trip planner to help you discover ...