Abstract
- Key takeaways:
- These on the lookout for two-week West Coast highway journey concepts with stops at common vacationer locations (and some lesser-known spots thrown in!) are in luck; this complete route is deliberate out for avid roadtrippers, from Seattle to Los Angeles.
- Main vacationer locations in Washington, Oregon, and California supply quite a lot of points of interest, from rainforests to iconic metropolis sights.
- Alongside the best way on this West Coast highway journey from Seattle to Los Angeles, there are many spontaneous stops and smaller points of interest to maintain the journey attention-grabbing and satisfying.
Planning a highway journey down the West Coast could be as overwhelming as it’s thrilling. Main vacationer locations could be discovered on almost each stretch of highway in these coastal states, which includes Washington, Oregon, and California. With two weeks to discover, what are the must-visits on the West Coast?
First, roadtrippers must determine how a lot driving they’re up for. A wonderful two-week West Coast highway journey can simply happen in simply one of many three states, with extra time spent at every cease. For example, a scenic 10-day California highway journey itinerary spans almost two weeks with out even exploring the northern third of the state.
This West Coast highway journey is a little more formidable, visiting a minimum of one main vacationer vacation spot in every state. With that comes a little bit of driving (roughly 1,700 miles, so a lot of driving truly).
The rewards are plain – temperate rainforests, tide swimming pools, granite mountains, and completely iconic metropolis sights. Whereas there can be loads of miles on the highway on this final West Coast Seattle to Los Angeles highway journey route over two weeks, there are simply as many spontaneous stops to make between these main locations to maintain issues attention-grabbing.
Overwhelmed by the period of time within the automobile? To assist the method, every entry contains the space traveled, the time (with out site visitors) it is going to take to journey between the stops, and the way a lot time we suggest spending at every vacation spot (together with the time it takes to drive there). This Google Map plans of the complete highway journey may also assist with planning the total two-week journey.
Plus, don’t fear; beneath each main West Coast highway journey cease are some ideas for smaller stops between every common vacationer vacation spot. In spite of everything, with two weeks and 1,700 miles, there’s a lot to see!
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7
Seattle/Olympic Nationwide Park, Washington
Distance Between Seattle and Olympic Nationwide Park: 111 miles
A stream flowing in Olympic Nationwide Park in Washington
With solely two weeks to see all the things, beginning a West Coast highway journey in a serious metropolis like Seattle is as sensible as it’s scenic. Those that should fly can have no points securing a flight to Seattle’s main airport, and people shut by can get busy exploring the town. There are a selection of free issues to do in Seattle itself (nice for these on a finances), and the realm round Seattle is equally satisfying.
Maybe the largest vacationer attraction close to Seattle is Olympic Nationwide Park. Simply two hours from downtown Seattle, there are many actions in and round Olympic Nationwide Park, a lot in order that selecting only a few issues to do often is the hardest a part of this West Coast highway journey cease.
Whether or not leaving from Seattle or Olympic Nationwide Park to go to Portland, most of the main doable stops on I-5 South stay the identical. Olympia, Centralia, and Fort Rock are all straightforward stops so as to add to this primary large drive of the 2-week West Coast highway journey itinerary.
6
Portland, Oregon
Distance From Olympic Nationwide Park: 162 miles
An aerial view of Portland, Oregon, at nightfall
Portland, Oregon, has so many issues to try this it simply turns into its personal trip. As one of many largest cities within the state, it additionally serves as one of many good Oregon stops on a West Coast highway journey route.
Portland is residence to quite a few distinctive points of interest, together with the Oregon Zoo and Powell’s Metropolis of Books (the biggest used bookstore on the earth). These metropolis stops, in addition to the number of regionally-specific meals (suppose Voodoo Doughnut, who began the bacon maple bar craze), and vacationers will discover no bother exploring the gorgeous and quirky aspect of this city metropolis.
The drive by the southern half of Oregon through I-5 has quite a lot of attention-grabbing cities price stopping in, together with Salem and Eugene. For these wanting to show this drive into extra of an all-day outing, a cease in Winston, residence of the drive-through Wildlife Safari (and one of the crucial profitable cheetah breeding applications on the earth), is actually a one-of-a-kind method to spend a day on a West Coast highway journey.
5
Redwood Nationwide and State Parks, California
Distance From Portland: 318 miles
Big Sequoias within the Sequoia tree and Redwood forests of Redwood Nationwide and State Parks, California, USA
California is residence to 9 nationwide parks, essentially the most of any state within the US. Of these, three parks are devoted to the spectacular, large, and extremely uncommon big timber that California is world-famous for.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon Nationwide Park are each extremely trafficked, due to their proximity to one another and different main points of interest. Additional off the overwhelmed path (however completely located alongside this itinerary for a West Coast highway journey over two weeks) are Redwood Nationwide and State Parks.
Street trippers can choose to spend the day exploring a few of the lovely climbing trails in Redwood Nationwide Park, or just keep of their vehicles, driving among the many giants (or by them individuals can truly drive by a Californian Redwood tree!).
No matter which actions vacationers take up, there isn’t a doubt Redwood Nationwide Park is a must-visit vacationer attraction on a 14-day West Coast highway journey itinerary.
- Drive Time from Portland to Redwood Nationwide/State Parks: ~5.5 hours
- Really useful Time in Redwood Nationwide/State Parks: 1–2 days
- Issues to Do in and round Redwood Nationwide/State Parks: Avenue of the Giants Scenic Drive, Mountain climbing Trails, Tenting, Nature Walks, Guided Ranger Walks, Chook watching
- Redwood Nationwide and State Parks Entry Charges: FREE
With two back-to-back lengthy drives, intermittent stops are key to protecting issues enjoyable. A cease within the large metropolis of Santa Rosa is a should, whereas scenic stops within the many small cities alongside the best way will maintain issues thrilling. Detours to coastal stops like Fort Bragg and Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore might add time however will add loads of surroundings to this two-week West Coast highway journey route as effectively.
4
San Francisco, California
Distance From Redwood Nationwide/State Parks: 311 miles
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
San Francisco is maybe the most effective stops on a cross-country highway journey, however vacationers don’t should go from coast to coast as a way to get pleasure from this one-of-a-kind metropolis. If the Golden Gate Bridge isn’t sufficient purpose to pause, the winding streets filled with historic houses, native outlets, and regionally sourced delicacies could do the trick.
Out of doors lovers will discover a lot to get pleasure from as effectively, with a lot of climbing trails in and round San Francisco obtainable. With sufficient time and planning, visits to Alcatraz Island or Angel Island State Park may also match into this West Coast two-week highway journey itinerary.
- Drive Time from Redwood Nationwide/State Parks to San Francisco: ~5.5 hours
- Really useful Time in San Francisco: 2–3 days
- Issues to Do in and round San Francisco: Chinatown San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge Stroll/Bike Experience, Alcatraz Island Tour, Hike Angel Island State Park, Palace of Superb Arts
Between San Francisco and Huge Sur, common coastal stops like Santa Cruz, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Monterey present ample alternative to discover port cities, coastal meals, and seasonal marine life. Vacationers also needs to maintain a lookout for pull-outs and trailhead parking areas, each of that are good for footage and to stretch these legs.
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3
Huge Sur, California
Distance From San Francisco: 146 miles
Bixby Creek Bridge on Freeway #1 on the US West Coast touring south to Los Angeles, Huge Sur Space, California
Comfortable, sandy seashores are a staple of California, and the final word West Coast highway journey itinerary means loads of deliberate and unplanned stops alongside the best way. There’s one stretch of seashores, nevertheless, that deserves a extra concrete place on the route.
Huge Sur, which incorporates iconic landmarks like Sand Greenback Seashore, Keyhole Arch, and Bixby Bridge, is among the most iconic coastal areas on the West Coast. The realm can also be residence to some much less acquainted sights, together with the purple sand of Pfeiffer Seashore.
Contemplating there are 1,293 miles of shoreline alongside the West Coast, spending a day close to a minimum of one of many attractive seashores is a should for a West Coast two-week highway journey route.
- Drive Time from San Francisco to Huge Sur: ~2.5 hours
- Really useful Time in Huge Sur: 1–2 days
- Issues to Do in and round Huge Sur: Mountain climbing, Biking, Wildlife Watching, Sand Greenback Seashore, Keyhole Arch, Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Seashore, Pfeiffer Huge Sur State Park
Since Yosemite Nationwide Park is a bit more remoted than the remainder of the most important vacationer locations on this West Coast highway journey, some backtracking is required to succeed in it. Fortunately, this implies loads of time to cease at Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey in the event that they had been missed the primary time round.
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2
Yosemite Nationwide Park, California
Distance From Huge Sur: 216 miles
Final Gentle at Cathedral Lake Yosemite Nationwide Park, California
Yosemite Nationwide Park is among the most visited locations in America, a lot in order that it’s one among a number of US nationwide parks that may require early reservations in 2024. Whereas it is true that this high West Coast attraction cannot be left for the final minute, the planning is effectively price it to incorporate Yosemite.
Critical planners can reserve a further allow for the well-known Half-Dome hike, whereas extra spontaneous guests benefit from the a whole lot of miles of trails round the remainder of the park. In fact, these prepared for extra time within the automobile may also get pleasure from one among a number of scenic drives in Yosemite Nationwide Park.
- Drive Time from Huge Sur to Yosemite Nationwide Park: ~4 hours
- Really useful Time in Yosemite Nationwide Park: 2–3 days
- Issues to Do in and round Yosemite Nationwide Park: Firefall Waterfall, Mountain climbing Trails, Biking Trails, Horseback Driving, In a single day Tenting, Backpacking, Scenic Drives
- Yosemite Nationwide Park Entry Payment: $35/car
Roadtrippers leaving Yosemite Nationwide Park could also be desperate to get to Los Angeles and make their approach residence, however these nonetheless on the lookout for detours have loads of choices. Aspect journeys to Sequoia and Kings Canyon Nationwide Parks are straightforward to incorporate. Essentially the most direct highway to LA additionally leads proper by Fresno, a enjoyable California metropolis with a definite college-town really feel.
1
Los Angeles, California
Distance From Yosemite Nationwide Park: 281 miles
The gorgeous skyline of Los Angeles
This epic two-week West Coast highway journey trip ends because it started, in one of many area’s largest cities (and simply among the many greatest vacationer locations on the West Coast!). A sensible selection for individuals who must fly or these returning their rental vehicles, there are many issues to do in Los Angeles and the SoCal space to spherical out this large highway journey.
As that is the top of the highway journey, some vacationers might discover themselves specializing in the free actions that Los Angeles has to supply, which often is the case in the event that they’re on a finances (or have spent all their journey funds by the endpoint!). Those that have a bit of further time, however, might choose to discover a few of the brief day journeys to close by parks and seashores, together with Malibu Seashore State Park, simply half-hour outdoors Los Angeles.
Whether or not having fun with the large metropolis or venturing into the close by nice outdoor, Los Angeles has one thing for each traveler, making it the proper final cease on this epic West Coast Seattle to Los Angeles highway journey itinerary.
