I'm looking for a two day scenic drive ending up in Seattle
Jan 21st, 2006, 07:04 PM
#21
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Whitey, I'm weighing in late on this , but let me share my experiences.
First, Endless Ocean bores me, I must confess.
You have 2 ways to come north from SF, either up and over to I-5, or up Ca 1 and 101.
One way we like to come up is through the Napa Valley, on to Calistoga, and over on Ca 20 to I 5 at Williams. This is pretty, but better, has a lot of food stops along the way. You motor north with Mt. Shasta in view, hitting the mountains and on to Asland for the
First, Endless Ocean bores me, I must confess.
You have 2 ways to come north from SF, either up and over to I-5, or up Ca 1 and 101.
One way we like to come up is through the Napa Valley, on to Calistoga, and over on Ca 20 to I 5 at Williams. This is pretty, but better, has a lot of food stops along the way. You motor north with Mt. Shasta in view, hitting the mountains and on to Asland for the
Jan 21st, 2006, 07:15 PM
#22
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Hi BBQ,
Your message got a little cutoff, but thanks, I appreciate the input. I was wondering if the drive completely along the ocean needed a few inroads here and there to break it up a bit. I live a couple blocks from ocean here in RI, so I do get to see the water quite a bit on a daily basis. My plans are still wide open, so thanks to anyone with some ideas and comments.
Whitey
Your message got a little cutoff, but thanks, I appreciate the input. I was wondering if the drive completely along the ocean needed a few inroads here and there to break it up a bit. I live a couple blocks from ocean here in RI, so I do get to see the water quite a bit on a daily basis. My plans are still wide open, so thanks to anyone with some ideas and comments.
Whitey
Jan 21st, 2006, 07:18 PM
#23
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Whoops!
...on to Ashland and the Rogue Valley for the evening. I've plugged the Ashland Area a fair amount on here, and I know it's a unique expierence you'd enjoy. From here, you'd travel to Grants Pass, then follow US 199 back to the Coast and through the top of the Redwoods at Jedidah Smith State Park(better than the National Park).
There you'd hit 101 and head North.
You could cut over at Or 18, US 26 and head into Portland, or keep going on 101 to Astoria.
The other way we have friends come is to take 1/101 from SF, then head to the Rogue Valley on US 199, coming to Ashland, then up I-5 to
Eugene, and back to the coast on 126, and on up.
This allows you to see some of Oregon's best known cities and attractions, as the coast is mostly devoid of folks.
Our favorite towns on the coast are Yachats and Astoria, for what that's worth.
You can do it in two days, but three would make
for a worthwhile trip.
I think you should reverse your route and stay on the West Coast up and down, but that's me.
The Great Basin is no Match for the Pacific Northwest.
...on to Ashland and the Rogue Valley for the evening. I've plugged the Ashland Area a fair amount on here, and I know it's a unique expierence you'd enjoy. From here, you'd travel to Grants Pass, then follow US 199 back to the Coast and through the top of the Redwoods at Jedidah Smith State Park(better than the National Park).
There you'd hit 101 and head North.
You could cut over at Or 18, US 26 and head into Portland, or keep going on 101 to Astoria.
The other way we have friends come is to take 1/101 from SF, then head to the Rogue Valley on US 199, coming to Ashland, then up I-5 to
Eugene, and back to the coast on 126, and on up.
This allows you to see some of Oregon's best known cities and attractions, as the coast is mostly devoid of folks.
Our favorite towns on the coast are Yachats and Astoria, for what that's worth.
You can do it in two days, but three would make
for a worthwhile trip.
I think you should reverse your route and stay on the West Coast up and down, but that's me.
The Great Basin is no Match for the Pacific Northwest.
Jan 21st, 2006, 09:10 PM
#26
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Here ya go, Whitey.
http://www.sova.org
http://www.ashlandchamber.com
http://www.mtshastachamber.com/livehist.html
http://www.skimountaineer.com/Cascad...adeWebCams.php
http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stori.../ashland06.asp
You might consider Seeing Crater Lake and Bend also
Just a few links to gum up your plans.
We've done the coast all the Way from Marin to Victoria, but as I stated earlier, most of the folks are inland.
http://www.sova.org
http://www.ashlandchamber.com
http://www.mtshastachamber.com/livehist.html
http://www.skimountaineer.com/Cascad...adeWebCams.php
http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stori.../ashland06.asp
You might consider Seeing Crater Lake and Bend also
Just a few links to gum up your plans.
We've done the coast all the Way from Marin to Victoria, but as I stated earlier, most of the folks are inland.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 12:36 PM
#31
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Hey BBQ,
I'll probably do the SF to Seattle trip only one direction. So with that in mind, would you suggest I drive Napa and then the I5 to Ashland and stay the night. Next day, loop around 199 through the Smith state park, then take my time along the Oregon coast, heading inland when I've seen enough of the ocean. If that sounds right, where's a nice town to stop in for the night if I don't make it to Seattle on the second day?
Thanks,
Whitey
I'll probably do the SF to Seattle trip only one direction. So with that in mind, would you suggest I drive Napa and then the I5 to Ashland and stay the night. Next day, loop around 199 through the Smith state park, then take my time along the Oregon coast, heading inland when I've seen enough of the ocean. If that sounds right, where's a nice town to stop in for the night if I don't make it to Seattle on the second day?
Thanks,
Whitey
Jan 22nd, 2006, 12:59 PM
#32
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If things are going good, you should make it to Seattle middle of the 3rd day.
Yachats is my favorite town on the coast.
Tiny and cool.
http://www.yachats.org/
There's also Cape Kiwanda Inn and the Pelican Pub Brewery-
http://www.pelicanbrewery.com/
http://www.innatcapekiwanda.com/home.html
or Astoria-
http://www.rosebriar.net/discover.html
...or you could cut back in at 126 to Eugene, also cool, or hit I-5 and motor on to Portland for the night.
Yachats is my favorite town on the coast.
Tiny and cool.
http://www.yachats.org/
There's also Cape Kiwanda Inn and the Pelican Pub Brewery-
http://www.pelicanbrewery.com/
http://www.innatcapekiwanda.com/home.html
or Astoria-
http://www.rosebriar.net/discover.html
...or you could cut back in at 126 to Eugene, also cool, or hit I-5 and motor on to Portland for the night.
Jan 23rd, 2006, 02:45 PM
#34
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From SF to Seattle, I would go up Hwy 1 from SF, up through Marin and Sonoma counties, and get onto 101 when 1 ends (you CAN just take 101 from the city if time is short, it just doesn't meet the coast for a while). Head up through the redwoods-this is an amazing, gorgeous drive. I'd stick to the Oregon Coast until you get short on time, then head up I-5 to Seattle. Definitely stop at Mt. Rainier or St. Helens on the way to Seattle.
Jan 23rd, 2006, 03:01 PM
#35
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SF to Seattle is 14 hours if you bomb straight through on the interstate. I too have made in 12, but that's risking a ticket the whole way. And bombing straight through on the interstate is BORING. It's only for people trying to make time, period.
If you're looking for scenery, take the coast route, and take two days. Even then, you won't be stopping for much; just driving. It's a MUCH longer and MUCH slower route.
If I were you, trying to get all the way over to Glacier, I would NOT go via Omak. The drive from Twisp to Omak is pretty, but very slow going. I would cruise straight down through Winthrop.
Unfortunately if you're trying to get as far as Glacier, you're going to have to make choices. For instance, you won't be able to fit in the lovely drive through Grand Coulee -- that's between the town of Grand Coulee and Coulee City. Gorgeous, but you've got a TON of miles to pick up. You have to choose: Grand Coulee Dam, OR Omak - Kettle Falls - Pend Oreille. I would choose the latter because I've seen the dam, but you haven't, so I dunno.
Just getting to Glacier is going to be hard enough. You definitely want to do US 2, I think; there are numerous scenic routes but you don't have time to do them all, or any but one, really. US 2 gives you a fast route but loads to look at. The stretch across the middle of WA is going to seem like driving on the moon to an Easterner (now, imagine more than twice as far, and you've got the REAL West of Montana). Basically, when you're calculating your time, I would assume that any travel on state highways (i.e., not on US 2 or the Interstate) is going to be in the 45-mph range. Mountain driving is slow going sometimes.
If you're looking for scenery, take the coast route, and take two days. Even then, you won't be stopping for much; just driving. It's a MUCH longer and MUCH slower route.
If I were you, trying to get all the way over to Glacier, I would NOT go via Omak. The drive from Twisp to Omak is pretty, but very slow going. I would cruise straight down through Winthrop.
Unfortunately if you're trying to get as far as Glacier, you're going to have to make choices. For instance, you won't be able to fit in the lovely drive through Grand Coulee -- that's between the town of Grand Coulee and Coulee City. Gorgeous, but you've got a TON of miles to pick up. You have to choose: Grand Coulee Dam, OR Omak - Kettle Falls - Pend Oreille. I would choose the latter because I've seen the dam, but you haven't, so I dunno.
Just getting to Glacier is going to be hard enough. You definitely want to do US 2, I think; there are numerous scenic routes but you don't have time to do them all, or any but one, really. US 2 gives you a fast route but loads to look at. The stretch across the middle of WA is going to seem like driving on the moon to an Easterner (now, imagine more than twice as far, and you've got the REAL West of Montana). Basically, when you're calculating your time, I would assume that any travel on state highways (i.e., not on US 2 or the Interstate) is going to be in the 45-mph range. Mountain driving is slow going sometimes.
Jan 23rd, 2006, 04:31 PM
#36
Having driven between Seattle and SF using both I-5 and 101, oh, maybe, 60 or 70 times, my recommendation is to take 101. In strict driving terms, i.e., hours behind the wheel with the motor running, and not breaking any speed limits (well, within reason 
) I have found the coast to be roughly 5 hours longer than taking I-5. (And from LAX, by the way, roughly 7 hours longer - that's all.) Now that's using I-5 for some distance - either to Olympia then cutting over, or, my favorite but requiring a couple hours of sensory deprivation on I-5 in the Chehalis-Portland and Portland-Eugene bits, is Oregon SR38 between Drain and Reedsport, along the beautiful Umpqua river canyon.
Obviously conditions will vary, as will things like traffic, road construction, etc., but saying that the coast is much, much slower than the freeway doesn't jibe with my experience. The OP wants an overnight anyway, so the coast is the ticket.
Stopping in Ashland, or using the US101-US199 crossover is okay, but the northbound timing from SF is poor. Leaving SF in the morning it's a long day to Grants Pass; if you overnight in the Redwoods then the Rogue Valley is too close to warrant a stopover. Besides, in the summer the Rogue Valley is often hot enough to melt your tires; not my kind of place. YMMV.
) I have found the coast to be roughly 5 hours longer than taking I-5. (And from LAX, by the way, roughly 7 hours longer - that's all.) Now that's using I-5 for some distance - either to Olympia then cutting over, or, my favorite but requiring a couple hours of sensory deprivation on I-5 in the Chehalis-Portland and Portland-Eugene bits, is Oregon SR38 between Drain and Reedsport, along the beautiful Umpqua river canyon. Obviously conditions will vary, as will things like traffic, road construction, etc., but saying that the coast is much, much slower than the freeway doesn't jibe with my experience. The OP wants an overnight anyway, so the coast is the ticket.
Stopping in Ashland, or using the US101-US199 crossover is okay, but the northbound timing from SF is poor. Leaving SF in the morning it's a long day to Grants Pass; if you overnight in the Redwoods then the Rogue Valley is too close to warrant a stopover. Besides, in the summer the Rogue Valley is often hot enough to melt your tires; not my kind of place. YMMV.
Jan 24th, 2006, 05:17 AM
#37
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In my experience, people who don't live around Mountains are fascinated by them, especially if they already live by the Ocean. The first sight of Mt. Shasta looming is just plain like nothing in RI,
I'll wager.
I'll wager.
Jan 24th, 2006, 09:47 AM
#38
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Thanks for the insight everyone, you've been great with the suggestions. I know it is early, but I've been shopping airfare a bit and it's quite expensive in comparitve terms flying out of Montana or Wyoming. As a backup plan, I thought I might consider extending the end of the trip, so as to fly out of a major city like Denver, Salt lake city, etc. Also as a backup, I thought I would explore bbq's suggestion of keeping the entire trip in the Pacific northwest as opposed to heading toward Glacier and Montana. Any thoughts? Thanks,
Whitey
Whitey
Jan 24th, 2006, 10:06 AM
#39
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Do The olympic Penisula & Makah Nation.
http://www.northolympic.com/makah/
Take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, them explore Vancouver Island and on over to Vancouver. then back and fly out of Seattle
http://www.northolympic.com/makah/
Take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, them explore Vancouver Island and on over to Vancouver. then back and fly out of Seattle
Jan 24th, 2006, 10:11 AM
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