California Redwoods. It can be hard to decide which iconic spots to see . We are a family of 4 with two older children (19,16) who love nature and hiking. However, a new bridge ismeant to be opening in October 2017. The Willamette Valley is home to some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and youll find more than 500 wineries surrounding this region. Its a good stopping point on the way down to Bend from Portland. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 10:37 amdrive for about 1.5 hours, 12:00 pm Mount Shasta (California) This section could be endless, so rather than trying to 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. Continue south towards LA and be sure to stop intoPismo Beach, Solvang, Santa BarbaraandSanta Maria orcheck out thisextensive list of ideas. Day 1: There's a lot to do on this trip, so get started the moment you arrive. Day 5: If you missed any of the redwoods above, double back and make sure to catch them. 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. stay for about 1 hour. Overview of a 4 week 2015 Seattle, San Francisco, and Sierra with Travel Itinerary, Travel Road Map, and Tips for Cross Country travelers with Kids 2015 Seattle, San Francisco, and Sierra | Lolo's Extreme Cross Country RV Trips questions about Ashland (Oregon): Best free things to do in Redding? ad hoc 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. Jump back in your car and follow the signs towardsThe Avenue of the Giants. The 960-mile road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 20 hours 30 minutes. Next: See how to edit the route Today, an island called Wizard Island juts up from beneath the surface of the water. Japanese Gardens (15 mentions) Artsy area with fun little shops Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Seattle to San Francisco. Day 4: Get an early start and make a beeline for the California border. Rainier and Mt. Its a no frills option, with great value rooms with modern amenities. These are some of the best resorts this incredible itinerary has to offer: Oregon's largest city is the most logical place to spend a weekend on your road trip from Seattle to San Francisco, especially if you're driving the interstate route. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? 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. Im a foodie at, Read More Gluten Free San Francisco: A Complete Guide for CeliacsContinue. The MoPop is a must for music and culture lovers, with tons of unique and fascinating exhibits about music and pop culture you wont find anywhere else in the world. on Amazon that will make travel fun for them. 53-63000. Trip Length: Give yourself at least five days for a worthwhile journey. Click the blue button below. You could very easily extend your time on this route with additional nights in the aforementioned locations. Visiting both cities is a must if you're in the area and doing so in an RV is particularly beneficial as you get to see some excellent sights along the way. Psst! This is our pick for a summer road trip. After half a day here, we made our way down HWY 199 through some interesting towns, en route to Crescent City on HWY 101. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can . Heres what we suggest doing in this stunning national park, which you can pretty easily tackle in a full day. 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). 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 could be more time than you have. If you're aiming to spend most of your time at the beach, this might be the best time to do the trip. (1 answer), Marsha-laine asked:Most Scenic Drive Down to San Francisco (2 answers), John asked:Seattle to San Francisco recommend route (1 answer). Weve made this trip in one straight shot in just 12 hours when taking I-5. 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. There are so many places to stop and it all depends on the time you have as well as your interests. This is another city we know REALLY well, and we have all sorts of thoughts, tips, and tricks that only locals would know to help you plan an amazing few days in San Francisco. You can also hike Trillium Falls to see beautiful trillium flowers dotting the groundcover, as well as impressive redwoods and a small waterfall. Our travel philosophy, in general, is eat-walk-drink-walk-eat-repeat. And Portland is an amazing place to do that. Saint Helens. 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, Heres a guide to the best breweries in Seattle, industrial-chic Airbnb in South Lake Union, How to Plan an Unforgettable Day Trip to Mount Rainier From Seattle, Where to Stay near Mount Rainier National Park: A Complete Guide, The Best Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park: A Helpful Hiking Guide. For dessert, ice cream is your best bet. Here we list three of them. trip dates & more! Unfortunately, this is our last stop on this incredible road trip. Still, totally doable in October. The 808 miles of the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes around 12 hours and 47 mins of driving without stops. Where to stay on the San Francisco to Seattle drive? One of our all-time favourite things to eat! The high-60s temperatures are just warm enough for you to spend your time outdoors, so this is when most tourists tend to flock to the city. To help you plan your trip, were putting our heads together, along with all of our personal experience, to curate the best stops along the way to give you the information you need to plan an unforgettable trip down the west coast. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Once in Vacaville, take Interstate 80 through Fairfield, then cross the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge. The best resource on neighborhoods, areas, 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. 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. Hike the short and sweet Trinidad Head Trail for amazing coastal views. Spend the afternoon and evening in Mendocino, exploring Fort Bragg and the town of Mendocino. Seattle to San Francisco road trip planner Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Seattle to San Francisco. The cheapest way to get from Seattle to San Francisco costs only $116, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. We hope these suggestions will help you turn your 808 miles journey into a feast of taste. Airbnb in Seattle. 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. Portland Saturday Market (13 mentions) San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip Itinerary Advice Mar 29, 2022, 6:53 AM Save We are a couple aged around sixty and looking for some advice on a self drive road trip between San Francisco and Seattle over 10 days from 16th to 26th May. Hood River also makes a great overnight stay, with plenty to do and see to occupy a day of your time. 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. Jump back on the 101 and head south to check out the Big Tree (look out for all the parked cars). Its in Union Square, which honestly kinda sucks, but its affordable and stylish. Its an incredible conglomeration of neighborhoods, all with their own unique style and vibe. Dont miss our guide to the coolest hotels in San Francisco for more suggestions. Other foodie things to do besides wine tasting 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. Your email address will not be published. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? Spend the night at either the Olympic Lodge or a vacation rental along the shores of Lake Sutherland. You can also see most people recommend as the best amount of time to visit. 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. The Chihuly Glass and Garden is a one-of-a-kind art installation featuring hand blown glass in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Capitol Cider for a huge selection of Pacific Northwest ciders and a 100% gluten free kitchen. If youre tight on time:Jump directly on HWY 5 South and head forWillamette Valley. There are tons to do in this bustling city so see our post on thetop things to do in San Francisco. See here for our top things to do in San Francisco. Spend some time on the coast and check out the things to do in Monterey. Youll be ready fortonights sleep thats for sure! Planning a trip to the Algarve, the gorgeous coastal paradise along the southern edge of Portugal? So, it would be perfect if you shared your experience with other travelers who want the same experience. If youre only going to do it once, do it right. open-ended. Ashland is a cool little town known for hosting the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. If you're planning a road trip to San Francisco, you can research locations to stop along the way. Weve got you covered with our guide to the best coffee in Seattle (according to three self-proclaimed coffee snobs). 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. The best road trip route from Seattle to San Francisco is definitely the coastal one - while taking the interstate can also take you to some incredible places, nothing can match the combination of the Pacific Coast to the west and the chain of parks and forests to the east. Tasty N Sons If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. next trip! 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. If you're planning a road trip to San Francisco, you can research locations to stop along the way. This road trip is 808 miles and takes about 12 hours and 30 minutes. With a 2020 population of 737,015, [2] it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest . Required fields are marked *. There are many excellent hotels during your Seattle to San Francisco road trip. Morimoto Best free things to do in Ashland (Oregon)? 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. Domaine Carneros (14 mentions) United States. 4. Its one of those places that makes you go I wonder what the first people, Read More How to Plan an Amazing Grand Canyon Itinerary (2 Days)Continue, Wondering if San Francisco is a good place to visit if you need to eat gluten free? Today is a long but good day of driving. 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. Read that for the details behind the picks below! The drive's signature stops include the cities of Portland and Sacramento, Mt. 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 The best way is to be prepared for the open road by visiting our checklist of road trip essentials. Spas in the Ashland area? most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. If youre on a budget, check out the Found Hotel. stay for about 4 hours and leave at 3:43 pmdrive for about 2 hours, 5:39 pm Eugene Click the button below to explore more questions 9:00 am start in Seattledrive for about 2.5 hours, 11:43 am Portland 1512650 [9] Website. This is a 31 mile scenic stretch of road that runs through the Red Wood Forest parallel to the highway. You can also visit the town of Fort Bragg, which has plenty of experiences to offer, both adventure-wise and when it comes to eating and drinking. Wilda's Grill Napa (85 answers) The Pacific Science Center is a great stop for kids, with interactive exhibits that make for a perfect rainy day activity in Seattle. 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. Hey Pontus! 2 Week Road Trip Itinerary Overview Over the course of 2 weeks, we drove approximately 1650 miles (2330km) at a moderate pace. Highway 101 Road Trip. And our favorite spots to drink, whether youre looking for a flight of craft beer or a $20 cocktail (were joking kind of). (29 answers), Dina from Dallas asked:What are the top 5 can't miss tourist attractions in S.F.? Day 1: Drive from Seattle to Mt. Tall tales, trip guides, & the world's weird & wonderful. Continue south, stopping in Humboldt Redwoods State Park to drive the Avenue of the Giants, one of the most scenic drives in all of California. Driving non-stop from Seattle to San Francisco How far is San Francisco from Seattle? This seaside town has one of the most historic boardwalks in the state. If you're driving from Seattle WA to San Francisco CA check the weather conditions for a safer trip. Tip: Stop into Safeway (large grocery store) prior to your arrival and pick up a variety of cheese, meats, crackers and fig jam to create your own charcuterie plate. To go a level deeper, take this awesome guided tour of Pike Place with a Local Chef. Second at Rialto Beach to do the hike out to Hole in the Wall (one of our favorite hikes in Olympic National Park). I dont recommend that. Your email address will not be published. Looking to promote your product, hotel or service? Continue south past Willamette and Umpqua National Forests before pulling into Medford. Starting on I-5 south for 90% of . Here are the top seven hotels on the Seattle San Francisco route! (19 answers), Julie from Atlanta asked:Best activities for kids (19 answers), Kenneth from Portland asked:Best views in San Francisco? With an early-morning flight booked well in advance, it's possible. 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. 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. 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). What is your favorite restaurant in Eugene? Then youll have the perfect San Francisco to Seattle road trip itinerary. Be prepared for the overwhelming choice of flavours! 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. If there was one thing on this whole trip that we really wanted to see, it was Big Sur. The Underground Tour: A little quirky and offbeat, kind of like Seattle, the Underground Tour is worth doing while youre in Pioneer Square. to double check the weather. questions about Mount Shasta (California): Road Trip from SF to Vancouver/Seattle- where are the best places to see? Heres what we recommend doing when you stop here during your road trip. 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. Taking the quickest possible route, the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 13 hours and spans 810 miles. Its super touristy, and kind of overrated and boring in general. San Francisco to Seattle Road trip Google Maps San Francisco and Seattle are two eclectic peas in a pod. Though, obviously, you probably didnt quit your job to adventure in your converted Honda Odyssey, so theres that. Over the course of 2 weeks, we drove approximately 1650 miles (2330km) at a moderate pace. Navarro Vineyards and Roederer Estate are our favorites. Start Your Trip. Read our road, Discover hidden gems & the hot spots of Oahu, from hiking trails to beautiful beaches., See the places we stopped on our road trip from Greece to Croatia, going via, This was everything I needed! Here are our favorite places to eat in San Francisco, a city full of amazing food spots. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. restaurants around Redding: Hop onto Interstate 5 straight out of Seattle and make your way to Portland, passing Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. All the rooms are the same, so theres no presidential suite or choices between deluxe and superior rooms. To visit all of these areas, we recommend taking the first exit to Monterey off the freeway and work your way around. Our favorites would be Becks Motor Lodge (close to the Mission) and Hotel Kabuki (in Japantown). Shasta? Here are a few of our favorite restaurants in Seattle, in no particular order. If you are driving north to south and plan to do the Big Sur, fill your petrol/gas up in either Monterey or Carmel. There are of course cheaper alternatives, but this HIGHLY recommended. There are many beautiful pit stops along the way to San Francisco. Santa Cruz. Check out Redwood National and State Parks and Humboldt Redwoods State Park before getting onto Highway 1 and pulling into Mendocino - from there, check out Jackson Demonstration State Forest before continuing south. A somewhat sleepy, somewhat rowdy college town, home of the University of Oregon, Eugene is quirky, creative, and a fun weekend getaway from Portland. The Ultimate Guide To Crater Lake National Park, See Expedia for more greatHotels for Road trips, Adelaide to Melbourne via The Great Ocean Road: Ultimate Guide, The Ultimate Road Trip around Oahu, Hawaii, Greece to Croatia Road Trip via Albania & Montenegro, A Guide to Visiting the Amazon Rainforest, 7 Underrated Travel Destinations for the Budget Traveler, 9 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Zadar, Croatia, 20 Best Things to Do in Cape Town with Kids & Toddlers, Your Guide to Australian Wildlife and National Parks, 8 Incredible Places in California To Visit, A Guide to the Most Instagrammable Beaches in 2020, Day 4: Seattle Willamette Valley (222 miles/357 km), Day 5: Willamette Valley Pacific City (63 miles/101 km), Day 6: Pacific City Roseburg via the Oregon Coast (229 miles/368km), Day 7: Roseburg Crater Lake National Park (86 miles/138km) toCrescent City, California(185 miles/297km), Day 8: Crescent City Santa Rosa (300 miles/482km), Day 10: Santa Rosa Santa Cruz (129 miles/207km), Day 11: Santa Cruz Monterey (43 miles/69km, 45 minutes) (2 days), Day 13: Monterey Big Sur (28 miles/45km), Day 14: Big Sur San Francisco (147miles/236km). What is your favorite restaurant in Portland? questions about Eugene: Last, but certainly not least (the opposite, in fact) is to head inland and hit Mt. Wed recommend Rainier if you only have time to visit one. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, Finish the day with dinner at Lilians Italian Kitchen and ice cream from Mariannes Ice Cream. Its the most direct route. 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. Best coffee shops in Portland I have regularly done the Seattle to San Francisco drive (and the San Francisco to Seattle drive, too), including one time where I did it all in one daysolo. Its packed full of interesting spots to stop in, whether youre looking for vegan ice cream or a unique boutique selling who knows what. However, some unique destinations like Centralia and Washington are also on your road trip. Breakfast was included, it was clean and surrounded by shops, places to eat and gas stations. The Northern California Coast is considered to be one of the most scenic areas in the entire country, and for many reasons. Beach Street Inn and Suites. Read our guide to the coolest hotels in Seattle to find the perfect hotel for your style and budget. These hotels are listed below. Mid July: 1 week with wife and kid - what should we prioritize? Third stop is the Hoh Rainforest, which is a spectacular example of the temperate rainforests that call this part of the country home. For more amazing trees, waterfalls, and trails in California, check out Sequoia National Park. Day 3: Continue south along the coast of Washington, crossing into Oregon after a quick stop at Cape Disappointment. 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. (20 answers), Valerie from Los Angeles asked:What is your favorite restaurant in San Francisco? Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA. Trinidad: Hike the Trinidad Head trail to enjoy stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Distance from San Francisco to Seattle: approximately 810 miles. Head out to the Point Reyes Lighthouse, Cypress Grove, and do a portion of the Tomales Point Trail. The Drive Weather map shows the next 6 hours of weather forecast, wind, temperatures and radar for the the Seattle to San Francisco drive. 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? We basically spent a full two months on this route last summer, and it was every bit as memorable, beautiful, and amazing as you might imagine. Waking up to an unprecedented view of the city's marvelous architecture is one of the best ways to start your day, and St Regis' incredible suites let you do just that. 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. International Rose Test Garden (20 mentions) You can choose from the stops below based on how much time you have to spend think of it as a choose your own adventure sort of thing (used to LOVE those Goosebumps books!). That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we dont stand behind 100%. You can roam the vineyards, taste plenty of wines and relax while overlooking acres of grapes. Stop by Rachels Ginger Beer, Beechers Cheese (their flagship cheese is one of my top three all time favorites), and Ellenos Frozen Greek Yogurt while youre there. Read Next: The 19 Best Airbnbs in Seattle. Apr 3rd, 2010 10:39 PM. Theres way more to do here then youll have time for, so we will just touch on a few things you can check off while youre in town. 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. We are looking to plan this exact trip this summer and Im so happy to find your blog! Oregon Shakespeare Festival (3 mentions) This luxury coastal road trip will take you from Seattle and the forested islands of Washington's Puget Sound to San Francisco and the towering redwoods of Northern California. Agreed! Would it be too cold in Washington/Oregon? Mileage: It's 808 miles from Seattle to San Francisco. The water is exceptionally blue and when the sunlight hits the water, its simply stunning. Rainier National Park is jaw-droppingly beautiful. Today, its time to relax! Airbnb: Weve stayed in a bunch of Airbnbs in Portland on our numerous trips over the years. Miles and miles of rugged, unspoiled coastline that hugs the oceans edge. View Road Map. Both of which have large hotel chains and some hostels. In this section, we list the five different restaurants to dine at on the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. We lived in San Francisco for almost a decade before quitting our jobs and leaving the city on our year long worldwide adventure. Here are a few pit stops to consider stopping for. Camping along the way? McMinnville. If youre continuing south towards LA and be sure to stop intoPismo Beach, Solvang, Santa BarbaraandSanta Maria orcheck out thisextensive list of ideas. Post-activity, eat some fresh, local oysters at Hog Island and some local cheese at Cowgirl Creamery. Read that if you want the details beyond some of our recommendations. Read Next: A Locals Guide to the Best Gluten Free Restaurants in San Francisco. Redd United States. 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. Day 4: Eugene to Ashland. 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. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:00 pmdrive for about 1 hour, 2:04 pm Redding 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 960-mile road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 20 hours 30 minutes. You can drive straight down I-5, stopping in Portland and Eugene, which is the fastest route. eg. Crater Lake National Park is an extraordinary park that has a dormant volcano as its crown jewel.