There are few trips that can compare to a Pacific Northwest road trip! Driving down Highway 101, twisting and turning along the coast, and having waves crash to the cliffs next to you is quite the experience. While this drive can easily be done in 2-3 days, it would be a shame to not take it slow and truly experience all the PNW has to offer. This is my Ultimate 9-Day Pacific Northwest Roadtrip Itinerary!
Day 1: Seattle, Washington
You will start your journey in the upper left corner of the United States in Seattle, Washington. While one day in Seattle isn’t enough to do it all, it certainly is enough time to give you a taste and experience the highlights!
No visit to Seattle is complete without a visit to Pike’s Place Market. Spend some time strolling through the aisles and shopping at local vendors for fresh produce, flowers, food, and souvenirs. To avoid the crowds, try to get there early! Close by, you’ll find the famous Gum Wall in Post Alley where you can leave a little bit of yourself behind in Seattle. A stroll through Olympic Sculpture Park is a great way to unwind as you watch boats and ships through the Puget Sound with the mountains in the background. Waterfront Park is another great area with fun shops and great views- and even a giant wheel to ride for even better sights of the city!
Afternoon shopping and sunset views…
Just as you’d expect from the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is certainly home to some quirky places. Ugly Baby and La Ru is a great place to shop for some unique finds for your home, or to wear. The Mystery Soda Machine is also worth a stop, and not just if you’re thirsty! It has such a funny and bizarre story, which you can read here. Finally, no road trip is complete without seeing the world’s largest something. The World’s Largest Cowboy Hat and Boots is a fun roadside stop, located in a neighborhood park about 10 minutes from downtown.
Do not miss an opportunity to catch the sunset in Kerry Park! You’ll get a full view of the city, including unobstructed sights of the Space Needle. It’s in a residential area, so plan extra time to find parking before the sun sets. End your evening by strolling around Pioneer Square. Check out the architecture, snag dinner at a food truck, or bop into a trendy bar. You could even take a ghost tour after dark!
Day 2: Portland, Oregon
On your second day, you’ll want to get up bright and early and make the <3 hour drive down to Portland, Oregon! Along your drive, enjoy spectacular views of Mount Rainier on your left and the Olympic National Forest on your right.
Our first stop in Portland was to the iconic Powell Bookstore. This place is huge, and not just for book lovers! I am not a huge reader, but this store had books that even I was interested in (and ended up loving)! Afterward, walk down Burnside Street for a stop at Voodoo Doughnuts. Unless you get there early, expect a wait (but don’t worry, the doughnuts are worth it!). If you’re lucky enough to be in town on a Saturday, the Portland Saturday Market is also nearby and is a great way to spend a couple hours strolling and shopping from local vendors. For killer views of the entire city (and beyond), take a ride on the Portland Aerial Tram. The tram leaves every few minutes and tickets can be purchased on site for only $5.00 round trip.
Keep Portland Weird
To see some quirky Portland sites, visit Mill Ends Park, the smallest park in the world. It used to be a hold that held up a street light, but is now a hilarious little patch of grass that is actually recognized as a park. The park is decorated by season, and is a fun addition to your itinerary! For a photo op, stop by the iconic Keep Portland Weird mural (click here for an exact pin).
To close out the night, drive outside of the city to Jonsrud Viewpoint. It’s about a 45 minute drive each way, but you will get sweeping and unobstructed views of Mount Hood. On your drive, stop by the town of Boring, OR, the sister city to Dull, Scotland, and Bland, NSW, Australia.
To wrap up your quirky day, spend the night at The Tiny House Hotel!
Day 3: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
After two days in cities, venture slightly outside of Portland to get in touch with nature. The Columbia River Gorge is about a 30 minute drive east of the city and is full of views, hikes, and waterfalls to explore!
The most iconic waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge is Multomnah Falls. This 600 foot waterfall is an absolute must-see on your day of exploration. There is a small bridge to walk out on and get up close with the falls. More adventurous travelers can hike the Multomnah Falls Trail, up 11 switchbacks to the top of the falls. Views for days!
The gorge is a true waterfall-lovers paradise! Drive further down the road through the gorge and stop at Horsetail Falls (viewable from the road), Elowah Falls (reached by a short hike) and Dry Creek Falls (reached by an easy hike). On your way back, stop at Bridal Veil Falls for an easy stop, or hit up nearby hiking trails if you’d like. Pack a lunch and stop anywhere along the road for views of the gorge, river, and Washington State on the other side.
Day 4: Oregon Coast – Part I
Pack up the car- it’s time to start cruising down the coast! The Oregon coast is truly spectacular, and every twist and turn is more beautiful than the last!
Start your day early- there’s a lot of ground to cover! Head West out of Portland on Route 26 to Cannon Beach, OR. Here you’ll find the iconic Haystack Rock and a big wide beach to explore. If you’re thinking this beach looks familiar, it’s because The Goonies was filmed here!
Continue to cruise down Highway 101, passing through small seaside towns. Don’t miss a detour into Cape Meares for views of the iconic lighthouse, Octopus tree, and incredible cliffs! When Highway 101 starts to twist inland, turn off and make your way toward the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. This would be a great place to break out your packed lunch and have a picnic.
From there, make your way down to Florence, OR where you will crash for the night. Stop at the Sea Lion Caves for an opportunity to see these spectacular animals in their natural habitat! You get access into a cave that literally hundreds of sea lions live in. You’ll hear them barking and watch the waves pour in. It’s amazing!
Day 5: Oregon Coast – Part II
Time to get back on the road! You have less ground to cover today, so enjoy a slow, scenic drive down the rest of the coast.
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is a perfect start to your day. Walk among the massive dunes and watch the sea crash beneath you. Don’t be tempted to walk down them at low tide. I did, and some locals told me how incredibly dangerous it is. Oops! If you’re looking for a thrill, there are several companies that offer ATV or sandboard rentals and tours. Go for it!
After a morning on the dunes, make sure you stop at Yoakam Point State Park. It’s a large cove surrounded by cliffs, and when the tide is right you can see urchins and barnacles in the pools. When you feel like you need a little civilization, drive through Bandon on Beach Loop Road. Stop at the Face Rock Viewpoint, or just enjoy the small-beach-town vibes that Bandon has to offer.
The highlight of your day however, will no doubt be the Samuel H. Boardman State Park. The views here will truly take your breath away, and were some of my favorites along the drive. Arch Rock and the Natural Bridges are spectacular wonders. They jolt out of the bright blue sea and the dense green pines surround it like it’s straight out of a picture book. There’s plenty of hiking trails that will offer stellar views.
After another long day of driving, stop for the night just across the border in Crescent City, California. Stop at Pebble Beach or walk out onto the Jetty.
Day 6: Redwoods National Park, California
Now that you’ve crossed into your third state of the trip, it’s time to explore what California has to offer! Start your day bright and early- there’s a lot of ground to cover! Drive straight down Highway 101 and you will run right into Redwoods National Park. Another option would be to jet into Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which is just outside of Crescent City. Whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Drive further down Highway 101 for a cruise down the iconic Avenue of the Giants. This photo-worthy drive will have your jaw permanently on the floor! There are plenty of places to jet off and do a quick hike, or just wander amongst the massive giants. Just another spectacular drive along your road trip!
Continue down 101 and stop at the Chandelier Tree. This is a massive tree that has a hole cut out so you can drive your car right through it! At first we were not sure if the $5 admission was worth it, but looking back we’re glad we got the experience! There’s also a small shop and bathrooms and is a great place to crash for a bit and recharge your batteries.
There’s not many places to stop between Crescent City and your next stop, Napa, so you may have to get a little creative. We stopped for the night at an Airbnb in Potter Valley, CA. It wasn’t a great experience so I wouldn’t recommend it, but looking at home shares is the best option for this rural area of the state.
Day 7: Napa Valley, California
After a week of non-stop adventures, you’ll definitely need a day to unwind!
Spend the day cruising through Napa and Sonoma winery hopping! Most places don’t require a reservation and you can literally pull in and get a tasting. Our favorite was the Nicholson Ranch in Sonoma. The property was beautiful and the prices were great. I’d recommend just putting your phone down and cruising through the area, stopping anywhere that piques your interest. Today is all about relaxation, so don’t feel bad about taking it slow!
On your way down to San Francisco, make a stop at Bolinas Ridge for an unbeatable view of the sunset over the hills and ocean!
Day 8: San Francisco, California
It’s been a few days since you’ve been in a city, so it’s time to hit the pavement and explore! This was our first time in San Francisco, so we were (admittedly) total freaking tourists. There is so much to do in SF so feel free to mold this day however you see fit. No matter how many times you’ve been to San Francisco, there’s always so much to explore!
Coming from Napa Valley, you’ll enter San Francisco by driving across the Golden Gate Bridge (which is super cool). Make your first stop at Crissy Field for views of the bridge and a nice sandy beach. Afterward, make your way down to Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf and let your inner tourist run free! Not too far away is the iconic Lombard Street. Drive down the curvy street and then make your way over to Alamo Square Park for iconic views of The Painted Ladies. If the Full House theme song isn’t playing on repeat in your head, you’re doing it wrong 😉
From there, stroll along nearby Divisadero St. for a bite to eat. The street is lined with plenty of options and there is something for everyone. For sweeping views of the city, the bay, and everything in between, make sure you make time to drive to the top of Twin Peaks. In the afternoon, there may be a line of cars to get to the top, but it moves fairly quickly. From there, cool down with a cookie ice cream sandwich from CREAM (which stands for Cookies Rule Everything Around Me). Sure, it’s a little touristy, but they’re also super tasty!
Make sure you make it to bed early tonight. You have a big day (and a lot of driving) tomorrow!
Day 9: Big Sur, California
Your last day is a biggie- so buckle your seatbelts (literally and figuratively)!
Today you’ll cruise down the Central California coast through Big Sur! It’s about a 2.5 hour drive from San Francisco to the entrance of Julia Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and you’ll want to gas up and get on the road early! Big Sur is not a secret, and this place gets busy FAST. Aim to be arriving shortly after sunrise to avoid traffic and an overwhelming number of people. Follow Highway 1 straight down from Monterey for some of the best views of your life!
Read More: 10 Tips for your Big Sur Road Trip
The first iconic viewpoint you’ll arrive to is the famous Bixby Bridge. You’ve probably seen hundreds of pictures of this bridge floating around the internet. It’s the bridge. Pull over shortly before for views of the bridge and the mountains behind. McWay Falls is another iconic stop along Highway 1. If you go to Big Sur and don’t get a picture here, it’s almost like you didn’t go! It’s famous for a good reason though- it’s beautiful! A thread-like waterfall shoots out of a rocky cliff into turquoise waters beneath it. Truly breathtaking! A final must-see, which is a ways down Hwy 1 is Sand Dollar Beach. We actually missed it our first time around because we lost cell service (which is very common) and didn’t realize where it was. In hindsight, if you see a ton of cars parked along the road- there’s something good!
Once you reach Ragged Point, it’s time to turn back around and drive back up to civilization. The drive back up is a perfect opportunity to stop at things you didn’t get a chance to see, but keep in mind you’ll be on the other side of the road and it’s not as easy to do a quick pull off! Enjoy the beauty of the cliffs and water from another angle on your drive up. From there, you’ll catch your flight home from either San Jose or San Francisco airports, thus ending your Ultimate Pacific Northwest Roadtrip!
Traveling soon? Check out my Travel Tips page to help you score good deals on flights, packing tips, tools to help you plan, and more!
No Comments