Mid July: 1 week with wife and kid - what should we prioritize? First of all, we have a whole guide on where to stay in Portland. Past Dunnigan, hop onto Interstate 505 and either follow it south to Vacaville or detour to Sacramento. We spent the past two years traveling, which included 18 national parks here in the United States, and an extended trip to Europe. 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. We recommend Timber Valley Inn and Suiteswhich is conveniently located directly off HWY 5. 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. Over the course of 2 weeks, we drove approximately 1650 miles (2330km) at a moderate pace. Have you ever taken a road trip from Seattle to San Francisco? Life is all about the journey, not the destination! If youre craving a drink, here are a few of our favorite bars in Seattle. 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. Second at Rialto Beach to do the hike out to Hole in the Wall (one of our favorite hikes in Olympic National Park). 7:38 pm Mount Rainier. Rainier National Park (the Paradise Side), More Time? The views are cool (check out Kerry Park nearby for the best views in Seattle), but its expensive and kind of uninspiring. The western side of Mt. Youngberg Inn Hill $199 $400 USD/breakfast included. Traveling with a dog or cat? Mendocino is a largely unspoiled area of California that has beaches, valleys, and forests. 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. San Francisco to Seattle drive - plan a road trip Trippy members suggest Ike's Place, which was mentioned 23 times. The water is exceptionally blue and when the sunlight hits the water, its simply stunning. Once you're up, you can kick off your morning with a visit to the amazing Remede Spa. Read: An Extensive Guide to Seattle. Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about the Seattle to San Francisco drive. Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip Itinerary. That could be more time than you have. by calculating the distance from Seattle to San Francisco. Overall, we think you should choose either the Mission District or Hayes Valley if you have a car. Jump back on the 101 and head south to check out the Big Tree (look out for all the parked cars). Youll follow the coastline past sweeping sand beaches (stop at Jenner Beach!). Nonstop drive: 807 miles or 1299 km Driving time: 12 hours, 32 minutes The travelplan so far. The Drive Weather map shows the next 6 hours of weather forecast, wind, temperatures and radar for the the Seattle to San Francisco drive. Your email address will not be published. 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. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving Tall tales, trip guides, & the world's weird & wonderful. Planning a trip to the Algarve, the gorgeous coastal paradise along the southern edge of Portugal? Basic large rooms with a good location right off the 101. Starting on I-5 south for 90% of . 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. 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. Both of which have large hotel chains and some hostels. All the rooms are the same, so theres no presidential suite or choices between deluxe and superior rooms. We wouldnt recommend spending the night here instead, continue south to Portland for the night, which is just a couple of hours south. However a bit unsure about the timing, how is it in mid October there? How To Plan An Amazing Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip The 808 miles of the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes around 12 hours and 47 mins of driving without stops. Day 1: Fly into Seattle and pick up your rental car (or, leave from Seattle if you live here!). San Francisco hotels are surprisingly expensive considering how many of them there are. questions about Napa: For example, here are some questions people have asked about San Francisco. Stay hungry and enjoy! 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. next trip! Not long after passing Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, drive the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge and pull into San Fran. You could also go the coastal route, but its a bit out of the way if youve only got 3-5 days. Weve got you covered with our guide to the best coffee in Seattle (according to three self-proclaimed coffee snobs). Check out the. These are some of the best resorts this incredible itinerary has to offer: Oregon's largest city is the most logical place to spend a weekend on your road trip from Seattle to San Francisco, especially if you're driving the interstate route. At the end of the journey, you can fly out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or Oakland International Airport (OAK). Stop at Redwoods National and State Parks: Seeing the redwoods is a must when youre in Northern California. Finally, you can drive down Howland Hill Road, which is mostly unpaved but well-maintained road traversing a magnificent redwood forest. 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. Distance from Seattle to San Francisco: approximately 575 miles. Then, head out to Patricks Point State Park and Trinidad State Beach to get your first taste of the rugged northern California coast. Seattle to San Francisco drive - plan a road trip Finish the drive into San Francisco, stopping in the Marin Headlands at the Golden Gate Bridge to hike down to Kirby Cove and marvel at the beauty of the bridge before driving into the city and to the airport to drop off your rental car (or to your final stop, wherever that might be). If youre really feeling it, why not take a helicopter to Post Ranch Inn (a very fancy resort) in a helicopter, starting at $4000! 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. For up to date information on these conditions, visit this most recent post. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, 53-63000. Photo Credit: Bigstock. Rainier. 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. Japanese Gardens (15 mentions) Rainier to Portland, stopping at Mt. 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. San Francisco to Seattle drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Spend the night at either the Olympic Lodge or a vacation rental along the shores of Lake Sutherland. We spent the day driving around the lake, taking photo after photo! We are looking to plan this exact trip this summer and Im so happy to find your blog! It is the seat of King County, Washington. You should also know going in that San Francisco is generally an expensive place to visit expect to pay over $100 a night to stay in the city, and usually much more than that. Capitol Cider for a huge selection of Pacific Northwest ciders and a 100% gluten free kitchen. 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. And we dont recommend it. Eugene (16 answers) In fact, Matt recently did this drive alone. Enter a city to drive through, or find all. Advice to avoid snowy road conditions from SF to Seattle (January). The Ultimate San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip 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. It's worth parking at the toll plaza ( here on Google Maps) to get some nice pictures of the bridge. We have a whole guide to the best places to stay in Seattle to help you find the perfect neighborhood and place to stay. How Many Days to Spend on This Road Trip? Youll immediately gasp at the size of these Red Wood trees! Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! Find out how many days in San Francisco to stay. This section lists our five restaurant recommendations for you to eat on your road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. 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. After half a day here, we made our way down HWY 199 through some interesting towns, en route to Crescent City on HWY 101. Get coffee at Noble Coffee Roasters, and lunch in Ashland (and catch a show, if thats your thing) before heading over the Siskyou Pass into California. Traveling with a dog or cat? Tasty N Sons Read our guide to the 14 coolest hotels in Portland for more awesome hotels in Portland. 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. 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. Crescent City. The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (2022) Your email will not be provided to third parties. FIPS code. Napa (85 answers) 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. After passing Muir Woods National Monument, hop back onto Highway 101 and cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. Do this road trip and you'll probably do around double that. 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. This seaside town has one of the most historic boardwalks in the state. Search for RV campgrounds. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco - Marriott Bonvoy Traveler Seattle to San Francisco RV Road Trip Guide (+ RV Rental) - RVshare And our favorite spots to drink, whether youre looking for a flight of craft beer or a $20 cocktail (were joking kind of). CitizenM Seattle is one of the best value hotels in Seattle. After charging your batteries at the bar and Jackrabbit Restaurant, you can burn some calories at the incredible fitness area before heading into town. If there's no coastal fog obscuring it, which there probably is. Though I cant say the same for the also-famous but largely uninspired gum wall, which is downright disgusting if you really stop to think about it. 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 Best free things to do in Ashland (Oregon)? Instagram: @just.globetrotting & @justcreative, Just Globetrotting | Jacob & Emily Cass. Make sure you check road conditions Spend the night at the Olema House. We hope this guide has helped make your road trip from Seattle to San Francisco as enjoyable as possible. Youll find an array of video games, mini golf, photo booths, laser tag and rides. 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). Our drive down the ever so famous Big Sur on HWY 1. I dont recommend that. Once youve checked out of Youngberg Hill, visit some popular surrounding wineries such Yamhill Valley Winery,Domaine Serene Winery, Domaine Drouhin & Brooks Wines. The day we had been waiting for! Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA. Seattle To San Fran: What To Do During This Epic Road Trip Keep Calm and Travel On |. Psst! If you have more time, here are some other places to stop along the way from Seattle to San Francisco. Here are our favorite places to eat in San Francisco, a city full of amazing food spots. Trippy is where Get the reverse directions for a 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. Take your pick! What is your favorite restaurant in Portland? Seattle Center: I actually dont really recommend you go up to the top of the Space Needle. questions about Eugene: Limited time in Napa, help with my itinerary! What an amazing road trip! Drive all the way to Redding, get dinner at In-n-Out Burger, and stay at the Americana Hotel in downtown Redding. Be prepared for the overwhelming choice of flavours! (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? If you're planning a road trip to San Francisco, you can research locations to stop along the way. If organized tours are your thing, here are some recommendations: Belltown. Today, we split time between San Francisco and Seattle. Were Matt and Alysha, the two endlessly curious travelers behind this site. Required fields are marked *. We have listed seven hotels, five restaurants, and three places to visit on the way. Our favorites would be Becks Motor Lodge (close to the Mission) and Hotel Kabuki (in Japantown). 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. In terms of height, it is one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States and stands at 115 feet. (20 answers), Valerie from Los Angeles asked:What is your favorite restaurant in San Francisco? Drive From Seattle To San Francisco - Drive Weather Voodoo Doughnuts Take your time, drive slowly and stop at every opportunity you can! The Paradise side of Mt. Sounds interesting right? San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip Itinerary Advice For dessert, ice cream is your best bet. 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. The Northern California Coast is considered to be one of the most scenic areas in the entire country, and for many reasons. Parking is a nightmare in Nob Hill, which is the neighborhood we used to call home, so Id recommend avoiding that area. Looking for the best coffee in a city known for amazing coffee? We lived in San Francisco for almost a decade before quitting our jobs and leaving the city on our year long worldwide adventure. This tree is HUGE but in fact, not even the largest! Read that if you want the details beyond some of our recommendations. San Francisco to Seattle Road trip | Indie Campers Visit some of the numerous waterfalls namely Myrtle and Christine. 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 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. 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. Spas in the Ashland area? Want more awesome west coast travel guides to inspire your next trip, and empower you with all the information you need to plan it? 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). looking for a vacation rental or Airbnb? The best things to see and do between Seattle and San Francisco. Expect to drive 2-6 hours a day with 1 or 2 longer days. Best coffee shops in Portland There are of course cheaper alternatives, but this HIGHLY recommended. 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. Ashland is a cool little town known for hosting the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. If you're driving from Seattle WA to San Francisco CA check the weather conditions for a safer trip. Its an incredible conglomeration of neighborhoods, all with their own unique style and vibe. If youre only going to do it once, do it right. Hood, Willamette, and Siuslaw National Forests, and Redwood National and State Parks. If youre planning to visit San Francisco, you can check this video guide before your road trip. (1 answer), Marsha-laine asked:Most Scenic Drive Down to San Francisco (2 answers), John asked:Seattle to San Francisco recommend route (1 answer). 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. Traveling from Seattle to San Francisco is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA. What is your favorite restaurant in Eugene? San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip Itinerary Overview Stop 1: San Francisco, California (2-3 days) Stop 2: Wine Country: Napa/Sonoma (1-2 days) Stop 3: Mendocino/Fort Bragg (1 day) Stop 4: Lassen/Mt. The 808 miles of the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes around 12 hours and 47 mins of driving without stops. What is your favorite restaurant in Redding? Miles and miles of rugged, unspoiled coastline that hugs the oceans edge. If youre planning on doing this drive in the winter, avoid snow and tricky road conditions by going the coastal route on the famous Highway 101, which is amazing in its own right. For more amazing trees, waterfalls, and trails in California, check out Sequoia National Park. Point Reyes is a long peninsula just north of San Francisco with unforgettable views of the Pacific Ocean and unique wildlife viewing opportunities (Elk!). Monterey Bay > Pacific Grove > 17 Mile Drive > Pebble Beach > Carmel-by-the-sea > Point Lobos > Monterey (or Seaside to sleep). The guide below is written with a two week trip in mind. Dont forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. What is your favorite restaurant in Eugene? Some of these trees have been known to measure 360 feet in height, making it the tallest measured tree species on earth. Day 4: Get an early start and make a beeline for the California border. Roadtrippers helps you find the most epic destinations and detoursfrom roadside attractions to natural wonders and beyond. This would give you a slower paced trip and allow more time to take everything in. 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. How far is San Francisco from Seattle - driving distance - Trippy Click the blue button below. I have experience of roadtrips only in Finland (where I live) and South Africa (the country I am in love with). It helps if you put your mirrors in to go through the tree. The road map above shows you the route to take to your destination. Here are some of our favorites. What is your favorite restaurant in San Francisco. Simply use this as a guideline! Day 6: Continue your coastal journey by heading to Point Reyes National Seashore, another one of our favorite spots in California (and 30 minutes from where Alysha grew up). The Best Route for Your Seattle to San Francisco Drive, The Best Stops to Make on a Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip, Mt. Is there anything else you think we should have done, or not done? 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. You can share your thoughts about the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco and your recommendations about this route by using the comment field below. This article shares the 15 top tips that turn your San Francisco trip into an unforgettable journey. 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). Waking up to an unprecedented view of the city's marvelous architecture is one of the best ways to start your day, and St Regis' incredible suites let you do just that. questions about Mount Shasta (California): Road Trip from SF to Vancouver/Seattle- where are the best places to see? For once, I wasnt the tallest! Trinidad: Hike the Trinidad Head trail to enjoy stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Head to Redwood National and State Parks and explore Stout Memorial Grove, Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway, and Fern Canyon. Breakfast was included, it was clean and surrounded by shops, places to eat and gas stations. Get our latest blog posts, updates and deals. . Seattle Center has some cool attractions though. 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. Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip & Drive (2023 Edition) First, at Lake Crescent to hike to Marymere Falls. . The best resource on neighborhoods, areas, 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. The 960-mile road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 20 hours 30 minutes. Click the blue button below. Remember, like you, people planning a San Francisco road trip need your opinion. Venture further inland and go hiking in Death Valley National Park. Mount Shasta (California) (9 answers) Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. If youre continuing south towards LA and be sure to stop intoPismo Beach, Solvang, Santa BarbaraandSanta Maria orcheck out thisextensive list of ideas. Dont miss our guide to the coolest hotels in San Francisco for more suggestions. So if youre looking for the best hotels, restaurants, and places to visit on the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco, keep reading! Budget Tip: If Monterey or the surrounding areas are too expensive or unavailable, consider the town Seaside. The Ultimate San Francisco To Seattle Road Trip: 55+ Stops You Need To He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip. That doesnt mean youre not going to have a great time, though! The drive's signature stops include the cities of Portland and Sacramento, Mt. The 960-mile road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 20 hours 30 minutes. This coastal adventure is a perfect year-round itinerary. Here are our top three choices for adventures around Mt. Limited time in Napa, help with my itinerary! St. Helens to check out Johnston Ridge, which gives you an amazing view of the volcano and destruction it wrought on the surrounding landscape. 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!). Download this app. The Grill Restaurant offers every type of meal you could possibly think of, all within minutes of your hotel room. Here are the top seven hotels on the Seattle San Francisco route! Unfortunately, this is our last stop on this incredible road trip. Domaine Chandon Taking the quickest possible route, the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco takes 13 hours and spans 810 miles. 2 Week Road Trip Itinerary Overview Over the course of 2 weeks, we drove approximately 1650 miles (2330km) at a moderate pace. 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. 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On the way from Seattle to San Francisco, you may want to stay at some points on the way. by Emily Cass | Oct 18, 2017 | Most Popular, North America | 3 comments. Rainier as early as possible (if youre flying in, youll want to book an early flight!). Its the most direct route. Not sure what to do in 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. From here, you can either take the coastal highway HWY 1 or the HWY 101 directly to Santa Rosa for the night OR if you feel as though you can continue driving, drive to Santa Cruz. questions about Mount Shasta (California): Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip The best things to see and do between Seattle and San Francisco. And if you know Seattle well, please help your fellow The Willamette Valley is home to some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and youll find more than 500 wineries surrounding this region. In this part, we explained seven different hotels you can stay at on the road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. Spend the afternoon in Cannon Beach, spending some time on the beach near Haystack Rock and then eat lunch at Public Coast Brewing. You made it! Powell's City of Books (17 mentions) If you dont, either because youve already been or youre just simply not interested, spend that time somewhere else instead. Youre in for a treat full of pristine beaches, crystal-clear turquoise water, and charming small towns dotting Portugals southern coast. There are a few places to spend a night in the Big Sur, Glen Oaks,Fernwood Resort,Big Sur River Inn, as well as campsites inPfeiffer Big Sur State Park.