Seattle To Portland: How To Make The Most Of This Scenic Road Trip (2024)

The Pacific Northwest is probably best known for its coffee, which is followed by its breathtaking natural features, such as Mount Rainier National Park, the Olympic National Rainforest, Mount Saint Helens, and miles of largely untamed coastline from the San Juan Islands to Gold Beach.

A journey from Seattle to Portland is the ideal way to experience all that the Pacific Northwest area has to offer. It is also the hub of two thriving metropolises. Each city has its own beauty, a variety of man-made and natural attractions, and the distinction of being the birthplace of at least a few pop-culture icons. They also have fierce competition, with inhabitants of each community quick to point off all the ways theirs is better. Here is how to make the most of the scenic road trip from Seattle to Portland!

How To Get From Seattle To Portland

There are several ways to go from Seattle to Portland. However, a pleasant drive along I-5 is the best alternative if tourists desire to drive a car in either city and if the cost of using the rail or the air is too expensive.

Depending on the region of the town, the drive often takes three hours on a good day.

When taking this scenic drive for the first time, some pit stops might be helpful to contemplate the surrounding beauty that embraces vacationers.

Related: 9 Sights To See On The Way From Portland To Seattle

They should keep an eye out for a variety of possibilities to veer off I-5 and then back on it as they travel between the splendid Seattle and the awesome Portland.

The state capitol building, a volcano, a forestry industry sector, and rural farms make up a diversified itinerary that first-time visitors to the region will relish.

• Duration: 3 hours without any stop.

Where To Stop To Taken In The Most Scenic Views

Stop At Point Defiance State Park, Washington

Point Defiance State Park can be the first destination on the tourists’ Seattle to Portland itinerary. The marvelous park, nestled in Tacoma which is Washington's third-largest city outside of Seattle, is a vast urban park with a sizable zoo, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, aquarium, beaches, rose and rhododendron gardens, and trails.

Travelers can stop in Tacoma proper, which is only a little over an hour south of Seattle if they wish to spend a little extra time there.

Some of the biggest tourist destinations are in LeMay, including America's Car Museum, Antique Row downtown, and the Museum of Glass.

Bob's Java Jive is a terrific spot to stop to have a beer with the locals, too.

Wander In Washington's Mount Rainier National Park

The state emblem of Washington is Mount Rainier. This magnificent 14,410-foot (4392.16-meter) peak with a glacier above it is gorgeous and intimidating. However, the area around the National Park is also bewitching.

To obtain the greatest perspective of Mount Adams and other Cascade Range summits, including Rainier, tourists can climb 6,400 feet (1950.72 meters) to Sunrise, the highest point reachable by vehicle.

Additionally, there are various hiking routes and lovely, fragrant wildflower meadows in Paradise Overlook, which is 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) lower. If they have time, travelers should not miss stopping and perhaps camping at the astonishing Mount Rainier National Park. It is enormous and offers a ton of sights and activities.

Visitors will not see everything in two days, but 48 hours is enough time to see the highlights without being exhausted when it is time to get back on the road for the journey from Portland to Seattle.

• Additional stops in Washington: Olympia, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Silver Lake, and Mount St Helens.

Soak In The Scenic Panorama Of Astoria, Oregon

It is time to start driving along the coast from Seattle to Portland. Tourists will enjoy watching the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean in Astoria, a stunning coastal town, along US Route 30. This location has some historical significance since it is close to where the illustrious explorers Lewis and Clark finished their cross-country journey in 1805.

Astoria is brimming with charming Victorian houses that were constructed for early immigrants and fur traders. Travelers may stroll around and visit the town's many shops, cafés, and art galleries whenever they have free time or want to get some exercise.

Take Some Photos Of The Exceptional Cannon Beach, Oregon

From Seaside, it takes 13 minutes to go to Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. Here, a huge boulder towers above the shore and offers beach lovers several up-close photo opportunities.

Additionally, the substantial rocky outcrop is protected and considered a component of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Related: Astoria: Why It’s Any Traveler's Perfect First Oregon Trip

In addition, it serves as a haven for a variety of seabirds and other intertidal creatures like starfish and crabs. Hug Point's caverns and waterfalls are accessible by taking a short trek along the coast.

While travelers are here, they may also check out the Coaster Theater, Haystack Gallery, and Les Shirley Park.

• Additional stops in Oregon: Tillamook and Seaside.