The first (and only) time I drove up the west coast of the States, I asked myself one question: why did I ever go gallivanting around Europe instead of exploring my own country? From the cliffs of the California coastline to the breathtaking Redwoods, and all the way to the mountains of Oregon, this itinerary will leave you searching for more. We spent six days driving from San Francisco to Portland, and we’re here to give you all our tips and tricks! 

San Francisco

We started our road trip in San Francisco, where we had two full days to explore the city before driving up the coast. We walked along the water by Golden Gate Beach to get the best views of the bridge, grabbed Dim Sum for lunch from Chinatown, and went to see The Painted Ladies houses. There is plenty to do in San Francisco to keep you busy for a full weekend, and we definitely recommend starting off the trip here. 

Point Reyes 

Our first stop on our way out of the city was Point Reyes. Although it is a bit out of the way, the drive is so picturesque that we immediately knew it was worth an extra hour or two. Along the way we grabbed some coffee from Bovine Bakery at Point Reyes Station, which is the perfect stop before continuing on the winding roads to the cliffs. Once you reach the point, park in the free lot and walk along the trail to Chimney Rock Overlook. Don’t forget to stop at the Elephant Seal Overlook to see some great sea life – we even saw some otters swimming below us! We had planned to drive out to the lighthouse as well, but the fog set in so quickly that we decided to turn back and continue on our road trip instead. 

Fort Bragg

We decided to spend our first night in Fort Bragg. Along the way, be sure to stop at Bowling Ball Beach for a beautiful sunset. There are plenty of pubs to grab dinner from once you get to town (we recommend the North Coast Pub for delicious burgers) before calling it a night. Don’t forget to stop by Pebble Beach before heading out of town for an amazing sunrise! 

Redwood National Forest 

You truly won’t believe how big these trees are until you see them in person. The camera can barely capture what they really look like. As you continue to drive north, consider taking the scenic Avenue of the Giants route through the Redwoods instead of staying on the highway. There are plenty of short hikes to do through the forest, and don’t miss the Founder’s Tree, one of the biggest in the area! 

Klamath

We hadn’t heard much about Klamath when doing research for this trip, but we ended up getting a recommendation from our Airbnb host and quickly added it to our list! As we drove out of the Redwoods, we came across a short loop towards High Bluff Overlook with one of the most spectacular viewpoints I have ever seen. We continued to drive clockwise around the loop until we arrived at a white gate, where we walked towards the beach and came across dozens of seals warming up in the sun. We ended up staying for over an hour to walk along the beach and watch the seals play in the water. This is definitely a must-see spot for any wildlife lovers!

Crater Lake 

I don’t know what we were expecting when we started the drive up to Crater Lake, but it definitely wasn’t a foot of snow and an iced-over road! This was probably my favorite stop of our entire trip. As the deepest lake in the United States, Crater Lake formed many years ago when a volcanic eruption caused the tall peak to collapse. Unfortunately we forgot to bring snow boots, so we couldn’t do much other than stop by the visitor’s center for some souvenirs and walk over to a viewpoint to see the lake up close. However, this is still a must-see on any Oregon road trip. 

Diamond Lake 

After seeing Crater Lake, we did not really have high expectations for another smaller, lesser-known lake up the road. But we needed a place to stop for lunch, so we decided to go off our planned route once again to check it out. It ended up being absolutely beautiful, and it was the perfect place to grab some snacks from a nearby general store and set up our picnic. Make sure you leave plenty of time to take some photos with a background that is so beautiful, it looks like a green screen! 

Bend, Oregon

Bend is the perfect blend of a thriving city and an outdoor paradise. In the summer, you’ll see visitors and locals alike tubing down the river, and in the winter Mount Bachelor is only a short drive away for some of the best skiing in the area. We decided to visit in early November, which happens to be just after the summer/autumn season ends, and exactly one day before the ski season begins. Oh well. At least we had some beautiful fall foliage! There is no shortage of pubs and breweries in this town, so be sure to stop by one for dinner and a nice beer tasting. 

Hood River

On our way to the town of Hood River, we stopped at Tamanawas Falls for a nice 1.5-hour hike. The waterfall was incredible, and it was nice to get out and stretch our legs after being in the car for so long. 

Hood River is the perfect stop for a cup of coffee and some vintage shopping. It was almost like a mini version of Bend, with fewer breweries and one main street of stores. 

Columbia River 

For the last night of our road trip, we decided to stay in Washougal, Washington (mainly just to cross another state off our list). Driving through the Columbia River Gorge was definitely a good choice, and with the autumn leaves at their peak colors, we couldn’t get enough of the beautiful landscape. Along this drive, there is a stop called Cape Horn Overlook that offers sprawling views of the river and beyond. 

Multnomah Falls 

Our last stop before reaching Portland was Multnomah Falls, which is a beautiful waterfall that is so easily accessible, it can be seen from the parking lot. However, because of this convenience it can become extremely crowded during the day, so we recommend going early if possible. There is a short path that leads to the bridge for a close-up view, but if you are looking for a longer walk you can take the trail to the “top of the falls,” which is a steep climb up the mountain. 

Portland 

Portland is the final destination of our trip, and it is a city that has so much to offer! We visited Powell’s Bookstore (the largest independent bookstore in the world), went shopping on N 24th street, and of course stopped for massive a ice cream at Salt and Straw. Unfortunately we were a little tight on time and did see nearly as much as we had hoped, but we will definitely be back for another visit sometime soon. 

This route up the west coast from San Francisco to Portland is one of the most picturesque drives in the United States. The perfect combination of coastline, forest, and mountains makes it an ideal itinerary for a 5-7 day trip!

Traveling to the United States? Check out our article on the Best Day Trips from NYC!