You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Day 3: Continue south along the coast of Washington, crossing into Oregon after a quick stop at Cape Disappointment. Time. The rooms at this hotel offer the ideal blend of simple and elegant, and the communal areas are as extravagant as they come. The drive's signature stops include the cities of Portland and Sacramento, Mt. Whats the weather like and is there any concerns doing it that late? Youll want to stay in a hotel, since youll only be in town for a night, and it should probably be the Society Hotel in Bingen, the sister hotel to the one in Portland (which weve stayed at and loved). From Seattle, drive straight to Mt. The advantage of staying there is that its right in the middle of downtown. 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. Hike the short and sweet Trinidad Head Trail for amazing coastal views. What is your favorite restaurant in Portland? This is your best bet if you only have 3-5 days, since youre on I-5 basically the whole way (and theres plenty to do and see along the way). Get the reverse directions for a McMinnville. Stop in Astoria to check out the Astoria Column and Fort Stevens State Park, then make your way to Ecola State Park for great views of Cannon Beach. 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. or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world. Start your day early and travel down HWY 101 along the coast of Oregon. Here are some more hotels people talk about: Want to research more popular hotels in San Francisco? 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. 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? Lithia Park (2 mentions) Recently, we have chosen to put down roots in Portland, Oregon, and look forward to exploring even more of the Pacific Northwest (Matt grew up in Seattle, so he knows it well). Hood River also makes a great overnight stay, with plenty to do and see to occupy a day of your time. and leave at 8:38 pm. Expect to drive2-6 hours a day with 1 or 2 longer days. What an amazing road trip! What is your favorite restaurant in Portland? (1 answer), Marsha-laine asked:Most Scenic Drive Down to San Francisco (2 answers), John asked:Seattle to San Francisco recommend route (1 answer). 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 Mount Shasta (California): 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. Road Trip From Seattle To San Francisco - LazyTrips Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip (Day 1 &2) Since Seattle is the starting pointand five days is like a few minutes on this tripone should get to Seattle early enough. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! Ashland (15 mentions) Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip | Roadtrippers Best free things to do in Ashland (Oregon)? 12 Awesome Stops on a San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip in 2023 One of our all-time favourite things to eat! Lardo Can you hike on Mt. trip dates & more! Sign up receive our monthly newsletter with updates and new in-depth guides. Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip Itinerary Help - Fodor's Potato Champion The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (2022) Drive From Seattle To San Francisco - Drive Weather Need some recommendations on somewhere to get food? . Parking is a nightmare in Nob Hill, which is the neighborhood we used to call home, so Id recommend avoiding that area. The tallest trees on the planet are on full display in the Redwoods National and State Parks. Mid July: 1 week with wife and kid - what should we prioritize? 1. We spent the past two years traveling, which included 18 national parks here in the United States, and an extended trip to Europe. 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. View Road Map. Shasta? Drive to Port Angeles, with a stop at Nourish Sequim along the way for a delicious (and gluten free) lunch. (17 answers). 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. Point Reyes is a long peninsula just north of San Francisco with unforgettable views of the Pacific Ocean and unique wildlife viewing opportunities (Elk!). When venturing from the i5 highway, the trip takes approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes of non-stop driving. As far as the location goes, this is one of the best-situated hotels in the city - close to both the Golden Gate and San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridges, St. Regis is the perfect pivot to San Francisco's main attractions as well as the neighboring cities. In fact, Matt recently did this drive alone. questions about Napa: Stop as frequent or as little as you like but dont forget to look up! This section could be endless, so rather than trying to and hotels is the Trippy page on There are only a few petrol/gas stations in Big Sur and they charge far more! This is the worst driving day because theres not much to see along the way from Redding to San Francisco. What makes summer an appealing time to visit The Golden City are the mild climate and the abundance of amazing events. Then, head out to Patricks Point State Park and Trinidad State Beach to get your first taste of the rugged northern California coast. Here we list three of them. Seattle to San Francisco Luxury Road Trip | All Roads North Do this road trip and you'll probably do around double that. Continue south towards LA and be sure to stop intoPismo Beach, Solvang, Santa BarbaraandSanta Maria orcheck out thisextensive list of ideas. Ocean View Inn and Suites. 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. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Domaine Chandon Here are our favorite things to do on the Northern California Coast. You can drive straight down I-5, stopping in Portland and Eugene, which is the fastest route. From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. You could very easily extend your time on this route with additional nights in the aforementioned locations. This road tripis suitable for all types of travellers with a little bit of everything; rugged coastlines,world-class wineries, wildlife, bustling cities, Redwood forests, sweeping valleys, accessible hikes and of course, relaxing sandy beaches. Drive all the way to Redding, get dinner at In-n-Out Burger, and stay at the Americana Hotel in downtown Redding. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the 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 central route down I-5, while definitely the quickest, is BORING. Fun Fact: At 380 feet, Hyperion in Redwood National Park is the world's tallest living tree. who wants the trip to end? There are of course cheaper alternatives, but this HIGHLY recommended. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Jump back on the 101 and head south to check out the Big Tree (look out for all the parked cars). Spend the afternoon and evening in Mendocino, exploring Fort Bragg and the town of Mendocino. Road Trip on the 101 and 1- what to see on the way to SF from Seattle? 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. The road map above shows you the route to take to your destination. Rainier National Park (the Paradise Side), More Time? During our brief stop, we took a trip down memory lane on behalf of her and went and visited her old host family an adorable couplewho arenow 90 and 93 years old! Market Street Steakhouse Timberline Lodge (12 mentions) Day 1: Drive from Seattle to Mt. Seattle and San Francisco are the two cities in the world that we have, collectively, called home. By early afternoon, make your way to Pacific City on the Oregon coast for horseback riding, a drink at the Pelican Pub and Brewery and Cape Kiwandato see the second Haystack Rock (the first and most famous one is at Cannon Beach). Saint Helens. Yep, the name speaks for itself! Planning a Trip to Mount Rainier National Park? Drive Time from Seattle to San Francisco: approximately 10 hours. Planning to do something like that in the future. Youll follow the coastline past sweeping sand beaches (stop at Jenner Beach!). Heres what we recommend. Start Your Trip. Its super touristy, and kind of overrated and boring in general. Long road trips = the need for bathroom stops! Drive down the I-5 corridor, making stops at Mt. Ashland (Oregon) (29 answers) Traveling with a dog or cat? Of course, you can choose a suitable restaurant from the list according to your preference. Redding (11 answers) It is the seat of King County, Washington. Groups and families should look at this two bedroom gem in the heart of Capitol Hill. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 6:39 pmdrive for about 1.5 hours, 8:05 pm Wildlife Safari You wont regret it. I dont recommend that. Crater Lake National Park is an extraordinary park that has a dormant volcano as its crown jewel. Photo Credit: Bigstock. Seattle to San Francisco: Tips for a Highway 101 Road Trip - DIY Playbook We hope this guide has helped make your road trip from Seattle to San Francisco as enjoyable as possible. Read that for the details behind the picks below! Let's be friends! Check out the 5th St. Public Market for a combination of shopping, eating, and drinking with local vendors. Day 1: Arrive Seattle, rest Day 2: Seattle Day 3: Seattle, leave for Portland Day 4: Portland, leave for Newport OR Day 5: Newport to Bandon OR Day 6: Bandon to Trinidad CA Day 7: Redwood National Park, go to Healdsburg CA Day 8: Healdsburg/Sonoma/Napa Day 9: Wine country to Yosemite Day 10: Yosemite Day 11: Yosemite to SF Day 12: SF I have been multiple times, mostly with family growing up, and I joked to Alysha on our last trip that, Read More Where to Stay in Zion National Park: Best Hotels + B&BsContinue, The scale of the Grand Canyon is absolutely mind-blowing. Best Car for This Road Trip: Convertible or SUV. If youre tight on time:Jump directly on HWY 5 South and head forWillamette Valley. tdelano. 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. Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation 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. Download this app. Domaine Carneros (14 mentions) Its on the south side of Mount Rainier, around 5,400 feet above sea level, featuring colorful wildflower meadows in late summer, evergreen groves, and massive glaciers. 4. The 960-mile road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 20 hours 30 minutes. Again, take Interstate 5 out of Seattle and follow it past Capitol State Forest and Gifford Pinchot National Forest before pulling into Longview. Early November is when the weather really starts to turn. I was planning a similar trip and I think Im just going to follow your itinerary to a T! Starting on I-5 south for 90% of . 7:38 pm Mount Rainier. A road trip along New York state's Women's Heritage Trail, 9 stops on a Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail road trip, A cross-country road trip to U.S. presidential libraries, A road trip to filming locations featured in 'The Goonies', The top things to do on an Extraterrestrial Highway road trip, Pay Tribute and Reflect at These US Monuments and Memorials. The water is exceptionally blue and when the sunlight hits the water, its simply stunning. Go Anywhere | Tesla Below is an interactive map or see below for a static map to save. 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. Required fields are marked *. Want to plan the trip back? Once you're up, you can kick off your morning with a visit to the amazing Remede Spa. And roads at Mount Rainier NP close sometime in early November, which is another reason to start in Washington if youre planning on going to Rainier. (19 answers), Julie from Atlanta asked:Best activities for kids (19 answers), Kenneth from Portland asked:Best views in San Francisco? 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. Read Next: A Locals Guide to the Best Gluten Free Restaurants in San Francisco. Youll find an array of video games, mini golf, photo booths, laser tag and rides. Keep reading. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You could also visit one of the many wineries surrounding the Sonoma County too. Worth the Time Investment Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA. Advice to avoid snowy road conditions from SF to Seattle (January). If you are flying into San Francisco International Airport and road-tripping north, you can simply hop on US Highway 101 N. How Many Days to Spend on This Road Trip? 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. Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco | Enterprise Rent-A-Car If you want to be in with all the tourist action, North Beach, right by the famousFishermans Wharf is your best bet but be prepared, it is touristy and expensive! Road trips are F-U-N! drive for about 41 minutes. As you can tell, Jacob was less than impressed. This is the one where you can drive your car through actual living redwoods! Sleep at the Blue Door Inns, which looks amazing. 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. We have lived, collectively, in exactly three cities. Doing this drive in record time isnt going to be a fun one. All the rooms are the same, so theres no presidential suite or choices between deluxe and superior rooms. He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip. Eugene (16 answers) Here are a few pit stops to consider stopping for. The Drive Weather map shows the next 6 hours of weather forecast, wind, temperatures and radar for the the Seattle to San Francisco drive. I have experience of roadtrips only in Finland (where I live) and South Africa (the country I am in love with). Morimoto You'll cover three states, at least three national parks, and see sweeping coastal views and no end of charming towns. Theres been a lot of driving the past week so today, grab your swimmers, a towel and a book and get to the beach in Santa Cruz. St. Helens to check out Johnston Ridge, which gives you an amazing view of the volcano and destruction it wrought on the surrounding landscape. Head out to the Point Reyes Lighthouse, Cypress Grove, and do a portion of the Tomales Point Trail. Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ (11 mentions) Pigeon Point Light Station is a lighthouse located on the coast of northern California near Pescadero. Day 1: Fly into Seattle and pick up your rental car (or, leave from Seattle if you live here!). The travelplan so far. Spas in the Ashland area? 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. No Seattle to San Francisco road trip would be complete without making a stop in the weird and lovable city of Portland. We lived in San Francisco for almost a decade before quitting our jobs and leaving the city on our year long worldwide adventure. Trinidad: Hike the Trinidad Head trail to enjoy stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. After charging your batteries at the bar and Jackrabbit Restaurant, you can burn some calories at the incredible fitness area before heading into town. Click the button below to explore more questions There are so many places to stop and it all depends on the time you have as well as your interests. Union Square is where youll find a lot of shopping options & Mission District has a lot of greats bars and restaurants to explore. 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. Our travel philosophy, in general, is eat-walk-drink-walk-eat-repeat. And Portland is an amazing place to do that. San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip: A Trip to The Pacific Northwest + More Budget Tip: If Monterey or the surrounding areas are too expensive or unavailable, consider the town Seaside. Road Trip from San Francisco to Seattle - Napa and Inland Tour Its a beautiful place to visit while on your road trip. Read:The Ultimate Guide To Crater Lake National Park. If youre not making the trek inland for Crater Lake, stay on the coast for the night and skip to day 8. Over the course of 2 weeks, we drove approximately 1650 miles (2330km) at a moderate pace. Inn at Cape Kiwandahasgorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and deluxe rooms OR Surf & Sand Inn, a cosy motel in the centre of the city, perfect for a one night stop. The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco By Jess Moss That Pacific Coast Highway route from San Francisco to Los Angeles gets all the attention, but it's not the only West Coast drive that should be on your map. Find pet-friendly stops. For example, in the Marina youll run into bar-hopping twentysomethings who just moved out of the fraternity, while the Outer Sunset is basically a, Read More Where to Stay in San Francisco: A Locals Complete GuideContinue, Lets get this out of the way at the top Boston is definitely not the best city for gluten free foodies in the United States. You can roam the vineyards, taste plenty of wines and relax while overlooking acres of grapes. You could also go the coastal route, but its a bit out of the way if youve only got 3-5 days. Psst! Hiking the Skyline Trail: Is This the Best Hike in the Entire State? The best way is to be prepared for the open road by visiting our checklist of road trip essentials. The Northern California Coast is considered to be one of the most scenic areas in the entire country, and for many reasons. United States. Start Your Trip. This scenic drive is one of the most sought after in the country, as well as the world. You could choose to stop in San Fran or continue south (like we did) and hit the beach! Expect to drive 2-6 hours a day with 1 or 2 longer days. The 808 miles of the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes around 12 hours and 47 mins of driving without stops. These hotels are listed below. After passing Muir Woods National Monument, hop back onto Highway 101 and cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. Its in Union Square, which honestly kinda sucks, but its affordable and stylish. It was! Today is a long but good day of driving. Belltown is close to Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, while Capitol Hill is still central, but full of some of the best bars, restaurants, and cafes in Seattle, which is perfect for foodies like us whose travel philosophy basically boils down to eat-walk-eat.. 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. 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! Once youve figured out the number of days you are going to take for this trip, youll have some decisions to make about the best route for you. Limited time in Napa, help with my itinerary! 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. Venture further inland and go hiking in Death Valley National Park. The drive's signature stops include the cities of Portland and Sacramento, Mt. The western side of Mt. We wouldnt recommend spending the night here instead, continue south to Portland for the night, which is just a couple of hours south. 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. Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip The best things to see and do between Seattle and San Francisco. Its only 3 hours though, and you can stop in Berkeley or Oakland on your way into the city if youre looking for somewhere to grab lunch. Explore a route and we'll find the best locations to keep you charged along the way and upon arrival. 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. 1512650 [9] Website. eg. Now, its time to discover the best restaurants from Seattle to San Francisco. Breakfast was included, it was clean and surrounded by shops, places to eat and gas stations. 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. Id start in Washington and move south in hopes that you get the last pieces of good weather in the Northwest, but its hard to say what youre going to get at that time of year. 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. Its an incredible conglomeration of neighborhoods, all with their own unique style and vibe. Here are our top three choices for adventures around Mt. Miles and miles of rugged, unspoiled coastline that hugs the oceans edge. 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. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Best free things to do in Ashland (Oregon)? How to Plan an Amazing San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip