Seattle to San Francisco Summer Road Trip
 

We are planning a week long road trip from Seattle to San Francisco. We would have 7 full days to make the drive, but there are so many magnificent things to see along the way. We would like to try and maximize our time but know that we obviously cannot see it all in such a limited time frame.

The tentative plan would be to set out from Seattle and visit Olympic National Park, head down to Portland, we would like to see the Painted Hills, then make our way to San Francisco stopping for Lake Tahoe and Yosemite on the way.

Is there any specific route that would be best for this? Or has someone done a similar trip and has any advice?

Thanks in advance for any help!

>>then make our way to San Francisco stopping for Lake Tahoe and Yosemite on the way.<<

I wouldn't. First of all you really don't have the time and probably won't be able to get accommodations in Yosemite at this late date.

I'd stik to the coast myself . . . Southern Oregon, the Redwoods, Mendocino -- but even that would be pretty rushed in just 7 days.

Yosemite and Lake Tahoe are sadly out of your way with only a week, plus doubtful you can get ressies for Yosemite anyway for this summer, unless you called daily and lucked into a cancellation.

You do not have time for Olympic National Park. Just getting there and back would eat up one day and you would not have time to see anything. Save that experience for a future trip when you can devote three full days to ONP.

Your choice which parts to cut but what you have described is more like a 3 week road trip!

Much has to do with your traveling style and your tolerance for long days and long drives. With seven full days (and I do mean full) you could hit many of the highlights including a quick loop around the Olympic Peninsula, but it would involve some fairly long days and not a lot of time to hang out. As said above, Tahoe and Yosemite are out; the detours are just too long.

Here's an example:

Day 1 - Seattle to Port Angeles; visit Hurricane Ridge.

Day 2 - PA to Quinault, with stops at the Hoh Valley rainforest and Ruby Beach on the Olympic NP coastal strip.

Day 3 - Quinault to Portland, with a late afternoon drive along the Historic Columbia Gorge Highway between Troutdale and Multnomah Falls.

Day 4 - Portland to Yachats on the coast. You might need to stay in Newport since many places on the central Oregon coast will have 2-night minimums.

Day 5 - Yachats to Crescent City CA. Major coastal scenery between Yachats and Florence, and from Port Orford to the state line.

Day 6 - Crescent City to Mendocino. All day through the redwoods, including the Avenue of the Giants byway just south of Eureka.

Day 7 - Mendocino to SF; follow CA Hwy 1 to the Golden Gate.

All of these days would involve between 5 and 6 hours "wheels turning," i.e. a full day counting stops and sightseeing. But it's technically doable. If that's not your style, major editing will be needed.

The Painted Hills, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite NP are not "on the way" when driving from Seattle to San Francisco.

If your aim is to see these three places before going to San Francisco, you will not be near our favorite destinations on the way between Seattle and San Francisco: Mt. Rainier, the Columbia River Gorge, the Oregon Coast from Cannon Beach to Brookings, and the redwood forests of northern California.

HTtY

I should have mentioned that I have always been able to get rooms at Yosemite (and other national parks) at the busiest times because those who cancel reservations must do so seven days in advance of arrival. Many people cancel. I am persistent and optimistic. I call relentlessly until I book a room that was canceled by somebody who had reserved it earlier.

HTtY