A Perfect Seattle to San Francisco road trip takes you down the United States’ Pacific Northwest coast.
An 800+ mile Seattle to San Francisco road trip takes you from Washington, through Oregon, to California. You’ll pass breathtaking ocean vistas, stunning National Parks and forests, and historic towns and cities, as you journey from the contiguous United States' most northwestern city to the “Golden Gate City” on the San Francisco Bay.
Read on for help planning the perfect Seattle to San Francisco road trip itinerary.
A Perfect Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip: How Far Is It, How Long Will It Take, & What Is The Best Route?
There are two possible routes for a Seattle to San Francisco road trip. The “short route” covers 803 miles and takes 12.5 hours to drive, and the “scenic route” covers 950 miles and takes 20.5 hours to drive. Both routes are easy to follow and begin with you heading south on I-5.
On the “short route”, you will stay on the I-5 for 715 miles to Exit 553, where you will join I-505 at its origin and follow its 33-mile duration. Merge onto I-80 southwest, and this will take you the remaining 55 miles to your destination in San Francisco, California.
On the “scenic route”, you will exit the I-5 in Olympia, Washington, and join US Route 101 where it begins. This is the start of the legendary Pacific Coast Highway, one of the most scenic roads in the world. Follow this south to Leggett, California, then exit onto California State Route 1, which is where the Pacific Coast Highway continues and will take you the rest of the way to San Francisco.
Best Time For A Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip
The best time for a Seattle to San Francisco road trip is between early June and mid-August. This period is when the Pacific Northwest experiences its warmest, driest weather and avoids the peak of the region’s Wildfire season, which runs from late August to the end of November.
Best Place To Stop On A Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip – Portland, Oregon
A Seattle to San Francisco road trip takes at least 12.5 hours, so you will need to break it into multiple chunks. The perfect place to do this is Portland, Oregon, as it is the largest city between Seattle and San Francisco. It is also located on one of the routes and just a short, very worthwhile detour from the other.
Oregon’s most populous city and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest, Portland was founded in 1845 as the western terminus of the historic Oregon Trail. It is affectionately nicknamed “Bridgetown” and has a stunning collection of bridges across the Willamette River, many of which are designated historic landmarks.
A beautiful yet often overlooked city, due largely to its isolated location, it is filled with attractions, history, stunning architecture, and culture, and surrounded by forests, mountains, and oceans. Countless film, music, and performing arts venues, galleries, museums, breweries, bars, and restaurants offering the region’s distinctive cuisine mean there is plenty in Portland for people of all tastes and interests.
Best Hotel To Stay At In Portland, Oregon - The Benson, A Coast Hotel
The Benson, A Coast Hotel, is a historic hotel in Downtown Portland known for its stunning décor, including crystal chandeliers and marble floors, and iconic architecture. Each room is equally luxurious, boasting comfortable furnishings and amenities such as Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, a flat-screen cable TV, free toiletries, an organic bathrobe, and slippers.
The Palm Court restaurant in the hotel lobby serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, tapas, and cocktails, which are all available as room service. Free Starbucks tea and coffee are available in the lobby each morning, and live jazz performances are held Wednesday through Saturday evenings. The hotel’s other amenities include 24-hour business, conference, and fitness centres, a concierge service, and a laundry service.
Top Attractions On A Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip
Tacoma, Washington (Both Routes)
Washington’s 3rd largest city, Tacoma, is home to the University of Washington Tacoma and boasts one of the state’s best selections of art galleries and museums. Affectionately nicknamed the “City of Destiny”, Tacoma was established as the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad and features the largest port in Washington. This all makes it an ideal stop for those interested in history, transport, art, or academics.
Mount Rainier National Park (Fast Route)
Mount Rainier National Park centres on a volcano in the Cascade Mountains surrounded by waterfalls, meadows, wildlife, and at least 27 major glaciers.
A destination that changes with the seasons, winter’s record-setting heavy snowfall turns it into a winter wonderland ideal for winter sports and activities, such as skiing, tubing, snowshoe trekking, and exploring the winter wilderness. Then, in the summer, it is taken over by stunning wildflowers and wildlife like deer, goats, elk, bears, marmots, and more than 180 species of birds, making it popular for activities like camping, hiking, picnicking, and rock climbing.
Olympia, Washington (Both Routes)
Washington’s capital city and the cultural hub of the South Puget Sound region, Olympia is best known for attractions such as the Washington State Capitol and the 1909 Governor’s Mansion. Those who enjoy more natural cities will also enjoy Percival Landing Park, with its beautiful boardwalk and local art displays, and Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, where you will find diverse wildlife, including more than 200 species of birds.
Olympic National Park & Forest (Scenic Route)
Olympic National Park is the most northwestern national park in the lower 48 states. Centred around the iconic Mount Olympus, its landscapes are known for meadows, rivers, rugged mountains, subalpine forests, temperate rainforests, and waterfalls. Among the wildest parts of the US, visitors can climb Mount Olympus or explore an untouched wilderness filled with goats, elk, deer, and countless species of marine wildlife and birds.
Salem, Oregon (Fast Route)
Oregon’s capital, second-largest and second-most populous city, Salem has held its title since 1851, when it was still the Oregon Territory. Its rich history is reflected in its many churches, museums, and theatres, as well as the Oregon State Capitol building, while it also features a fabulous collection of parks. This makes Salem ideal for anyone interested in Oregon’s history or natural beauty.
Siuslaw National Forest (Scenic Route)
The 634-acre Siuslaw National Forest stretches along Oregon’s coastline, perfectly displaying the mountains and shore merging.
Throughout the forest are beaches, forests, lakes, rivers, dunes, streams, tide pools, the tallest peak in the Oregon Coast Range, the 4097-foot-tall Mary’s Peak, and even the Pacific Ocean. These diverse ecosystems provide habitats for countless species of wildlife, and they are ideal for activities such as camping, climbing, fishing, hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, nature spotting, off-roading, and picnicking.
Eugene, Oregon (Fast Route)
Oregon’s third-largest and third-most populous city, Eugene, is among the nation’s most naturally stunning and important sporting cities. Home to the University of Oregon and its notable athletic department, which has garnered it the title “Track Town, USA,” and the birthplace of Nike, the venue for the 2022 Track & Field World Championships, and a hot spot for activities such as running, cycling, rafting, and kayaking, it’s an ideal stop for sports fans.
Other popular attractions include Fifth Street Public Market, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, and its many gardens, parks, and trails.
Umpqua National Forest (Fast Route)
The 983,000-acre Umpqua National Forest boasts a collection of wilderness areas that home more than 250 species of animals, including bats, black bears, cougars, deer, elk, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, and many types of birds and fish. This, combined with its low footfall, makes it one of the nation’s best places for nature lovers.
Crater Lake National Park (Fast Route)
Established in 1902, spanning 183,224 acres, and receiving 500,000 yearly visitors, Crater Lake National Park is the nation’s fifth-oldest, 34th largest, and 25th least visited National Park. Located in a caldera on Mount Mazama, Crater Lake is famed for its clear, vibrant blue water. The deepest lake in the U.S., it is home to various birds, fish, and mammals, and its ever-changing climate means the activities available change with the season.
An endorheic lake with no inlets or outlets, its most notable landmarks include Wizard Island, the Phantom Ship, and "The Old Man," a hemlock tree that has floated upright on the lake’s surface for more than a century. It is also the setting for the 2019 video game “Days Gone,” so it is a fabulous chance for fans to visit some of the real-life locations featured in the game.
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (Scenic Route)
The 1.8-million-acre Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest spans the Siskiyou, Klamath, Cascade, and Oregon Coast mountain ranges. Deemed one of the nation’s most scenic national forests, its vast wilderness is full of waterfalls, winding rivers, old-growth forests, and the world’s largest ponderosa pine tree, which stands 268 feet (82 metres) tall. This makes it an ideal destination for nature lovers to get lost and explore.
Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (Fast Route)
The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is a wilderness refuge famed for its mountainous terrain that spans parts of both the Cascade and Siskiyou mountain ranges. Its landscape includes forests, grasslands, dramatic rock formations and outcroppings, meadows, and trails for adventurers to explore, and its incredible biodiversity makes it a great destination for nature lovers and photographers.
Weed, California (Fast Route)
Weed, California, is a historic former lumber settlement that now offers a range of outdoor activities, unique attractions, and natural beauty.
It offers breathtaking views of nearby Mount Shasta and serves as a gateway to hiking, fishing, and skiing areas. Downtown Weed has a laid-back, rustic vibe. Locally owned cafés, shops, and the Weed Alehouse & Bistro embrace the town’s whimsical name, while small museums and festivals showcase its logging history, culture, and community spirit.
Klamath National Forest (Fast Route)
The 1.7-million-acre Klamath National Forest covers parts of the Klamath and Cascade mountain ranges and is known for its natural beauty. Clear lakes, old-growth forests, and towering mountain peaks create a playground for adventurers seeking hiking, swimming, and nature-watching opportunities.
You’ll also find one of the oldest and most remote mission churches, the Sawyers Bar Catholic Church. Built in 1855 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978, the historic structure has graves dating back to 1850.
Redwood National Park (Scenic Route)
The legendary Redwood National Park spans 40 miles of California’s Pacific coastline. Its infamous, towering, old-growth coastal redwood forests are surrounded by canyons, prairies, rivers, streams, beaches, and tidal pools, and offer breathtaking ocean vistas. They are also home to an abundance of wildlife, including California sea lions, deer, elk, bears, and almost 300 bird species.
An extremely popular destination for activities such as hiking, fishing, and nature watching, it has been used as a shooting location for countless films and TV shows over the years, including Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, making it equally ideal for movie buffs.
Those seeking more information can find our Redwood National Park guide here.
Shasta-Trinity National Forest (Fast Route)
The 2.2-million-acre Shasta-Trinity National Forest was established in 1954 by merging two previously separate national forests. The largest National Forest found solely in California (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is larger but mostly in Nevada), its top draws are its namesakes: the 14,179-foot (4,322-metre) Mount Shasta, 30,000-acre Shasta Lake, and 165-mile (266-kilometre) long Trinity River.
Shasta Lake is California’s largest artificial lake, and the forests feature countless mountains, lakes, rivers, roads, trails, and wilderness areas. This has established it as a popular destination for activities such as hiking, camping, backpacking, climbing, wildlife viewing, and more.
Redding, California (Fast Route)
Redding, California’s largest city north of Sacramento, was established in 1874 to be the western terminus of the Central Pacific Railroad. The state’s northernmost European settlement at the time, its name has changed back and forth between Redding and Reading through the years, due to debates over whether it is named after early settler Benjamin Bernard Redding or beloved local pioneer Pierson Barton Reading.
One of the major boom towns of the California Gold Rush, Redding’s population rose and fell with the economy of the mines. Eventually stabilising after the closure of the mines, it became the economic hub of the Shasta Cascade region and maintains that status today. It has recently become a popular tourist destination thanks to its wonderful cultural, historical, and natural attractions.
Those seeking a comprehensive guide to the city can find our best things to do in Redding article here.
Lassen Volcanic National Park & Lassen National Forest (Fast Route)
Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park and National Forest requires a small detour from our route, but those willing are sure to find it worthwhile.
Founded in 1916 and covering 106,589 acres, Lassen Volcanic National Park is the nation’s 11th oldest, 24th smallest, and 17th least visited National Park. Named in honour of one of the region’s early settlers, Peter Lassen, it was established to preserve the volcanic terrain that includes the world’s largest lava dome volcano, at least one of each type of volcano, hydrothermal features such as fumaroles, boiling pools, and bubbling mud pots, and a diverse array of wildlife including various mammals and more than 200 bird species.
Lassen National Forest offers a glimpse at the region’s more traditional natural beauty. Its vast wildernesses, mountains, Cottonwood and Aspen forests, hiking trails, lakes, waterfalls, and more, make it popular for activities such as camping, fishing, and winter sports. It is also a common stop on Northern California fall foliage road trips.
A more detailed analysis of the area can be found in our Lassen Volcanic National Park guide, here.
Sacramento, California (Fast Route)
California’s sixth-largest city and capital, Sacramento, is the state’s main centre for government and finance. One of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, it boasts a remarkable Chinatown, great LGBT neighbourhoods, the State Capitol building, and many amenities.
Sacramento is best known for its riverside area, Old Sacramento. Its 19th-century architecture, cobblestone pathways, and attractions like steam train excursions, museums, galleries, and horse-drawn carriage rides make it an enjoyable and informative destination. Its history also makes it one of the best places in the United States for ghost tours.
A detailed guide on the best things to do in Sacramento can be found here.
Napa Valley (Fast Route)
Napa Valley is a globally renowned wine area famed for its picturesque vineyards and hills, and Mediterranean-like climate. Home to many esteemed wineries, in settings from historic mansions to small vineyards, it provides opportunities to enjoy wine tastings, farm-to-table dining, and gourmet cuisine. Its scenic drives, hot-air balloon excursions, hiking trails, opulent spas, and quaint towns like Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga are all equally popular.
Vallejo, California (Fast Route)
Vallejo, on the northeast coast of San Pablo Bay, is best known as the home of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, a large amusement park offering a range of rides, roller coasters, animal exhibits, and over 40 attractions suitable for the whole family. It is also the location of Mare Island Naval Shipyard, a California Historical Landmark built in 1854 that was the first U.S. Navy base established on the West Coast and now functions as a living museum.
Other draws to Vallejo include it being home to one of the nation’s oldest LGBT communities and playing a huge role in the case of the Zodiac Killer, the notorious 1960s serial killer who was never caught.
Oakland, California (Fast Route)
Oakland is California's 8th-most populous city and boasts many attractions, including music venues, cultural establishments, museums, and art galleries. It has gained a reputation as one of the United States’ fastest-growing tourist spots, thanks to being far cheaper than San Francisco while located just across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
Final Thoughts On A Perfect Seattle To San Francisco Road Trip
That concludes our guide to planning the perfect Seattle to San Francisco road trip itinerary. You should now have everything you need to make the drive perfect, including the best route and time to travel, the duration, and where to stay and what to see along the way. We also have separate guides on where to stay and what to see in San Francisco, to help you out there, too.
All that’s left is to decide what to take with you, and then you can start booking and budgeting everything, so you can look forward to enjoying it all for yourself as soon as possible. Anyone looking to continue their journey may appreciate our selection of road trips from San Francisco. This includes:
A road trip from San Francisco to the Grand Canyon
A road trip from San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park
A road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas
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