The Ultimate Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary
People always ask what’s been my favorite stop during my 8-month road trip around the U.S. While I typically respond in a way that avoids offending whoever is asking the question, I’m going to give it to you straight — I was obsessed with my time spent in the Pacific Northwest. I delayed my travels down the coast of California (which is beautiful, don’t get me wrong) just to spend some extra time in Washington and Oregon! Between the strong coffee, misty beach views, fresh sushi, and ancient redwood forests, there’s still so much I’ve yet to explore! I’ve condensed my month of travels in the PNW into a weeklong itinerary. Have more time? Email me, and I’ll share some additional nearby gems!
How to fall in love with the PNW in 7 days.
Pacific Northwest Road Trip Highlights:
Seattle, WA
Olympic Peninsula, WA
Cannon Beach, OR
Portland, OR
Day 1-2: Seattle, WA
Honestly, Seattle surpassed all my expectations. The only POSSIBLE negative I can think about with this city is the dreary weather, but even that is something you get used to! Seattle has an ideal mix of urban living, gorgeous nature smack dab in the middle of the city, exciting nearby destinations, and awesome FOOD! The average cup of coffee and local sushi spot is downright fantastic! I also love the layout of the city with rolling hills and tiny islands to explore. Here are some of my top tips for your visit!
Top Things to See and Eat in Seattle:
Sea Wolf Bakers — Do yourself a favor and start your Seattle explorations with a Sea Wolf chocolate croissant or cinnamon roll and never look back.
Pike Place Market — Who DOESN’T want to catch an Alaskan Halibut being hurled at you from a fishmonger?! It may be touristy, but Pike Place Fish Market still a must-visit spot! I just loved strolling through the market stalls to peruse the unique food and flowers being sold. When your legs need a break, head inside to the classic French restaurant, Maximilien, for a French 75 and some frites… such a perfect afternoon!
Coffee — Anywhere in Seattle has a cup of coffee that is likely some of the best you’ve ever tasted. Check out Eater's list of some of the best Seattle coffee shops. AND if you’re a loyal Starbucks fan, don’t miss a visit to the original Starbucks shop, which is located just across the street from Pike Place Fish Market! It’s pretty neat to see what the original café looked like before all of the green corporate branding rolled out!
Sushi — Outside my solo trip to Tokyo, I’ve never tasted sushi as fresh as I did in Seattle. I’m pointing you back to Eater for a list of Seattle’s latest and greatest sushi restaurants, knowing that you can’t go wrong with any of ‘em! It’s worth noting that while you can find restaurants that make fun specialty rolls with lots of pizzaz, this city tends to be more of a purist when it comes to sushi; opt for the sashimi and nigiri!
The Space Needle — Check The Space Needle off your bucket list and get that quintessential Seattle skyline view.
Nearby islands — Looking for a day trip escape from the hustle and bustle? Hop on the ferry to Bainbridge Island or check out Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. You can snag some gorgeous views of the Puget sound and harbor-side island cocktails and still get back to the city before sunset.
Snoqualmie — One of the things I love about Seattle is its proximity to nature. Only 30 minutes outside the city is gorgeous Snoqualmie Falls with TONS of nearby hiking trails and viewpoints!
Detour: Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, Washington is a Bavarian-style alpine village set right at the base of the Cascade mountains. With its cute shops, giant pretzels, and beer gardens, this town will transport you to Europe, despite only being a 2-hour drive from downtown Seattle.
Detour: Mount Rainier and North Cascades National Parks
I’m a bit of a National Park junkie. Without planning it, I visited 20 National Parks (plus some National Monuments!) in 2020! Despite having seen a TON of America’s natural beauty, the parks located in the PNW are some of my all-time favorites!! If you’re going to be in the area, I HIGHLY recommend visiting Mount Rainier National Park (the Everest of the U.S.) and North Cascades National Park. Even in slightly overcast weather, these parks are worth a trek!
Day 3: Olympic Peninsula, WA
As I mentioned, I’m a bit of a National Park junkie… so obviously I recommend taking a day to explore Olympic National Park on the Washington coast! The topography and climates are SO varied; it’s a super interesting region and a must-stop for any nature lover!
Top Things to See on the Olympic Peninsula:
Hurricane Ridge — Stunning mountain vistas, alpine lakes, and hiking galore!
Hoh Rainforest — A little piece of the Amazon in Washington state.
Ruby Beach — Bright blue waters crashing into steep cliffs with a small beach to boot. Think Big Sur, much further north. This is your first taste of that breathtaking PNW coastline!
Day 4: Cannon Beach, OR
The drive south from Ruby Beach to Cannon Beach is a destination itself; winding coastal views and towering redwoods. This is what makes road trips so special; you can’t get this magic on a plane! Fans of the 1985 cult classic, The Goonies, will immediately recognize Cannon Beach; this is the iconic beach where the movie was filmed! This coastal area was one of my all-time favorite spots from my entire month spent in the PNW!
Top Things to See and Eat in Cannon Beach:
Neahkahnie Mountain — Looking for epic views overlooking the beach? Hike up to the summit of Neahkanie Mountain at sunset for picture-perfect views from the sky!
Haystack Rock — The epicenter of Cannon Beach, this famous rock jutting out of the water is called a sea stack! Take a walk down the beach on a gloomy morning and watch how the shallow water mirrors the clouds in the sky; definitely Instagram-worthy!
Pelican Brewing — With a few locations up and down the coast, Pelican Brewing is a fantastic lunch or dinner spot with tons of local beer options! While the Cannon Beach location is super convenient for this itinerary, I recommend their Pacific City, California location, located right on the beach!
Tillamook Creamery — A trip that passes through Tillamook, Oregon, would be incomplete without visiting Tillamook Creamery! The creamery offers tours, an upscale food hall, and a cute shop where you can buy their cheese, ice cream, and other goodies!
Jebediah Smith Redwoods — While this is a bit of a trek south towards Brookings, Oregon (and technically, located in northern California), this area is one of the BEST for truly GIGANTIC redwoods! We’re talking taller than the statue of liberty! This is an awesome spot to get out and stretch those road trip legs.
Day 5-7: Portland, OR
I recommend budgeting a few days in and around the Portland area. While you likely don’t need more than a day to explore the city itself, Oregon has so many beautiful places to see nearby! Portland is definitely a foodie town, so I’d recommend making some reservations ahead of time when possible!
Top Things to See and Eat in Portland:
Pearl District — Cute shops and restaurants for downtown strolling!
International Rose Test Garden — A garden escape in the middle of the city!
Fried Egg I’m in Love — Just one of many delicious food trucks located in the Prost! Marketplace food truck pod. I’m still dreaming of their “Free-Range Against the Machine” sandwich, consisting of a fried egg, avocado, tomato, Havarti cheese, and spicy aioli on toasted sourdough!!
Masu Sushi — If you’re still on that sushi kick after leaving Seattle, this place is definitely worth it! Delicious!!
Eem Thai BBQ & Cocktails — Think traditional Thai street food paired with trendy and inventive cocktails… what more could you want?!
Voodoo Doughnut — A classic tourist spot for a good reason!
Detour: Willamette Valley
The younger, less built-up version of Napa Valley, known for award-winning Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Book a tasting at Ponzi Vineyard and/or Soter Vineyards, and then soak it up with an artisan sandwich at Red Hills Market! Their fried chicken sandwich with whiskey pepper bacon and Calabrian aioli is UNREAL.
Detour: Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge that separates the Washington and Oregon borders is filled with scenic overlooks, strenuous hikes, and lots of waterfalls. Drive along the historic Columbia River Highway to take you straight through it. Looking for hiking trails? I recommend the following: Multnomah Falls (you can view this gorgeous waterfall without a hike!), Dog Mountain, Beacon Rock, and/or Table Mountain via the famous Pacific Crest Trail!
Detour: Mt. Hood
Continuing south from the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood will grow larger and larger. The forests surrounding this mountain contain awesome ski resorts, such as Meadows and Skibowl, and beautiful lakes with hiking loops, like Mirror Lake and Trillium Lake. Trillium Lake is a well-known spot for sunrise photographers to capture Mt. Hood water reflection shots!
Detour: Bend, Oregon
Got an extra couple of days to explore Oregon? Head to Bend! This cute mountain town has loads of activities — craft breweries, kayaking, fishing, mountain climbing, hiking — you name it! At Smith Rock State Park, you get a sense of how different the topography is throughout Oregon, as this arid canyon is made up of volcanic cliffs!
That’s a wrap on my itinerary for the Pacific Northwest! Suggested additions? Let me know in the comments below!
