We spent the day driving around the lake, taking photo after photo! Besides the fact that any coastline drive looks better when the weather is warmer, forests and parks are a defining feature of this road trip. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we dont stand behind 100%. Continue along 101 South, stopping at Ruby Beach and Kalaloch, before doing the short walk in the Quinault Rainforest and spending the night at either Kalaloch Lodge on the coast, or Lake Quinault Lodge on the shores of, you guessed it, Lake Quinault. Hop onto Interstate 5 straight out of Seattle and make your way to Portland, passing Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The mighty Hood River and stunning Columbia River Gorge are a must-see on your way down to Bend. 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. Find pet-friendly stops. San Francisco hotels are surprisingly expensive considering how many of them there are. Spend some time on the coast and check out the things to do in Monterey. Break the budget! Sleep in Ashford just outside the park entrance at Paradise Village. Best coffee shops in Portland Can you take us too? The drive will take a few hours, but its gorgeous. Day 6: Continue your coastal journey by heading to Point Reyes National Seashore, another one of our favorite spots in California (and 30 minutes from where Alysha grew up). Spas in the Ashland area? To visit all of these areas, we recommend taking the first exit to Monterey off the freeway and work your way around. Enter a city to drive through, or find all. In this guide to planning an Algarve itinerary, were going to use our experience spending a week, Read More How to Plan an Amazing Algarve Itinerary (3-7 Days)Continue, We love San Francisco, which is where we met, got married, and lived for almost a decade. Again, take Interstate 5 out of Seattle and follow it past Capitol State Forest and Gifford Pinchot National Forest before pulling into Longview. Jump back on the 101 and head south to check out the Big Tree (look out for all the parked cars). stay for about 1 hour and leave at 6:39 pmdrive for about 1.5 hours, 8:05 pm Wildlife Safari Best free things to do in Redding? The hotel is a bit on the expensive side, as you might expect, but if any resort in the area is worthy of its price tag, it's definitely this one. Limited time in Napa, help with my itinerary! Road trips are F-U-N! There are so many places to stop and it all depends on the time you have as well as your interests. Driving Directions from San Francisco to Seattle The Fastest Route The easiest way to get on the road to Seattle from San Francisco is via Interstate 5. Its like the Society Hotel in Portland in that they have room options that have dorms and shared bathrooms so that you can save a little money in one of the most expensive cities in the country. You could very easily extend your time on this route with additional nights in the aforementioned locations. Of course, you can choose a suitable restaurant from the list according to your preference. Hike Fern Canyon if you want to go through a narrow canyon whose walls are entirely lined with ferns and moss. Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ (11 mentions) If youre driving from San Francisco to Seattle, the opposite direction that this guide is written for, then all you need to do is reverse the order of stops. There are tons to do in this bustling city so see our post on thetop things to do in San Francisco. Frankie and Jos and Molly Moons for awesome local ice cream (Frankie and Jos is 100% gluten free and vegan!). Wed recommend Rainier if you only have time to visit one. Timberline Lodge (12 mentions) Instead, whatever route you decide to take in Oregon, we definitely recommend cutting over to the gorgeous California coast to meet up with Highway 101 and the iconic Highway 1 to end your road trip with a bang. Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip The best things to see and do between Seattle and San Francisco. Id start in Washington and move south in hopes that you get the last pieces of good weather in the Northwest, but its hard to say what youre going to get at that time of year. Seattle Center: I actually dont really recommend you go up to the top of the Space Needle. This hotel is located right on the beach with gorgeous views of the boardwalk/beach. Make your first stop after Crescent City into Jedediah Smith Redwoods National Park. If youre planning on doing this drive in the winter, avoid snow and tricky road conditions by going the coastal route on the famous Highway 101, which is amazing in its own right. This coastal adventure is a perfect year-round itinerary. The only thing to watch out for weather-wise is snow on the Siskyou Pass and the rest of southern Oregon in the winter months. Spend the night at either the Olympic Lodge or a vacation rental along the shores of Lake Sutherland. We have listed seven hotels, five restaurants, and three places to visit on the way. The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco By Jess Moss That Pacific Coast Highway route from San Francisco to Los Angeles gets all the attention, but it's not the only West Coast drive that should be on your map. Learn how your comment data is processed. If its on (or even if its not), you should stop in Ashland. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! Expect to drive2-6 hours a day with 1 or 2 longer days. Wait, wheres Fishermans Wharf on this list? Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the questions about Portland: Redding (11 answers) Instead, we suggest spending AT LEAST 7-10 days. Hi, first of all thank you so so much for this amazing post. Here are some of our favorite things to do. Starting on I-5 south for 90% of . You could also visit one of the many wineries surrounding the Sonoma County too. Mendocino is a largely unspoiled area of California that has beaches, valleys, and forests. Once you're up, you can kick off your morning with a visit to the amazing Remede Spa. Rainier. I am a keen photographer and we like nice scenery, (oceans/mountains/forests/rivers/lakes/waterfalls etc). For more information about the best places on the Seattle to San Francisco journey, you can check the 3 Best Places To Visit On The Way From Seattle To San Francisco part. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, Stop at Redwoods National and State Parks: Seeing the redwoods is a must when youre in Northern California. No Seattle to San Francisco road trip would be complete without making a stop in the weird and lovable city of Portland. If youre craving a drink, here are a few of our favorite bars in Seattle. If youre making a trip specifically for gluten free food, wed say that Boston is probably not even on the shortlist of places wed recommend. The Best Route for Your Seattle to San Francisco Drive, The Best Stops to Make on a Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip, Mt. For dessert, ice cream is your best bet. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? Second at Rialto Beach to do the hike out to Hole in the Wall (one of our favorite hikes in Olympic National Park). Arrive in Portland and stay either Kex, the Hotel Grand Stark, or the Jupiter NEXT Hotel (read our full guide on the best places to stay in Portland for more of our recommendations weve been to Portland numerous times and are planning on relocating there at some point in the near future). This article shares the 15 top tips that turn your San Francisco trip into an unforgettable journey. Theres no need to rent a car in Seattle, public transport is fairly reliable however if you stay outside of the city, you can still rely on Uber and some public transport. Powell's City of Books (17 mentions) This would give you a slower paced trip and allow more time to take everything in. Saint Helens. Traveling with a dog or cat? Who would have thought trees could be so fascinating? Day 1: Drive from Seattle to Mt. Traveling with a dog or cat? Discovery Park: Get yourself ready for some longer hikes with an easy stroll out to the western edge of Seattle, where youll find yourself face-to-face with the Pacific Ocean. Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Seattle. Unfortunately, this is our last stop on this incredible road trip. The western side of Mt. With limited time between three and five days youre going to want to stick to I-5. Day 5: Home Stretch! Below is an interactive map or see below for a static map to save. Doing this drive in record time isnt going to be a fun one. Walk the Mendocino Headlands: The Mendocino Headlands State Park on the south side of the town of Mendocino features a great number of easy trails that take you near rugged coastlines, hidden away beaches, and spectacular sea arches. Dont forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. Want more awesome west coast travel guides to inspire your next trip, and empower you with all the information you need to plan it? Came across this article and this looks amazing. Simply use this as a guideline! US California 20 18:25 941 mi $145 Take This Trip Share Featured Trip Guides Created by Roadtrippers - July 21st 2016 Seattle 1 4.5 2000 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA, US The Palladian Hotel FastBook $$$ 1 2 4.5 85 Pike St, Seattle, WA, US Here are our favorite things to do in Point Reyes National Seashore. However, some unique destinations like Centralia and Washington are also on your road trip. The Pacific coast highway is one of the legendary road trip routes that follows highway 101 through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Today, its time to relax! Looking for the best coffee in a city known for amazing coffee? Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Seattle to San Francisco. Its a no frills option, with great value rooms with modern amenities. You can toggle between map views using the buttons above. From Seattle, drive straight to Mt. You made it to San Francisco! on Amazon that will make travel fun for them. Driving down from Seattle to San Francisco will give you a plethora of stunning natural landscapes to explore. Today, an island called Wizard Island juts up from beneath the surface of the water. Just 15 minutes from Monterey, youll find a variety of cheaper hotels. We know the city like the back of our hands, and hope we can give you some of the inside knowledge you need to make your trip to Seattle a memorable one. Recommended car for this road trip: Large SUV. Read our guide to the coolest hotels in Seattle to find the perfect hotel for your style and budget. Find out how many days in San Francisco to stay. Stay charged anywhere you go, with access to our global charging networks. Standing on the rim of the canyon, youll be staring thousands of feet down into crags and crevices winding through the world-famous chasm that millions of people flock to every year. Its a beautiful place to visit while on your road trip. Read Next: A Locals Guide to the Best Gluten Free Restaurants in San Francisco. If you must, head there to check out the sea lions, grab chowder and a bread bowl at Boudins Bakery (DEF NOT GLUTEN FREE), and move on. Read that if you want the details beyond some of our recommendations. Spend the afternoon in Cannon Beach, spending some time on the beach near Haystack Rock and then eat lunch at Public Coast Brewing. If youre continuing south towards LA and be sure to stop intoPismo Beach, Solvang, Santa BarbaraandSanta Maria orcheck out thisextensive list of ideas. The hostel was close to all the main sights as well as public transport. Theres really only one choice here. Here are some options for where to stay in Seattle whether you prefer staying in hotels or in an Airbnb. Oxbow Public Market (6 mentions) United States. See here for our top things to do in San Francisco. The lighthouse is pretty cool, and is definitely worth the price of admission, which is simply a three mile round trip hike to get to it. Eureka: The small city of Eureka is a charming coastal stop with some delicious beer and cider to try at Lost Coast Brewing and Humboldt Cider. Required fields are marked *. Rainier National Park is jaw-droppingly beautiful. (19 answers), Julie from Atlanta asked:Best activities for kids (19 answers), Kenneth from Portland asked:Best views in San Francisco? And roads at Mount Rainier NP close sometime in early November, which is another reason to start in Washington if youre planning on going to Rainier. westcoastbound. What is there not to love about snacks, blasting music, beautiful scenery and your own schedule! Here are a few estimates of what to expect. next trip! For once, I wasnt the tallest! And our favorite spots to drink, whether youre looking for a flight of craft beer or a $20 cocktail (were joking kind of). And if you know Seattle well, please help your fellow These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy: Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions You can drive straight down I-5, stopping in Portland and Eugene, which is the fastest route. You can also hike Trillium Falls to see beautiful trillium flowers dotting the groundcover, as well as impressive redwoods and a small waterfall. Trip (807.8 mi) on Map San Francisco Seattle. Best free things to do in Ashland (Oregon)? Belltown is close to Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, while Capitol Hill is still central, but full of some of the best bars, restaurants, and cafes in Seattle, which is perfect for foodies like us whose travel philosophy basically boils down to eat-walk-eat.. Market Street Steakhouse Sure, its cool to see the sea lions at Pier 39, but we think you can find better things to do with your time in San Francisco. Artsy area with fun little shops For example, in the Marina youll run into bar-hopping twentysomethings who just moved out of the fraternity, while the Outer Sunset is basically a, Read More Where to Stay in San Francisco: A Locals Complete GuideContinue, Lets get this out of the way at the top Boston is definitely not the best city for gluten free foodies in the United States. 1512650 [9] Website. Trinidad: Hike the Trinidad Head trail to enjoy stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Get ready for a day of tree exploring! Choosing which vineyards to visit can be rather overwhelming, so we strongly recommend spending at least a night at one of the magnificent Bed and Breakfasts to get the full experience. Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about the Seattle to San Francisco drive. Today is a long but good day of driving. Over the course of 2 weeks, we drove approximately 1650 miles (2330km) at a moderate pace. Drive all the way to Redding, get dinner at In-n-Out Burger, and stay at the Americana Hotel in downtown Redding. You might end up with more rain and snow, which isnt necessarily a deal breaker if youre prepared for it (pack a good rain jacket and waterproof shoes / boots!). Saint Helens. We think the best way to do Portland is to eat and drink your way through the city. If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your Seattle to San Francisco journey, you can consider the five restaurants we have chosen. As for San Francisco itself, there's virtually no wrong time to visit - in the spring and winter, you'll find that a warm jacket is enough to help you deal with the coastal wind, and the otherwise-pricy hotels also tend to bring down their prices these times of year. Day 2: Drive from Mt. Japanese Gardens (15 mentions) eg. The accommodation all round in Seattle wasnt cheap, in fact, it is one of the most expensive cities weve tried to find accommodation in worldwide. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? If you're planning a road trip to San Francisco, you can research locations to stop along the way. As far as the location goes, this is one of the best-situated hotels in the city - close to both the Golden Gate and San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridges, St. Regis is the perfect pivot to San Francisco's main attractions as well as the neighboring cities. Route 2: San Francisco to Seattle via 101 N and I-5 N Featuring some of the best road trip attractions in Northern California, including Humboldt County, wine country, beaches, and redwoods Eugene and Portland, Oregon (Tillamook, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Astoria are optional) Olympia in Washington A trip from San Francisco to Seattle involves driving for around 800 miles along the Pacific Northwest and watching the most attractive views while on the way. This route has a total of 24 hours of driving split up between 10-14 days when you follow our recommendations below. This is a 31 mile scenic stretch of road that runs through the Red Wood Forest parallel to the highway. Road Trip on the 101 and 1- what to see on the way to SF from Seattle? questions about Mount Shasta (California): The 808 miles of the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes around 12 hours and 47 mins of driving without stops. How Many Days to Spend on This Road Trip? www .seattle .gov. . If youre lucky, you may spot the local bald eagles. to double check the weather. If you want to see what makes the Pacific Coast a staple of US adventures, you should definitely do a road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. I was excited to have the opportunity to follow this road for 6 days starting from Seattle and ending up in San Francisco. We want to explain the top three destinations we recommend on the San Francisco route. Monterey Bay > Pacific Grove > 17 Mile Drive > Pebble Beach > Carmel-by-the-sea > Point Lobos > Monterey (or Seaside to sleep). It was! Seattle Center has some cool attractions though. Continue south past Willamette and Umpqua National Forests before pulling into Medford. Mid July: 1 week with wife and kid - what should we prioritize? Ocean View Inn and Suites. This is the one where you can drive your car through actual living redwoods! Basic large rooms with a good location right off the 101. Cap Hill as we locals call it, is home to the best selection of food, drinks, and coffee in the city. There are a few small easy hiking paths to take and theyre worth it to view these giants up close. From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. Weve made this trip in one straight shot in just 12 hours when taking I-5. Im a foodie at, Read More Gluten Free San Francisco: A Complete Guide for CeliacsContinue. The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (2022) Head to Redwood National and State Parks and explore Stout Memorial Grove, Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway, and Fern Canyon. Rainier to Portland, stopping at Mt. Other Stops on the Drive from Seattle to San Francisco, How to Plan an Amazing Algarve Itinerary (3-7 Days), Where to Stay in San Francisco: A Locals Complete Guide, Gluten Free Boston: A Complete Guide for Celiacs, Where to Stay in Zion National Park: Best Hotels + B&Bs, How to Plan an Amazing Grand Canyon Itinerary (2 Days), Gluten Free San Francisco: A Complete Guide for Celiacs. The Underground Tour: A little quirky and offbeat, kind of like Seattle, the Underground Tour is worth doing while youre in Pioneer Square. Navarro Vineyards and Roederer Estate are our favorites. 1. Advice to avoid snowy road conditions from SF to Seattle (January). Not long after passing Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, drive the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge and pull into San Fran. Spend the afternoon and evening in Mendocino, exploring Fort Bragg and the town of Mendocino. They remembered my mum right away and we chatted with them about their lives. Take your pick! Once in Vacaville, take Interstate 80 through Fairfield, then cross the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge. Here are some excellent hikes you can go on while visiting the best national park in Washington (and one of the best on the west coast). You could also drive down the coast, which is gorgeous, and would be our choice if youre making the trip outside of the summer months. 7:38 pm Mount Rainier. Thanks for all the info happy travels . The hike out to Cascade Head near Lincoln City is worth it if you have the time, otherwise continue on to spend the night in Newport at the wonderful Inn at Nye Beach.