Sacramento - Seattle via Oregon coast

Old Sep 6th, 2017, 03:22 PM
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Sacramento - Seattle via Oregon coast

Hi all,

We are traveling to drop our daughter to college in Seattle. We plan to drive from Sacramento on 16th Sept am (or even 15th). We want to go through Oregon coast- Maybe spend a day/2 on the road ( in B&Bs /hotels) And arrive in Seattle on the 18th and head into Victoria, BC. We have driven to Vancouver BC multiple times, always on I-5, stopping in Portland overnight on the way up and on the way back, we usually spend a night in Ashland. We have never done Oregon coast before.

We are 2 parents, a 18 year old and a 4 year old. We love beaches and IPAs and will be driving in a Subaru. we love a comfortable , clean bed and good breakfast. No hiking with the 4 year old. no museums. just want to run free.

Questions:

1. Where do we spend the night?

2. What should we not miss?

3. Any ideas from veterans on the "inside scoop"- places to visit.

4.Best route to use.

5.Which Breweries not to miss.

Thank you!!!
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Old Sep 6th, 2017, 03:41 PM
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Have you been paying attention to the news? Fires almost everywhere. From what I've heard, north coast is fine, but I don't know about southern Oregon. I know there are a few around coos bay at least.

I like wet dog brewery in Astoria. Newport has some good places, and also the aquarium is always fun. Elizabeth Street Inn is probably my favorite hotel there. I've stayed at most of the cheap ones too. You may want to post budget if that matters- I think the coast is still in high season, and it may be costly at short notice. Tolovana Inn in Cannon Beach has a great pool, and is right on the beach.

Breakfast: all in Cannon beach: Cannon beach bakery or the log cabin restaurant, or insomnia coffee. Or pignpancake, in various towns. Very popular on the coast.

There's a mcmenamins in gearhart. I haven't stayed there, but I always enjoy their pub and beers, so I'd stop there for one night.
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Old Sep 6th, 2017, 03:58 PM
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Leaving on the 16th, if you need to be IN Seattle by the 18th, you don't have time to take the coast. Barely enough time to take I-5.

If you leave the morning if the 15th, you could squeeze in the coast. It would still be a real rush. I-5 > Hwy 20 > 101 then back east to I-5 and north to Seattle. This would hit Crescent City, say Bandon, central OR and then on to Seattle and is nearly 1000 miles and easily 18 hours car time plus stops. That is a LOT of time behind the wheel especially w/ a 4yo along for the ride.


If it was me - I't just head straight up to Seattle and do the coast some other time.
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Old Sep 6th, 2017, 04:15 PM
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Janis, oregon coast can easily be driven in a day. I've done it. They essentially have one night on the south coast and one night on the north coast. Brookings to Astoria is around 7 hours, and they still have a lot of daylight. And Astoria to Seattle is less than 4.

It means a long driving day on the 16th, that's all. With a 4 year old, I probably would start out the 15th, but driving the coast really isn't that much longer than driving I5, and they've apparently done that with the kid before.
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Old Sep 6th, 2017, 04:25 PM
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Driven every bit if the CA/OR coasts countless times. Sure they could do this -- but with a 4 yo and presumably a car full of 'dorm stuff' and all the firs issues etc. Why? It isn't necessary and would really just be a road trip w/ very little time out of the car.

I 100% would not do it unless we could leave by noon on the 15th. That would be doable. leaving the 16th - I just don't see it.
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Old Sep 6th, 2017, 04:32 PM
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Presumably because they want a change of scenery. That's usually the reason I do it. More interesting places to stop and let the kid run on 101 than on I5. Some people enjoy road trips. Like I said, I'd leave the 15th too, but it's doable leaving on the 16th.
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Old Sep 7th, 2017, 05:13 AM
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I go from Seattle to Sacramento pretty often (friends in Gold River) and I hate the I-5 drive, especially in the summer when the Rogue Valley (Medford, Grants Pass) can he hot enough to melt tires. Here's the route I use in the northbound direction - https://goo.gl/maps/DwDNFvMprdq

I use CA 20 to cut from the central valley over to US 101; the roads farther north tend to be quite a lot slower. Then I use OR 38 from Reedsport back to I-5 at the south end of the Willamette Valley; it's quite scenic and relatively quick. You can, however continue north along the coast to Newport (then across to Corvallis) or even farther; you can even go as far as Astoria, although the routes to the east tend to be a little slower once you're north of Lincoln City on the Oregon coast.

I personally find the southernmost 60 or 70 miles of the Oregon coast (from the state line to Port Orford) to be the most scenic part of the whole coast.

If you leave early on the 16th and are okay with arriving in Seattle on the evening of the 18th, that gives you three full driving days, so with something like 17-20 hours needed "wheels turning" (I usually do it quicker but I don't have a 4-yo with me) I think it's fine. Spend the first night around Eureka/Arcata - maybe Trinidad, on a scenic cove, then the second at Eugene, having toured the northern redwoods and southern Oregon coast. Then zoom up to Seattle on the 18th. https://goo.gl/maps/fV6XVVP3kQy
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Old Sep 7th, 2017, 06:02 AM
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Gardyloo's route is basically what I was talking about. I-5 from Sac up to Hwy 20, west to 101, then back to I-5 from the OR coast and book on to Seattle. Doable but definitely not much time for any brewery visits.
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Old Sep 7th, 2017, 09:15 AM
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Gardyloo always has the best plans! Take his advice.

But I do also agree with your very short timeframe and trying to drive a scenic (slower) route you won't have a lot of time for "running free" -haha-
~suze
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Old Sep 7th, 2017, 08:49 PM
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I would save the Oregon Coast for the way back when you can do it leisurely but maybe that isn't possible for you. It is lovely, I would hate to just drive through and not enjoy it.
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