Last updated on September 12, 2024
The route from San Francisco to Seattle is an epic drive through redwood forests, wine valleys, mountains and some of the county’s most gorgeous coastline. You’ll cover three states, at least three national parks, and see sweeping coastal views and no end of charming towns. It’s one of the most spectacular road trips in the USA.
This post covers our San Francisco to Seattle road trip itinerary – plus some alternatives for if you have more or less time, or perhaps different priorities. It’s here to help you create your own perfect San Francisco to Seattle drive.
We cover the first part of this trip (from San Francisco to Mendocino) in our California road trip itinerary, plus the detour we did inland via Yosemite, so pop over there for more details on that section of the journey.
We also have a Pacific Coast Highway itinerary for if you want to start further down the coast in San Diego. And an Oregon road trip itinerary if you want to explore more of the Beaver State.
Just let me know if you have any questions.
How to plan your route from San Francisco to Seattle
There are lots of different options for the drive from San Francisco to Seattle. You could stick to the coast the whole way up, take an inland route, or zig zag back and forth. We did the latter.
Use this post to work out your priorities and then create an itinerary based on the time you have for the road trip. We’ve offered some optional extensions at the end with links to more detailed itineraries for those too.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Seattle?
The straight drive from San Francisco to Seattle is 808 miles and takes about 14 hours. So in theory you could do it in two days, but to make it into a road trip, we’d recommend at least five days, and ideally two weeks or more.
Our trip took just over three weeks and we went at a fairly relaxed place, staying for longer in the cities and normally staying in each location for at least two nights. You could do the same route in two weeks by reducing your time in the cities and changing location every night.
As well as the itinerary below, we also went inland to the Sacramento and Tuolumne areas, including Yosemite. That would require at least an extra week.
Tips for driving San Francisco to Seattle
When to go
You could do this drive any time of year, but we especially love California and Oregon in the spring and fall. You avoid the crowds of summer while still getting sunny days. And we love America at Halloween!
Bear in mind, some of the most beautiful sights, such as Crater Lake and Lassen Volcanic Park, are mostly inaccessible in the winter and even in spring, so if they’re priorities for you, it might be best to go in summer/fall, from mid-June to October.
Another thing to bear in mind is the wildfire and smoky season. This is normally at its peak from August – early September. Smoke from nearby wildfires can make the air unsafe or at least uncomfortable, so we’d avoid that time of year if possible.
What to pack
Packing for California and Oregon is all about layers. The temperature can really vary day by day and throughout the day too. This is especially true on the coast where the misty mornings can be much cooler than sunny afternoons. See the photos from Mendocino above, both taken on the same day. And the weather in the Pacific North West is notoriously unpredictable and wet. Whatever you do, bring waterproofs!
How to get around on the drive from San Francisco to Seattle
If you need to hire a car, we recommend Discover Cars as this is where we’ve found the best deals recently. It’s often cheaper to rent for a week-long period rather than an odd number of days (you tend to get a discount for seven days or a month), so play around with the booking dates and see what comes up. Find the latest deals here.
You don’t need a car for San Francisco and parking is expensive, so try and rent your car from the day you leave to save some cash.
Unless you’re planning to do a round trip, you’ll need to pay an extra fee for dropping the car off in a different location. This works out much cheaper than driving the 14 hours back to San Francisco and paying for gas and hotels.
How to get to San Francisco
If you’re coming from outside of the city and need to fly, we recommend Skyscanner for finding the cheapest flights. You can track flight prices and get notifications when prices drop. Plus all the different search options help you to find the cheapest route.
You’ll need to book two separate single tickets for this trip. An outbound flight to San Francisco (SFO) and an inbound flight from Seattle (SEA).
Who is this route for? Families, couples?
This route would suit anyone driving from San Francisco to Seattle. We did it as a family with a 2 and 4 year old. But the route would also suit couples or solo travellers.
Our style of family travel means that we try to do as many “grown-up” things as we can, while also keeping the kids happy with visits to playgrounds and family-friendly museums etc. I mean we’re not going to go all the way to Sonoma and Napa without visiting wineries!
So this itinerary is still well suited to adults as well as kids – you might just want to miss out some of the more kiddie focussed activities.
San Francisco – Seattle drive at a glance
- San Francisco (3 nights)
- Sonoma (2 nights)
- Mendocino (2 nights)
- Redwood National Park (2 nights)
- Shasta Cascade Area (2 nights)
- Crater Lake (1 night)
- Bend (2 nights)
- Suttle Lake/Sisters (1 night)
- Portland (3 nights)
- Cannon Beach (1 night)
- Seattle (3 nights)
San Francisco – Seattle road trip map
Our San Francisco – Seattle road trip itinerary
San Francisco – Shasta Cascade
(San Francisco, Sonoma, Mendocino, Redwood National Park and Shasta Cascade area)
The first section of this road trip is covered in our California road trip itinerary, so head over there for all the details on San Francisco, Sonoma, Mendocino, Redwoods National Park and the Shasta Cascade area.
In that post, you can also see the detour we did inland to Yolo, Sacramento and Tuolumne County, including Yosemite. We highly recommend adding that on if you have the time. Or it’d also be a great road trip to do as a round trip from San Francisco.
You’ll also find these posts useful: Things to do in Mendocino | Things to do in Sonoma | Things to do in San Francisco with kids |Things to do in Redding and Shasta Cascade | Hip boutique hotels in San Francisco | Sonoma Airbnbs
For quick accommodation ideas, we recommend these amazing places. And we also love Home Exchange (we’ve done some particularly amazing ones in San Francisco).
San Francisco: Phoenix Hotel | Hotel G | San Remo Hotel
Sonoma: Flamingo Resort | Vintners Inn | Sonoma Airbnbs
Mendocino: Little River Inn
Redwood National Park: Victorian Inn
Shasta Cascade Area: Railroad Park Resort | Strawhouse Resort | Hilton Garden Inn Redding
And here are some tours you could do in San Francisco…
Ashland
I’ve wanted to go to Ashland since the first time I heard about it. I loved the sound of this creative little mountain town, filled with galleries, theatres and restaurants. It’s home to the world-famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival and always pops up on lists about the cutest and most creative towns in America.
Alas, despite planning to go there on our road trip, snow stopped us in our tracks. So it’s still on the bucket list for us, but I’m including it in this itinerary as I recommend you include it on your road trip. And we did lots of research, so I’ll share the places we planned to visit while there.
Things to do in Ashland
Here are some ideas for things to do in Ashland:
- Make sure to catch a show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which runs from February to October each year.
- Hike part of the Pacific Crest Trail (which stretches from Mexico to Canada!)
- Visit the ScienceWorks museum
- Visit local wineries (you could follow the Bear Creek Wine Trail)
- In the winter, ski at Mount Ashland
- Spend some time in Lithia Park where you can explore its playgrounds and trails.
Where to stay in Ashland
Some recommend places to stay in Ashland include:
- Willow Witt Ranch Farm Stay – the chance to stay on a working organic farm
- Ashland Creek Inn – a luxurious stay with collectors items from around the world
- Arden Forest Inn – a charming B&B
- Lithia Springs Resort – tranquil upscale resort atop a mineral spring
Where to eat and drink in Ashland
These places come highly recommended in Ashland:
- Oberon’s – an eclectic restaurant and whiskey bar. Apparently “Ashland’s most Ashlandiest spot”!
- Caldera Brewery – cool space with brewery and restaurant. Orgeon’s largest beer bottle and can collection lines the soaring walls.
- Larks Restaurant – good for farm-to-table dining
- Alchemy – upscale dining in a gorgeous wooden house
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake, nicknamed ‘Lake Majesty’ sits in a sleeping volcano that erupted around 7,700 years ago! The stunning blue lake is the deepest (592m) in America and one of the cleanest and clearest in the world.
You can visit the lake year-round but not all routes (including the Rim Drive) and facilities are open during the long winter, and visibility can be poor. We were there in May when the lake is invisible 20% of the time. This goes down to 10% in June. It’s better to go in the summer when visibility is improved and more roads and facilities are open.
Unfortunately, for our visit, the lake was completely hidden so we bypassed it on our road trip. Like Ashland, it’s another one for the bucket list!
When visiting Crater Lake on your road trip, you could stay nearby to give yourself time to explore the lake and all it has to do, or you could simply stop there en route from Ashland to Bend.
Things to do in Crater Lake
Things to do in Crater Lake vary by the time of year, but the highlight will be simply looking at the magnificent lake. One of the best ways to do this is on the Rim Drive, a 33-mile road circling the entire lake, with lots of pullouts along the way. The drive closes around 1 November every year and re-opens around mid-May to late June, depending on snowfall. Check the latest condition here.
In the winter, you can still normally view the lake by driving to Rim Village.
Other things to do in Crater Lake include:
- Ride a boat to Wizard Island, a cinder cone that rises from the lake
- Go hiking on over 90 miles of trails
- Explore Crater Lake National Park’s other natural wonders, including waterfalls and forest
- In the winter, do a snowshoe walk – hire snowshoes at the Rim Village Gift Shop and ask them for advice on where to go.
- Tour Crater Lake Lodge – explore the lake’s history and attend a ranger talk at this historic hotel
Where to stay in Crater Lake
- Crater Lake Lodge – an historic 1920’s style hotel and the most luxurious place to stay in Crater Lake National Park
- The Cabins at Mazama Village – These little cabins offer a comfy place to stay amid the National Park
- Camping at Mazama Campground or Lost Creek Campground – open from July-September, these campsites are a popular option for staying at Crater Lake National Park.
- Just outside the park is the Crater Lake Resort, which has cute cabins, glamping and camping options.
Where to eat and drink in Crater Lake
There are a few restaurants/cafes in the park itself, including the restaurant at Crater Lake Lodge, the Rim Village Café and Annie Creek in Mazama Village.
Bend
Bend is a mecca for lovers of the outdoors, filled with opportunities for adventure. Take your pick from skiing to mountain biking to rock climbing or kayaking. And then when the day’s over, head to one of the brewpubs to explore the town’s famous craft beer scene.
Lumberjackets and beards abound in Bend (so Steve slotted in perfectly!) and its setting is gorgeous, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, forest and the high desert landscape. We also loved exploring its cute downtown area with lots of indy boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
Things to do in Bend
Top of your agenda in Bend should be exploring some of the town’s outdoor activities. Here are some ideas for tours you could join, including snowshoeing and canoeing by moonlight.
And eere are some more top things to do in Bend:
- Go hiking – popular trails include Green Lakes Trail and Broken Top. Or for a simpler option, go for a leisurely stroll along the Deschutes River. There are trails on both sides of the river and three footbridges connect the trails. They’re great for kids on bikes or scooters.
- Explore the town’s breweries (see some recommendations below). Or do the Bend Ale Trail.
- Wander the downtown area, being sure to pop into Dudley’s Bookstore. The Bend Store is the place to go for stylish souvenirs.
- Go floating on the Deschutes River – the most popular summer activity in Bend is grabbing a tube or SUP and floating down the river. See this guide for lots of tips!
- Go to the last Blockbuster in the world!
- Visit the High Desert Museum where you can explore and learn about the natural world and cultural history of the High Desert. It’d good for kids with an animal area and trails outside.
Where to stay in Bend
We stayed at The Element in Bend in an incredible studio apartment. The studio is flexible accommodation with up to four-bedrooms and a shared common space. We were lucky and had the whole common space to ourselves.
The hotel is perfectly set up for longer stays and all rooms have their own kitchen. They also offer complimentary bikes, perfect for exploring Bend. And there’s a pool and spa onsite. It’s just across the road from the Deschutes River and is only a 10-minute walk from downtown Bend.
Rooms start at $130 per night. Find the latest deals here.
Other places that are highly recommend include:
- McMenamins Old St Francis School – The McMenamins brand is an expert in transforming historic buildings into characterful entertainment hubs. The one in Bend has a hotel, restaurant, bar, cinema and soaking closet. It’s worth a visit even if you aren’t staying there.
- Campfire Hotel – a hip boutique motel lodge
- The Loge – a cool outdoor-adventure-focused hotel with gear rental too
Where to eat and drink in Bend
Bend is more of a beer than a foodie town, but there are still some great restaurant options.
- We loved the food trucks and beer at On Tap (the Philly cheese steak truck was fun)
- And for brunch, we loved The Victorian (fantastic huevos rancheros) and we hear McKay Cottage and The Lemon Tree are great too.
For cafes, we recommend:
- Backporch Coffee Roasters – great coffee in the downtown area
- The Commons – a lovely cosy café, perfect for long chats, board games and reading a book
And here are some recommendations for breweries in Bend. We (and the kids) particularly liked Crux where they had a big garden with cornhole and a couple of food trucks.
Suttle Lodge, near Sisters
You could combine your stay in Bend with a day trip to Sisters (30 minutes away) or make Sisters its own stop and stay a night or two. We recommend doing this because it’s home to one of our favourite places to stay in Oregon – the fabulous (and very hip) Suttle Lodge. It makes for a gorgeous place to slow down and really take in the majesty of Oregon’s nature.
Sisters itself is also a cute little town, which feels like stepping back in time. Wooden sidewalks line the street and many of its buildings have been decorated to look like they’re from an 1880s-era Wild West town.
Things to do at Suttle Lodge and Sisters
- In Sisters, explore the cute downtown with all its boutiques, galleries and restaurants. The public restrooms are marked for cowboys and cowgirls! And the post office is named the Pony Express. We loved Paulina Springs Bookstore too.
- And at Suttle Lodge, relax and enjoy the great outdoors and life by (or on) the lake.
- Walk Suttle Lake Loop, a scenic, 3.6 mile (5.7 km) loop trail around Suttle Lake. The trail is fairly flat and stays very close to the shore for the most part.
Where to stay in Sisters
The main reason we suggest a stop in Sisters is to stay at the gorgeous Suttle Lodge. From the people behind The Ace Hotels, it’s a fabulously hip take on a rustic, lakeside resort.
Set in the Deschutes National Forest and on the edge of Suttle Lake, it’s a stunning natural setting, perfect for whiling away the days hiking, boating or simply relaxing in nature. It comes into itself in summertime, but even colder days are gorgeous.
The cabins are beautifully put together, ranging from rustic options to more luxury affairs with fireplaces and a jacuzzi tub. And there are fire pits and adirondak chairs for relaxing come nightfall.
We fell in love with the place, and highly recommend you make a stop there too.
Where to eat in Sisters and Suttle Lodge
Suttle Lodge has its own excellent restaurants and bars. The Boathouse by the water is open seasonally for riverside dining. And Skip is the lodge’s cocktail lounge, open year-round. Skip serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as an excellent cocktail menu. I can confirm their old fashioned is perfection.
In Sisters, we recommend trying these:
- Sno Cap Drive-In – an old-time drive-in that’s been serving homemade ice cream since 1952
- Three Creeks Brewery – a kid-friendly brewery and pub in a lodge-like woodland setting, serving pizza, burgers and pub grub
- Sisters Bakery – for top notch baked goods
- Sisters Coffee Company – excellent coffee and amazing scones!
Portland
Portland is a place we could see ourselves living – in fact, many people tell us we belong there! But alas, we’re wedded to Bristol, so visits are all it can be. And oh my, we love visiting there. It’s a lot to do with the food (there are few places better than Portland for discovering multitudes of innovative cuisine). But it’s also to do with the people (a hipster bunch of forward thinkers) and the plethora of outdoor adventures. It makes for a brilliant city break.
Things to do in Portland
We’ve written a full guide to what to do in Portland, plus another on things to do in Portland with kids.
Some of the highlights include:
- Powell’s City of Books – the world’s biggest independent bookstore, occupying a whole city block!
- Mount Tabor Park – from Mount Tabor Park (built on an extinct volcano), you have a great view across the city and of Mount Hood in the distance
- Portland Japanese Garden – considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan
- Columbia River Gorge – a designated National Scenic Area just 40 minutes from downtown Portland with lots of excellent hiking opportunities
- Explore all the local neighbourhoods. Our favouirte is the Alberta Arts District, filled with cool shops, cafes and restaurants
- Go to a vintage video game arcade – a couple we recommend are Ground Kontrol in downtown Portland and Quarter World Arcade on SE Hawthorne.
Where to stay in Portland
We’ve written a guide to the best Portland Airbnbs. But there are also many excellent hotels. And it’d be a great place to do a home exchange.
Here are a few of our favourite hotels:
Hotel Zags
We stayed in Hotel Zags on our most recent Portland trip. It’s perfectly located in the Fountain District and has a cool style with lots of art and a big garden patio area.
Highlights include the Gear Shed where you can hire all sorts of things from bikes to guitars to video game consoles and skateboards! And they also have fires in the garden and a little shop where you can buy s’mores kits to roast at night.
Personally though, I would stay in one of the smaller neighbourhoods rather than downtown as that’s where you’ll find the real spirit of Portland.
Hip hotels in Portland
There are lots of trendy hotel options in the downtown area, which would be a convenient place to stay for a short trip to the city. Some of the best options are: the uber-trendy Ace Hotel; the Hoxton Hotel (one of my favourite hotel brands); and the Hi-Lo, part of the design-conscious Autograph Collection.
Where to eat and drink in Portland
Oh my, this is the golden question: where to eat in Portland? It’s a place with a dizzying amount of options. We’ve put together a guide to the best vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Portland. And here are some of our favourites:
- Proud Mary – amazing brunch spot that originated in Melbourne’s Fitzroy (aka the king of brunch!)
- Blue Star Donuts – gourmet donuts at their best. Or Voodoo Doughnuts for the best in novelty bakes.
- Salt and Straw – inventive, seasonal ice cream flavours
- Fried Egg I’m in Love – the best fried egg sandwich you’ll ever have (definitely)
- And make sure to visit some food cart pods to try and find your favourite one. We liked Prost Marketplace, Hawthorne Asylum and The Cart Blocks.
You could also do one of the food tours below to get some local insight into the best the city has to offer.
Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach is a place I’ve lusted over for years – there’s something so magnificent about the Haystack Rock that rises from the shallow waters of the beach. It’s been listed by Nat Geo as one of the 100 most beautiful places on Earth, and I can confirm that the reality surpassed the picture.
The beach itself is wide and sweeping, a perfect place for leisurely walks and plenty of play. And the town is known for being a haven for artists. It’s one of the most popular spots in Oregon, and particularly busy in the summer when people flock to its magic.
Things to do in Cannon Beach
- See the puffins – in Spring, from around April to July, a colony of puffins take up residence on Haystack Rock to nest and raise their young. At low tide, you can walk right up to the rock to try to spot them
- Go tidepooling – the beach has lots of good opportunities for tidepooling at low tide, especially around Haystack Rock. The Haystack Rock Awareness group offer guided tours if you’d like to learn more about the beach and its wildlife.
- Have a campfire on the sand – an iconic image for me of the Pacific North West is people having campfires on the sand. Cannon Beach is a perfect place for this, and some of the hotels offer a campfire service, helping you make one on the sand!
- Cannon Beach is part of Ecola State Park, which covers nine miles of coastline between Cannon Beach and Seaside. There are lots of hiking trails to explore with stunning views of the coast.
- Explore the towns and its galleries – Cannon Beach is tiny but has managed to pack in 15 art galleries including the cool Icefire Glassworks. And they have art festivals and events throughout the year. Also check out the cute boutiques – we love the Cannon Beach Bookstore (of course!).
- Go to Hug Point – this is around 5-10 minutes from Cannon Beach and a gorgeous place to go for a walk, play in the waterfall and explore the caves and tide pools.
See more things to do in Cannon Beach.
Where to stay in Cannon Beach
We stayed at SurfSand Resort, which is right on the beach with gorgeous views of Haystack Rock. It’s one of the most memorable places we stayed on our SF-Seattle road trip, and the kids loved it. They have a daily ‘cookie hour’ serving fresh bakes and milk in the lobby. And they even provide kiddie-sized robes in the rooms (a huge hit with Otis!).
Other highlights include a heated indoor pool, fitness center, and cosy guestrooms, complete with a fireplace to snuggle up by. The onsite restaurant, Wayfarer, is great for families with a relaxed beachy vibe. And best of all, they offer a nightly campfire and s’mores service where staff help you build a fire on the sand.
It’s a really special stay. Find the latest prices and deals here.
Other options in Cannon Beach include:
- Inn at Cannon Beach – beautiful inn one block from the beach
- The Ocean Lodge – beachfront lodge with views of Haystack Rock
- Hallmark Resort and Spa – the closest hotel to Haystack Rock
Where to eat and drink in Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach isn’t a foodie town, but there’s a handful of good options:
- Pelican Brewing – this brewpub is one of the most popular spots in town, serving beers and comfort food. Its popularity means you might have to queue ( we waited around 15 mins)
- Public Coast Brewing Co – another popular brewpub that serves locally produced food
- Suzy’s Scoops – the place to go for ice cream in Cannon Beach
- Sea Level Bakery – home to the best coffee and baked goods in town
Seattle
Seattle has a pretty blessed location, surrounded by forests, lakes, islands and glorious mountain peaks. You never feel swallowed by the urban despite it being a skyscraper-laden city.
A trip to Seattle is perfect for marrying a dose of city life with outdoor adventure and time to soak up nature.
Plus it’s also the city that spawned Nirvana, Apple and Starbucks – so its contrasts are far-ranging. It’s a great place to end (or start) your road trip.
Things to do in Seattle
We have a full post with all the best things to do in Seattle with kids. They’re mostly relevant for adults too. Although one we didn’t include in the kids’ post (and one we wish we’d been able to do ourselves) is taking a hot tub boat cruise out on the water!
It can be worth getting a CityPass to get access to lots of the main attractions at a reduced price.
Some of the other highlights for things to do in Seattle include:
- Exploring the museums at the Seattle Center. You could easily spend a day here. Highlights include MoPop, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and, of course, the Space Needle. We highly recommend going to the top. For something a bit different, go to the KEXP radio station gathering space where you can relax with a coffee while watching the DJs at work.
- Visiting Pike Place Market. This is probably the most touristed place in Seattle, and it’s definitely worth a visit. The historic market is famous for its “flying fish” – every time someone buys a fish, the market stall holders throw them to each other across the market, which is a fun sight to behold. But there’s plenty more to entertain with stalls and shops selling everything from flowers to gifts to food. It’s also home to the first ever Starbucks. Here’s a walking food tour of Pike Place you could do.
- Ride the Bainbridge Island Ferry to cross the Puget Sound and get a view of the city from the water. It’s a 35-minute journey one-way and you can spend some time on Bainbridge, exploring the island. Don’t miss Mora Iced Creamery where you’ll find fun and inventive flavours.
There are lots of tour you can do too like these ones with Get Your Guide:
Where to stay in Seattle
We’ve written a full guide to the coolest places to stay in Seattle (with or without kids). It breaks it down into the different neighborhoods and the pros and cons of each one.
We stayed at the Mayflower Park Hotel, an historic hotel in downtown Seattle, which has been running since 1927. From the grand lobby to the elegant, traditional suites, it’s a place that emphasises its history while offering modern comforts.
It’s also really well located in downtown Seattle, around a five-minute walk from Pike Place Market. And just around the corner from the monorail that takes you directly to the Seattle Center.
The elegant hotel bar – Oliver’s Lounge – is a fantastic place for people watching and enjoying an evening cocktail.
Where to eat and drink in Seattle
We were lucky in Seattle to be taken around by one of our friends who is a big foodie and lives there. These are some of the amazing places he introduced us to:
- Frankie & Jo’s – vegan ice cream in Capitol Hill and other locations across the city
- Biscuit Bitch – American biscuits for breakfast at this punky eatery are an indulgent and delicious way to start the day. There are a few locations in Seattle.
- Oddfellows Café and Bar – we loved this atmospheric café in Capitol Hill. It’s my idea of café perfection.
- General Porpoise Doughnuts – some of the best sweet treats in Seattle. These fluffy, filled doughnuts are a must if you’re in Capitol Hill.
- Temple Pastries – not at all on the tourist trail, but this place serves exquisite pastries and an interesting coffee called the Disco Pony!
Options for extending this San Francisco – Seattle road trip
There are many ways you could extend this road trip on either end. For example, instead of heading straight to Sonoma, you could go inland for a week or two. We did this on our last trip, heading to Yosemite, Tuolumne County, Sacramento, Yolo and Napa. You can see all the details for these stops in our California road trip itinerary.
If you were doing the route in reverse, heading from Seattle to San Francisco, you could continue down the coast to San Diego, using our Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary (we have you covered for it all!)
And on the other end, from Seattle, you could spend some time exploring the Olympic National Park, or even heading north to Canada, stopping in Vancouver and then heading to the rockies. There’s a suggested itinerary for this in our best USA road trips post.
Our top travel planning tips
If you’re planning a trip, be sure to have a look at all our top travel planning tips, including how to save money with the best credit cards, what to bring, and all our favourite tools and tricks.
For car rentals, we recommend booking with Discover Cars. We’ve found they always have the cheapest deals for mainstream retailers.
If you decide to book any Airbnb apartments, use this link, as it’ll give you £25 off your first trip.
We found great last-minute deals on Booking.com, getting a discount of up to 60%.
Have you ever considered a home exchange? It’s our favourite way to travel (and the most affordable).
Our favourite place to book flights is Skyscanner – again, they always have great deals.
Don’t forget your travel insurance! We recommend True Traveller who offer reliable, comprehensive cover, including medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. You can buy True Traveller insurance even when you’ve left home, which is unusual for travel insurance companies.
And if you’re travelling with a baby, see our survival guide to flying with a baby and all our best travelling with a baby tips.
Our road trip itineraries
See all our road trip itineraries here. And don’t miss our guide to how to plan a road trip.
UK: Best UK road trips | Best Scotland road trips
Europe road trips: Amalfi Coast, Rome and Tuscany road trip | Best Europe road trips | Best France road trips | Best Greece road trips | Best Italy road trips | Iceland road trip |Best Portugal road trips |Slovenia road trip | Best Spain road trips | The most colourful road trip in Europe (France, Italy and Switzerland)
USA: Boston to Maine road trip | Ultimate California road trip | New England road trip | Oregon road trip | Pacific Coast Highway | San Francisco to Seattle | Southern USA road trip | The best USA road trips
Africa road trips: Cape Peninsula road trip
Australasia road trips: New Zealand North Island road trip | New Zealand South Island road trip
Hi there,
Lovely blog and wow, what adventures you have had… was wondering if you could suggest a route to take from San Francisco to Yosemite and back, to complete in just under two weeks?
I will have a four year old and 1 year old and my husband doesn’t seem to think we could do the SF to Seattle route (condensed of course)…
Let me know what you think x
Saira
You could do the loop we did, taking in Yosemite, Tuolumne County, Sacramento, Yolo and Sonoma/Napa. Or if you want to take it extra slow, just do SF, Yosemite and Tuolumne County. If you look at my Tuolumne post, that has ideas for an itinerary there. Hope that helps!
Hello,
We followed your itinerary and most of your recommendations.
It was great! Very helpful.
I’m just sending this e-mail to thank you for posting this road trip.
It was fabulous!
Thank you so much!
Tida and Paulo