California, Oregon, and Washington are the most amazing states, and my favorite states to travel to for their unbelievable scenic hikes, gorgeous landscapes, and epic sights. One great way to spend 2 weeks exploring these states is by traveling from San Francisco to Seattle. For the best San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip, follow the itinerary detailed out below.
There are definitely other options to travel between these two cities, and this option is not the shortest mileage. But in my opinion, it is the most scenic with the most activities to do. Combine this with my Best 10-Day San Francisco to San Diego Road Trip itinerary for one epic, nearly month-long road trip between San Diego and Seattle.
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When to Do a San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip
The best time for a San Francisco to Seattle road trip is July to October. Many of the activities and national parks suggested in this itinerary are only open during the summer months due to excessive snow fall at other times in the year. Since July and early August will be busy with families on their summer breaks, you may want to visit late August to October to avoid massive crowds. If you exclude Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens from your San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip, then another great time of year to visit is March to June. During this time the crowds will be fewer and the weather will be cooler. California gets 75% of its rainfall between November and March, so you might want to avoid those months.
San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip Map and Itinerary
| Day 1 | San Francisco |
| Day 2 | San Francisco |
| Day 3 | Napa/Sonoma |
| Day 4 | Fort Bragg |
| Day 5 | Redwood National and State Parks |
| Day 6 | Redwood National and State Parks |
| Day 7 | Oregon Coast |
| Day 8 | Oregon Coast |
| Day 9 | Oregon Coast |
| Day 10 | Oregon Coast |
| Day 11 | Mount St. Helens |
| Day 12 | Mount Rainier National Park |
| Day 13 | Seattle |
| Day 14 | Seattle |
What to Pack for this San Francisco to Las Vegas Road Trip
- Water!! Carry bottled water to keep hydrated on your road trip!
- Sunscreen – Protect your skin from the sun, and do not forget to reapply.
- Hat – More sun protection to block the sun from your face
- RTIC Soft-Sided Cooler – Keep your drinks snacks cool in this cooler.
- Packing Cubes – Keep your clothes and toiletries organized on this San Francisco to Seattle road trip.
- Backseat Organizer – This tool can be great for people in the backseat, especially kiddos.
- Tire Inflator – This is a tool I keep in my car on the daily to inflate deflated tires while on the go.
- Jacket – Even in warmer months, the temps can be cool in the mornings and evening so pack a light men’s or women’s jacket.
- Rain Jacket – Be prepared for rain especially when in Oregon and Washington with these Columbia rain jackets for men and women.
Day 1 – San Francisco
Lombard Street
Start the morning off with a walk to Lombard Street to get your first taste of the famous San Francisco hills. The walk up Russian Hill will get your blood pumping. At the top is Lombard Street, which is well-known because of it’s steep, hairpin turns.
Alcatraz Island
The tour to Alcatraz Island is a must-do activity in the Bay City so you can see first hand the life of the prisoners that were incarcerated at The Rock. The tour begins with a ferry ride from the mainland to the island. Watch a short video before touring the prison. There are various touring options, so make sure you check them all out.
Boudin Bakery & Café
Boudin Bakery has been a San Franciscan staple since 1849. This flagship shop on Pier 59 has an area where they sell various bread products including their legendary sourdough. They also have a café where we ate clam chowder in a bread bowl for lunch.
Sausalito to Golden Gate Bridge
After lunch, hop on a ferry to Sausalito. Sit back and relax as the boat ride takes you to Sausalito after making two other stops. After departing the ferry, take time to look inside the cute shops of Sausalito because walking to Golden Gate Bridge!
If you are in the mood for some exercise, walk the 4.2 mile trek from Sausalito to Golden Gate Bridge. Walk along the shoreline, past Fort Baker, and up the steep hill just under the head of Golden Gate Bridge. I advise you map the route before you go, or follow Google Maps in real-time. At the top of the hill visit the Golden Gate Bridge View Vista Point for excellent views of the bridge and the city. Crossing the 1-mile suspension bridge was more difficult than the walk from Sausalito. It is like walking through a hurricane-strength wind tunnel, and it almost blew us away.
If you do not want to walk from Sausalito (and I do not blame you if you do not), you should opt for a Bay Cruise to get views of the city and Golden Gate bridge.
After your long walk or bay cruise, stop at Ghiradelli Square. Check out the area and have dinner. Inside the Ghiradelli store, we bought tons of chocolate to eat throughout the trip.
Day 2 – San Francisco
Breakfast at Mama’s
Have breakfast at the famous Mama’s on Washington Square, which doesn’t open until 8am. Make sure to get here super early to avoid long lines. The food was exquisite, and I highly recommend the breakfast sandwich. This restaurant only accepts cash and debit card so plan accordingly.
Chinatown
Next walk off your breakfast with a half-mile stroll to the infamous San Francisco Chinatown. Stop in the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, which is not a typical factory. Inside the doorway, four or five women were folding the cookies by hand.
I hope you wore your walking shoes because you’re about to walk ’til you drop. The total distance for the next part of today’s journey is only a mile, but the steep ups and downs of the hill makes it a challenging walk. Hike up the famous Nob Hill, and check out the lobby of the Hotel Fairmont. From here walk downhill past Huntington Park to Grace Cathedral. Finally, end your trek at Union Square.
Painted Ladies
Make sure to visit the Painted Ladies, a row of Victorian houses made famous in the “Full House” opening credits.
Spend the rest of the night walking around Fisherman’s Wharf shopping, people watching, and marveling at the sea lions. This will be your last day in the city for your San Francisco to Seattle road trip.
Day 3 – Napa/Sonoma
After 2 days walking around San Francisco, your feet will be exhausted and sore. On Day 3, spend the day relaxing and wine tasting in either Napa or Sonoma. The choice is yours! Some of the most wine tasting options are listed below.
Napa
- Castello di Amorosa
- V. Sattui Winery
- Monticello Napa Valley
- Truchard Vineyards
- B Cellars
- Trefethen Family Vineyards
Sonoma
- St. Francis Winery
- Buena Vista Winery
- Lasseter Family Winery
- Roche Winery & Vineywards
- The Donum Estate
- Three Fat Guys Winery
After a day of wine tasting, it is best to stay the night in either Napa or Sonoma, so you are not driving far distances under the influence. Please do not drink and drive!
Day 4 – Fort Bragg
Glass Beach, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, downtown Fort Bragg. At the end of the day, drive towards the Avenue of the Giants scenic drive to get further down the road. This is important because Day 5 will be packed.
Day 5 – Redwood National and State Parks
The first stop will be a 39-mile scenic drive on the Avenue of the Giants. Coastal Drive Loop and Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway are two other scenic drives you should explore. While near Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, stop at Prairie Creek and Elk Meadow for a great chance to spot a herd of elk. Do an easy 1.5-mile nature walk, Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail. If you can get a permit, make sure to hike the 1.1- mile Fern Canyon Loop and drive Davison Road (scenic drive). Spend the rest of your time exploring Gold Bluffs Beach with your permit. Stay the night in Crescent City. You will be able to stay here 2 nights.
Day 6 – Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood National and State Parks surround Crescent City, and you can spend your entire day exploring the parks closer to the city. Two short hikes not to miss are Stout Memorial Grove and Grove of the Titans. Both these hikes are on Howland Hill Road which is a 10-mile scenic drive that winds between the giant trees.
In Crescent City, make sure to check out Battery Point Lighthouse which can only be accessed during low tide. Visit Oceanworld for your best chance at finding Redwood National Park and beach-themed souvenirs.
Day 7 – Oregon Coast
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is a 12-mile scenic drive on the southern coast of Oregon. Each of the stops are well-marked. Some of the most notable stops include the following:
- Lone Ranch Picnic Area
- Cape Ferrelo Viewpoint
- House Rock Viewpoint
- Whaleshead Viewpoint and Beach Access (Pit toilets)
- Indian Sands
- Natural Bridges
- Thunder Rock Cove (Secret Beach Trailhead)
- Spruce Island
- Arch Rock (Pit toilets)
Oregon Sand Dunes
The Oregon Sand Dunes cover about 40 miles of the Oregon coastline. You can stop at one of the many stopping points to watch as others play on the sand with dirt bikes, dune buggies, and sandboards. Or you can play yourself! There are lots of places where you can rent dune buggies.
Spend the afternoon exploring the town of Florence. Drive just north of the city to visit the Sea Lion Cave and Heceta Head Lighthouse.
Day 8 Oregon Road Trip – Florence to Pacific City
From Florence, drive north along the coast to get to your first stop of the day. For a detailed itinerary for the next 3 days of this itinerary, see How to Spend 3 Days on a Dreamy Oregon Coast Road Trip.
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
The most impressive sight in Cape Perpetua Scenic Area is Thor’s Well, an old sea cave that collapsed. During high tide, waters rush up through the large natural pipeline and explode in the air. Then the water recedes back down the drainage hole and back into the ocean. You can walk right up to the well, but be careful as the sea can be unpredictable. Also stop at Devil’s Churn and Cape Perpetua Lookout while in the area.
Travel northward on the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, and stop at the historic Newport Bayfront for some seafood and shopping.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Next, stop at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse which sits at 93 feet tall. Try to time your visit during low tide so you can check out the tide pools. You could spend hours exploring the micro-habitats for sea stars, urchins, crabs, and other sea life.
Keep driving north making stops at Devil’s Punchbowl which was formed millions of years ago when two sea caves eroded into one and the ceiling collapsed. As you keep driving along the coast, stop at Depoe Bay to look for whales. If you are visiting between May and December, you can also board a whale watching tour. Finish your day at Pacific City.
Day 9 Oregon Road Trip – Pacific City to Cannon Beach
Part of this day will be exploring the ocean side of the Three Cape Scenic Loop which consists of Cape Kiwanda, Cape Lookout, and Cape Meares. Stop at Cape Lookout first for a nice leisurely walk along the beach. Keep a lookout for sand dollars if it is low tide.
Oceanside and Tunnel Beach
Walk onto the Oceanside Beach and head north toward the cliff where the beach ends. Here you will find a manmade tunnel that leads to Tunnel Beach. Make sure to bring a light source with you (your camera flashlight will do) as part of the tunnel is very dark. There are some rocks you will have to traverse in this darker area before stepping out to the view you see in the picture above.
Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint
Cape Meares is your last stop on the Three Capes Scenic Loop. As you arrive in the parking lot, step out onto the viewing platform to see dramatic views of waves crashing into seaside cliffs. Walk down the trail towards the Cape Meares Lighthouse which was first lit in 1890. This stubby lighthouse is the shortest on the Oregon Coast. Be sure to walk the short distance to see the Octopus Tree, which is estimated to be 250-300 years old.
The next stop is the Tillamook Creamery. The self-guided tour was really interesting. At the end of the tour, you can taste 3 different kinds of Tillamook cheese, shop in the gift shop, and get a scoop of Tillamook ice cream. You may have a tummy ache by the end of your time here!
Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park
Cannon Beach was my favorite of all the small coastal towns on the San Francisco to Seattle road trip. The town is small but provided enough cute shopping to entertain us for several hours. Cannon Beach is most famous for Haystack Rock which towers over the beach and resembles…you guessed it…a haystack.
Just north of Cannon Beach, drive the windy road through lush green forests and ferns to explore Ecola State Park. Make sure to visit Ecola Viewpoint to see Tillamook Rock Lighthouse off in the distance. Also allow time to explore Indian Beach and Crescent Beach.
Day 10 Oregon Road Trip – Astoria
In the morning, drive straight to Fort Stevens State Park and to the Wreck of Peter Iredale. Peter Iredale ran aground in 1906 where it has been decaying ever since. The earthen fort of Fort Stevens was used during the Civil War and World War II to protect from enemy ships entering the mouth of the Columbia River. The 4,300-acre parks also offers many recreational activities such as hiking, biking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Finish the Oregon Coast section of your San Francisco to Seattle road trip in Astoria. We stopped at the Astoria Column, a 125-foot monument that sits atop Coxcomb Hill. Climb the 164-step spiral staircase to the top of the column for views of Astoria and the Columbia River. Make sure to visit other Astoria sights such as the Astoria Riverwalk, Flaval House Museum, and Columbia River Maritime Museum.
Day 11 – Mount St. Helens
Day 11 of your San Francisco to Seattle road trip will involve a lot of driving, so you will only have half a day to explore Mount St. Helens. It will take around 3 hours to drive from Astoria, and you will need to get close to Mount Rainier before the end of the day.
Start your time at Mount St. Helens at the Visitor Center for more information about volcano and seismographs. The rangers should be able to help you with the best way to spend your time here based on your activity level. One option includes walking the 0.6-mile easy trail around Silver Lake for scenic views. Next, you can walk the 0.5-mile Eruption Trail so you can see first-hand the effects of the 1980 eruption. You can also get great viewpoints along Spirit Lake Memorial Highway and Windy Ridge.
Day 12 – Mount Rainier National Park
Get to the Mount Rainier National Park entrance as early as possible because the line to get into the park can get extremely long. With only one day in the park, stick to the Paradise area. Start the day with an easy, 1 mile walk along the Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls. If you are looking for epic views of Mount Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mount St. Helens, and possibly Mount Hood, then do the more difficult, 5.6-mile Skyline Trail Loop to Panorama Point. Spend the rest of the day discovering Reflection Lake, Bench and Snow Lakes Trails (2.2 miles), and Nisqually Vista Trail (1.1 miles). When you are done with Mount Rainier, finish the day by driving to Seattle.
Day 13 – Seattle
Pike Place Market
Spend the morning at Pike Place Market shopping for local art, fresh produce, and gorgeous flower bouquets. It is the country’s oldest continuously running public farmers’ market. Watch the fish mongers toss the fish from the display cases to the scales in the back. While you are walking around, check out the disgusting yet unique Gum Wall. The original Starbucks is just across the street. For a quick bite or a snack, try Mee Sum Pastry, Piroshky Piroshky, and Le Panier, but be prepared to wait in a lengthy line. However, my favorite food is the clam chowder bread bowl at Pike Place Chowder. The line will be long, but worth it!
Space Needle
The Space Needle has been an icon in the Seattle skyline since 1961. The 605-foot tall spire is equipped with an observation deck and rotating restaurant. You can get tickets to visit the top of the Space Needle at varying times depending on the time of year and expected busyness. The core operational hours are 12pm – 5pm, and they finalize extra morning and evening hours a couple weeks in advance. From the observation deck, you can see the city, Puget Sound, and the surrounding mountain ranges, including Mount Rainier.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Located in the Seattle Center next to the Space Needle is the Chihuly Garden and Glass which is a museum dedicated to the glass artwork by Dale Chihuly. If you have ever been to the lobby of the Bellagio in Las Vegas, you are familiar with Chihuly’s work. You can spend a couple of hours wandering through this museum marveling at the unique artwork. In the garden area, you can watch a live glass-blowing demonstration. Chihuly Garden and Glass is open 9am – 6pm Sunday-Thursday and 9am – 7pm Friday-Saturday. General admission is as follows:
- Regular Admission (Ages 13-64) – $32
- King County Residents (Ages 13-64) and Seniors (65+) – $27
- Youth (Ages 5-12) – $19
- Children (Ages 4 and under) – Free
You can also purchase a packaged admission that includes Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Space Needle Observation Deck.
Seattle Aquarium and Miner’s Wharf
Located on a pier between Pike Place Market and Miner’s Landing, the Seattle Aquarium is a neat experience for all age groups. After you enter the aquarium, workers will take your group’s picture which can be purchased later. Keep walking through the exhibits, and you will find yourself at the at the hands-on coral nursery. There are so many epic sea creatures you will see such as octopus, jellyfish, blowfish, sea horses, and many more. Marine mammals such as otters and sea lions are also part of the Seattle Aquarium exhibits.
Miner’s Landing is located on Pier 57 and is an historic attraction recognizable by the Great Wheel, a 174-foot tall Ferris wheel at the end of the pier. In addition to the Great Wheel, Miner’s Landing also houses Wings over Washington, a simulated aerial ride that will fly you over some of Washington’s most beautiful natural landmarks. Other rides, souvenir shops, snack stores, and restaurants fill the rest of the pier.
Day 14 – Seattle
Seattle Harbor or Underground Tour
Choose from either a Harbor Tour or the Underground tour for your last day on the San Francisco to Seattle Road Trip to get more insight to the city.
After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the city decided to rebuild with only stone or brick masonry, and the buildings must be one story higher than the original buildings to avoid flooding and sewage problems. The entertaining and unusual Seattle Underground Tour is a 75-minute walking tour takes you below the surface to the interconnecting tunnels that once were the first floor of Seattle’s buildings. Make sure to get your tickets prior to arrival as they do sell out. From April to September, tour times range from 9am – 7pm, and from October to March, tour times are 10am – 6pm.
If an underground walking tour is not what you are looking to do on your day trip to Seattle, try a harbor tour. The one-hour Argosy Harbor Cruise narrates facts about the city of Seattle while observing gorgeous views of the city skyline, Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound.
Ballard Locks
On the way to Ballard Locks, make a quick pit stop at the Fremont Troll. This giant sculpture of a troll can be found under the Aurora Bridge. The Ballard Locks, also known as Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, carry more boat traffic than any other lock system in the United States. The locks are located between the neighborhoods of Ballard and Magnolia in the Lake Washington Ship Canal. At no cost, you can watch as boats load the locks and water either fills or empties to match the water level of the adjacent waters, so boats can travel between the waterways. Plan on spending at least an hour at this engineering marvel that is open 7am – 9pm daily. Parking is available on both sides of the locks.
Bonus Trips
If you want to extend your San Francisco to Seattle road trip, you can add Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park to your itinerary. If you have the time to spend here, these two parks are among my favorites in the United States and worth extending your trip for!
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