Can we assume you're not returning to Seattle at the end and thus will be dropping off the car before returning to the UK?

If so, then you have ample time to cover the basic route, along with some side trips or zigzagging if you want.

Have you been to the western US and/or California before? Or where else in the US have you visited? More information will help with making suggestions.

If you are from the UK, look into booking your car through CarHire3000, their pricing will usually include all the needed insurance and will often have the one way dropoff fee waived.

There are a lot of nice trails for hiking of all lengths near Point Lobos in the Big Sur area. Have a great trip.

In 18 to 21 days - you have plenty of time to drive down the WA/Ore/Cal Coasts and/or inland - stopping in Portland for a few days, and/or SF - and maybe a day or two in LA and on to SD.

If necessary - you can also bullet back to Seattle in two days driving time, but flying back from there or Phoenix (were you thinking Grand Canyon and Sedona?) would be preferable. As noted - check on drop off fees before you commit.

You could also fly from SD to Phoenix - rent another car and go see the Grand Canyon (maybe 4 hours driving time from Phoenix ) and/or closer Sedona - acouple hours from Phoenix.

Driving time from SD to the GC or Phoenix is 8 or more hours. Here are some of the distances. The speed limit on the open freeways/motorways is from 65 to 70 to 75 miles per hour (depending on where you are) - in any event - over 100 KM per hour.

http://www.tripit.com/destinations/grand-canyon-national-park-driving-times-and-distances/

For renting cars here in the states - compare that webpage jamie gave you with www.carrentals.com, and see what works best for you.

As for accessing the Olympic Peninsula/parks (beyond Hurricane Ridge etc) as I recall - there is pretty much a northern approach or a southern approach - and don't think one is necessarily better/worse than the other? And the 1st of October should be fairly balmy weather, unless by chance a big storm blew in - and even then - don't think it snows much on those roads as they don't go up that high.

see: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/olympic-peninsula-washington-road-trip/

Let me just address the "scary roads" part of your question. Highway 101, which is the only road that goes around Olympic National Park, is for the most part at sea level or slightly above. When you get over by Kalaloch you will be driving along a bluff above the beach, but the road is straight. If you want to leave 101 to go up to Hurricane Ridge, you will be driving on a mountain road that is not scary in my opinion...twisty-turny in places. You might want to take a look at it using Google Earth.

Ooops. Have to explain that "sea level" comment. I guess I was focused on your concern about driving along with a sheer dropoff on one side or the other...that is something that you will not find, not even at Kalaloch. As you drive east-to-west across the northern portion of the peninsula you will certainly be above sea level, but you will be so far from the Strait of Juan de Fuca that you won't be able to see it from your car.

Thank you all for replies and such helpful info. We have toured New England and also did a trip to Yellowstone, Grand Canion and Las Vegas, both wonderful experiences (not so keen on LV but that's just me!)

We are not wanting to drive back to Seattle so thank you for tips about different drop off points.

Thanks Bobmrg for info on Highway 101 - it's a relief to know I will be able to keep my eyes open!

Tomsd - that's a helpful suggestion re flying to Phoenix and good to know the weather shouldn't be too bad.

Once again all, thanks for al the help.

Trying to combine
Seattle
Olympia National Park
Portland
Napa Valley
San Francisco
San Diego

With all the interesting places on the way!


San Diego

Hope you have a fun trip and fun in planning for it.l

Actually - the weather the first part of October is usually great. Not as hot as summer (in the places where it gets hot) and at night - a little briskness in the air. Just love that time of year.

Check back if you have more particular questions.

In your description of what you have seen and plan to see, I didn't see any mention of Yosemite -- this is a MUST SEE! I love Seattle, Olympic NP, the Napa Valley, and Portland -- but I would skip ANY of these in order to see Yosemite. Plain and simple, it's one of the most awe-inspiring, beautiful spots on this planet. Yes, lodging will be a problem -- but it's worth the trouble.

Please heed my advice to use Google Earth to check out your route. Can't be beat for answering questions about where roads go.

Between SF and SD, nice places to stay are:

Monterey or Carmel (see the aquarium there, might want to try kayaking in the bay, visit Point Lobos State Park, skip 17 Mile Drive unless you like golf courses)

Cambria (see Hearst Castle and nearby is a place to see elephant seals) or Pismo Beach

Santa Barbara (see the Mission, you can visit wineries in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley where they filmed the movie Sideways, and if you are there on a Sunday, there is usually an artists exhibit along the waterfront there).

Many thanks to all for your help. Now looking forward to detailed planning and booking flights.

Well we have planned what we think is good itinerary but would welcome any comments!

Fly into Seattle for 3 nights
Down to Mount Rainier National Park, staying for one night
On to Portland - is one night here ok or should we have two?
Driving on to Astoria, then to Cannon Beach, staying near here for 1 night
On to Yachatts, one night
Next drive to Coos Bay, then on to stay one night at Roseburg before travelling next day to
Crater Lake, staying one night.
Next on to Grants Pass via Klamath Falls, one might at G.Pass
Next day to Eureka, staying one night,
The on to San Francisco for 3 nights.
On to Yosemite, staying one night next day back to
Monterey for one night, then
Los Angeles for 3 nights, lastly on to
San Diego for 2. or 3 nights.

It sounds a lot and we have lengthened the trip to try to accommodate what we would like to see but would value opinions on whether we have made it too complicated.

Thank you

I would say that two days/nights in Seattle and Portland would be better. You can make it from Coos Bay to either Diamond Lake or Crater Lake in one day without the stop at Roseburg.
Let's hope that the first snow of the season does not start at Crater Lake the first week of October. It has before.
There is no need to go through K-Falls to get to Grants Pass to get on US 199 to Crescent City and Eureka Califrnia.
Where do you plan to stay in Rainier, Crater Lake and Yosemite?
It can be difficult to get reservations in or near these areas.

"The on to San Francisco for 3 nights.
On to Yosemite, staying one night next day back to
Monterey for one night, then
Los Angeles for 3 nights, lastly on to "

Unfortunately it sort of falls apart here. SF to Yosemite and then only one night gives you approx 1/2 a day in Yosemite. Yosemite to Monterey for one night gives approx1/2 a day for Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur.

Then from Monterey to LA is either a 6 hour fast/boring drive-or a two day, lovely scenic drive along the coast. As it is you will essentially see nothing for your 3 days of driving.

IMO - 5 nights putzing around criss crossing Oregon could maybe be streamlined a bit to hit your high points.

BTW - Eureka to SF is a 6 hour drive if you avoid the gorgeous N.California coast. It is a 9 hour drive (not counting stops) if you take the coast road.

So - while EVERYTHING you want to see/do are terrific -- you don't have the time for all of them. You either need to cut some things or add several days.

Some recommended modifications for your consideration:

Drive through Mount Rainier rather than spending the night there. Leave Seattle fairly early (days will be shortening) and visit Paradise Inn. You might find good autumn colo(u)r on the way up the mountain, but it might also be quite cold. In any event, spend a couple of hours at Rainier, then follow US 12 to Yakima rather than returning (boring and long) to I-5. At Yakima, head south on US 97 to the Columbia River, and overnight somewhere near Goldendale or The Dalles, OR.

The reason for this is that the east side of the Cascade Range is much dryer than the west, and in early October the Yakima Valley (Yakima and neighbo(u)ring communities) will be in the middle of the grape harvest - big, big wine-producing area. It will be warm, dry and more attractive than on the other side of the mountains, and if visiting Mount Rainier in the first place, this route adds very little to the "net" travel time between Seattle and the Portland area.

From that overnight (which would have been on Rainier) continue west through the Columbia Gorge to the Portland area. The Columbia Gorge was notably lacking in your itinerary, but the combination of landscape variety (high desert and sagebrush to forests and cliffs, remarkable vistas, waterfalls, interesting towns and easy side trips makes it a real "must do" given the rest of your itinerary. Spend the next night in the Portland area; you might consider the fun and funky McMenamin's Edgefield - http://www.mcmenamins.com/54-edgefield-home - for the night.

Then continue out to the coast as planned - I'd recommend following the north shore (WA side) of the Columbia downstream from Portland - historic towns and lovely drive - then enter Astoria over the mouth of the river - an awesome route.

Farther south, cut inland from Reedsport rather than Coos Bay - use Oregon Hwy 38, the most interesting and scenic of the routes through the Coast Range. Look for elk roadside just east of Reedsport.

I agree with tomfuller - there's no need to go via K-Falls; while that route might look interesting on a map, it isn't. Instead, just head back to the freeway on SR 62. If you leave Crater Lake in the morning there's no need to stop in Grants Pass that evening - just continue the 90 min. on out to the coast (Crescent City). Stay that night in Crescent City. It's not an especially attractive city but it will position you better for the next day, when you'll be in the Redwoods.

You will have gained a day in the process (no Grants Pass) so use it on the northern California coast. Visit the Redwood groves, but then turn right at Leggett onto California SR 1, and follow the coast down to Mendocino, a gorgeous little seaside town. In October this drive ought to be glorious. Spend the night in Mendocino, then here's the big switch in your itinerary. Hit Yosemite before San Francisco.

From Mendocino, head down the (beautiful) coast to SR 116, then east to US 101, then skirt around the top of San Pablo Bay (SR 37) to the junction with Interstate 80. Follow I-80 east through Sacramento to US 50, then east to the town of Folsom (as in prison) for a basic motel overnight. This day looks complicated on a map, but it's not particularly grueling, and it will spare you having to negotiate San Francisco traffic.

Anyway, from Folsom (or the general Sacramento area) follow California SR 49 south through the Gold Rush country to Yosemite. Highway 49 passes through a series of lovely, historic little towns - Columbia, Mokelumne Hill, Murphys, Angels Camp, etc. - and in the early autumn the Sierra foothills are very beautiful indeed. Enter Yosemite through Mariposa.

The reason for this switch of timing is to get you to Yosemite as early as possible, as the shortening days and cooling weather might restrict movement around the higher country in the park (Tuolumne Meadows etc.)

After Yosemite, return to San Francisco and resume your trip there, adding any additional nights to the coast heading south (I would switch one of the San Diego nights for Santa Barbara, by far the prettiest town on the southern California coast) but you can re-program(me) yourselves by that time.

I think this is all doable within your time budget without a huge additional amount of driving, and in my view adding the Columbia Gorge and the Sierra foothills/Gold Country to the itinerary makes it even more interesting than it was. It's still a very aggressive plan - really worthy of two or three separate trips, but if you want to have it serve as a sampler of the Pacific coastal area, it will do that nicely.

Leaving Crater Lake, take Rt. 62 west to Rt. 234 to Gold Hill.
You might want to visit the "House of Mystery" before you get to Grants Pass. http://www.oregonvortex.com/
Yes, Oregon has gold in a few creeks and rivers.
The other thing you might want to visit is the Oregon Caves which are a few miles off US 199 (Redwood Highway) on the way to Crescent City.

I agree with janisj, you need a few more nights once you leave San Francisco, especially need another night between Monterey and LA.

If somehow you MUST stay in the Roseburg-Grants Pass area, then I'd suggest Ashland instead.

You'll still have time to catch a play at the Ashland Shakespeare Festival (season ends in November)- maybe even in the "Globe Theater"!

http://www.osfashland.org/index.aspx

I like Gardyloo's itinerary - it makes a lot of sense.

Also agree that you must give much more time to the area between SF and LA - at least one night, if not two.

You drive the roads in GB and you think our roads are "scary"?

The lady will not enjoy Highway 1 below Mendocino if she is afraid of heights on the road. It is very scary.

I like Gardyloo's itinerary also. If driving Hwy 1 south of Mendocino is seems scary, an alternative is to take SR 128/29/12 through the Napa Valley to the junction of I-80. In Sacramento, I-80 will become Hwy 50 if you stay in the left hand lanes. It is not as difficult route. My parents lived in Ukiah for over 35 years. I live near Folsom, so I've traveled the roads.

I always travel SR 49 to Yosemite. The California Gold Country is so historic and beautiful. I know why California is considered the Golden state!

I agree with Easy Traveler. Ashland after Crater Lake would be tons more fun then Crescent City,especially
being from the UK.

May I ask, why Phoenix? It's not usually on people's travel list. Was there something special you wanted to see there? Taliesin West, perhaps? Art?

Well, am I glad I asked! Thank you so much all of you, especially gardyloo, janisj and tomfuller for such detailed help. We have "rebuilt" our itinerary and asked the travel agent to do the same - shifting overnight stays to give us more time on the Californian coast, as suggested. We will give Klamath Falls a miss - our agent had suggested it but I'd rather take your recommendations. No particular reason for Phoenix other than a friend's recommendation, but I think we've learnt that less is more! Can't wait, and thanks to you all, once again.

Even though I am from Klamath Falls, I think you will see plenty of other beautiful country on your trip if you miss it.

While 30 to 40 mile long Klamath Lake is very pretty - and the Running Y Resort is a great place to stay (what - with an Arnold Palmer designed golf course - http://www.runningy.com/ ) - Crater Lake is incredibly beautiful and Ashland has more to offer/things to do, including the open air Shakespeare theater.

You should have the time to weave inland. There's lots to see on the West Coast. If going around the Olympic Peninsula, don't miss Neah Bay for its Indian museum and hike to Cape Flattery.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/sets/72157622991196341/show/with/4235004880/

Crater Lake should be seen.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/4229845485/in/set-72157622981132189

And the California coast--here in reverse order from your itinerary:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/sets/72157624512998387/show/