San Francisco to Seattle Driving
 

I've been reading lots of useful info, and would like to zero in on my upcoming trip!
I'm Flying to Oakland, CA in early September, early pm and rushing to the beautiful coast ASAP.
Possible Itinerary:
Looking for lodging before/around Mendocino, CA for 1st night.
2nd & 3rd nights around Eureka, CA
4th night maybe Klamath Falls, Oregon before we enter Crater Lake, no availability in Park
See the Lake area and maybe make it to Eugene, OR for the 5th night
Drive to Florence, OR up the coast maybe to Newport, OR for 6th night
Further along coast to Astoria, OR for nights 7 & 8
Then by way of Columbia River Gorge area maybe to Mt. Rainier, WA and/or around Seattle Islands. Not Victoria this trip.
Still have 3 nights before we fly home. 12th night at SEA airport hotel.

Suggestions and advice appreciated. Thanks

In my view you're missing the most scenic part of the Oregon coast, the southernmost 70 miles (from the state line up to Port Orford.)

If it was me, I'd continue up US 101 to Bandon, OR, then head inland to Crater Lake, then north on US 97 to Hood River, through the Columbia Gorge to Portland, then out to the coast again around Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach. Then head to Seattle, maybe via Mount St Helens after following the north shore of the Columbia from Cape Disappointment to Longview and I-5.

Or just reconsider the whole Crater Lake detour (it's lovely but IMO it's a "two hour" national park - others may differ) and focus on the coastal areas, and save your mountain time for Mts. Hood, St. Helens or Rainier.

"Seattle Islands"? Are you referring to the San Juan Islands an hour and a half to two hours north of Seattle to get to Anacortes, where the ferry leaves from or are you thinking of going to Bainbridge Island (ferry from Seattle, but a fairly urban island or Whidbey Island, which you can get to via Edmonds or Mukilteo, half and hour to an hour north of Seattle.

>>Looking for lodging before/around Mendocino, CA for 1st night.<<

That is one very long drive (at least 4 hours if you are leaving in the early afternoon and in the afternoon and more if you are leaving during the afternoon commute) and if you are staying only one night you will see next to nothing of Mendocino County.

I agree -- skip Crater Lake . . .

>>Still have 3 nights before we fly home.<<

Then what is your rush? Add two or three nights on the northern CA and OR coasts.

Into Oakland in PM...would be dark by time you reach Mendocino.Might consider staying in Bodega Bay ..west of Santa Rosa..could go north on to Russian River area to get back on to 101
Plus highway 101 to Eureka...to get to Mendocino is one hour west of Willits then hour to get back to 101--very twisty road..
Eureka--one night is enough...this town is about 4 hours from Bandon OR and is a beautiful drive--lots of lodging on coast-- In fact the whole OR. coast is beautiful although slow driving.. even September is still busy..
Astoria on Columbia River is full of history..several hotels on the river and good restaurants...Driving into Portland and up Columbia River Gorge is beautiful.
North of Portland off I 5 is scenic highway to Mt. St. Helens.
Be aware traffic from Tacoma into Seattle is s nightmare almost all day..Allow lots of time.
Hope this helps..
PS skip Crater lake...

Thanks for the advice, , I've never traveled this area before and trying to see the best sights in 12 days. What would be your plans for nightly stops? We wanted to stay 2 nights in 2 places to slow down our schedule.

>>I'm Flying to Oakland, CA in early September, early pm<<

>>Into Oakland in PM...would be dark by time you reach Mendocino.<<

OK -- we need some clarification -- by "early PM" I assumed you meant early afternoon, while traveler24 thought you meant evening. It actually does make a big difference. If you land early afternoon you could make it pretty far up the coast, if you land in the evening - not.

Yes, 2-3 pm into Oakland. Skipping Crater Lake Area & Mt Rainer.

Thinking so far:

1st night - Port Arena, CA

2 - Eureka, CA

3 - Coos Bay,

4 & 5 - Astoria, maybe

5 & 6 - Around Portland, (Columbia River Gorge)

Leaving Portland en route to Mt St Helen 7 night

4 more nights

ONP -

Maybe a San Juan island? other island/port by ferry?

Am I getting better?

Again, thank you all very much.

By the time you pick up the car and all that, you're probably going to encounter some pretty serious traffic getting out of Oakland. I assume you're planning to use the San Rafael bridge, then cut through the hills to the coast, or are you planning to go into SF and use the Golden Gate, then out to Stinson Beach on CA 1? If the latter then that's going to be one seriously long afternoon.

Look at Ferndale (south) or Arcata or Trinidad (both north) of Eureka. Don't miss the Avenue of the Giants byway south of Eureka.

Coos Bay is pretty meh for tourists. Choose Bandon instead; this will also give you more time to explore the redwoods and southern Oregon coast. Even so, this will still be a very full day.

I don't know that two nights on the north coast is necessary. You might consider taking your time along the coast and spend one night each in Yachats and the Astoria area (Cannon Beach, Seaside, Astoria or Ilwaco WA.)

There's not much in the way of accommodations convenient to the turnoff to Mt. St. Helens from I-5. If your next major destination is Olympic NP, continue on to Olympia after MSH. Nice little downtown, pretty Capitol grounds, lots of good places to eat. Then out SR 8 to US 101 and north to Lake Quinault and the ONP coast.

Meant to add, look at Whidbey Island instead of the San Juans. Less complicated travel, plenty to see and do, and easily accessed from the Olympic Peninsula via the Port Townsend - Coupeville ferry.

>>Am I getting better? <<

Yes, better . . . but do you want to be let down gently or tough love ;)

>>1st night - Port Arena, CA <<

That would be point Arena. It is a really aggressive plan. If you land at say 3PM, by the time you get your rental car and hit the road you will be in the teeth of the afternoon commute and to Point Arena will take 4 or more hours. Then you'll have to leave again early the next morning of you want to see anything between Pt Arena and Eureka, which another 4.5 hour drive (or more if there is construction) plus at least 5 or 6 hours worth of stops.

Then on day 3 you have another 5 hour drive plus stops . . . just a LOT of driving. Now, if you want this mainly to be a road trip, it isn't bad really. Top down, pedal to the metal, enjoying the scenery w/o stopping many places it would be a fin drive. But if you want to hike, or explore the redwoods, or sit on a beach, then you probably should slow down a little.

Oh -- didn't see Gardyloo's post -- yep

I agree Coos Bay would be a disappointing stop. At least head for Florence.

Check out Driftwood shores as a place to stay - it's on the ocean or Best Western which is on the river.