seattle to san francisco road trip map

This route never strays from the interstate, so aside from some highly recommended detours, the drive is extremely straightforward and beginner-friendly. www .seattle .gov. Next up: TheShrine Drive-Through Tree. No Seattle to San Francisco road trip would be complete without making a stop in the weird and lovable city of Portland. Rather random? 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. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? 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). Crater Lake National Park is an extraordinary park that has a dormant volcano as its crown jewel. One thing to keep in mind along this route is that the coast can be rather windy, potentially making the drive difficult (not to mention less scenic) on a rainy day - be sure to keep close tabs on the weather and plan your stops accordingly. Head North back to San Francisco,andexplore the city! The road trip from Seattle to San Francisco is full of amazing stopover options, so you should definitely consider booking a few hotel rooms on the way. It's one of the most spectacular road trips in the USA. This route was intriguing to us because the arrival time was almost 3 hours faster than the Highway 101 alternative, but we decided that this drive was once in a lifetime and we had to take the longer option if it meant we'd be driving the Oregon coast the entire day. Dont forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. westcoastbound. Eugene (16 answers) One of the liveliest, most accessible neighbourhoods. Along Highway 101, cut through Oswald West State Park and pass Tillamook and Siuslaw State Forests, as well as Rogue River-Siskiyou and Six Rivers National Forests. Alexander Valley Wine Region: Take a drive through the Alexander Valley Wine Region to enjoy some of the tastiest (and most affordable) wines in California. To visit all of these areas, we recommend taking the first exit to Monterey off the freeway and work your way around. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, A city filled with unique coffee shops, breweries, restaurants, seaplanes, shopping, sculptures, parks and of course the home of Greys Anatomy (yup, Im lame). We have a whole guide on the best places to stay in San Francisco that is well worth a read if youre looking for more detail from people who ACTUALLY lived in the city for almost a decade. Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Seattle. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It helps if you put your mirrors in to go through the tree. trip dates & more! Its in Union Square, which honestly kinda sucks, but its affordable and stylish. All the rooms are the same, so theres no presidential suite or choices between deluxe and superior rooms. We will be in de US for about 4 weeks. See here for our top things to do in San Francisco. Let's be friends! From here, cross the Columbia River via Route 30 and continue west until you reach the coast. We usually prefer Airbnb for stays longer than a day or two, and Seattle has some awesome Airbnb options. Finish the drive into San Francisco, stopping in the Marin Headlands at the Golden Gate Bridge to hike down to Kirby Cove and marvel at the beauty of the bridge before driving into the city and to the airport to drop off your rental car (or to your final stop, wherever that might be). From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. This hotel is located right on the beach with gorgeous views of the boardwalk/beach. Sleep in Ashford just outside the park entrance at Paradise Village. If you're looking to have some fun, nothing can beat the relaxing view from the terrace, especially when it's coupled with an incredible live performance by top-of-the-line musicians. I dont recommend that. travelers and answer their questions about Seattle! Who would have thought trees could be so fascinating? If dining is a pleasure, some restaurants will please you on your Seattle to San Francisco road trip. Road Map from San Francisco to Seattle Start your day early and travel down HWY 101 along the coast of Oregon. If its on (or even if its not), you should stop in Ashland. Check out the. Remember, like you, people planning a San Francisco road trip need your opinion. However a bit unsure about the timing, how is it in mid October there? Though I cant say the same for the also-famous but largely uninspired gum wall, which is downright disgusting if you really stop to think about it. Agreed! Your email address will not be published. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:04 pmdrive for about 3 hours, 6:02 pm Napa Here are our picks for where to eat, drink, stay, and play while youre in Seattle. In the next section, we list the destinations worth seeing along the route from Seattle to San Francisco. Here are our top picks for where to stop along the way with some of our favorite places to eat, drink, stay, and play for each. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? How Many Days to Spend on This 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. Oh! On top of being located in the most action-packed part of Portland, this hotel is extremely generously priced - coupled with the incredible amenities, this easily makes The Duniway the best hotel in the entire region. questions about Mount Shasta (California): Road Trip from SF to Vancouver/Seattle- where are the best places to see? You should also know going in that San Francisco is generally an expensive place to visit expect to pay over $100 a night to stay in the city, and usually much more than that. (20 answers), Valerie from Los Angeles asked:What is your favorite restaurant in San Francisco? Market Street Steakhouse Then youll have the perfect San Francisco to Seattle road trip itinerary. They remembered my mum right away and we chatted with them about their lives. Union Square is where youll find a lot of shopping options & Mission District has a lot of greats bars and restaurants to explore. What an amazing road trip! Hood, Willamette, and Siuslaw National Forests, and Redwood National and State Parks. Day 1: Seattle, Washington (3 days) Day 4: Seattle - Willamette Valley (222 miles/357 km) Day 5: Willamette Valley - Pacific City (63 miles/101 km) With a fourth day, wed add Rainier (with a stop in Eugene between Portland and Redding). The Underground Tour: A little quirky and offbeat, kind of like Seattle, the Underground Tour is worth doing while youre in Pioneer Square. Road Trip Route Planner, Map and Trip Guides | Roadtrippers Start New Trip Trip Guides Sign Up Log In Start a trip by adding places Collect places for your trip by adding them. After half a day here, we made our way down HWY 199 through some interesting towns, en route to Crescent City on HWY 101. For something a little more low-key, you can also enjoy a yoga class or even try wine tasting. Drive down the I-5 corridor, making stops at Mt. Lardo Drive the Avenue of the Giants: The Avenue of the Giants in the Humboldt Redwoods is a 31-mile forest drive that is considered to be the best drive through redwoods in the world. The mighty Hood River and stunning Columbia River Gorge are a must-see on your way down to Bend. We recommend Sandcastle Inn. 12 Awesome Stops on a San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip in 2023 San Francisco. When venturing from the i5 highway, the trip takes approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes of non-stop driving. If you have more time, here are some other places to stop along the way from Seattle to San Francisco. Continue to Eugene, where you should try the wild fermented, locally harvested cider at Wildcraft Cider and head up to Skinner Butte for a nice view of Eugene. Artesa Vineyards & Winery (9 mentions) 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 Photo Credit: Bigstock. Tall tales, trip guides, & the world's weird & wonderful. Find pet-friendly stops. You wont regret it. From here, drive to Mendocino (not the most interesting drive, to be honest). Airbnb: Weve stayed in a bunch of Airbnbs in Portland on our numerous trips over the years. Hiking the Skyline Trail: Is This the Best Hike in the Entire State? In the guide below, well give you our favorite stops to make on a Seattle to San Francisco road trip, along with logistics and sample itineraries to help you plan the perfect adventure. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Break the budget! 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. Required fields are marked *. Stop at Redwoods National and State Parks: Seeing the redwoods is a must when youre in Northern California. This route has a total of 24 hours of driving split up between 10-14 days when you follow our recommendations below. Want to plan the trip back? Planning to drive from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road? Seattle to San Francisco: Tips for a Highway 101 Road Trip - DIY Playbook Read Next: The 19 Best Airbnbs in Seattle. Were going to California in mid October, and thought since were already flying in from outside US, maybe we should do our long wished-for seattle-SF trip. Drive through Cape Perpetua (stop at Thors Well and the scenic overlook), Heceta Head Lighthouse, and finally to Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor. 1. and was formed by the eruption and collapsing of a volcano, Mount Mazama 7,700 years ago. If you find it difficult to organize your luggage on the road trip, take a look at the, Are you traveling with children? I was planning a similar trip and I think Im just going to follow your itinerary to a T! (29 answers), Dina from Dallas asked:What are the top 5 can't miss tourist attractions in S.F.? Saint Helens provides some surreal views of this active volcano, as well as some intriguing natural formations. Ashland is a cool little town known for hosting the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Pok Pok Restaurant The cheapest way to get from Seattle to San Francisco costs only $116, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. stay for about 2 hours and leave at 8:02 pmdrive for about 58 minutes, 9:00 pm arrive in San Franciscostay at Top of the Mark, Elliott from Sheffield asked:Road Trip from SF to Vancouver/Seattle- where are the best places to see? Were assuming that youre treating your road trip from Seattle to San Francisco as a vacation, and budgeting a week or more so that you can see the best of the west coast along the way. We recommend Timber Valley Inn and Suiteswhich is conveniently located directly off HWY 5. What is your favorite restaurant in San Francisco. 2015 Seattle, San Francisco, and Sierra - cross-country-trips.com The Society is the best value hotel in Portland, with options from dorm rooms to suites, so you can pick an option that works for your style and budget. Take your time, drive slowly and stop at every opportunity you can! Please also note that due to a giant landslide in May of 2017, a whole section of the Big Sur is inaccessible from the South, and you cannot travel the whole route. We plan (and pay for) all of our own travels, and we use our first hand knowledge to write detailed travel guides to the places we love to help YOU plan an amazing trip. Pacific coast Highway - driving from Seattle to San Francisco St. Helens to check out Johnston Ridge, which gives you an amazing view of the volcano and destruction it wrought on the surrounding landscape. Trinidad: Hike the Trinidad Head trail to enjoy stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Tasty N Sons You can share your thoughts about the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco and your recommendations about this route by using the comment field below. Stop at the Good Life Cafe: If youre going to be in Mendocino in the morning, stop over at the Good Life Cafe for breakfast and a cup of coffee. Seattle and San Francisco are the two cities in the world that we have, collectively, called home. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Seattle to San Francisco. He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip. Seattle to San Francisco RV Road Trip Guide (+ RV Rental) - RVshare Im a foodie at, Read More Gluten Free San Francisco: A Complete Guide for CeliacsContinue. Pacific Northwest road trip - Scenic round trip from Seattle, Road Trip From Seattle To Glacier National Park, Road Trip From Seattle To Yellowstone National Park, The Duniway Portland is the hotel for you, book yourself a room at St Regis San Francisco. who wants the trip to end? This coastal adventure is a perfect year-round itinerary. Make sure you check road conditions For up to date information on these conditions, visit this most recent post. Its packed full of interesting spots to stop in, whether youre looking for vegan ice cream or a unique boutique selling who knows what. Here we list three of them. Portland (246 answers) Or get a full Seattle to San Francisco flight plan. With that in mind, you may want to avoid the drive in the winter if you don't want your access to these landmarks to be significantly limited. Japanese Gardens (15 mentions) Redd Here are some of our favorites. Our favorites would be Becks Motor Lodge (close to the Mission) and Hotel Kabuki (in Japantown). Here are our top three choices for adventures around Mt. If you only have three days, youre obviously not going to be able to hit some of the far flung destinations like Crater Lake and Bend. 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 The best times to do the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco are a bit counterintuitive - the unique terrain that defines the route and San Fran's distinctive climate follow a different set of rules than your average oceanside tourist attraction. You wont want to miss our detailed guides to visiting Mount Rainier that are all based on our own personal experience exploring the park. The 363 mile Oregon coast has cute towns, beaches and photo ops all along the way. Drive Time from Seattle to San Francisco: approximately 10 hours. Last time, we stayed at this Treehouse on Airbnb, which was also fantastic, but you probably want a hotel given youll only be in town for one night, and the Airbnb cleaning fee will make it more expensive. Keep reading. Wildlife Safari (3 mentions) For example, here are some questions people have asked about San Francisco. However, a new bridge ismeant to be opening in October 2017. 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. This is the worst driving day because theres not much to see along the way from Redding to San Francisco. Rainier. 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. United States. (1 answer), Marsha-laine asked:Most Scenic Drive Down to San Francisco (2 answers), John asked:Seattle to San Francisco recommend route (1 answer). During the summer, the inland route through the Hood River, Bend, and Crater Lake have some of the best hikes and gorgeous scenery we have ever seen. This is the one where you can drive your car through actual living redwoods! After the volcano erupted around 8,000 years ago, the collapsed summit eventually stored enough water to create the lake. This section lists our five restaurant recommendations for you to eat on your road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. Your email will not be provided to third parties. You made it! Trip Length: Give yourself at least five days for a worthwhile journey. A unique experience awaits you in San Francisco. We began our 2-week west coast road trip in Seattle, Washington. Some of these trees have been known to measure 360 feet in height, making it the tallest measured tree species on earth. If you dont already live in the Seattle area, then you can fly in and rent a car to take the Seattle to San Francisco drive. eat at Voodoo Doughnuts And for this, 9.00 AM will be late. CitizenM Seattle is one of the best value hotels in Seattle. Hood, Willamette, and Siuslaw National Forests, and Redwood National and State Parks. Hopefully youve found the answer you needed elsewhere, but for anyone else wondering what the weather is going to be like in mid-October, youre likely going to get some great fall color, though the weather could be more unpredictable, with rain or even snow. Stay charged anywhere you go, with access to our global charging networks. This section could be endless, so rather than trying to There you have it a complete guide to planning a road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. Your email address will not be published. Is there anything else you think we should have done, or not done? If youre on a budget, check out the Found Hotel. 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!). Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we dont stand behind 100%. From here, you can either take the coastal highway HWY 1 or the HWY 101 directly to Santa Rosa for the night OR if you feel as though you can continue driving, drive to Santa Cruz. Napa (85 answers) Keep Calm and Travel On |. If organized tours are your thing, here are some recommendations in San Francisco: How you budget is entirely based on the types of accommodations youre wanting to stay in and of course where you choose to eat. Head to Redwood National and State Parks and explore Stout Memorial Grove, Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway, and Fern Canyon. 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. stay at Ace Hotel. So, it would be perfect if you shared your experience with other travelers who want the same experience. Wait, wheres Fishermans Wharf on this list? The best things to see and do between Seattle and San Francisco. If organized tours are your thing, here are some recommendations: Belltown. Life is all about the journey, not the destination! Seattle is one (Matt lived there for 15+ years), San Francisco is the second (we met and lived there for juuuust shy of a decade), and Alysha also lived in Santa Barbara in college. Crater Lake National Park is the only National Park in Oregon and whilst it may be slightly off course, we promise you wont regret it! Saint Helens. It can be hard to decide which iconic spots to see . Not sure what to do in Seattle? Stay hungry and enjoy! 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. Note: We skip over San Francisco here, and loop back to itbecause our flight leaves from San Francisco+ we have to return our rental car here. Seattle to San Francisco - 7 ways to travel via train, plane - Rome2rio There are three awesome places to find ice cream in Seattle. In fact, Matt recently did this drive alone. Groups and families should look at this two bedroom gem in the heart of Capitol Hill. These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy: Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions Anyway, walk through the market and check out the vendors selling everything from candied nuts to flowers, and of course, the flying salmon. First, at Lake Crescent to hike to Marymere Falls. The tallest trees on the planet are on full display in the Redwoods National and State Parks. We loved this modern guesthouse right off of Hawthorne Blvd (the best street in Portland) and this cozy apartment in the hip Alberta Arts District, which is a cool spot to base yourself. If youre continuing south towards LA and be sure to stop intoPismo Beach, Solvang, Santa BarbaraandSanta Maria orcheck out thisextensive list of ideas. The drive between Washington and Oregon is rather uneventful but there are some suggestions below if you have time. This is a 31 mile scenic stretch of road that runs through the Red Wood Forest parallel to the highway. Starting on I-5 south for 90% of . Head out to the Olympic Peninsula by taking the Bainbridge Island Ferry. Itll be a little wet in the winter, but its still passable (unlike some of the roads in central Washington and Oregon, which can get a wee bit sketchy). 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 Road Trip Route Planner, Map and Trip Guides | Roadtrippers Fun Fact: At 380 feet, Hyperion in Redwood National Park is the world's tallest living tree. Grab yourself some lunch from The Picnic Basket or the Surfrider Cafe and enjoy it on the beach whilst people watching and soaking up the sunshine. Youre in luck. This tree is HUGE but in fact, not even the largest! on Amazon that will make travel fun for them. Drive all the way to Redding, get dinner at In-n-Out Burger, and stay at the Americana Hotel in downtown Redding. Day 4: Get an early start and make a beeline for the California border. For dessert, ice cream is your best bet. Crater Lake is the largest lake in the United States (over 1900 ft deep!) If you're aiming to spend most of your time at the beach, this might be the best time to do the trip. Hi, first of all thank you so so much for this amazing post. stay for about 4 hours and leave at 3:43 pmdrive for about 2 hours, 5:39 pm Eugene (were probably gonna do a 10-14 day trip). Especially on the weekdays. If you have more than a couple of days to spare, a much more scenic alternative would be to drive along the coast, which would extend your drive by about 8 hours. There are many excellent hotels during your Seattle to San Francisco road trip. Hike Fern Canyon if you want to go through a narrow canyon whose walls are entirely lined with ferns and moss. The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (2022)