Seattle to San Francisco
Feb 27th, 2003, 05:26 AM
#1
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Seattle to San Francisco
I will be travelling from Ireland to Seattle on 20 June next with my husband and two children (10 & 8). On 27 June we have to make our way to San Francisco. The cost of flights is approx $544. Could I do this more cheaply by travelling by car and taking one overnight on the way. Or how about train? Downside about car travel would be the drop-off charges. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Feb 27th, 2003, 06:36 AM
#2
Even with a drop fee, I think the car will likely be the cheapest method for four, counting airport and train station taxi connections, etc. The train is an option, and while the route is scenic in parts, the car will offer more options and flexibility, especially with kids. The train ends up in Oakland, too, from which one needs to bus across San Francisco Bay to get to SF. Not a big deal, but something of a hassle at the end of a rather long train trip. Shop around for car rental deals - drop fees are not always the case, and some agencies might have "California cars" they want returned to the Bay Area.
By driving, and if you can take the time, you can experience one of the premier scenic routes in North America. From Seattle make your way to the coast, then follow the coast highway (US 101) all the way to SF, via the stunning Oregon coast, the Redwoods (worth the whole trip for you and your kids - seriously), and ultimately the Golden Gate Bridge entering SF. In on-the-road time it takes around 15-18 hours depending on your specific route to the coast, so it's doable as an overnight especially on long June days. Stay overnight near the beach some place, or at a motel with a pool, and I'll wager your kids will have the time of their lives. So will you, by the way.
By driving, and if you can take the time, you can experience one of the premier scenic routes in North America. From Seattle make your way to the coast, then follow the coast highway (US 101) all the way to SF, via the stunning Oregon coast, the Redwoods (worth the whole trip for you and your kids - seriously), and ultimately the Golden Gate Bridge entering SF. In on-the-road time it takes around 15-18 hours depending on your specific route to the coast, so it's doable as an overnight especially on long June days. Stay overnight near the beach some place, or at a motel with a pool, and I'll wager your kids will have the time of their lives. So will you, by the way.
Feb 27th, 2003, 06:47 AM
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Thank you for your reply. I've no doubt but that the journey will be terrific. Last time I did the US trip we flew from Seattle to Oakland. Fairly uneventful. The thoughts of driving really appeals.
As I'm doing all my bookings over the internet I might just e-mail the agencies and ask for a "California Car" as you suggested. Never occurred to me to ask this.
While we are on the subject, do you have any suggestions as to where to stop. I just did a quick look on Map Quest and came up with Myrtle Beach. What is it like. Or might there be other "wow" places to stop. Once we get to San Francisco we're hooking up with my sister and continuing the drive down to Los Angeles visiting Yosemite, Santa Barbara and Disney, so its really going to be a road holiday.
Any additional ideas are always welcome. Roll on June....!!!!
As I'm doing all my bookings over the internet I might just e-mail the agencies and ask for a "California Car" as you suggested. Never occurred to me to ask this.
While we are on the subject, do you have any suggestions as to where to stop. I just did a quick look on Map Quest and came up with Myrtle Beach. What is it like. Or might there be other "wow" places to stop. Once we get to San Francisco we're hooking up with my sister and continuing the drive down to Los Angeles visiting Yosemite, Santa Barbara and Disney, so its really going to be a road holiday.
Any additional ideas are always welcome. Roll on June....!!!!
Feb 27th, 2003, 07:07 AM
#4
I'll dash off a quick answer before heading to work...
The rental agencies may not know if they have cars needing returning to Calif. until just before you leave. I'd book something (refundable!) to hold your place, then phone them incessantly when you arrive in the States.
More on the stops etc. later.
The rental agencies may not know if they have cars needing returning to Calif. until just before you leave. I'd book something (refundable!) to hold your place, then phone them incessantly when you arrive in the States.
More on the stops etc. later.
Feb 27th, 2003, 08:26 AM
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Have you tried booking directly with southwest.com? You may be able to get a cheaper fare, especially for your kids.
However, I love the drive from Seattle to the Bay Area, and if time permitted would choose this option. We have stopped in the past in Florence, which is a beautiful little town on the Oregon coast. You should be able to find reasonable accomodations there or nearby. Here's a link to a website with local information: http://www.el.com/to/florence/
Haven't stayed at the Driftwood Shores in Florence in a few years, but enjoyed it several times a few years ago. There's also a Best Western that looks fine.
As far as the train goes, I think it's more expensive than flying, and not too quick.
Have a great trip!
However, I love the drive from Seattle to the Bay Area, and if time permitted would choose this option. We have stopped in the past in Florence, which is a beautiful little town on the Oregon coast. You should be able to find reasonable accomodations there or nearby. Here's a link to a website with local information: http://www.el.com/to/florence/
Haven't stayed at the Driftwood Shores in Florence in a few years, but enjoyed it several times a few years ago. There's also a Best Western that looks fine.
As far as the train goes, I think it's more expensive than flying, and not too quick.
Have a great trip!
Feb 27th, 2003, 10:26 AM
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Here's a second vote for driving and doing an overnight in Florence, Oregon. It's where the Siuslaw River feeds into the ocean - I think the river is very impressive. There is a great state park, Honeyman State Park, just a few miles south of Florence - the entrance to it is on the main road. If you have the time, it would be a great place to let the kids run off some energy for a while before getting back in the car for the second day - it has a very pretty freshwater lake in the middle of huge sand dunes - good for wading, swimming, boating, and rolling/sliding down the dunes. They have a little park concession that rents boats, etc. there, nice forested picnic areas, hiking trails over the dunes to the beach. The lake is a lot warmer than the ocean, so swimming is more of a possibility there and playing on the dunes has been the highlight of my kids' trips to Oregon.
However be prepared for the fact that June (even the end of) can still be quite chilly and rainy on the Coast (I used to live in Eugene, about an hour inland from Florence, and we used to say that summer didn't even begin to arrive till after July 4). So you might want to have a plan B if the days you're driving are rainy and cold. I've done the drive between Oregon and San Francisco many times (I now live in Sonoma County, just north of SF) and, especially with summer RV traffic, etc., the Coast drive can be pretty slow and might be somewhat tedious for the kids (my kids are real troopers on car trips, but there's no denying that they are not as content with just looking at the scenery as adults are). You might want to consider doing part of the trip on the Coast and part on Interstate 5 where you will be able to make much better time - there is actually some nice scenery even on it in parts.
However be prepared for the fact that June (even the end of) can still be quite chilly and rainy on the Coast (I used to live in Eugene, about an hour inland from Florence, and we used to say that summer didn't even begin to arrive till after July 4). So you might want to have a plan B if the days you're driving are rainy and cold. I've done the drive between Oregon and San Francisco many times (I now live in Sonoma County, just north of SF) and, especially with summer RV traffic, etc., the Coast drive can be pretty slow and might be somewhat tedious for the kids (my kids are real troopers on car trips, but there's no denying that they are not as content with just looking at the scenery as adults are). You might want to consider doing part of the trip on the Coast and part on Interstate 5 where you will be able to make much better time - there is actually some nice scenery even on it in parts.
Feb 27th, 2003, 11:22 AM
#7
c1aro, SFE's right that you can expedite things by using the inland route, Interstate 5, for a portion of the trip.
Opiniions will vary widely, but if you want to do the drive in a fairly easy two days, I'd suggest the following: use the freeway (I-5) south from Seattle to Grants Pass, Medford, or Ashland, Oregon, around 8 hours' drive (a couple of which are visually interesting,) plus possible time for lunch in Portland (many fun things to see if you have time.) Then if you're interested, look into attending a performance that evening at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, one of the major performing arts venues in the US during the summer. See http://www.orshakes.org.
Then in the morning, use US Hwy 199 from Grants Pass to Crescent City, California, where you'll join US 101. From there, continue south to SF. You begin to see the Redwoods on US 199, then from Crescent City south for 150 miles or so there are numerous further opportunities to see these amazing trees.
Now, this route cuts out the entire length of the Oregon coast. This is a pity because it's a spectacular area. There are stretches along the California coastline where you will see comparable scenery, or if you have time to use the shoreline highway in California, Calif. State Route (SR) 1, even better. But frankly, for parts of the Oregon coast, you can just imagine the Ring of Kerry with more trees and fewer stone walls, and have a pretty good visual image. But the Redwoods have no counterpart anywhere else. I've driven a number of European folk through the area, and all are struck dumb.
Using the route I indicated will cut around 4 to 5 hours off the total driving time. I personally don't think it's worth it, because in June the interior of southern Oregon (Ashland etc.) and the Sacramento Valley in northern California, can be hot as hell, and once through the Siskyous, utterly boring for the kids.
Happy planning!
Opiniions will vary widely, but if you want to do the drive in a fairly easy two days, I'd suggest the following: use the freeway (I-5) south from Seattle to Grants Pass, Medford, or Ashland, Oregon, around 8 hours' drive (a couple of which are visually interesting,) plus possible time for lunch in Portland (many fun things to see if you have time.) Then if you're interested, look into attending a performance that evening at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, one of the major performing arts venues in the US during the summer. See http://www.orshakes.org.
Then in the morning, use US Hwy 199 from Grants Pass to Crescent City, California, where you'll join US 101. From there, continue south to SF. You begin to see the Redwoods on US 199, then from Crescent City south for 150 miles or so there are numerous further opportunities to see these amazing trees.
Now, this route cuts out the entire length of the Oregon coast. This is a pity because it's a spectacular area. There are stretches along the California coastline where you will see comparable scenery, or if you have time to use the shoreline highway in California, Calif. State Route (SR) 1, even better. But frankly, for parts of the Oregon coast, you can just imagine the Ring of Kerry with more trees and fewer stone walls, and have a pretty good visual image. But the Redwoods have no counterpart anywhere else. I've driven a number of European folk through the area, and all are struck dumb.
Using the route I indicated will cut around 4 to 5 hours off the total driving time. I personally don't think it's worth it, because in June the interior of southern Oregon (Ashland etc.) and the Sacramento Valley in northern California, can be hot as hell, and once through the Siskyous, utterly boring for the kids.
Happy planning!
Feb 28th, 2003, 04:21 AM
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Your could try the train. www.amtrak.com.
I did a test for you. Leaving Seattle to SanFrancisco (Fisherman's Wharf) on June 27. 2 adults and 2 children. the cost came out to be $282.00
You would leave Seattle at 10 am on the Coast Starlight. Arrive Emeryville at 8:10 on the 28th. Leave Emeryville at 8:25 and arrive at the Wharf at 9:10.
The Coast Starlight is suppose to be a beauty ride. You may really enjoy. Sightseeing car, walking around, eating, etc.
You could play around more - I did not use any promotion codes, specials, or additional fare codes for the price I recieved!
I did a test for you. Leaving Seattle to SanFrancisco (Fisherman's Wharf) on June 27. 2 adults and 2 children. the cost came out to be $282.00
You would leave Seattle at 10 am on the Coast Starlight. Arrive Emeryville at 8:10 on the 28th. Leave Emeryville at 8:25 and arrive at the Wharf at 9:10.
The Coast Starlight is suppose to be a beauty ride. You may really enjoy. Sightseeing car, walking around, eating, etc.
You could play around more - I did not use any promotion codes, specials, or additional fare codes for the price I recieved!
Feb 28th, 2003, 04:37 AM
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We did the same trip 2 years ago with kids a little older than yours. We stayed 2 nights along the way.
Day 1 - drove to see Mt. St. Helens and then overnight in Portland, Oregon.
Day 2 - drove to see redwood trees and overnight in Northern Calif.
Day 3 - arrive in SF. Spent 4 days there and then flew home.
Drop-off charges for one-way car rental were not that much, and we booked the car several months in advance with no problems of availability. Not sure what car rental company we used, but it was certainly one the the big names (Hertz, Avis, etc.)
Day 1 - drove to see Mt. St. Helens and then overnight in Portland, Oregon.
Day 2 - drove to see redwood trees and overnight in Northern Calif.
Day 3 - arrive in SF. Spent 4 days there and then flew home.
Drop-off charges for one-way car rental were not that much, and we booked the car several months in advance with no problems of availability. Not sure what car rental company we used, but it was certainly one the the big names (Hertz, Avis, etc.)
Feb 28th, 2003, 08:26 PM
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The drive is really quite beautiful and I think you and your children would enjoy it. If you do decide to drive, it might be fun for you to check out the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. They do wonderful outdoor presentations--they even have Elizabethan dancers and singers prior to the play to usher the audience in--and the town itself is lovely and it's probably about a half-way point between Seattle and S.F.
Also, I'm not sure if you mean the flights ocme to $544 all together or each, because I live in Seattle and get flights round-trip to San Francisco for around $150. But as many people have pointed out, the trip driving (or on train) offers truly beautiful scenery.
I hope you have a great trip and if you have any questions about Seattle, please ask, as those of us from Seattle are famous for our hospitality.
Also, I'm not sure if you mean the flights ocme to $544 all together or each, because I live in Seattle and get flights round-trip to San Francisco for around $150. But as many people have pointed out, the trip driving (or on train) offers truly beautiful scenery.
I hope you have a great trip and if you have any questions about Seattle, please ask, as those of us from Seattle are famous for our hospitality.
Feb 28th, 2003, 10:21 PM
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It's a looong drive, more than 800 miles by the shortest route, while longer (in time and distance) by the coast. I've made this drive many times over the years, and while I tend to enjoy it, you want to be sure your children won't go crazy cooped up in the car for so many hours. My children were used to long car trips, so it wasn't a problem, but I've known others to have a miserable time.
Since you will have had a week in Seattle, you should have a chance to see some of the Puget Sound coast. While I (from the dry part of California) like the Oregon coast, you might enjoy something more of a contrast to Ireland. If you head east from Portland, the Columbia river gorge is very unusual and scenic; you can then head down on US97 through the empty (and dry) side of Oregon (actually the really empty side is still further east). If you do that, Bend is a likely stopping point.
In either case, you might try to visit Mt St Helens in Washington, and Crater Lake in Oregon. They each would probably add at least 4 hours to your trip, though.
Since you will have had a week in Seattle, you should have a chance to see some of the Puget Sound coast. While I (from the dry part of California) like the Oregon coast, you might enjoy something more of a contrast to Ireland. If you head east from Portland, the Columbia river gorge is very unusual and scenic; you can then head down on US97 through the empty (and dry) side of Oregon (actually the really empty side is still further east). If you do that, Bend is a likely stopping point.
In either case, you might try to visit Mt St Helens in Washington, and Crater Lake in Oregon. They each would probably add at least 4 hours to your trip, though.
