10 Scenic Stops on a Seattle to Los Angeles Road Trip

I’ve driven different sections of this Seattle to Los Angeles road trip more times than I can count, sometimes just as far as Portland for a weekend, sometimes pushing all the way through California. It’s a drive where you can do it on I-5 in about 17 hours straight through, or you can take the coastal route on Highway 101 and turn it into one of the best road trips on the West Coast.

I live in Seattle, so this is essentially my backyard, and I’ve learned over the years that the stops you make are everything. The stretch from Washington through Oregon alone is worth slowing down for, and once you cross into California, the scenery keeps changing all the way to LA.

This post covers both the inland route via I-5 and the coastal route along Highway 101, so you can mix and match depending on your time and interests. Whether you’re doing the full Seattle to Los Angeles drive, a Seattle to California road trip with multiple stops, or even heading in the reverse direction from LA to Seattle, the stops here work in either direction.

Here’s everything I’d tell a friend planning this drive.

Quick Tips for a Seattle to Los Angeles Drive

Before we get into the details of an exciting road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles, here are answers to some questions you may have and a few tips to help make your road trip a success.

Thinking of heading in the other direction? Here are 11 stops to try on a Seattle to Banff road trip.

How Long is the Drive from Seattle to Los Angeles?

The drive from Seattle to Los Angeles is approximately 1,135 miles via I-5 and takes 17 to 20 hours straight through without stops. Nobody should do it in one go. I’d spread it over at least six to seven days if you want to actually see anything along the way.

How Far is Los Angeles from Seattle?

The straight line distance between Seattle and Los Angeles is around 1,000 miles. The road distance via I-5 is roughly 1,135 miles, or closer to 1,300 miles if you take the scenic coastal route along Highway 101.

Traveling to Big Sur next? Check out these 15 incredible stops on a Los Angeles to Big Sur road trip.

How Long Does the Seattle to LA Drive Take With Stops?

Six to seven days is the sweet spot for this drive. Seven days gives you enough time to spend a full day at Mount Rainier, explore Portland and the Columbia River Gorge, make stops along the Oregon coast or at Crater Lake, see the redwoods, spend two nights in San Francisco, drive Big Sur, and still have time to decompress in LA before flying home.

When is the Best Time to Drive From Seattle to Los Angeles?

I’ve done this drive in summer and fall and loved both for different reasons. Fall is my preference, September through November. Seattle and Oregon get warm, dry days, the crowds thin out, and the fall foliage through Washington and Oregon is worth timing your trip around.

Summer is peak season with the best weather, but expect more traffic and higher hotel rates. Spring works well too, especially if you want the Oregon coast wildflowers. Winter is doable but wetter, and some mountain passes can have snow.

Can You Do This Drive From LA to Seattle?

Yes, and it works just as well in reverse. Many people fly into LAX, drive north to Seattle, and fly home from SEA, or vice versa. All the stops on this list work in either direction. The LA to Seattle drive follows the same route and takes the same amount of time.

10 Stops Along the Seattle to Los Angeles Road Trip

It’s a great idea to take some time to plan your route and stops carefully, based on your interests and the time you have for the road trip. Keep in mind that road conditions, weather, and other factors may influence your travel plans, so check for any updates regularly while you’re on the road.

Here’s my list of the best places to stop between Los Angeles and Seattle so that you can pick out your favorites.

1. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Mount Rainier is the obvious first stop heading south from Seattle, and one I never get tired of, no matter how many times I’ve been. I’ve visited in every season at this point – snowshoeing in January, chasing wildflowers in July, watching the mountain turn every shade of orange and red in October. Each time feels different.

If you’re doing this drive in summer, July through September is the sweet spot. The wildflower meadows at Paradise are at their peak, and the mountain is usually clear. Fall foliage runs through October and is stunning if your timing lines up.

For hikes, Skyline Loop at Paradise is my go-to for first timers – good elevation gain, incredible views of the Nisqually Glacier, and manageable for most fitness levels. Naches Peak Loop near the Chinook Pass entrance is flatter and one of the best wildflower walks in the state. If you want something more ambitious, Mount Fremont Lookout takes you up to an old fire lookout with panoramic views of the mountain and the Cascades in every direction.

The Nisqually entrance on the southwest side is the main entry point and is open year-round. Paradise is the most popular area and lives up to its name. Give yourself at least half a day here before continuing south.

Another fun trip is a drive from Seattle to Cannon Beach.

2. Portland, Oregon

Portland is worth at least a full day before heading south on your Seattle to Los Angeles road trip. I’ve been here more times than I can count, including bachelorette weekends, conferences, and just exploring on my own. The food truck scene is the best in the country, and I can say that after eating at tons of them.

The Cart Blocks downtown has dozens in one spot and is the easiest way to sample a few things without committing to a sit-down meal. The Alberta Arts District is my favorite neighborhood for an afternoon wander with good coffee and local shops throughout.

For breweries, the Pearl District alone has several worth stopping at. Von Ebert Brewing is one of the most consistently praised in the city. Deschutes is the Oregon institution if you want something well-known. Breakside Brewery has won more awards than almost any other Portland brewery and is worth seeking out for its creative IPAs.

I also highly recommend the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, which is free to visit and spectacular in late spring when the roses are at peak bloom. If you want something more unusual, the Haunted Shanghai Tunnel Tour runs most evenings and takes you through the underground tunnels used during Portland’s notorious crimping era in the 1800s.

Want some entertainment? Try driving from Seattle to Las Vegas.

3. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

I spent a lot of time in the Columbia River Gorge recently while researching for a guidebook, and I kept finding new reasons to linger. If you’ve only ever driven past on I-5, you’re missing one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Head east on I-84 out of Portland, and you’re in it within 30 minutes.

Multnomah Falls is the most well-known stop in the Gorge, and where I always start. At 620 feet, it’s the second-highest year-round waterfall in the country and is worth the short hike up to the bridge overlook, even when it’s busy. But it’s far from the only waterfall worth stopping for on this stretch.

Latourell Falls is just a few miles west and far less crowded, with a short, easy trail that takes you right to the base. Wahkeena Falls is another good one nearby, with a trail that connects back to Multnomah if you want to make a loop.

Hood River is my favorite stop in the Gorge. I’ve been multiple times now, and it always delivers. Hood River has been called the windsurfing capital of the world, and when you see the Columbia River on a windy afternoon with dozens of windsurfers and kiteboarders out on the water, that title makes complete sense. I could watch them for an hour from the waterfront.

For food, I keep going back to Solstice Wood Fire Cafe for the wood-fired pizza (I recently took my husband last summer, and he’s still raving about it). For beer, Ferment Brewing has a taproom with views of the Gorge that I visit every time I go. Both are easy walks from the Hood River waterfront.

Starting here? You can also do a road trip from Portland to Los Angeles.

4. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Crater Lake is one of the most memorable stops on a Seattle to Los Angeles road trip and a place I keep recommending to anyone doing this drive. I took my kids here a few years ago, and it completely stopped us in our tracks. The lake is this impossible shade of blue that doesn’t look real until you’re standing at the rim looking down at it.

It’s the deepest lake in the United States, at 1,943 feet, and has some of the purest water in North America because no rivers flow in or out of it. My boys were fascinated by Wizard Island, sitting in the middle of the lake, and spent about an hour debating what lived there. Spoiler: mostly wizards, according to them. You can visit Wizard Island via a boat tour, which is worth booking in advance.

If you’d rather stay on land, the Rim Drive is a 33-mile scenic road that circles the entire lake with pullouts at every good viewpoint. I recommend giving yourself at least half a day here.

I stayed at Crater Lake Lodge, which is the only hotel with a direct view of the lake and one of the rare national park lodges I’d actually recommend. We don’t usually stay inside national parks, but this was worth it. Reservations fill up months in advance, so book early.

5. Cape Perpetua, Oregon

Cape Perpetua is the stop on the coastal route that I think most people aren’t expecting. I almost skipped it on my first Oregon coast drive because I didn’t know what it was, and I’m glad I didn’t.

The standout is Thor’s Well, a naturally formed hole in the basalt rocks right at the ocean’s edge. At high tide, the waves surge in and explode back out, making it look like the ocean is draining into the earth. I’ve seen a lot of dramatic coastline on this drive, but nothing quite like this. Check tide tables before you go and time your visit around high tide for the best effect.

Right next to it is Devil’s Churn, a narrow inlet where the waves funnel in with a lot of force. Both are steps apart from the same parking area, so there’s no reason not to see both while you’re there. The walk out is short, but the rocks are uneven and slippery, so watch your footing. I was carrying my young kid at the time and almost had a few close calls on the wet rocks.

I’d give yourself at least an hour here. The Cape Perpetua Visitor Center has good trail maps and information on the area if you want to explore beyond the coastline.

6. Redwood National and State Parks, California

I’d seen pictures of the redwoods before my first visit, but nothing prepares you for the actual scale. I’ve now been on three different Seattle to Los Angeles road trip variations, and I still find myself standing next to a tree and just staring up at it. Some of these trees reach over 370 feet tall. The Redwood National and State Parks are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the unmissable stops on this entire drive.

What got me most were the overturned root systems of fallen trees. When a redwood comes down the root ball that comes with it is enormous, sometimes as tall as a house. It stops you in your tracks.

The northern section near Crescent City has some of the most accessible old-growth groves. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is my top recommendation up here, with a trail through dense old growth right along the Smith River. Give yourself more time than you think you need.

If you’re in the area after dark, parts of the park are designated Dark Sky Places, making it one of the better stargazing spots on the whole route. For food in Crescent City, Tomo Japanese Restaurant is consistently well-reviewed for its fresh sushi. For something more upscale, the Restaurant at the Benbow Historic Inn, further south, is worth a reservation.

7. San Francisco, California

I’ve been to San Francisco four times now, including a long layover that turned into a full afternoon of exploring with a friend, and two full trips since then. It’s a city that keeps surprising you, no matter how many times you’ve been.

Alcatraz is the stop I keep telling people not to skip. I went in expecting a tourist trap and left completely won over. The ferry ride out offers views of the city from the water that you can’t get any other way. Then you land on this island in the middle of the bay, cold and windy even in summer, and you start to understand why it worked as a prison. The audio tour is excellent. Book tickets well in advance because they sell out fast.

Fisherman’s Wharf is worth a stop for the sea lions at Pier 39, clam chowder in a bread bowl, and the Ghirardelli store in Ghirardelli Square. The waterfront walk from the Wharf to the Ferry Building is one of my favorite stretches in the whole city.

For neighborhoods, the Mission District is my pick for food and wandering. Tartine Bakery for pastries in the morning, Bi-Rite Creamery for ice cream in the afternoon. Before you leave, drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. On a clear day, the views back toward the city are worth every minute.

There are so many great road trips that leave from here, including a Sequoia National Park road trip from San Francisco, a San Francisco to Yosemite National Park drive, a San Francisco to Las Vegas drive, and a San Francisco to San Diego road trip.

8. Big Sur 

I’ve driven through Big Sur three times now, and I still take my time at every stop. The coastal cliffs here are unlike anything else on this entire drive, towering above the Pacific with the Santa Lucia Mountains behind them. It’s the stretch of road I look forward to most on the whole Seattle to Los Angeles route.

Bixby Creek Bridge is the iconic stop and is worth pulling over for. It’s one of the most photographed bridges in California, and from the overlook north of the bridge, you get the full view of the arch against the coastline below.

McWay Falls is another stop I always make. It’s one of the only waterfalls in California that falls directly onto a beach, and the short trail to the overlook takes about ten minutes. Go in the morning when the light hits the water.

For food, Nepenthe is where I always end up. It sits on a cliff with views up and down the coast, and I didn’t want to leave the last time I was there. Get there before sunset and stay as long as you can. Big Sur River Inn Restaurant is a good alternative if you want something more casual by the river.

Point Sur Lighthouse is worth a stop too, one of the oldest lighthouses on the West Coast, with guided tours on weekends.

Need more? You’ll love continuing on for a Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe road trip or a Los Angeles to Yosemite road trip.

9. Pismo Beach, California

I didn’t know anything about Pismo Beach before I stumbled across it on a drive up from Los Angeles, and it immediately became one of my favorite stops in all of California. It has this unhurried central coast energy that’s hard to find once you get closer to LA.

I got there mid-afternoon, checked into my hotel, and spent the first hour just sitting on the beach watching the waves. The light on the central California coast at that time of day is something else.

For food, Splash Cafe on Pomeroy Avenue is the Pismo Beach institution for clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. It’s been serving it since 1989, and the line moves fast. After that, walk south along the beach toward the pier and keep going until the sun goes down. I took about a million photos and still felt like I hadn’t captured it properly.

If you’re visiting between October and February, the Monarch Butterfly Grove is worth a detour. Thousands of monarch butterflies cover the eucalyptus trees during their winter migration, and it’s one of those stops that sounds gimmicky until you’re actually standing there surrounded by them.

Pismo Beach is an easy overnight before the final push to Los Angeles, and I’d recommend taking it rather than pushing straight through.

10. Los Angeles, California

I’ll be straight about Los Angeles. The traffic is unlike anything else on this drive, and getting across town can take two hours. Plan your arrival time accordingly and, if you can, avoid the freeways between 4 pm and 7 pm (although it’s LA – there can be traffic literally any time of the day or night).

The upside of arriving from the north is that you come in along the Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu, which softens the landing considerably.

LACMA is one of my favorite places to visit. The Urban Light installation out front, the grid of 202 vintage cast iron street lamps, is one of the most photographed spots in the city and looks completely different at dusk than it does in the afternoon. The museum itself has a world-class collection, and I could spend a full day there.

For something more active, Runyon Canyon is a quick hike with views over the city and Hollywood Hills that puts the whole sprawl in perspective. I was definitely keeping an eye out for celebrities on the trail, and I know I’m not the only one. Griffith Observatory is another good option, especially at night when the city lights up below you.

For food, Republique on La Brea is a stunning space in a historic building, with a constantly changing menu. For something more casual, the food hall at Platform in Culver City has a good mix of local vendors.

Need more adventure? Head out on a Los Angeles to Palm Springs road trip.

Seattle to Los Angeles Road Trip: 7 Days via the Inland Route

The inland route via I-5 is the faster and more straightforward option. It’s the right choice if you want to include Crater Lake, which is one of the most spectacular stops on the entire drive and is not accessible from the coast. Total driving distance is approximately 1,135 miles.

If you’re short on time, you can skip Crater Lake and cut the trip down to six days without losing much, since the drive from Portland to the Redwoods on I-5 is straightforward and easy to do in one push.

Day 1: Seattle to Olympia via Mount Rainier

Travel distance: approximately 3 hours total with the Mount Rainier detour

Start the morning at Mount Rainier, about 90 minutes southeast of Seattle. Give yourself two to three hours at Paradise before continuing south on Highway 7 to Olympia for the night. It’s a short, easy drive and gives you a base before the long push to Portland the next morning.

Day 2: Olympia to Columbia River Gorge via Portland

Travel distance: approximately 3 hours to Portland, then 30 minutes east to the Gorge

Stop in Portland for lunch and food trucks at The Cart Blocks before heading east on I-84 into the Columbia River Gorge. Stop at Multnomah Falls, then continue to Hood River for dinner at Solstice Wood Fire Cafe and a drink at Ferment Brewing. Overnight in Hood River.

Where to stay: See our Hood River hotel recommendations in the Columbia River Gorge section above.

If you’re starting from Portland, check out my Portland to San Francisco itinerary.

Day 3: Hood River to Crater Lake

Travel distance: approximately 4 hours (240 miles)

Head south on Highway 35 through the Mount Hood corridor and down through central Oregon to Crater Lake. Arrive in the afternoon with enough time to drive the Rim Drive before sunset. Overnight at Crater Lake Lodge if you booked in advance, otherwise, Fort Klamath nearby.

Where to stay: See our Crater Lake hotel recommendations in the Crater Lake section above.

You can also do a Seattle to Crater Lake road trip to change it up.

Day 4: Crater Lake to Redwoods

Travel distance: approximately 3.5 hours (178 miles)

Head southwest through southern Oregon into California. Stop at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park for the Stout Grove trail before settling in for the night in Crescent City.

Where to stay: See our Redwoods hotel recommendations in the Redwoods section above.

Day 5: Redwoods to San Francisco

Travel distance: approximately 5.5 hours (337 miles)

The longest driving day, but worth pushing through. Stop in Eureka for a walk through Old Town before the final stretch to San Francisco. Arrive in the evening and book Alcatraz tickets in advance for the following morning.

Where to stay: See our San Francisco hotel recommendations in the San Francisco section above.

Day 6: San Francisco to Pismo Beach via Big Sur

Travel distance: approximately 6 hours with stops

Start with Alcatraz in the morning, then drive south on Highway 1 through Big Sur. Stop at Bixby Creek Bridge and McWay Falls before continuing to Pismo Beach for the night.

Where to stay: See our Pismo Beach hotel recommendations in the Pismo Beach section above.

Day 7: Pismo Beach to Los Angeles

Travel distance: approximately 3 hours (190 miles)

Walk the beach in the morning before heading south to Los Angeles. Budget extra time for traffic once you get close. Head to LACMA first, then Runyon Canyon, before dinner at Republique.

Where to stay: See our Los Angeles hotel recommendations in the Los Angeles section above.

Seattle to Los Angeles Road Trip: 7 Days via the Coastal Route

The coastal route along Highway 101 adds about 150 miles but trades the extra driving time for some of the best scenery on the West Coast. You’ll trade Crater Lake for the Oregon coast, including Cape Perpetua and Thor’s Well, which most people driving this route never stop for. If you’ve already been to Crater Lake or want to prioritize the coast, this is the route to take.

Day 1: Seattle to Olympia via Mount Rainier

Same as inland route above.

Day 2: Olympia to Portland via Columbia River Gorge

Same as inland route above.

Day 3: Portland to Cape Perpetua via Oregon Coast

Travel distance: approximately 3.5 hours to Cape Perpetua

Head west from Portland on Highway 26 to the coast, then south on Highway 101. Stop at Cannon Beach for lunch at Pelican Brewery before continuing south to Cape Perpetua. Time your arrival at Thor’s Well around high tide. Overnight in Florence or Coos Bay.

Where to stay: Search current availability in Florence on Booking.com.

Day 4: Oregon Coast to Redwoods

Travel distance: approximately 4.5 hours with stops

Continue south on Highway 101 through Coos Bay and into California. Stop at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park for the Stout Grove trail before arriving in Crescent City for the night.

Where to stay: See our Redwoods hotel recommendations in the Redwoods section above.

Day 5: Redwoods to San Francisco

Same as inland route above.

Day 6: San Francisco to Pismo Beach via Big Sur

Same as inland route above.

Day 7: Pismo Beach to Los Angeles

Same as inland route above.

If you’re heading in the reverse direction, you can have just as much fun on a San Francisco to Big Sur road trip.

You’ll love all these Seattle to Los Angeles road trip stops!