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. This is a 31 mile scenic stretch of road that runs through the Red Wood Forest parallel to the highway. 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! Best free things to do in Ashland (Oregon)? Hood River Hotel is a close second. 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. Required fields are marked *. 12 Awesome Stops on a San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip in 2023 Get ready for a day of tree exploring! Hood, Willamette, and Siuslaw National Forests, and Redwood National and State Parks. We love this stylish Airbnb in Capitol Hill, which is perfect for traveling couples. 2015 Seattle, San Francisco, and Sierra - cross-country-trips.com and was formed by the eruption and collapsing of a volcano, Mount Mazama 7,700 years ago. If youre lucky, you may spot the local bald eagles. Saint Helens. Experience the stunning beauty of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California on this luxury journey from Seattle to San Francisco. If you are driving north to south and plan to do the Big Sur, fill your petrol/gas up in either Monterey or Carmel. The water is exceptionally blue and when the sunlight hits the water, its simply stunning. Road Trip Route Planner, Map and Trip Guides | Roadtrippers Photo Credit: Bigstock. Rainier National Park is jaw-droppingly beautiful. 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. by calculating the distance from Seattle to San Francisco. Book early for any weekend trips. Here are our favorite places to eat in San Francisco, a city full of amazing food spots. He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip. Planning to drive from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road? What are the top 5 can't miss tourist attractions in S.F.? Youre in for a treat full of pristine beaches, crystal-clear turquoise water, and charming small towns dotting Portugals southern coast. This road trip is 808 miles and takes about 12 hours and 30 minutes. I am a keen photographer and we like nice scenery, (oceans/mountains/forests/rivers/lakes/waterfalls etc). Santa Cruz. Visiting in July for 5 days with my boyfriend, where and what must we do? 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! Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up. 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. 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. Looking for the best coffee in a city known for amazing coffee? During the summer, the inland route through the Hood River, Bend, and Crater Lake have some of the best hikes and gorgeous scenery we have ever seen. 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). 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 Day 1: Fly into Seattle and pick up your rental car (or, leave from Seattle if you live here!). Lithia Park (2 mentions) 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. For more amazing trees, waterfalls, and trails in California, check out Sequoia National Park. Yep, the name speaks for itself! Note: We skip over San Francisco here, and loop back to itbecause our flight leaves from San Francisco+ we have to return our rental car here. With a fourth day, wed add Rainier (with a stop in Eugene between Portland and Redding). Day 5: If you missed any of the redwoods above, double back and make sure to catch them. What an amazing road trip! Life is all about the journey, not the destination! 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. Here are the top seven hotels on the Seattle San Francisco route! Drive to Port Angeles, with a stop at Nourish Sequim along the way for a delicious (and gluten free) lunch. 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. Stop in at Rocky Point Restaurant for a cocktail and then head to California Market at Pacifics Edge for lunch with sweeping views of the ocean. This industrial-chic Airbnb in South Lake Union is a close second for the next time were looking for a place to stay in Seattle. Crater Lake is the largest lake in the United States (over 1900 ft deep!) At the end of the journey, you can fly out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or Oakland International Airport (OAK). The day we had been waiting for! When venturing from the i5 highway, the trip takes approximately 12 hours and 45 minutes of non-stop driving. Start your day early and travel down HWY 101 along the coast of Oregon. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Hood River. Seattle Center: I actually dont really recommend you go up to the top of the Space Needle. 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. Stop at Redwoods National and State Parks: Seeing the redwoods is a must when youre in Northern California. stay at Ace Hotel. stay for about 4 hours and leave at 3:43 pmdrive for about 2 hours, 5:39 pm Eugene Here are some more restaurants people talk about: Want to research more popular restaurants in San Francisco? On top of being located in the most action-packed part of Portland, this hotel is extremely generously priced - coupled with the incredible amenities, this easily makes The Duniway the best hotel in the entire region. How far is San Francisco from Seattle - driving distance - Trippy 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). Dont miss our guide to the coolest hotels in San Francisco for more suggestions. Once youve checked out of Youngberg Hill, visit some popular surrounding wineries such Yamhill Valley Winery,Domaine Serene Winery, Domaine Drouhin & Brooks Wines. If youre tight on time:Jump directly on HWY 5 South and head forWillamette Valley. Rainier National Park (the Paradise Side), More Time? This has become a popular destination for the outdoorsy adventurer types out there. Here are some options for where to stay in Seattle whether you prefer staying in hotels or in an Airbnb. 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. The road map above shows you the route to take to your destination. Crater Lake National Park is an extraordinary park that has a dormant volcano as its crown jewel. To visit all of these areas, we recommend taking the first exit to Monterey off the freeway and work your way around. San Francisco to Seattle drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. From there, visit Klamath and Shasta-Trinity national Forests, and consider doing an optional detour to Lassen National Forest. USA West Coast Road Trip Itinerary: Seattle to San Francisco 1. You can roam the vineyards, taste plenty of wines and relax while overlooking acres of grapes. Rainier and Mt. 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! This would give you a slower paced trip and allow more time to take everything in. Domaine Chandon Before we go on to give you our 2-week itinerary, please note that there is no right or wrong way to do this trip.