A stunning view from the Washington Pass Overlook in North Cascades National Park, Washington. Snow-capped jagged peaks rise above dense evergreen forests, with a winding road visible in the valley below. The scene is framed by dramatic clouds and a vibrant blue sky, showcasing the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest

9-Day Pacific Northwest Road Trip: From Redwoods to Rainforests

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Molly

Embark on the ultimate Pacific Northwest road trip, packed with towering redwoods, dramatic coastlines, majestic mountain peaks, and lush rainforests. This 9-day, 5 national park itinerary is designed to help you make the most of every moment while exploring some of the most breathtaking landscapes the region has to offer. We did this exact trip in mid-June of 2024 and it is one of our favorite trips we’ve ever taken!

Arrival in San Francisco

Fly into San Francisco International Airport and pick up your rental car. If you arrive late, consider staying overnight at a convenient airport hotel like Aloft SFO. It’s a modern, comfortable option that’s perfect for recharging before hitting the road early the next morning.

Day 1 – Into the Redwoods

Get an early start and make the 5.5-hour drive north to Redwood National and State Parks. Your first stop is the Tall Trees Trail, a 4.5-mile moderate to strenuous hike through an ancient forest of towering redwoods. Be sure to make your reservation for this trail in advance—it’s a serene, unforgettable experience.

After your hike, drive to Crescent City and check into a hotel like the Quality Inn for a comfortable overnight stay.

Two people stretching their arms to embrace the massive trunk of a towering redwood tree, surrounded by the lush forest floor in Redwood National Park.

Day 2 – Exploring the Redwoods

Dedicate today to immersing yourself in the magic of the redwoods. Start with Fern Canyon, a lush, moss-covered canyon that feels like a scene from another world (reservations required from May 1st to September 30th). You may recognize it from Jurassic Park II: Lost Worlds. The canyon is home to many species of ferns, including some that are 325 million years old. This short, one-mile loop is a must-see.

Before heading out, have lunch in the Gold Bluffs Beach area and stroll along the beach. Next, head to Prairie Creek’s Big Tree Wayside Trail, an easy 2.6-mile loop that showcases some of the park’s largest trees, like the “Big Tree”. There are so many connected trails and lots of options for hiking in this area. End your day back in Crescent City, where you can relax and reflect on the wonders of the forest.

A hiker walking along a wooden bridge surrounded by towering redwood trees in a lush green forest at Redwood National Park.
A couple standing in front of a moss-covered wall and small waterfall in Fern Canyon at Redwood National Park.
A hiker gazing up at one of the tallest redwood trees, surrounded by lush ferns and dense forest greenery.
A whimsical wooden signpost in the Redwood forest with arrows reading 'That's a Big Tree Too!' and 'This Way to More Big Trees!' near a towering redwood on the Big Tree Wayside Trail
A person standing at the base of an enormous redwood tree, stretching their arms wide to show its towering height, surrounded by vibrant ferns and forest greenery.

Day 3 – Redwoods and the Oregon Coast

Begin your day with more hikes in the redwoods, such as the moderate Boy Scout Tree Trail (5.3 miles) or shorter trails like Simpson-Reed (.9 mile loop) and Stout Grove Memorial (.5 mile). Then, head north to the Oregon Coast and explore the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor – Secret Beach, Arch Rock and Indian Sands were our favorite spots. This stretch of coastline is famous for its dramatic cliffs and stunning ocean views—perfect for photos and a peaceful stroll.

Return to Crescent City for one final night before heading inland.

A panoramic view of sea stacks rising from the ocean at the picturesque Secret Beach along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.
A secluded cove with crystal-clear turquoise water and sandy shores, surrounded by rugged cliffs and evergreen trees along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor on the Oregon Coast.
A dramatic natural rock arch over bright blue water, surrounded by lush green vegetation along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor on the Oregon Coast.
Sunlight streaming through the towering redwoods in a peaceful grove, with a dirt path winding through the forest floor at Redwood National Park.
Two hikers standing amidst massive redwood trees and fallen logs in Stout Memorial Grove at Redwood National Park
A person sitting on a fallen redwood log, gazing upward at the majestic, towering redwoods surrounded by vibrant green ferns in the forest.

Day 4 – Crater Lake to Seattle

Drive to Crater Lake National Park (about 4.5 hours from Crescent City) and prepare to be awed by the vivid blue waters of this ancient caldera. Spend your time exploring trails like Sun Notch, the Watchman Overlook, and Discovery Trail (4 miles), all offering incredible views of the lake.

After your visit, catch an evening flight from Medford to Seattle, where you’ll pick up a second rental car. Alternatively, you could drive the 7 hours from Crater Lake to Mount Rainier. However, the flights were so cheap to fly that it made more sense based on the time saved, gas and additional fee to return the rental car in Seattle.

For ease and convenience, stay overnight at a cabin in Ashford, less than 10 minutes from the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. We personally loved this VRBO we stayed in! Here are a few other recommendations:

A hiker admiring the deep blue waters of Crater Lake with Wizard Island in the background, under a clear blue sky.

Day 5 – Mount Rainier National Park

Enter Mount Rainier National Park early in the morning with a timed-entry reservation. Spend the day hiking the Bench and Snow Lakes Trail (2.5 miles out and back, rated moderate on AllTrails), which offers tranquil alpine views. Because the northern part of the park, Sunrise Corridor was not yet open for the season, we drove as far north in the park as we could, to White River Campground and hiked out from there for about 3 miles on the Wonderland trail. We were able to get some pretty epic mountain views.

A couple posing in a snowy meadow next to Snow Lake and rugged mountain peaks in the background at Mount Rainier National Park.
A view of Mount Rainier’s snow-covered slopes and surrounding forest, captured through tall evergreen trees under a bright blue sky.
Two hikers posing with Mount Rainier in the background, its snowy peak towering above a lush green valley and evergreen trees.
A scenic road winding through evergreen trees with a clear view of Mount Rainier, its peak draped in a lenticular cloud.
A hiker walking through a snow-covered trail with Mount Rainier’s snow-capped peaks in the background, framed by evergreen trees.
A panoramic view of a snowy alpine basin surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and scattered evergreen trees in Mount Rainier National Park.

Day 6 – From Mount Rainier to Olympic National Park

Start your day with another visit to Mount Rainier, stopping at highlights like Narada Falls and Reflections Lake. Depending on when you’re visiting, you can use this day to explore the northern part of the park, Sunrise Corridor. We visited at the end of June and Sunrise was not opening until July so we ended up heading to Olympic National Park a bit earlier. We will definitely make a trip back to Mount Rainier to explore the Sunrise Corridor and hike some of the epic trails like Tolmie Peak (5.6 mile out and back, moderate trail).

On your way to Olympic National Park (about a 3 hour drive), consider stopping halfway in the charming town of Olympia for lunch or dinner. Stay overnight in Port Angeles – we stayed at the Red Lion Hotel, a convenient base for exploring Olympic National Park.

The powerful, cascading Narada Falls in Mount Rainier National Park, framed by rugged rocks and vibrant green foliage.

Day 7 – Whale Watching and Waterfalls

Spend the morning exploring Olympic National Park. Hike to Marymere Falls (1.8 miles out and back, easy trail), a picturesque cascade surrounded by lush greenery, and visit Lake Crescent, a glacial lake known for its crystal-clear waters. Next, head to Sol Duc Falls (1.8 miles out and back, easy trail), one of the park’s most iconic waterfalls. Marymere Falls was very quiet and we only saw a few other people on the trail, while Sol Doc Falls is one of the most popular spots in the park so expect a crowd during peak season.

In the afternoon, consider booking a whale-watching tour to get a chance to see whales in their nature habitat around the San Juan Islands. We booked a half-day tour out of Port Townsend with Puget Sound Express and we got to see orcas, humpback whales and a ton of sea lions —a truly unforgettable experience! Grab dinner in Port Townsend and then return to Port Angeles (about an hour drive).

A couple posing on a wooden bridge in front of the cascading Marymere Falls in Olympic National Park surrounded by lush green moss and ferns.
A wooden boardwalk winding through a lush forest filled with vibrant green ferns and moss-covered trees, bathed in dappled sunlight in Olympic National Park
Sunlight streaming through the forest canopy onto the rushing Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park, surrounded by moss-covered rocks and lush greenery.
An orca whale breaching the water near a forested shoreline during a whale-watching tour in Puget Sound.

Day 8 – Rainforests and Beaches

Start your day early in the Hoh Rainforest (2 hour drive from Port Angeles) – because this is a popular part of the park we recommend arriving before 9AM to beat the traffic or you could be waiting up to 2 hours in your car in single lane traffic (we waited 90 minutes and we arrived a little after 10AM). There is limited parking and they do metered entrances. Once parked, wander through moss-draped trees by taking both of the easy trails – Hall of Mosses (.8 miles) and Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles).

Then, while you’re on this side of the park, drive to Ruby Beach (about a 50 minute drive) which is famous for its driftwood-strewn shores and sea stacks. Unfortunately, we did not have great weather this day so we didn’t spend much time at the beach and decided to head back to Hurricane Ridge to catch the sunset. We recommend hiking at least part of the ridge trail where you will see the most breathtaking panorama views from the ocean to the sweeping mountain ridge lines. This was our favorite part of the park!

Stay one last night in Port Angeles before heading to your final destination.

A couple taking a selfie with the rolling green hills and expansive view of the Olympic Mountains behind them at Hurricane Ridge.
A panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains with snow-covered peaks, green forests, and clear skies from Hurricane Ridge.
A person walking along a scenic trail on Hurricane Ridge, with vibrant green meadows and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains under a bright blue sky.
A hiker standing on a ridge at Hurricane Ridge, overlooking rolling green hills, dense forests, and distant mountain peaks under a partly cloudy sky.
A panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains, with snow-capped peaks, rolling green hills, and dense forested valleys under a sky dotted with fluffy clouds.

Day 9 – North Cascades and Home

If you have an extra day or two, North Cascades National Park is the perfect last stop on this roadtrip. We were not originally planning on visiting but on our last day our flight wasn’t leaving Seattle until 9:30 PM so we decided to make an impromptu detour to North Cascades. It is truly a hidden gem of the Pacific Northwest and we were shocked to learn that it is one of the least visited national parks in the country. With its proximity to Seattle (about a 2 hour drive) and absolutely jaw-dropping views, we don’t understand how it doesn’t get more visitors!

Stop at Diablo Lake Overlook and Washington Pass Overlook for breathtaking views of turquoise waters and rugged peaks. These stops require no hiking and have insane views. If you only have a few hours here, consider hiking to Blue Lake Trail (4.6 miles out and back, considered moderate on AllTrails), where you might even spot wildlife like mountain goats (like we did!). If you have more time, you can do a longer hike like Cascade Pass Trail (6.9 miles roundtrip, considered moderate on AllTrails).

The majority of North Cascade’s trails are quite long and considered moderate to hard, however, it is such a beautiful national park to even just drive around so don’t let the hiking deter you from visiting! Check out our 1-day guide here.

Afterward, drive back to Seattle for your late-night flight home or stay somewhere near the airport and fly out the next morning, ending your incredible Pacific Northwest adventure.

View of North Cascades National Park Diablo Lake's vibrant turquoise waters surrounded by dense evergreen forests and towering mountains, under a partly cloudy sky.
Man standing on a rocky outcrop surrounded by alpine trees, gazing out at a dramatic mountain valley in North Cascades National Park.
Scenic highway leading toward rugged, snow-dusted mountains surrounded by evergreen trees in North Cascades National Park.
View of a lush green valley with a cascading waterfall, framed by tall evergreen trees and jagged mountain peaks under a partly cloudy sky in North Cascades National Park
Couple smiling in front of the dramatic peaks of Liberty Bell Mountain at Washington Pass Overlook in North Cascades National Park, surrounded by lush green forests and a partly cloudy sky.
Panoramic view of Washington Pass in North Cascades National Park, featuring jagged snow-covered peaks, dense evergreen forests, and a winding mountain road under a bright sky with clouds.
Crystal-clear alpine lake, Blue Lake in North Cascades National Park, reflecting the surrounding evergreen forest and rocky, snow-covered peaks on a calm, partly cloudy day.
Couple standing on a rocky shoreline with Blue Lake behind them, surrounded by tall evergreen trees and towering, snow-covered mountains.

Reflections and Tips

This whirlwind trip through the Pacific Northwest showcased the region’s diverse landscapes and left us with memories to last a lifetime. Whether you’re a hiker, nature enthusiast, or road trip lover, this itinerary offers something for everyone. A few tips for those planning a similar adventure.

Plan Ahead: Many national parks require timed reservations for popular areas and trails.

Pack Layers: The weather can change drastically, from cool coastal breezes to sunny mountain peaks.

Embrace Flexibility: Impromptu stops, like our whale-watching tour and North Cascades trip, were some of the best parts of the trip.

Rent a Reliable Vehicle: With so much driving, a comfortable car is essential.

The Pacific Northwest truly has it all, and we can’t wait to return to explore even more of its wonders.

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