7 Major Tourist Destinations To See In A Two-Week West Coast Road Trip (& How To Do It)

Abstract

• Key takeaways:
• These in search of two-week West Coast highway journey concepts with stops at in style 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 provide quite a lot of sights, 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 sights to maintain the journey fascinating and satisfying.

Planning a highway journey down the West Coast may be as overwhelming as it’s thrilling. Main vacationer locations may 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 resolve how a lot driving they’re up for. An exquisite two-week West Coast highway journey can simply happen in simply one of many three states, with extra time spent at every cease. As an illustration, a scenic 10-day California road trip 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 no less than 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 fascinating.

Overwhelmed by the period of time within the automotive? To assist the method, every entry consists of the gap traveled, the time (with out site visitors) it’ll take to journey between the stops, and the way a lot time we advocate spending at every vacation spot (together with the time it takes to drive there). This Google Map plans of the entire road trip may also assist with planning the complete two-week journey.

Plus, don’t fear; under each main West Coast highway journey cease are some suggestions for smaller stops between every in style vacationer vacation spot. In any case, with two weeks and 1,700 miles, there’s loads to see!

7
Seattle/Olympic Nationwide Park, Washington

Distance Between Seattle and Olympic Nationwide Park: 111 miles

With solely two weeks to see every little thing, beginning a West Coast highway journey in a significant metropolis like Seattle is as sensible as it’s scenic. Those that should fly may have no points securing a flight to Seattle’s main airport, and people shut by can get busy exploring town. There are a variety of free things to do in Seattle itself (nice for these on a price range), and the world round Seattle is equally satisfying.

Maybe the largest vacationer attraction close to Seattle is Olympic National Park. Simply two hours from downtown Seattle, there are plenty of activities in and around Olympic National Park, a lot in order that choosing only a few issues to do stands out as the hardest a part of this West Coast highway journey cease.

Whether or not leaving from Seattle or Olympic Nationwide Park to move to Portland, most of the main attainable stops on I-5 South stay the identical. Olympia, Centralia, and Citadel Rock are all straightforward stops so as to add to this primary huge drive of the 2-week West Coast highway journey itinerary.

6
Portland, Oregon

Distance From Olympic Nationwide Park: 162 miles

Portland, Oregon, has so many things to do that it simply turns into its personal trip. As one of many greatest cities within the state, it additionally serves as one of many good Oregon stops on a West Coast highway journey route.

Portland is house to quite a few distinctive sights, together with the Oregon Zoo and Powell’s City 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 way of the southern half of Oregon through I-5 has quite a lot of fascinating cities value 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, house of the drive-through Wildlife Safari (and probably the most profitable cheetah breeding packages on the earth), is actually a one-of-a-kind strategy to spend a day on a West Coast highway journey.

5
Redwood Nationwide and State Parks, California

Distance From Portland: 318 miles

California is house 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 bushes 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 sights. Additional off the overwhelmed path (however completely located alongside this itinerary for a West Coast highway journey over two weeks) are Redwood National and State Parks.

Street trippers can decide to spend the day exploring among the beautiful hiking trails in Redwood National Park, or just keep of their vehicles, driving among the many giants (or by way of them folks can truly drive through 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
• Advisable 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, Climbing Trails, Tenting, Nature Walks, Guided Ranger Walks, Hen watching
• Redwood Nationwide and State Parks Entry Charges: FREE

With two back-to-back lengthy drives, intermittent stops are key to preserving issues enjoyable. A cease within the huge metropolis of Santa Rosa is a should, whereas scenic stops within the many small cities alongside the best way will preserve issues thrilling. Detours to coastal stops like Fort Bragg and Point Reyes National 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

San Francisco is probably one in every of the best stops on a cross-country road trip, however vacationers don’t should go from coast to coast to be able 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 properties, native retailers, and domestically sourced delicacies may do the trick.

Out of doors lovers will discover loads to get pleasure from as effectively, with a lot of hiking trails in and around 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
• Advisable 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 Fine Arts

Between San Francisco and Huge Sur, in style 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 must also preserve a lookout for pull-outs and trailhead parking areas, each of that are good for footage and to stretch these legs.

3
Huge Sur, California

Distance From San Francisco: 146 miles

Tender, sandy seashores are a staple of California, and the last 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 likely one of the most iconic coastal areas on the West Coast. The realm can be house 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 no less than one of many beautiful seashores is a should for a West Coast two-week highway journey route.

• Drive Time from San Francisco to Huge Sur: ~2.5 hours
• Advisable Time in Huge Sur: 1–2 days
• Issues to Do in and round Huge Sur: Climbing, Biking, Wildlife Watching, Sand Greenback Seashore, Keyhole Arch, Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Seashore, Pfeiffer Big 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.

2
Yosemite Nationwide Park, California

Distance From Huge Sur: 216 miles

Yosemite National Park is likely one of the most visited locations in America, a lot in order that it’s one in every of a number of US national parks that will require early reservations in 2024. Whereas it is true that this prime West Coast attraction cannot be left for the final minute, the planning is effectively value it to incorporate Yosemite.

Severe planners can reserve an extra permit for the famous Half-Dome hike, whereas extra spontaneous guests benefit from the a whole lot of miles of trails round the remainder of the park. After all, these prepared for extra time within the automotive may also get pleasure from one in every of a number of scenic drives in Yosemite National Park.

• Drive Time from Huge Sur to Yosemite Nationwide Park: ~4 hours
• Advisable Time in Yosemite Nationwide Park: 2–3 days
• Issues to Do in and round Yosemite Nationwide Park: Firefall Waterfall, Climbing Trails, Biking Trails, Horseback Using, In a single day Tenting, Backpacking, Scenic Drives
• Yosemite Nationwide Park Entry Price: $35/vehicle

Roadtrippers leaving Yosemite Nationwide Park could also be desirous to get to Los Angeles and make their method house, however these nonetheless in search of detours have loads of choices. Facet journeys to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are straightforward to incorporate. Probably the most direct highway to LA additionally leads proper by way of Fresno, a enjoyable California metropolis with a definite college-town really feel.

1
Los Angeles, California

Distance From Yosemite Nationwide Park: 281 miles

This epic two-week West Coast highway journey trip ends because it started, in one of many area’s greatest cities (and simply among the many greatest vacationer locations on the West Coast!). A sensible selection for many who must fly or these returning their rental vehicles, there are many things to do in Los Angeles and the SoCal area to spherical out this large highway journey.

As that is the tip of the highway journey, some vacationers might discover themselves specializing in the free activities that Los Angeles has to supply, which stands out as the case in the event that they’re on a price range (or have spent all their journey funds by the endpoint!). Those that have just a little additional time, however, might decide to discover among the brief day journeys to close by parks and seashores, together with Malibu Beach State Park, just 30 minutes outside Los Angeles.

Whether or not having fun with the large metropolis or venturing into the close by nice outside, 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.