However, a pleasant drive along I-5 is the best alternative if tourists desire to drive a car in either city and if the cost of . Crescent City is the first city youll enter when driving southbound into California along the Pacific Coast Highway (or last if youre headed northbound). Congrats on the trip, Michael! Bus. Right, Mel? I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? Thanks again! If youre planning a PCH trip and want to pass through San Francisco, you can either skim over along the side of the city as you drive down the coast, take a detour inland to visit Yosemite National Park or dive in for one night knowing it will only make you want to come back for more. In the Santa Barbara area of the article you mentioned that you had an article about Santa Barbara and what to do, I am not able to locate this article. Day 2 Portland, OR. Such a thorough guide! If you know which car you want, I recommend renting from Fox Rent-A-Car or Sixt. Kim, December should be a pretty good time, but plan for classic marine layer weather (chilly and cloudy this is whats normal on the Pacific coast!). One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. However, given all there is to do along this leg, its worth taking at least an overnight along this segment to see it all. Day 4 Newport and Yachats, OR. This was a 6 day trip. Hug Point's caverns and waterfalls are accessible by taking a short trek along the coast. I live near one of the ferries going here, so I am lucky to be able to visit the area often. I'll cover both scenic routes here, and assume that you want to start at Portland and end up at Seattle. The state capitol building, a volcano, a forestry industry sector, and rural farms make up a diversified itinerary that first-time visitors to the region will relish. Adrian, great to hear from you! Tillamook, Oregon sits on the Highway 101, a few miles inland from the sea. This sounds like a great trip the PCH + inland Oregon! Sorry, I dont have any special suggestions for kids! Sounds like youve got a great itinerary planned! It's located a 45-minute drive from Seattle and just outside Washington's third-most populous city, Tacoma. Related Read:11 Awe-Inspiring Glamping Spots in Oregon. My question is: how to best use our time? Got to save some $$$$$. All rights reserved. This is my idea of an itinerary but I need to cut out one of these days or consolidate one since I really only have 8 days. By the end, youll be ready to plan your own Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. Thanks for your comment, Pam, but Im a little confused its a 10-day itinerary, so its a 9-night trip. Especially watching the sun set over Morro Rock in the distance! I want the most scenic route but RT 1 on the cliffs seem risky ? Take your car on the Bainbridge Ferry to Bainbridge Island.The ferry ticket costs $20.40 (for the vehicle and the driver) and . If you go as big as a Suburban or Tahoe, youll be way to big and clunky to enjoy the road! However, be vigilant for early snowfall that could affect the roads. Getting excited. What type of car would you rent for 4 of us? . And of course, you can also check out Discovery Park while youre in the area for a great stroll. We will be stopping to see the sights along the way but not for strenuous hikes. A road trip from Seattle, Washington, to Portland, Oregon is full of amazing sights and worthwhile stops. Nothing scream Pacific Northwest like the striking Oregon coastline. This stunning road winds through the Columbia River Gorge along the river, passing tons of incredible waterfalls, lookout points, and more. The flight time is usually a quick 45 minutes, but when you factor in transfers between the two airports, its probably just as long as other options listed above. Home is a cozy van parked wherever the views are stunning and the data is adequate. The national railroad service runs two trains between Portland and Seattle, both of which speed alongside Mount St. Helens and across the Columbia River Gorge. skip Santa Cruz, skip San Francisco Day 2 and just hit the highway) OR if you had a suggestion on swapping out one of the spots with a different one (ex. As I mentioned above, both are southbound itineraries. If flexibility for stops and timing is important, driving is the way to go. Thank you for the article. Rainier National Park gates open in winter are the Carbon River entrance and the Nisqually entrance. But the key here is the ferry ride. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: From Aberdeen, continue south along U.S. Highway 101. I havent stayed at any L.A. hotels, so I dont feel comfortable recommending any. A scenic 1.5-hour drive from Portland will lead you directly to the salty sea. Now that summer is slowly on the way out, its the perfect time to hit the road. Travelers can take various pathways between Portland and Seattle. Any additional thoughts? What would be a good hopping on point? In Tillamook, pick from any number of hotels or Airbnbs. Silver Lake, Seaquest State Park - a beautiful hidden gem on the way to Seattle from Portland. My wife and I (with our dog) are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. From Vancouver, drive 35 kilometers south on Highway 99 to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and board the B.C. Thanks for subscribing! Note: mountain route may be unavailable during winter due to road closures. Choose between six, daily routes that are quicker than Greyhound with just one stop in Tacoma, WA. lol. The coastal city is widely famous for Haystack Rock, a heavenly sea stack standing tall in the ocean. Travelers may stroll around and visit the town's many shops, cafs, and art galleries whenever they have free time or want to get some exercise. Now that you have all the details you need to plan a PCH road trip, you need to know which destinations are worth a stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. Have a great drive!! Its also a great place to play volleyball, although youll have to bring the volleyball net yourself. Would it be worth it to continue to San Diego then back to LA? Great questions, Julie. With an RV, Id just give yourself a lot more time each day (probably 25% more driving time) since youll need to go a bit slower. Thanks. Thank you for this wonderful review. If you want to make your road trip truly magnificent, you must spend a few hours here before continuing your journey to Seattle. Hi Valerie, I am doing the PCH drive southbound from Seattle and as far as we can go for 5 days. Good morning from Australia. Mountain Route. Thanks for reading, Thomas. Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. Thank so much for putting together a wonderful and comprehensive itinerary of the PC scenic drive. However, I have decided to take a detour east through Columbia River Gorge and Washington State wine country. Note: Due to heavy rainfall in California in January 2023, California Highway 1 is closed around Ragged Point; this means you will not be able to do a complete route down the Pacific Coast and will instead divert inland from Monterey to San Simeon (southbound). Sireesha, thanks for reading. We might consider staying a total of 12-15 days. Follow Interstate 5 through the suburbs and into the center of Seattle. While the glass is technically part of MacKerricher State Park and you cant take it home you can still spend time out of the car searching for different colors and shapes of beautiful sea glass that wash up from the Pacific Ocean. Seattle is one of my favorite destinations in the world. Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July. Seaside has a nice range of shops and dining options, and the beach is popular with surfers. Is Pacific Coast Highway the same as Highway 1 or Highway 101? Plus you can cruise up to areas like Bow-Edison and enjoy some tasty eats and local shopping. Im sure someone else has asked this but..When is the best time to travel PCH (traveling Southbound through California to San Diego in hopes of warm days and cool(ish) nights)? 3. If you take I-5 South, it's the most direct route, and it will take you about 10 hours to get there. The Point Reyes Lighthouse is only open to visitors from Fridays to Mondays (weekends) from 10am-4:30pm. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. This is the best section of the route for hiking, rock climbing, and water sports (not to mention breweries). Now let me break down a few itineraries to choose from, based on how much time you have to do your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. There is plenty to see and do along the way, so try to give yourself at least a weekend to enjoy the trip. Around the lakes, there is a 3.6 miles long loop trail that can be used for running, hiking, and strolling. I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. Im trying to connect with the guide I found on pinterest. I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. Sorry, but theres no way to do the drive to Seattle and back along the PCH in just 7 days. Please drop the the. Aretta, thanks for your comment! This Pacific Coast Highway itinerary is 7 days and will let you take the whole route and return home with unforgettable memories: If you have more time to drive the PCH, this 10-day itinerary is perfect. I will be driving alone and he thought I would be able to enjoy the view better looking to my left than to my right while driving. The park is open to the public daily from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mount Rainier National Park is a national park located about 60 miles from Seattle. For the California portion, I recommend September & October! Do you highly recommend the LONG route OR is thru Mendocino only enough? Whats your thought on late availability rooms at that time of year? The reason I recommend doing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip north to south is that youll be on the coastal side of the road. 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