This scenic drive is one of the most sought after in the country, as well as the world. Groups and families should look at this two bedroom gem in the heart of Capitol Hill. (were probably gonna do a 10-14 day trip). However, a new bridge ismeant to be opening in October 2017. 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. Start Your Trip. You made it to San Francisco! If you are flying into San Francisco International Airport and road-tripping north, you can simply hop on US Highway 101 N. A trip from San Francisco to Seattle involves driving for around 800 miles along the Pacific Northwest and watching the most attractive views while on the way. Sounds interesting right? Beach Street Inn and Suites. San Francisco. The drive between Washington and Oregon is rather uneventful but there are some suggestions below if you have time. 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). Today, we split time between San Francisco and Seattle. Standing on the rim of the canyon, youll be staring thousands of feet down into crags and crevices winding through the world-famous chasm that millions of people flock to every year. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? Day 5: Home Stretch! Here are some fun things to do in Eugene. Ocean View Inn and Suites. The drive's signature stops include the cities of Portland and Sacramento, Mt. A somewhat sleepy, somewhat rowdy college town, home of the University of Oregon, Eugene is quirky, creative, and a fun weekend getaway from Portland. suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it Here are some of our favorites. Be prepared for the overwhelming choice of flavours! How Many Days to Spend on This Road Trip? This route never strays from the interstate, so aside from some highly recommended detours, the drive is extremely straightforward and beginner-friendly. Pacific City. Jump back in your car and follow the signs towardsThe Avenue of the Giants. 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. Want to plan the trip back? Today, its time to relax! Let us know, wed love to hear from you! What is your favorite restaurant in Portland? Head out to the Point Reyes Lighthouse, Cypress Grove, and do a portion of the Tomales Point Trail. Want more awesome west coast travel guides to inspire your next trip, and empower you with all the information you need to plan it? Recommended car for this road trip: Large SUV. Market Street Steakhouse If dining is a pleasure, some restaurants will please you on your Seattle to San Francisco road trip. Hike the short and sweet Trinidad Head Trail for amazing coastal views. The Pacific coast highway is one of the legendary road trip routes that follows highway 101 through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. 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. If you must, head there to check out the sea lions, grab chowder and a bread bowl at Boudins Bakery (DEF NOT GLUTEN FREE), and move on. For something a little more low-key, you can also enjoy a yoga class or even try wine tasting. Miles and miles of rugged, unspoiled coastline that hugs the oceans edge. 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. Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation The views are cool (check out Kerry Park nearby for the best views in Seattle), but its expensive and kind of uninspiring. Click the blue button below. and hotels is the Trippy page on Some of these trees have been known to measure 360 feet in height, making it the tallest measured tree species on earth. Here are some options for where to stay in Seattle whether you prefer staying in hotels or in an Airbnb. Who would have thought trees could be so fascinating? 1. Ashland is a cool little town known for hosting the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Its the most direct route. The tallest trees on the planet are on full display in the Redwoods National and State Parks. Rainier as early as possible (if youre flying in, youll want to book an early flight!). What is your favorite restaurant in Portland? The 808 miles of the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes around 12 hours and 47 mins of driving without stops. At the end of the journey, you can fly out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or Oakland International Airport (OAK). restaurants around Napa: And if you know Seattle well, please help your fellow stay for about 4 hours and leave at 3:43 pmdrive for about 2 hours, 5:39 pm Eugene Worth the Time Investment Youngberg Inn Hill $199 $400 USD/breakfast included. Heres what we recommend. 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. Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip | Roadtrippers Oh! Featuring both the ocean and some of the finest parks and forests in the country, this is one of the most legendary itineraries in all of America. One of the liveliest, most accessible neighbourhoods. Todays a long driving day, but its broken up with many stops. What are the top 5 can't miss tourist attractions in S.F.? Sleep at the Blue Door Inns, which looks amazing. 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. Please also note that due to a giant landslide in May of 2017, a whole section of the Big Sur is inaccessible from the South, and you cannot travel the whole route. 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. We recommend avoiding flying out of San Jose (SJO), which is two hours south of San Francisco, because roads to get there are prone to heavy traffic that will make it an even longer journey. Hood River also makes a great overnight stay, with plenty to do and see to occupy a day of your time. Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco | Enterprise Rent-A-Car We chose to skip the coast & national parks here as weredoing thisfurther south. To help with the planning of your amazing road trip, check out all the information below for great inspiration, information and things to do along the way. Domaine Chandon Seattle This is the worst driving day because theres not much to see along the way from Redding to San Francisco. The central route down I-5, while definitely the quickest, is BORING. Day 2: Drive from Mt. 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. Weve made this trip in one straight shot in just 12 hours when taking I-5. Do the Skyline Trail (6 miles, moderately difficult), one of the best hikes in Washington State, to get up close and personal with the Mountain (note that you wont be able to do this in the winter, but its still worth visiting Rainier). The day we had been waiting for! Have you ever taken a road trip from Seattle to San Francisco? The Ultimate San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip What is your favorite restaurant in Eugene? I did have a concern though, Im likely doing 2 weeks from October 28th to Nov 11th 2022. Drive through Cape Perpetua (stop at Thors Well and the scenic overlook), Heceta Head Lighthouse, and finally to Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor. Let's be friends! Honestly, the whole trip was a highlight but if we had to choose, these would be our top 5 highlights. (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? Stop at Redwoods National and State Parks: Seeing the redwoods is a must when youre in Northern California. I (Matt) grew up in Seattle, and lived there for 15+ years before relocating to San Francisco, where I met Alysha, who grew up in the Bay Area. . FIPS code. The 960-mile road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 20 hours 30 minutes. Expect to drive2-6 hours a day with 1 or 2 longer days. Find pet-friendly stops. 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! (1 answer), Marsha-laine asked:Most Scenic Drive Down to San Francisco (2 answers), John asked:Seattle to San Francisco recommend route (1 answer). Not long after passing Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, drive the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge and pull into San Fran. Basic large rooms with a good location right off the 101. Continue south past Willamette and Umpqua National Forests before pulling into Medford. 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. What is your favorite restaurant in San Francisco. Along Highway 101, cut through Oswald West State Park and pass Tillamook and Siuslaw State Forests, as well as Rogue River-Siskiyou and Six Rivers National Forests. If you're driving further south, check out this 3 days San Diego itinerary. 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 Break the budget! Learn how your comment data is processed. In fact, Matt recently did this drive alone. From there, visit Klamath and Shasta-Trinity national Forests, and consider doing an optional detour to Lassen National Forest. Next up: TheShrine Drive-Through Tree. Make sure you check road conditions Leave Roseburg after breakfast and head directly towards Crater Lake National Park. 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. Pike Place Market: Probably the most famous attraction in Seattle, Pike Place Market lives up to the hype and then some. Drive Time from Seattle to San Francisco: approximately 10 hours. The 960-mile road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 20 hours 30 minutes. drive for about 1.5 hours, 9:37 am Ashland (Oregon) 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. Sleep at the Graduate Hotel or the Inn at the Fifth, both in downtown Eugene. Rainier and Mt. Venture further inland and go hiking in Death Valley National Park. If organized tours are your thing, here are some recommendations: Belltown. Youll follow the coastline past sweeping sand beaches (stop at Jenner Beach!). After the volcano erupted around 8,000 years ago, the collapsed summit eventually stored enough water to create the lake. Distance from Seattle to San Francisco: approximately 575 miles. Cap Hill as we locals call it, is home to the best selection of food, drinks, and coffee in the city. Continue south, heading to Tillamook Creamery for ice cream and a fun cheese-making tour. Enter a city to drive through, or find all. The western side of Mt. Airbnb: Weve stayed in a bunch of Airbnbs in Portland on our numerous trips over the years. We opted for location over privacy and were pleasantly surprised with City Hostel Seattle. Photo Credit: Bigstock. If you're in the market for the best rooftop view of Portland's architecture, The Duniway Portland is the hotel for you. The two best hotels in Seattle are actually in South Lake Union, which happens to be between Belltown and Capitol Hill. 20 Best Highway 101 Road Trip Stops 2023 | Ultimate 101 Trip One other note were also assuming you want to spend time in Seattle and San Francisco too. 4. If you have more than a couple of days to spare, a much more scenic alternative would be to drive along the coast, which would extend your drive by about 8 hours. Do this road trip and you'll probably do around double that. You can pick one of them that suits your taste. Stay hungry and enjoy! 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. Long road trips = the need for bathroom stops! Here we list three of them. 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. If you're in the mood for something more extravagant, you can enjoy a cocktail in the Lobby Lounge before taking a dip in the gigantic swimming pool. The Ultimate San Francisco To Seattle Road Trip: 55+ Stops You Need To Now, its time to discover the best restaurants from Seattle to San Francisco. These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy: Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions CitizenM Seattle is one of the best value hotels in Seattle. and answers related to San Francisco. Last, but certainly not least (the opposite, in fact) is to head inland and hit Mt. How to Plan an Amazing San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip Trip (807.8 mi) on Map San Francisco Seattle. questions about Napa: Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about the Seattle to San Francisco drive. 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. We are looking to plan this exact trip this summer and Im so happy to find your blog! The best way is to be prepared for the open road by visiting our checklist of road trip essentials. 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. Dont forget to stop at the iconicBixby Bridge (40 minutes from Monterey). Crater Lake is the largest lake in the United States (over 1900 ft deep!) If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Start your day early and travel down HWY 101 along the coast of Oregon. Seattle to San Francisco drive - plan a road trip Over the course of 2 weeks, we drove approximately 1650 miles (2330km) at a moderate pace. From here, cross the Columbia River via Route 30 and continue west until you reach the coast. 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. Grab a freshly baked bagel from Los Bagels,a crepe from Renatas Creperie and Espresso oran ice cream from Arcata Scoop(or all of the above!). most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. by Emily Cass | Oct 18, 2017 | Most Popular, North America | 3 comments. Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip! Adventures and Waterfalls 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. Not sure what to do in Seattle? Read Next: 4 Days in San Francisco: A Complete City Guide from a Local. San Francisco hotels are surprisingly expensive considering how many of them there are. It will help people who will take the same Seattle to San Francisco route. restaurants around Redding: Have you done this road trip before? 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. 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. A unique experience awaits you in San Francisco. It was! Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. Though, obviously, you probably didnt quit your job to adventure in your converted Honda Odyssey, so theres that. Planning a Trip to Mount Rainier National Park? Potato Champion It's worth parking at the toll plaza ( here on Google Maps) to get some nice pictures of the bridge. So if youre looking for the best hotels, restaurants, and places to visit on the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco, keep reading! 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. Can you hike on Mt. Both are cool cities, and you could do a day trip into the beautiful wilderness just outside either citys limits. 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! Roseburg. Its packed full of interesting spots to stop in, whether youre looking for vegan ice cream or a unique boutique selling who knows what. 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. or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world. Or get a full Seattle to San Francisco flight plan. Mid July: 1 week with wife and kid - what should we prioritize? Union Square is where youll find a lot of shopping options & Mission District has a lot of greats bars and restaurants to explore. 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. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:04 pmdrive for about 3 hours, 6:02 pm Napa Here are a few of our favorite restaurants in Seattle, in no particular order. I was planning a similar trip and I think Im just going to follow your itinerary to a T! Parking is a nightmare in Nob Hill, which is the neighborhood we used to call home, so Id recommend avoiding that area. to double check the weather. Get out and explore Portland, particularly the areas east of the river along Hawthorne and Division St. Day 3: Drive from Portland to Eugene, stopping at Silver Falls State Park to do the Trail of the Ten Falls (truly spectacular) and then refueling in Salem, the capital of Oregon, at Bigwig Donuts (100% gluten free donut holes, fried to order). For once, I wasnt the tallest! Traveling with a dog or cat? Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip Itinerary Help - Fodor's Wait, wheres Fishermans Wharf on this list? 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. We have selected seven hotels for you. The Pacific Science Center is a great stop for kids, with interactive exhibits that make for a perfect rainy day activity in Seattle. Here are our favorite places to eat in San Francisco, a city full of amazing food spots. Click on any question to see answers from the community! eat at Voodoo Doughnuts 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!). It can be hard to decide which iconic spots to see . Weve got you covered with our guide to the best coffee in Seattle (according to three self-proclaimed coffee snobs). Crater Lake National Park is an extraordinary park that has a dormant volcano as its crown jewel. 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). It is the seat of King County, Washington. I am a keen photographer and we like nice scenery, (oceans/mountains/forests/rivers/lakes/waterfalls etc). Seattle To San Fran: What To Do During This Epic Road Trip Stop as frequent or as little as you like but dont forget to look up! Simply use this as a guideline! 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. eg. It was so special to see where my mum spent her years here and I was very fortunate they were still there to meet me! The cheapest way to get from Seattle to San Francisco costs only $116, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. You wont want to miss our detailed guides to visiting Mount Rainier that are all based on our own personal experience exploring the park. San Francisco's hottest season is usually the fall, when the temperatures peak at around 70 degrees and there are plenty of residual tourists left over from the summer. If you're planning a road trip to San Francisco, you can research locations to stop along the way. Take your time, drive slowly and stop at every opportunity you can! This 807-mile drive will take you to some of the best spots in the Pacific Northwest. The mighty Hood River and stunning Columbia River Gorge are a must-see on your way down to Bend. In our opinion, the two best areas to stay in Seattle are Belltown and Capitol Hill (though we also like South Lake Union). Its a beautiful place to visit while on your road trip. It does cost $8 per car but where else can you drive through a tree? Day 1: Fly into Seattle and pick up your rental car (or, leave from Seattle if you live here!). That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we dont stand behind 100%. Your email address will not be published. Today is a long but good day of driving. The hike out to Cascade Head near Lincoln City is worth it if you have the time, otherwise continue on to spend the night in Newport at the wonderful Inn at Nye Beach. Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip Itinerary. 1512650 [9] Website. Then, head out to Patricks Point State Park and Trinidad State Beach to get your first taste of the rugged northern California coast. You'll cover three states, at least three national parks, and see sweeping coastal views and no end of charming towns. Were Matt and Alysha, the two endlessly curious travelers behind this site. If you dont, either because youve already been or youre just simply not interested, spend that time somewhere else instead. Continue south towards LA and be sure to stop intoPismo Beach, Solvang, Santa BarbaraandSanta Maria orcheck out thisextensive list of ideas. This route was intriguing to us because the arrival time was almost 3 hours faster than the Highway 101 alternative, but we decided that this drive was once in a lifetime and we had to take the longer option if it meant we'd be driving the Oregon coast the entire day. If you're planning a road trip to San Francisco, you can research locations to stop along the way. Except the authors have strong perspectives on what adventures you should choose. All the rooms are the same, so theres no presidential suite or choices between deluxe and superior rooms. We know the city like the back of our hands, and hope we can give you some of the inside knowledge you need to make your trip to Seattle a memorable one. If you're aiming to spend most of your time at the beach, this might be the best time to do the trip. After charging your batteries at the bar and Jackrabbit Restaurant, you can burn some calories at the incredible fitness area before heading into town. United States. Your email address will not be published. Domaine Carneros (14 mentions) 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. The Hoxton is a super stylish hotel that is one of our favorite hotel chains in the world. If youve got 3-4 days, sleep in Portland on night one, Redding on night two, and finish the drive to San Francisco on day three. westcoastbound. The only thing to watch out for weather-wise is snow on the Siskyou Pass and the rest of southern Oregon in the winter months. The lighthouse has been in operation since 1871 and is still in use today. Traveling from Seattle to San Francisco is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA. San Francisco to Seattle Road trip Google Maps San Francisco and Seattle are two eclectic peas in a pod. Drive From Seattle To San Francisco - Drive Weather document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Spend the night at either the Olympic Lodge or a vacation rental along the shores of Lake Sutherland. 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. The guide below is written with a two week trip in mind. Navarro Vineyards and Roederer Estate are our favorites. Explore Capitol Hill: Our favorite! 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. 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. Road trip San Francisco to Seattle - Road Trips Message Board - Tripadvisor Tasty N Sons Youre very welcome Candice, enjoy your trip! Apr 3rd, 2010 10:39 PM. This would give you a slower paced trip and allow more time to take everything in. We left Santa Cruz after a walk along the beach and continued our way down the coastal HWY 1 towards the gorgeous Monterey Bay + surrounding areas. Below is an interactive map or see below for a static map to save. Dont forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. stay for about 1 hour. 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. After half a day here, we made our way down HWY 199 through some interesting towns, en route to Crescent City on HWY 101. 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.