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While beaches and remote islands all have their appeal, there’s a time one just wants to coast on a road trip, catch sight of some epic scenery, and on the spur of the moment—make stops at small, charming little towns he or she has never heard about. For those road trip enthusiasts, America has so many options. These range from busy multiple-lane thoroughfares to lonely roads that cut through desiccated deserts that even birds painstakingly avoid. Some of these roads travel the whole scenery gamut—from the rugged and twisty—to those that are flat and straight through to the cloudless horizon.
An amazing road trip that’s worth exploring is that from Seattle to San Francisco. Apart from revealing the amazing, untold beauty of the Pacific Northwest, this road trip goes through a variety of landscapes that’ll make one experience the whole range of human emotions. Here’s what to do during this epic trip.
Planning The Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip
At about 807 miles, the Seattle to San Francisco road trip is damn long. It’ll need someone who’s in good health and, like road trippers would confess, good spirits. There are several ways to explore this route. The shortest, and unfortunately the least scenic, is the I-5 route. This will take just about 12 hours. If one includes meal times and sleep times, it’s something that can be done in a day. But as we’ve said, there’s a downside. There’ll be few things to see and fewer things to do. A good option is to drive along the coast, especially if one is not making this trip in the sweltering heat of summer that this part of the country is (in)famous for. Then again, one can elect to cut through the inland. Places like Mt. Hood and Bend have gorgeous scenery, not to mention Crater Lake and the surrounding areas.
When it comes to the time needed for this lifetime adventure, opinion is going to be varied. It’ll obviously depend on several factors, including how much time one has on his hands. Two weeks will be perfect, yet, considering the array of spectacular attractions on this vast stretch, two months may still not be enough. Unfortunately, only a few of us will get that amount of time. In this article, therefore, we’ll work with five days, something that many can squeeze. Of course, it will mean cutting out a few fine spots. Still, it has wonderful surprises.
Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip (Day 1 &2)
Since Seattle is the starting point—and five days is like a few minutes on this trip—one should get to Seattle early enough. And for this, 9.00 AM will be late. With an early-morning flight booked well in advance, it’s possible. From Seattle, drive straight to Mt. Rainier. This 90-mile distance, mostly on I-5, should take less than two hours. And then, anyone who’s been to Mt. Rainier will admit that there’s no better hike in Mt. Rainier than Skyline Trail. This panoramic trail is 10 kilometers long and will take between three and four hours.
From this place, another nearby attraction worth checking out is Myrtle Falls. The stunning 72-foot waterfall is an easy stroll from the parking lot of Mt. Rainier Park. Spend 1-2 hours here. When it hits three or four in the afternoon, a visit to Christine Falls will be well worth it. At nightfall, find a place to rest at Ashford. On Day 2, drive to Portland, Oregon, though a detour to Johnston Ridge Observatory is highly recommended. Aside from this, Portland has many fun attractions that can take up several hours.
- How Much Is The Entry Fee To Johnston Ridge Observatory? The entry fee is $8.
Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip (Days 3,4 &5)
From Portland, head straight to Silver Falls State Park to gaze at some of the most dazzling waterfalls in the whole country. A brief stop at Salem will be worthwhile. Otherwise, getting to Eugene early enough will leave one with spare time to explore such places as WildCraft Cider Works, Skinner Butte, or 5th Street Public Market in downtown Eugene. From Eugene, Day 4 should see one headed to Redding. Along the way, Ashland is a gorgeous little town to grab a bite. Otherwise, the Siskiyou Pass will see one driving through some stomach-churning scenery, especially between Roseburg and Grants Pass.
Lastly, after sleeping at Redding, it’ll be time to do the home stretch to San Fransisco. While this 3-hour stretch has nothing much in the way of attractions, an amazing feast awaits at the Golden City. That’s just about it. With only five days on one’s hands, it is still possible to enjoy one of the best drives in the Pacific Northwest.