eg. westcoastbound. You'll cover three states, at least three national parks, and see sweeping coastal views and no end of charming towns. 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. One of our favourite road trips to date is the Garden Route drive in South Africa, our honeymoon along the coast of Oahu, Hawaii & The Great Ocean Road in Australia but driving the down the west coast of America was yet another road trip to remember. Other foodie things to do besides wine tasting, Searching for an inexpensive and nice inn in Napa area. The central route down I-5, while definitely the quickest, is BORING. Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip Itinerary. GNIS feature ID. San Francisco hotels are surprisingly expensive considering how many of them there are. We have also given you detailed information about each place so that you can make an informed choice about where to stay, eat, and what to see. . The Best Route for Your Seattle to San Francisco Drive, The Best Stops to Make on a Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip, Mt. Here are some more restaurants people talk about: Want to research more popular restaurants in San Francisco? For more amazing trees, waterfalls, and trails in California, check out Sequoia National Park. Your email address will not be published. Second at Rialto Beach to do the hike out to Hole in the Wall (one of our favorite hikes in Olympic National Park). I was planning a similar trip and I think Im just going to follow your itinerary to a T! Is there anything else you think we should have done, or not done? You could very easily extend your time on this route with additional nights in the aforementioned locations. Life is all about the journey, not the destination! No matter the time of year, one of the prettiest drives in the country is from Seattle to San Francisco, making a Seattle to San Francisco road trip the perfect drive for a long weekend or as part of a lengthier expedition. Early November is when the weather really starts to turn. For more information about the best places on the Seattle to San Francisco journey, you can check the 3 Best Places To Visit On The Way From Seattle To San Francisco part. 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. Redding (11 answers) We spent the past two years traveling, which included 18 national parks here in the United States, and an extended trip to Europe. Its a beautiful place to visit while on your road trip. This is the worst driving day because theres not much to see along the way from Redding to San Francisco. 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. 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. Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about the Seattle to San Francisco drive. Shasta? and leave at 8:38 pm. If youre tight on time:Jump directly on HWY 5 South and head forWillamette Valley. Although this route could theoretically be driven in 3 days, a better course of action would be to take at least a couple of weeks to explore both the oceanfront and the countless inland attractions near Highways 1 and 101. Sightseeing in Napa? Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. 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. 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. Spas in the Ashland area? The best things to see and do between Seattle and San Francisco. So, it would be perfect if you shared your experience with other travelers who want the same experience. To go a level deeper, take this awesome guided tour of Pike Place with a Local Chef. Advice to avoid snowy road conditions from SF to Seattle (January). Read Next: The 19 Best Airbnbs in Seattle. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can . Your email will not be provided to third parties. Monterey Bay > Pacific Grove > 17 Mile Drive > Pebble Beach > Carmel-by-the-sea > Point Lobos > Monterey (or Seaside to sleep). From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. Visiting in July for 5 days with my boyfriend, where and what must we do? 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. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Day 7: Congrats! What an amazing road trip! The Moxy Hotel is the other choice here its a stylish option thats super central to all the sights in Seattle. This seaside town has one of the most historic boardwalks in the state. Experience the stunning beauty of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California on this luxury journey from Seattle to San Francisco. Cap Hill as we locals call it, is home to the best selection of food, drinks, and coffee in the city. And we dont recommend it. Day 2: Drive the Pacific Coast of Olympic National Park, making three stops along the way. Frankie and Jos and Molly Moons for awesome local ice cream (Frankie and Jos is 100% gluten free and vegan!). Dont forget to stop at the iconicBixby Bridge (40 minutes from Monterey). Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over Ready for navigation and good times! Make quick stops at Cape Ferelo and Natural Bridges, then cross over into California, where youll immediately be confronted with redwoods some of the biggest and best in the state! And if you know Seattle well, please help your fellow Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Weve got you covered with our guide to the best coffee in Seattle (according to three self-proclaimed coffee snobs). restaurants around Redding: Drive down the I-5 corridor, making stops at Mt. Drive all the way to Redding, get dinner at In-n-Out Burger, and stay at the Americana Hotel in downtown Redding. Then youll have the perfect San Francisco to Seattle road trip itinerary. And our favorite spots to drink, whether youre looking for a flight of craft beer or a $20 cocktail (were joking kind of). Groups and families should look at this two bedroom gem in the heart of Capitol Hill. Limited time in Napa, help with my itinerary! Do this road trip and you'll probably do around double that. The road map above shows you the route to take to your destination. Want more awesome west coast travel guides to inspire your next trip, and empower you with all the information you need to plan it? Youll be ready fortonights sleep thats for sure! Navarro Vineyards and Roederer Estate are our favorites. There are of course cheaper alternatives, but this HIGHLY recommended. (29 answers), Dina from Dallas asked:What are the top 5 can't miss tourist attractions in S.F.? 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. Looking for more cool hotels? 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. This is our pick for a summer road trip. Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. Crater Lake National Park is an extraordinary park that has a dormant volcano as its crown jewel. Get the reverse directions for a Hood, Willamette, and Siuslaw National Forests, and Redwood National and State Parks. Hop onto Interstate 5 straight out of Seattle and make your way to Portland, passing Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The two best hotels in Seattle are actually in South Lake Union, which happens to be between Belltown and Capitol Hill. If you want to always have your drink with you on the road trip, discover the latest, Video: San Francisco Road Trip 10 Things to Do, 7 Best Hotels On The Way From Seattle To San Francisco, 5 Best Restaurants On The Way To San Francisco From Seattle, 3 Places To Visit On The Way From Seattle To San Francisco, 7 Best Hotels On The Way To San Francisco From Seattle, 5 Best Restaurants On The Way From Seattle To San Francisco, Seattle To Tucson Road Trip: The Beautiful Route, Seattle To Zion National Park Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide, Oregon To San Francisco Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide, Denver To Yellowstone Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide, Denver To Mount Rushmore Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide, With ideal traffic and weather conditions, the road trip takes approximately, If you want to make the Seattle to San Francisco road trip by. Stop at Redwoods National and State Parks: Seeing the redwoods is a must when youre in Northern California. This section lists our five restaurant recommendations for you to eat on your road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. Head up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park and hike Hurricane Hill for spectacular views over the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Range. Todays a long driving day, but its broken up with many stops. Trippy members suggest Ike's Place, which was mentioned 23 times. Take your pick! 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. There you have it a complete guide to planning a road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. There are picturesque coastal towns, wildflowers galore during the spring, cool ocean breezes in the summer (definitely expect fog too), serene beaches, and towering redwoods that will leave you in awe. We spent the day driving around the lake, taking photo after photo! by Emily Cass | Oct 18, 2017 | Most Popular, North America | 3 comments. 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). questions about Portland: questions about Ashland (Oregon): Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the . 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 Hi, first of all thank you so so much for this amazing post. Drive to Port Angeles, with a stop at Nourish Sequim along the way for a delicious (and gluten free) lunch. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, Have more time? 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. 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. Read that for the details behind the picks below! For example, here are some questions people have asked about San Francisco. Stay hungry and enjoy! Post-activity, eat some fresh, local oysters at Hog Island and some local cheese at Cowgirl Creamery. Sleep at the Blue Door Inns, which looks amazing. drive for about 1.5 hours, 9:37 am Ashland (Oregon) Psst! Instead, whatever route you decide to take in Oregon, we definitely recommend cutting over to the gorgeous California coast to meet up with Highway 101 and the iconic Highway 1 to end your road trip with a bang. We recommend Timber Valley Inn and Suiteswhich is conveniently located directly off HWY 5. Tall tales, trip guides, & the world's weird & wonderful. 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. This article shares the 15 top tips that turn your San Francisco trip into an unforgettable journey. Would it be too cold in Washington/Oregon? Searching for an inexpensive and nice inn in Napa area This route never strays from the interstate, so aside from some highly recommended detours, the drive is extremely straightforward and beginner-friendly. You can pick one of them that suits your taste. Check out the 5th St. Public Market for a combination of shopping, eating, and drinking with local vendors. Book early for any weekend trips. Voodoo Doughnuts Here are a few of our favorite restaurants in Seattle, in no particular order. 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. Here are our favorite things to do in Point Reyes National Seashore. The hostel was close to all the main sights as well as public transport. If youre only going to do it once, do it right. Limited time in Napa, help with my itinerary! What is your favorite restaurant in Eugene? Your email address will not be published. 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. However, travel is about, Read More Gluten Free Boston: A Complete Guide for CeliacsContinue, Zion National Park is one of our favorite national parks in the United States, with its surprisingly lush, green canyon juxtaposed with towering red rock walls, and the blue-green hues of the winding Virgin River. (4 answers), Jd from Australia asked:Advice to avoid snowy road conditions from SF to Seattle (January) (3 answers), Will from Chicago asked:Road Trip on the 101 and 1- what to see on the way to SF from Seattle? The cheapest way to get from Seattle to San Francisco costs only $116, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving (17 answers). stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:04 pmdrive for about 3 hours, 6:02 pm Napa Capitol Cider for a huge selection of Pacific Northwest ciders and a 100% gluten free kitchen. stay at Ace Hotel. San Fran is one of the States' most iconic cities, so it should come as no surprise that it's home to some of California's fanciest hotels. The western side of Mt. stay for about 4 hours and leave at 3:43 pmdrive for about 2 hours, 5:39 pm Eugene Past Dunnigan, hop onto Interstate 505 and either follow it south to Vacaville or detour to Sacramento. Best free things to do in Redding? If you're planning a road trip to San Francisco, you can research locations to stop along the way. 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. Unfortunately, this is our last stop on this incredible road trip. If you're looking for a quick answer, you can check out Top of the Mark, which was mentioned 13 times on Trippy. For once, I wasnt the tallest! 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! The rooms at this hotel offer the ideal blend of simple and elegant, and the communal areas are as extravagant as they come. Parking is a nightmare in Nob Hill, which is the neighborhood we used to call home, so Id recommend avoiding that area. Ashland (Oregon) (29 answers) You can toggle between map views using the buttons above. looking for a vacation rental or Airbnb? This article shares the 15 top tips that turn your San Francisco trip into an unforgettable journey. Sure, its cool to see the sea lions at Pier 39, but we think you can find better things to do with your time in San Francisco. Our travel philosophy, in general, is eat-walk-drink-walk-eat-repeat. And Portland is an amazing place to do that. Visit some of the numerous waterfalls namely Myrtle and Christine. The drive's signature stops include the cities of Portland and Sacramento, Mt. In our opinion, the two best areas to stay in Seattle are Belltown and Capitol Hill (though we also like South Lake Union). It does cost $8 per car but where else can you drive through a tree? St. Helens to check out Johnston Ridge, which gives you an amazing view of the volcano and destruction it wrought on the surrounding landscape. There are many beautiful pit stops along the way to San Francisco. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Not sure what to do in Seattle? where to stay in San Francisco. Find all the transport options for your trip from Seattle to San Francisco right here. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Miles and miles of rugged, unspoiled coastline that hugs the oceans edge. The Chihuly Glass and Garden is a one-of-a-kind art installation featuring hand blown glass in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The Underground Tour: A little quirky and offbeat, kind of like Seattle, the Underground Tour is worth doing while youre in Pioneer Square. Budget Tip: If Monterey or the surrounding areas are too expensive or unavailable, consider the town Seaside. to double check the weather. Rainier National Park is jaw-droppingly beautiful. If thats a few too many days, then we recommend heading down the I-5 corridor through Oregon instead, skipping Bend and Crater Lake, which are further inland. Domaine Chandon Japanese Gardens (15 mentions) 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) Here we list three of them. For something a little more low-key, you can also enjoy a yoga class or even try wine tasting. Saint Helens. Click the blue button below. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? Matt grew up in Seattle, lived there for 15+ years including six in the city itself, and we return several times a year to visit family and spend time in the Pacific Northwest during the beautiful summer months. and answers related to San Francisco. Oxbow Public Market (6 mentions) The advantage of staying there is that its right in the middle of downtown. Stop as frequent or as little as you like but dont forget to look up! With a 2020 population of 737,015, [2] it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest . Read Next: A Locals Guide to the Best Gluten Free Restaurants in San Francisco. Planning a trip in your Tesla? stay for about 1 hour and leave at 6:39 pmdrive for about 1.5 hours, 8:05 pm Wildlife Safari What is your favorite restaurant in Portland? Or get a full Seattle to San Francisco flight plan. Hood, Willamette, and Siuslaw National Forests, and Redwood National and State Parks. We are a family of 4 with two older children (19,16) who love nature and hiking. Lardo Rainier and Mt. Now, its time to discover the best restaurants from Seattle to San Francisco. Click the button below to explore more questions Day 5: If you missed any of the redwoods above, double back and make sure to catch them. You can drive straight down I-5, stopping in Portland and Eugene, which is the fastest route. Remember, you can find detailed information about these hotels in the 7 Best Hotels On The Way To San Francisco From Seattle section. Crater Lake is the largest lake in the United States (over 1900 ft deep!) 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!). Finally, you can drive down Howland Hill Road, which is mostly unpaved but well-maintained road traversing a magnificent redwood forest. Oh! When venturing from the i5 highway, the trip takes approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes of non-stop driving. The 808 miles of the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes around 12 hours and 47 mins of driving without stops. Oregon Shakespeare Festival (3 mentions) In this guide to planning an Algarve itinerary, were going to use our experience spending a week, Read More How to Plan an Amazing Algarve Itinerary (3-7 Days)Continue, We love San Francisco, which is where we met, got married, and lived for almost a decade. Spend the night at the Olema House. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Portland. Honestly, the whole trip was a highlight but if we had to choose, these would be our top 5 highlights. Shasta (2 days) Stop 5: Redwood National Park (1-2 days) Stop 6: Crater Lake (2 days) Stop 7: Coos Bay / Southern Oregon Coast (1 day) If you're in the market for the best rooftop view of Portland's architecture, The Duniway Portland is the hotel for you. Stay at the Graduate Hotel, a college-themed boutique hotel in the center of Eugene. 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. 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. Hood, Bend, and Crater Lake, which will take significantly more time than the other two options. Keep Calm and Travel On |. Hotels: The Hoxton and the Society Hotel (weve stayed there) are our top hotel picks in Portland. 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. Airbnb in Seattle. Make your first stop after Crescent City into Jedediah Smith Redwoods National Park. Restaurants in Napa for girls outing? 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. It will help people who will take the same Seattle to San Francisco route. If you want to stay in the best rooms and get pampered by the finest service the city has to offer, book yourself a room at St Regis San Francisco. Saint Helens. Planning a trip to the Algarve, the gorgeous coastal paradise along the southern edge of Portugal? Expect to drive2-6 hours a day with 1 or 2 longer days. Once you're up, you can kick off your morning with a visit to the amazing Remede Spa. FIPS code. Hungry? We recommend Sandcastle Inn. 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.