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The Ultimate Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary

Even though I have lived in Washington for over two years, I cannot get enough of exploring this stunning area. This area is my favorite place in the world, and I can’t wait to show you my version of the perfect Pacific Northwest road trip itinerary. This itinerary is filled with waterfalls, breathtaking mountains, lakes, rivers, food, restaurants, beaches, and more! I hope after exploring this area you love it just as much as I do!

Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary

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About This 2 Week Pacific Northwest Road Trip

After exploring this area for almost three years, I have come up with the perfect itinerary for you! Below I jotted down the most significant views of each area, and I also have links to blog posts that go into more detail about each site.

I recommend flying into Seattle and then flying out of San Francisco. You also need a rental car, and I suggest renting one from here.

Pacific Northwest Road Trip Map

Below is a map showing the route for 14 days. I have also pinpointed the area on Google Maps. You can download this map for your trip.

Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary map

Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary: 14 days

Day 1-2: North Cascades National Park

diablo lake
Add Diablo Lake to your Pacific Northwest trip.

Accommodation:

  • The Rolling Huts: They are not located inside the park but near it. It is difficult to find accommodation near North Cascades, so this is a good option. >>>Check It Out Here

My favorite national park in Washington is North Cascades National Park. This place is highly underrated! The bright blue turquoise color of the lake and the mountains in the background make this one of the best viewpoints in the state of Washington. Many people do not visit this national park because the trails are challenging, making it harder for families with small children to see.

I still think it is worth it to stop here even if you are traveling with small children. Some of the more accessible trails include Blue Lake and Thunder Knob, and two of the best viewpoints are Diablo Lake Vista Point (shown in the photo above) and Washington Pass Observation Site.

More strenuous hikes for avid hikers are Maple Pass Loop, Thornton Lakes, Cutthroat Pass, Cascade Pass, and Hidden Lake.

Read My North Cascades National Park Guide: The 7 Best Hikes In North Cascades National Park From A Local

maple pass loop trail
Maple Pass Loop

Day 3: Seattle

Accommodation:

  • Hotel Four Seasons Hotel Seattle : The view here is probably some of the best you can find in a hotel in Seattle and it is so close to Pike Place Market, the most popular activity in the city. >>>Check It Out Here

I lived in Seattle for years, and it is still one of my favorite cities in the United States! The food is so good, and I love walking around and exploring this one-of-a-kind place. The mountains in the distance with the Pudget Sound next to it makes Seattle one of the most breathtaking cities I have seen.

Download my Washington Hiking Checklist!

Some of the most popular things to do are to see Pike Place Market, The Needle, The Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, Olympic Sculpture Park, Discovery Park, Golden Gardens Beach, The Seattle Troll, Gas Works Park, or the Seattle Great Wheel. You only need a day or two to explore most popular activities. Seattle is great, but what makes Washington unique is everything outside of the city. The outdoor scene in Washington is probably some of the best in the United States. So make sure you don’t spend most of your road trip in Seattle.

Read More On Washington: The Most Incredible Washington Road Trip Itinerary: 7-14 days

Day 4-5: Olympic National Park

Accommodation:

  • Olympic Lodge: I stayed at the Olympic Lodge for one weekend, and it’s one of the city’s best hotels. It isn’t a five-star hotel, and I feel like the lighting needs some major updating, but it is the best hotel on the Peninsula. Also, the hotel is located close to Hurricane Ridge.  >Click Here To Check Pricing

Read More: Where to Stay in Olympic National Park – 10 Best Cabins & Rentals

Olympic National Park is one of the most popular areas in Washington. The reason is because this place is so diverse as it has mountains, lakes, waterfalls, beaches, and rainforests! It has it all! Olympic National Park is an outdoor lovers paradise! Since it has so much to offer, there is so much driving to do, and it is best to explore here for two days minimum.

I recommend lumping the west side of the park for one day and the northern part for another day. The most popular things in the north area include Mount Storm King, Marymere Falls, Hurricane Ridge, and Sol Duc Falls.

The western side has beautiful beaches like Ruby Beach, Shi Shi, and Second Beach. Also, the Hall Of Mosses is so green and lush, and it is perfection! You don’t want to miss that.

Read More On Olympic: The 21 Best Hikes In Olympic National Park

Day 6-7: Mount Rainer National Park

Accommodation:

  • Alexander’s Lodge: This cute historic Lodge was built in 1912! It features a restaurant, fireplace, and little outdoor yurts. >Check Prices Here

Mount Rainier is the most well-known mountain in the state of Washington. You can see it from Seattle, even though it is located over 3 hours away! Hiking in the National Park is a must when you visit this state. The best and most popular part is the Paradise area, and I love exploring it! The best things to see there include Skyline Trail, Nisqually Vista Trail, Reflection Lakes, and Comet Falls.

If you head over to the Sunrise area, Fremont lookout and Naches Loop are my favorite trails! Naches Loop is magnificent in the Summer when all the wildflowers are out.

Read More On Mount Rainier: The 16 Absolute Best Mt Rainier Hikes

Day 8: Portland

portland
Sunrise View of Portland, Oregon from Pittock Mansion. Add this to your Pacific Northwest trip.

Accommodation:

  • The Mark Spencer Hotel: An excellent hotel a few minutes away from Powell’s Bookstore and the Japenese Garden. >>>Book Here

Portland is such a fun city to explore for the day! The food here is exceptional, and there are many breweries to try out. Some of the popular things to do here include:

  • Drinking a beer at Deschutes Brewery
  • Visiting Powell’s Bookstore
  • Eat At Voodoo Doughnut for breakfast
  • Checking out the International Rose Test Garden
  • Check out the Portland Japanese Garden

Read More About Oregon: The Perfect 10 Day Oregon Road Trip Itinerary

Day 9: Columbia River Gorge

Accommodation:

  • Hood River Hotel: Hood River Hotel is the oldest hotel in Hood River, Oregon, and has been updated with a cute modern style. There is a restaurant on-site, and it is pet friendly. >>>Book Here

Columbia River Gorge is a waterfall lovers paradise. There are so many waterfalls that it is overwhelming to list them all. Every single one of them is so magnificent! Some of the most popular ones include Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls, Multnomah Falls, Horsetail Falls, Ponytail Falls, and Dry Creek Falls.

Waterfalls are not the only thing to see here. The views of the Columbia River Gorge are stunning, especially at the Hood River Waterfront Park. There are also many wineries and fabulous restaurants near Hood River City. I especially loved the Solstice Wood Fire Pizza.

Read More: The Ultimate Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Road Trip

Day 10: Mount Hood

mount hood

Mount Hood is a beautiful area near the Columbia River Gorge, so it is best to stay at Hood River City for another night. Mount Hood has so many farms and vineyards as well as some incredible hikes! Some of the most popular hikes in the area include Tom Dick and Harry Trail, Trillium Lake Loop, Tamanawas Falls, and Ramona Falls.

Day 11: Bend

smith rock
Smith Rock State Park

Accommodation:

  • Hotel SpringHill Suites by Marriott Bend: We stayed at this hotel, and I loved it. It was clean, close to many restaurants, breweries, and had a nice bar. >>>Book Here

My favorite city in Oregon is, of course, the city of Bend! There is so much to do in this cute city. I have been here many times, but I feel like I did not see enough every time I left. I always left wanting to explore even more. They have many breweries, wineries, and outdoor activities. Some of the popular hikes in the area include South Sister Summit, and Green Lakes Trail. There is also Smith Rock (pictured above), which is located near Bend. Smith Rock is probably my favorite outdoor area at Bend, primarily because you can rock climb.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide To Smith Rock Hiking Trails

Day 12: Crater Lake

crater lake national park

Accommodation:

  • Crater Lake Lodge: One of the few hotels located in the National Park. >>>Book Here

Crater Lake National Park is the only national park located in Oregon. It is breathtaking, and the color of the bright emerald blue water is truly spectacular. I recommend stopping by and taking a look at the lake from one of the many viewpoints. Watchman Overlook, Phantom Ship Overlook, and Cloudcap Overlook have the best viewpoints. You can also hike to the water and swim in it. The only trail with access to the lake is Cleetwood Cove Trail.

Read More: 14 Best Things To Do at Crater Lake National Park

Day 13: Oregon Coast

Natural Bridges
Natural Bridges

Accommodation:

  • Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge (Gold Beach): This place is fantastic and nestled in a beautiful forest area.>>>Check It Out Here

My favorite part of the Oregon Coast is the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor located in the southern area. It is so dreamy! The one shown in the picture above is called the Natural Bridges. Be careful in this area as the trail is very sketchy and dangerous. Wear good hiking shoes.

The Oregon Coast is a lot more than Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, and you can spend weeks at the coast. If you want to do more than the scenic corridor, check out my blog post below, where I list out even more activities.

Read More: The Best Things To Do On The Oregon Coast

Day 14: Redwoods National Park

Redwoods National Park
Redwoods National Park

Accommodation:

  • Hotel Holiday Inn Express Redwood National Park, an IHG Hotel: There are no official hotels in the national park, but this one here is quite nice. >>>Book Hotel Here

The last national park on this list is the Redwoods National Park. It is located in California, and I have been here multiple times. Some of the best things to do are hiking Stout Grove, discovering the Lady Johnson Grove, and exploring Fern Canyon. The trees are so big and tall, and the area’s fern seems to go on forever.

Read More Here: Redwood National Park Advice

Other Pacific Northwest Itineraries

Fourteen days is plenty enough to explore the PNW, but you can also do it in 10 or 7 days. Below are my recommendations.

Pacific Northwest Road Trip 7 days

  • Day 1: North Cascades National Park
  • Day 2: Seattle
  • Day 3: Olympic National Park (The North Side)
  • Day 4: Mount Rainier National Park
  • Day 5: Portland
  • Day 6:Columbia River Gorge
  • Day 7: Crater Lake

Pacific Northwest Road Trip 10 days

  • Day 1: North Cascades National Park
  • Day 2: Seattle
  • Day 3: Olympic National Park (The North Side)
  • Day 4: Olympic National Park (The West Side)
  • Day 5: Mount Rainier National Park
  • Day 6: Mount Rainier National Park
  • Day 7: Portland
  • Day 8: Columbia River Gorge
  • Day 9: Mount Hood
  • Day 10: Crater Lake National Park
All the best views in the state

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Best Time For A Pacific Northwest Road Trip

After living in Washington for a few years, I know when the best time for this road trip is, and it is the summer months. This includes the months of July, August, and September. Many people ask me about June, but June is usually too early. The best places are generally under snow during this time. November-March is also very rainy and snowy, so I would not recommend this itinerary during this time.

I will warn you that the summer months tend to bring fires, so you might have to adjust this itinerary to avoid fire and smoke.

What To Pack For A PNW Road Trip

  • Sunscreen: Super important and it is part of the ten essentials!  >Buy Sunscreen
  • Chapstick: This one has SPF so your lips won’t get burned! >Check Out This Chapstick
  • Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times before). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
  • Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps you prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. >Buy Hiking Socks
  • Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent me from getting dehydrated while hiking. The great thing about this reservoir is that it doesn’t have the plastic taste. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
  • Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
  • Sunglasses: It can get sunny, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
  • Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, and energy bars. >>>Love These Snacks Here
  • Camera: The Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
  • First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
  • Day Pack to carry all your things: To carry all your gear, water, and food, you need a good backpack. Osprey is known to have some of the best backpacks in the market. >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
  • Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get stranded in the dark! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now
  • Leggings or Hiking Pants: I always wear leggings while hiking because it is what I feel most comfortable with! >Click For My Favorite Hiking Leggings
  • Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
  • Mid Base Layer: It can get chilly in Oregon even in the summer. >Check Out My Sweater Here
  • Sports Bra: For women. >Check This One Here
  • Jacket: I always have a jacket in my backpack, even if it is hot. I do it just in case of an emergency.  >Buy My Favorite Jacket
  • Rain Jacket: The worst feeling in the world is being wet and cold while hiking. You can get hypothermia, so always carry a poncho or a rain jacket when you hike Oregon. >Check Out My Rain Jacket Here
  • Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
  • Knife: I always carry a knife in my backpack just in case. >Check Out My Knife Here

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Final Thoughts On Pacific Northwest Road Trip Ideas

Thanks for reading all about my Pacific Northwest vacation guide. Make sure to check out some of my other PNW blog posts:

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