. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. USA West Coast Road Trip Itinerary: Seattle to San Francisco Plan would be to fly into Seattle and out from SF. Fort Bragg is only a few miles north, and a great way to spend a few hours. On the drive to Mendo, dont miss Patricks Saltwater Taffy, Wild Flour Bread, a quick stop in the spooky town of Jenner, Salt Point State Park, and the Point Arena Lighthouse (my favorite!). If you decide Napas your town of choice, I prefer the Andaz Napa (hip boutique-ish), Harvest Inn (rustic upscale), Napa Valley Inn (Mediterranean-style), or RiverPointe Napa Valley (colorful cottages). Sadly, its a private club so visitors are not allowed inside but good photo ops are just in front of the building. After your story, I really wanted to see that beauty on San Francisco! The city is known for being eco-friendly with numerous parks, bike paths, and outdoor areas. So incredibly good. Burney Falls State Park. The most beautiful city to visit on the road trip from San Francisco to Seattle is Fort Bragg. The Alcatraz Island served as a military fortification and a lighthouse before it was turned into a prison. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Another museum worth visiting in Tillamook is the Naval Air Museum. The distance between Seattle to San Francisco is 808 miles. Stay at an AirBnB directly in the forest (with star gazing opportunities at night) and you wont be disappointed. Youll find dozens and dozens of vineyards dotting the area, from small, family run wineries to ridiculously large name box-brands (think Mondavi or Chandon), each with their own flare. Trust me, snow does not melt 14,410 feet above sea level. Plus, all my snack suggestions. This NRA is actually one of the largest expanses of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world, so yea, I wasnt kidding when I said Oregons coastline is on par with. You need to choose! 9:19 pm arrive in Seattle. Seattle to San Francisco Luxury Road Trip | All Roads North TOTAL DRIVE TIME: 1 hour, 30 min (traffic dependent). No visit to Northern California is complete without sipping some of the good stuff (wine, duh) in either Napa Valley or Sonoma (both excellent and similar choices). Yachats shore is rough and rugged shores due to volcano lava flows forming black basalt rock. Yes, cheese! Other moderately priced options include: Tolovana Inn (beachfront with a pool), Hallmark Resort Hotel and Spa (pets welcome! And those photos youve seen of all the colorful sea glass on the beach? Hiking, snowshoeing, and picnicking are all good options in the park! Oregon Museum of Science and Industry science and technology museum features large-screen theatre, planetarium, and exhibition halls with a variety of hands-on permanent exhibits. Both book up super quick, so if youd like to stay directly within the park, its a good idea to make your arrangements as soon as possible. The easiest way to get on the road to Seattle from San Francisco is via Interstate 5. Time to start making your way to the coast, because were heading north on the PCH towards Mendocino and Fort Bragg! Seattle to San Francisco road trip is one of the best ways to explore three different states while traveling through various climate zones. are located a few miles south. stay for about 1 hour. Portland Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums on the west coast with a large collection of Native American and Asian art. Its a good idea to make your way back to Portland to slice off a few hours of drive time to Mt. Once you get to the Coos Bay area, plan on spending the rest of the day on the Cape Arago Beach Loop. The trip from San Francisco to Seattle can span 810 to 980 miles depending on your route of choice. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Psst check out the recommended Portland hotels above, and book an extra night if youre totally feeling this day trip. Since youll probably be pressed on time during this San Francisco to Seattle road trip, itll be difficult to plan your day in Mt. You will enjoy reading his ultimate guides to undiscovered destinations and his articles about various travel experiences. Fun fact: Mount Rainier is actually a volcano! Enjoy donuts, coffee, beer, and hanging with hipsters? We've compiled a list to help guide you through one of our favorite destinations! 2. With quiet seaside coves, bustling beach towns, and secluded hideaways, you wont want to miss the beauty that is Oregon. The ability to track prices (and get email notifications when the price drops) is top notch and one of my favorite features. Ready to cross this trip to the Pacific Northwest off your bucket list?! Rainier. Chose Sonoma? Diablo Lake (GORGEOUS but requires even more driving time), and Snoqualmie Falls, all ranging from easy to moderate with absolutely fantastic views. The latter is famous for its Glass Beach in the Noyo Headlands Park that boasts mesmerizing views of the Pacific Ocean. I promise that each park will give you those towering redwoods youre so looking forward to (and theres actually three different types!) 14+ days would be best, but we also know that you might not have that kind of vacation time to burn. Promise. Check out Howland Hill Road, Bald Hills Road, Coastal Drive Loop, and/or Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. San Franciscos Golden Gate Park is like New York Central Park but is 20% larger. (If youve rented a car, you can return it now avoid paying for an extra few days you wont need your own wheels within the city itself). Theres SO much food worthy of making this list, as Portland earns its title as a foodie city, and youd burst from attempting to eat at all the hot spots. Todays adventure is a bit out of the way, but 100% worth it since you probably wont be back anytime soon (but fingers crossed you will!) You always hear about the gloominess and rain, never the sunshine and green space. And as a plus, the beach isnt too sore on the eyes! From waterfall hiking, epic sunsets, a killer botanical garden, and another light station (Im a killer for these if you couldnt already tell), dont underestimate, Fort Bragg is only a few miles north, and a great way to spend a few hours. Depending on how many days you have at hand for your Seattle to San Francisco road trip itinerary, there is an interesting detour option to spend the night in Eugene, Oregon and explore Toketee Falls / Crater Lake the next day. Where to Stay: Its a good idea to make your way back to Portland to slice off a few hours of drive time to Mt. 12 Awesome Stops on a San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip in 2023 Mmmm Im salivating just thinking about the Top Pot donuts. Tip go to Mos Seafood and Chowder for the best crab in town! National Park Inn is open year round, while Paradise Inn only operates between mid-May through early-October. San Francisco to Seattle - A 12-day Road Trip - Leisurely Drives San Francisco to Seattle - Road Trips Forum - Tripadvisor San Francisco to Seattle road trip 9-10 days - Fodor's This park is a perfect getaway from the busy city streets. Portland - Columbia River Gorge 7. And for this, 9.00 AM will be late. Catch a ferry from Pier 33 to what once was the most secure prison on the west coast! The 960-mile road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 20 hours 30 minutes. Worth mentioning so you dont forget to account for the cost of a rental car when following this San Francisco to Seattle itinerary! Japanese Garden in Portland is believed to be the most authentic Japanese Garden outside of Japan! Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US and was formed by a supervolcanic eruption 7,700 years ago. The Three Capes Scenic Drive takes us south from Oceanside on our drive from Seattle to San Francisco on 101. :p, And of course you need to feast your eyes on the crimson cutie, aka the Golden Gate Bridge. And right near the Space Needle is the Chihuly Garden and Glass, another not-to-miss spot in Seattle. Drive to Port Angeles, with a stop at Nourish Sequim along the way for a delicious (and gluten free) lunch. Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most spectacular national parks in Washington, with stunning Mount Rainier being the highlight of this park. Promise me you wont miss a day or two in Californias wine country (preferably two if you want to do all the things). Are you interested in doing another road trip from San Francisco? An artistic stop full of galleries in the coastal town of Mendocino that boasts a gallery in a water tower. FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. This museum is especially great for families with kids. In order to drive from San Francisco to Seattle in a reasonable amount of time (1-2+ weeks depending on the length of your trip), youll be driving almost every day, with some being longer driving days than others. Read Next: A Waterfall Weekend in Lassen National Park. Dedicate Day 1 to a full exploration of the national park, and dont miss Sulphur Works, Emerald Lake (an absolute dream! Taking the quicker route can get you there in about 12 hours without stops or major traffic, and while the more scenic route is harder to predict, a good estimate would be over 20 hours. The best part about the Redwoods National Park is the possibility to drive through the park rather than taking long walks. Napa / Sonoma 2. Todays primarily a driving day, but dont worry, theres tons of scenic stops along the way, including scenic seaside towns, sand dunes, spectacular lighthouses, and cheese! Feeding wild animals is a big no-no, and can actually do way more harm than good. And remember you wont find any restaurants or grocery stories within the parks, so plan accordingly and pick up some sandwiches, chips, picnic goods, etc beforehand.:). Take advantage of, If youll be following this itinerary and heading north (without driving the direct 15+ hours back to, ), youll want to book two one-way tickets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Today is the final day of our trip the day we cross the Golden Gate Bridge into The City by the Bay. Make sure to join free tours offered several times daily. Tip: Good hotels for the relatively acceptable price can be found near the International Airport, for example, Hotel 1550 SFO Airport West and Bayhill Inn. Be sure to check out my 3-day San Francisco itinerary. ), Bumpass Hell Trail Hike (its not really thaaaaat bad), Lake Helen, and Manzanita Lake. Ultimate USA West Coast Road Trip: 7, 10 or 15 Days Itinerary Ideas Again, please do your part and keep wildlife wild. surely steals the show when it comes to coastal road trips, but Oregons coast is one for the bucket list as well! ), dont miss these highlights in Crater Lake, The Two-Day Portland Itinerary Youll Want to Copy, Multnomah Falls and the Colombia River Gorge, 20 Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Antigua, Guatemala: Where to Find the Perfect Cup, 35+ Best Things to do in Antigua: The Colonial Gem of Guatemala, Best Pastel de Nata in Porto, Portugal (All My Favorite Porto Egg Tarts), Flying Over the Great Blue Hole in Belize: Everything You Need to Know, Checking into the Madonna Inn: San Luis Obispos Quirkiest and Most Eccentric Hotel, Fall in San Francisco: 25+ Fall Activities in the SF Bay Area You Cant Miss, Things to do in Cambria, California (The Cutest Seaside Village on the Central Coast). You must wait in line for Cowlicks Ice Cream. I like to search via this site in order to compare rental companies to see who has the best price. The trail is very easy and quite short, so be there early before everyone else arrives.