11 most scenic Pacific Northwest road trips

One of my favorite parts of the world is right in my home state, with Highway 101 circling the peninsula for 300 miles. Start by taking the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, where you can go wine tasting, browse the cute town, and enjoy views across the sound. Continue on the 104 to adorable Port Townsend before spending a few days camping, surfing, hiking, or skiing in the winter at Olympic National Park. Highlights in the park include Hurricane Ridge, Forks, the coast, and the Hoh Rainforest. Plan between six and nine days for this route.

Start in Portland, head out through the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, and stop at numerous waterfalls, including the famous Multnomah. Enjoy hikes with amazing views of the river and surrounding forest. Then continue to the Hood River Region for mountains, and don’t forget to stop at the Cascade Locks Marine Park for lunch one day. Expect this route to take anywhere from three to five days.

Drive to Astoria from either Portland or Seattle, then head south on the 101 with stops in Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Tillamook (make sure to tour and taste the dairy factory). Continue onto Pacific City and Lincoln City before ending in Newport. This can be a quick long weekend trip or a weeklong adventure, depending on how much time you want to spend at the beach.

This route picks up just south of the northern option in Newport. Spend some time at the beach before heading to the Siuslaw National Forest to hike. Then drive to Florence to enjoy the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The mix of desert, ocean, and forest that follows as you head south goes through adorable Coos Bay before hitting the California border. Then explore the rugged coast of northern California, and give yourself at least a week to complete.

Idaho isn’t always considered the Pacific Northwest, but this trip is so beautiful it needed to be included. Start in the Gem State’s capital, Boise, a small college town home to numerous bars and restaurants. Then, hop on the Salmon River Scenic Byway and explore multiple hot springs, rivers, and ghost towns. Notable stops include the Sawtooth Mountains, Sun Valley, and Ketchum. Allow for at least a week to complete.  

Start in the adorable college town of Eugene, explore the University of Oregon campus, and hike in the nearby Willamette National Forest. If you’re into wines, definitely explore Willamette Valley. Head down I-5 before heading east to Umpqua National Forest, then onto Klamath Falls. Head north to Crater Lake, Sun River, and Bend for hiking, skiing, and biking. Give yourself at least a week or 10 days to complete.

Start in the Emerald City, where you can hit up Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and the waterfront before jumping in the car and heading north. Stop in Mukilteo and take the ferry to Whidbey Island, then drive along the entire island before heading back to the mainland via Deception Pass. Continue north on the 20 to Anacortes, where you can catch a ferry to the San Juan Islands for an addition. Then, head back to the mainland, stopping in La Connor and Bellingham before hitting the border and ending in Vancouver, BC. Allow for a week or more, depending on how many stops you plan on.

This loop also starts in Seattle, but instead of taking a ferry to start, continue straight up I-5 to Deception Pass State Park and La Connor. Hike, camp, or just enjoy the scenery. Then head east to the North Cascades National Park — one of the lesser-known parks in the nation. Head south across the pass to Leavenworth, the perfect German village lookalike, then continue onto Wenatchee, Lake Chelan, and Stevens Pass. The time needed: at least six days.

Another option to the itinerary above starting in Eugene is to skip nature and head right into wine country via the Willamette Scenic Highway. An easy day trip, or you can stay a few nights and visit every winery.

From Seattle, head directly to the North Cascades (only open from April/May through October) to hike and camp. Then, continue east to the historic western towns, Winthrop and Twisp, and into the Okanogan Valley. Then head north across the border to eastern BC and enjoy the wineries, Lake Country, and Kelowna. Allow for five to seven days.

Start in Portland and explore the Mt. Hood National Forest before heading east to the Hood River and the Umatilla National Forest. Then cross the border into Washington and Walla Walla to enjoy the best of western wines. Continue onto Yakima and the Tri-Cities, where fruit picking is a fun summer activity, before ending in adorable Ellensburg. Allow for five days.