The west coast of the United States (and Canada!) is known for epic scenery, amazing towns and cities, and some of the most incredible road trip opportunities in the world. If you’re ready to head out and hit the open road, then there is no better place to go than these road trips that cover the entire coast from Canada to California.
So gas up (or charge up) the car, pack your bags, and get ready for some epic fun on the road with these 15 amazing West Coast road trips.
Oregon Coast – 7 Days
This incredible road trip will take you down the scenic Oregon coast along Highway 101. This drive will highlight cozy beach towns, incredible natural wonders, and views of the Pacific Ocean along every turn of the highway.
Highlights include Thor’s Well, Haystack Rock (hint – there are two along the drive), Cannon Beach, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, and Ecola State Park.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Travel during the spring months for a chance to see the annual whale migration.
Olympic Penninsula – 4 Days
Take a tour of the Olympic Peninsula with stops at coastal towns, national parks, hot springs, and wild beaches. This drive loops around the entire Olympic Peninsula and will take you past some of the wildest parts of the state.
Highlights include Port Townsend, Hurricane Ridge, Olympic Hot Springs, Hoh Rainforest, and the beaches of the Olympic National Park.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Late summer is your best bet to avoid the heavy rains that pound the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula.
Puget Sound Loop – 5 Days
Take a tour of the cities and parks around Puget Sound and finish the drive with a ferry trip back to the start. This drive will take you through major metropolises like Seattle and through quintessential Pacific Northwest towns like Port Townsend.
Highlights include Pike Place Market, Point Defiance Park, Gig Harbor’s charming waterfront, Port Townsend, and the ferry across the sound to the quaint Whidbey Island.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Summer is the best season on Puget Sound as the days are long, the weather is warm, and everyone is out enjoying the water.
Vancouver Island – 4 Days
Discover the wild rainforests and breathtaking coastlines of Vancouver Island on this trip, which starts in Victoria, British Columbia, and ends in the charming coastal hamlet of Tofino. This route will take you past lakes, along windy forest roads, and ultimately along the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Highlights include the charming city of Victoria, the city of totems (Duncan, BC), the ancient trees of Cathedral Grove, and watching surfers catch waves in Tofino.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Make the drive in late fall when the storms begin thrashing the coast of Vancouver Island.
North Cascades Mountains – 4 Days
Travel through this rarely visited National Park (seriously, the park only saw 40,000 visitors last year) for stunning alpine views, turquoise lakes, and solitude in this incredibly wild corner of Washington State. Don’t miss the Heather – Maple Pass Loop trail, especially if you’re visiting during the early fall season when the hills start to explode with color.
Highlights include the incredible waters of Diablo Lake, Heather—Maple Pass Loop, remote campgrounds along the highway, and a stop in the charming Wild West town of Winthrop.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Early fall is a great time to visit as the hillsides explode with color and plenty of berries to snack on.
Washington Volcanoes – 4 Days
Take a tour of some of Washington’s most infamous volcanoes with a trip through Mt. Rainier National Park, Mt. St. Helens, and the rarely visited Mt. Adams. These mountains stand in a nearly straight north/south line, offering astounding views and amazing hiking.
Highlights include taking in the majesty of the Pacific Northwest’s tallest mountain, Mt. Rainier, the explosive destruction left behind after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, and the solitude of the completely undeveloped Mt. Adams.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Late summer offers wildflowers, open trails, and plenty of warmth for days high up on alpine trails.
Willamette Valley Wine and Dine – 3 Days
Sit back and relax with a laid-back journey through one of the most well-renowned wine regions in the country: the Willamette Valley. Set up a basecamp in McMinnville for day trips out to the different subregions in the area, or book a hotel each night in quaint wine towns like Dayton, Carlton, and Yamhill.
Highlights include the wine this region is most well known for, pinot noir, dinner at the Thistle, wine tasting at Archery Summit, and a side excursion to Silver Falls State Park.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Late spring is a great time to visit, as the vines are opening up and the summer crowds have yet to descend on the region.
Oregon Waterfalls – 3 Days
Start your trip in Portland and make your way along the Columbia River Gorge to begin this epic Oregon waterfall trip. Stop at breathtaking waterfalls like Multnomah Falls, Horsetail Falls, and Latourell Falls before heading into Hood River for the night. From there, make your way around Mt. Hood for more waterfall goodness before heading down to Central Oregon for the last leg of this waterfall adventure.
Highlights include seeing more waterfalls than you can count from the car along the gorge, the chance to walk behind the falls at Tamanawas Falls, and the stunning Sahalie and Koosah Falls in Central Oregon.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Late spring has Oregon waterfalls at peak flow, so you’re guaranteed to see them at their best!
Oregon Outback – 4 Days
Venture through remote roads and past evidence of our prehistoric past on this drive through the center of Oregon. Starting from Bend, head east to destinations like the Painted Hills, Fossil, Oregon (dig your own fossils!), gemstone mining, exploring abandoned mines, and otherworldly geological formations.
Highlights include the area’s stunning remoteness, trails filled with fossilized sea life, Fort Rock and the Crack-in-the-Ground trail, hot springs, and a meal at the Cowboy Dinner Tree.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Traveling in mid-fall will spare you from the brutally hot days that this area experiences during the summer.
Eastern Oregon – 5 Days
Eastern Oregon isn’t just sagebrush and farms. A road trip through this part of the state includes massive granite mountains likened to the Alps, a beautifully remote canyon, dried-up lake beds perfect for stargazing, and herds of wild horses on massive mountain ranges.
Highlights of this trip include the Wallowa mountains and Joseph, Oregon, the Alvord Desert, Owyhee Canyon, and the criminally underrated Anthony Lakes region.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Head out in early fall for cool, crisp nights and a chance to still enjoy the mountains before winter returns.
California Redwoods – 4 Days
Take a drive through this remote region with the tallest trees in the world. With hikes that will make you feel like you’re on the set of Jurassic Park and stunning coastlines without human inhabitants for over 80 miles, this trip will make you feel alive.
Highlights include the incredible Redwoods National Park, Humbolt Redwoods State Park, the Lost Coast, and the quirky town of Eureka.
Best Time to Make the Trip: This is a great winter getaway as the weather can be surprisingly mild, and the famous California Chanterelles are in season.
California Pacific Coast Highway – 8 Days
Travel the length of California along the Pacific Coast Highway, where you will pass by towering redwoods, world-famous landmarks, stunning coastlines, and vibrant West Coast cities with mouthwatering meal options.
Highlights include the stunning beauty of Big Sur, the hippy district of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, the chance to see the stars in Hollywood, and a California-perfect finish in San Diego.
Best Time to Make the Trip: This trip is great year-round, as the coastal air keeps the days pleasantly mild in the winter and not too hot in the summer.
Deserts and Death Valley – 4 Days
Travel through some of the most inhospitable stretches of the country on this road trip that starts in Sin City and ends up at the beach in Los Angeles. On the drive, you’re traveling through one of the hottest places on earth, past ghost towns left behind after the gold rush, and through unique habitats where only the hardiest of animals can survive.
Highlights include passing through Furnace Creek, where temperatures once reached 128 degrees, past the ghost town of Rhyolite, and the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Hit the road in early spring to avoid the hot weather and hopefully catch a glimpse of the famous wildflower super blooms that take place in the California desert.
Southern California Beaches – 2 Days
Relax along some of Southern California’s most beautiful beaches with this quick weekend trip from LA to San Diego. Start off at the beautiful El Matador Beach in Malibu before heading down to the bustling Santa Monica Beach. From there, you’ll have plenty of options just north of San Diego as picture-perfect beach towns dot this stretch of coast.
Highlights include the Santa Monica Pier, Muscle Beach Gym, and jaw-dropping La Jolla Cove.
Best Time to Make the Trip: Make the most of a California summer by taking the drive on a warm summer weekend.
California National Park Explorer – 10 Days
Take in some of America’s most breathtaking national parks with this road trip that travels along the Sierra Nevada foothills. Start at Lassen National Park and make your way through Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon, before finally finishing up at Joshua Tree. This trip will take you past active volcanoes, stunning valleys, and massive trees and into the rich California desert.
Highlights include standing under Half Dome in Yosemite, bubbling mud pots in Lassen, and staring up at General Sherman, the largest tree in the world.
Best Time to Make the Trip: This trip has a lot of mountain driving so the best time to visit is the summer months.
