If you do decide on the longer trek, youll need to dip back south into California (yes, for real) in order to get back on Highway 1. But whats another two hours, amiright? Read More: Seven of Seattles Top Tourist Attractions, Where to Eat all the Noms in Seattle, Seattle Seaplane Experience, Seattle Tourist City Guide. Have a picnic at one of the tables underneath the soaring redwoods, but please remember to do your part and properly store and dispose of all food and garbageeven crumbs. Then you could pick up the rest of this itinerary working your way south. Washington Park is highly rated among both locals and visitors A great retreat in a busy city. Portland - Columbia River Gorge 7. San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip Click on the link below for a list of the West Coast USA road trip itinerary. Road Trip San Francisco to Seattle in 3 Days - Enterprise Rent-A-Car Read your head at El Dorado Hotel (breezy rooms with a wine bar), MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa (warm and sophisticated), or Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn (spa with mineral baths). This 1200 feet above sea level trail is often in the clouds but nevertheless very scenic and bright! The drive and suggested route below is best done as a day trip from Portland, as youll need to make your way back to Portland before heading to our next stop (Mt. Rainier throughout your hike. Seattle vs. San Francisco for Vacation - Which one is better? Seattle We could come up with many combinations. So in theory you could do it in two days, but to make it into a road trip, we'd recommend at least five days, and ideally two weeks or more. 15 Stunning Stops on a Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip ), we couldnt have been more pleased. If you are up for a short hike, head to YaXaik Trail (1.15 mile long). Before hopping onto the automobile, visitors must rent a car from legitimate and affordable sources, such as RentalCars.com, which offers rentals of various car brands. The complete drive around the lake is 33 miles, which is completely paved and easily drivable in the summer months, with tons of scenic overlooks to view and ooh and awe at! Just saying . 7-10 day San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip May 2019 And lucky for you (any myself), I already did this same exact road trip , If you choose to venture on over to Napa for a few days, your best bet is to drive West to Bodega Bay from Napa, and continue your drive up north via Highway 1 (also commonly referred to as the, , 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 youd like to take a boat tour around the lake (only offered in summer), I HIGHLY recommend you make a reservation in advance (tickets are known to sell out months in advance). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Skyline Trail is one of the best day hikes from Paradise. Seattle to San Francisco - Road Trips Forum - Tripadvisor Fun fact: Oregon residents, who wish to support Crater Lake national park, can order Crater lake license plates for their vehicles at some extra fee! The straight drive from San Francisco to Seattle is 808 miles and takes about 14 hours. Looking for a top hotel recommendation? Hit the road and head south to Portland for the next fun day. This is a great beach to watch the sunset! And plus, those vineyards and wineries come with beautiful grounds, lush rolling hills, and boast fantastic views of the area . you can see Haystack Rock from your balcony! Take your time and have lunch, as we are about to take a long ride straight to Golden Gate viewpoint a must-see stop just before the sunset! 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. The majority of people are used to the most famous road trip in the United States, from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The proposed itinerary for 7-day Seattle to San Francisco road trip Day 1 Mount Rainier National Park, WA Day 2 Portland, OR Day 3 Tillamook, OR and Three Capes Scenic Drive Day 4 Newport and Yachats, OR Day 5 Toketee Falls and Crater Lake, OR Day 6 Crescent City and Redwoods National Park, OR Day 7 Avenue of the Giants and Mendocino, CA Ready for some redwoods? Search for the best car rental prices here. Flying kites on the beach in Lincoln City in Oregon is fun during the road trip. Newport is a great mix of attractions, interesting museums, seaside beauty, and delicious food. However, if one wants to enjoy most of the attractions along the San Franciso-Seattle road, they must spend at least an extra 5 to 7 days. However, if finding accomodation inside the park is important to you, book super early, as there are only two inns located within. San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip: Where to stop and what to see! : Who could resist some fine, fine creamy cheese samples? The Ace is close to all the sites with plenty of public transport options nearby as well if needed. Be sure to stop at 1) Bastendorff Beach (never-crowded and always beautiful), 2) Sunset Bay State Park (protected by towering sea cliffs with beautiful sandy beaches and amazing tide pools), 3) Cape Arago Lighthouse Viewpoint (cant go in but you can get fantastic views from here), 4) Shore Acres State Park and Botanical Gardens (for those who cant get enough blooms in their life), 5) Simpson Beach (tons of migrating whales and hundreds of seals and sea lions among other wildlife), 6) Shell Island (breeding and rest areas for seabirds and Marine mammals), and finally 7) Cape Arago State Park. Otherwise, Evergreen Inn & Suites Portland offer good rates, although you might have to drive in order to see the main attractions. Where to Stay: AirBnB is your best friend around here. 20 Best Stops on the San Francisco to Seattle Drive Again, please do your part and keep wildlife wild. This was a 13 day road trip to the Pacific Northwest starting in San Francisco. Get some ideas from ourUSA West Coast Road Trip. WorldNomads offers travel insurance for attractive rates. The nearby town of Redding is a great place to base yourself for these two days wandering around Lassen and Burney! Not sure the best way to see everything (without zig zagging around the city)? Read Next: San Francisco to Mendocino Weekend Road Trip, The Mini Guide to Mendocino and Fort Bragg, TOTAL DRIVE TIME: 5 hours (extra hour or so to Mount Shasta). The Ultimate San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip 14+ days would be best, but we also know that you might not have that kind of vacation time to burn. Not a wino? If you get hungry, Rim Village Caf will offer hot drinks and snacks. So incredibly good. Glad you loved it as well! Unfortunately, just about 5% of the old growth redwood forests remain in California, with Redwood National and State Parks preserving over 35% of all the remaining. Report inappropriate content Noelh57 San Franciscos Golden Gate Park is like New York Central Park but is 20% larger. Make sure to join free tours offered several times daily. Once you have taken the pictures, continue your trip to the Crater lake (another 2-hour drive). Tillamook cheese factory, or creamery, is a must-stop for all fans of a farmer and natural dairy products! Doesnt get much better than that! 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. Where to Stay: There are tons of great accomodation options in both Napa and Sonoma. 2. Check out. So incredibly good. We've compiled a list to help guide you through one of our favorite destinations! No other landmark in San Francisco is as famous as the Golden Gate Bridge, it's the city's icon! Rainier national park, SureStay Hotel by Best Western Portland City Center. 10 Best Places To See On A Seattle-San Francisco Road Trip - DoItYourselfRV (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Day 3 Tillamook, OR and Three Capes Scenic Drive, Day 6 Crescent City and Redwoods National Park, OR, Day 7 Avenue of the Giants and Mendocino, CA. *** Want to extend your trip even further?! Next comes Washington in the road trip from San Francisco to Seattle, where most commuters stop at the iconic Mount Rainier National Park and the Gig Harbor for a couple of calming and relaxing days. The state park also has a campground with over a hundred sites for tents and RVs without hookups. The drive is not super long, but youll definitely want the better portion of the day to stop and soak it all in! The jewel of the Pacific Northwest, the city of Portland is a popular stop for nature and hiking lovers and foodies. The south trail will take you to a variety of sea life, whereas the north offers offshore colonies of seals and sea lions (closed March-June to protect the baby seal pups!) Day 5, 6 and 7. For all wine lovers, there is a fantastic stop along the way Briceland Vineyards Winery. But really, all views of the lake deserve a thumbs up (or 2 or 5). Fort Bragg is only a few miles north, and a great way to spend a few hours. What makes the two designated wine spots a tad different from each other? We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. and leave at 8:38 pm. Choose Sonoma if youd like a lower-cost, laid-back and intimate afternoon, enjoy a variety of wines (everything from pinot to zinfandel and charbono to gewurztraminer), and want to get off the beaten track a bit. If youre feeling fancy definitely check out the Palace Hotel, Hotel Vitale (complete with rooftop yoga), and Intercontinental Hotel Mark Hopkins SF (super elegant and sophisticated), and Hotel Zetta (Yerba Buena), the Phoenix Hotel (funky and a pastel paradise), and Clift Hotel (in the super cute Nob Hill) if quirky boutique hotels are more your thing. Other spots we looked at included TownePlace Suites Redding, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and Hilton Garden Inn, but we booked too late and most were sold out. We will want to leave San Fran about 3:30 on Wed . The trip from San Francisco to Seattle can span 810 to 980 miles depending on your route of choice. The place is perfect for whale watching and great photo opportunities. :p, Check out my road trip packing guide for must-have items and other handy tips and tricks (helpful even if youre an experienced road tripper, promise!). It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Looking to check something off your bucket list? , but dont blame me if you cant get into your pants the next day. Sign up for itinerary inspiration, travel tips, and more! And plus, those vineyards and wineries come with beautiful grounds, lush rolling hills, and boast fantastic views of the area my favorites for non-drinkers here! Read Next: The Two-Day Portland Itinerary Youll Want to Copy. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Spend a fun day exploring the neighborhood, watch the fishermen unload their catch and sample fresh seafood at one of the numerous waterfront restaurants. Visiting the Falls requires a 1.3 km hike, including some stairs to climb. Mount Rainier is most definitely a landmark in Washingtons landscape. Yes, you read that right the EARTH! Sign up using my link and youll receive up to $35 off your first stay! With its varied menu and lots to choose from for any taste, Mothers Bistro & Bar is a perfect place for a tasty lunch or dinner while in Portland. We recommend spending the time at the Redwoods National Park the most famous local attraction and home of the worlds tallest trees. Professional wanderluster and trip planning aficionado. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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.