Looking for a fun family vacation to take this summer? Consider taking a west coast road trip! With so many great destinations so close to each other, it’s easy to get from one amazing destination to the next with minimal time in between. There’s a lot to see but with the right plan, you can see all the best places!
The most important thing about any big trip, especially a multi-part road trip, is to have a plan. Keep reading to read my best tips for the best west coast road trip, stops you should consider taking, and more!
How long should your west coast road trip be?
The best West Coast road trips aren’t rushed- you don’t want to spend the entire time stressed and racing from Point A to Point B. My best advice to you is to calculate how much time you think you need for your trip, and then add a few days if you can!
There’s so much to see and do on the west coast of the United States, plus you’ll want to be able to go through at a leisurely pace instead of having to rush through each destination to get to the next one. This is one road trip you don’t want to rush through. Take your time and enjoy the spectacular views our beautiful West Coast has to offer.
If adding more time isn’t an option, consider this when mapping out your stops- don’t overbook yourself, you’ll end up stressing and it’ll be much less fun for everyone.
How to budget for the best west coast road trip
While many of the destinations on the west coast tend to be known for being pricy {looking at you, California}, there are definitely ways to see the sights for cheap. That said, you won’t want to run into any surprises to it’s important to thoroughly budget for your trip ahead of time.
Things you’ll want to budget for include:
Fuel: Keep in mind while budgeting for fuel that many places on the west coast have more expensive gas than other states. If your vehicle takes gas, you might want to add a little cushion to your fuel budget than you’re used to.
Car: If your car isn’t big enough to fit your entire family and everything you’ll need for a big road trip, you might want to consider a rental car. Depending on your route and where you’re planning to stay, it might be worth looking into renting an electric vehicle to save on some fuel costs! Just make sure you’ll have plenty of charging stations along the way.
Food: Snacks for the car, meals on the road, and food at your destinations should all be accounted for here! And water- LOTS of water, especially in the summer months!! You can also save a lot of money by packing a cooler filled with things to make sandwiches, milk for cereal, and some fresh fruit and veggies! Also keep in mind that if you do plan to stop at a restaurant, it’s often much cheaper to stop for lunch than for dinner.
Lodging: If you’re looking to save, look into extended stay hotels. You don’t have to stay there long to book with them, and not only are they affordable but they usually have a kitchenette {verify this before booking}. That means you can save on not only your hotel, but your food- just hit the closest grocery store before you check in and you can make a “home” cooked meal for a fraction of the cost of eating at a restaurant! {Another tip: consider staying in small towns on your way to your next destination if your timing works out- you can save some money staying there over a big city!}
Admission for any attractions: Whether you’re heading to the zoo or a theme park, be sure to price out any admission costs. If you are heading to a theme park, be sure to price out the specific day you’re going as many have variable pricing models. And be sure to check out {affiliate link} Get Away Today to see if you can save on your tickets! Pro tip: If you plan on visiting National Parks, the America the Beautiful Pass can be worth investing in.
Extras: This category includes anything to make your road trip even more fun, like road trip activities to do in the car, souvenirs at gift shops, and more {you know that often kids think the souvenirs are the best things about a trip!}
Emergency fund: It’s important to have a little bit of extra money set aside just in case your blow a tire or something else unexpected pops up
Destinations to Consider
Take The Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is more than 600 miles long, and extends from Southern California up to the northern portion of the state with views of the Pacific Ocean. Driving north to south, the driver will have the best views. Driving south to north, the passengers will. The PCH is one of the most famous road trips with a scenic drive in the U.S. for good reason, so either way you go is going to be spectacular.
California
San Diego Area
If you’re traveling south to north, make this your first stop! San Diego is an absolutely beautiful place and a great city for families, with pretty much perfect weather year-round. San Diego is home to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and Legoland California is minutes away in Carlsbad.
Coronado Island is just a short drive from San Diego- only a few minutes away- and has simply breathtaking ocean views along with delicious food. It can be really expensive to stay at a hotel on Coronado so if you’re looking to save, consider a daytime outing and staying nearby.
La Jolla is full of seals and sea lions- such a magical place for kids! You can take a tour of the Sea Cave, go kayaking, or have a picnic at The Cove. La Jolla is also the perfect place to take a short walk on the beach and enjoy the sunrise or sunset!
Santa Barbara
After San Diego, head north to Santa Barbara for some great family destinations, including the Santa Barbara Zoo, Stearns Wharf, and more. Here you can take a whale watching tour, check out some of the absolute best beaches in California, or explore the Botanic Garden or Museum of Natural History! No matter what you choose to do, it’ll be a great way to spend your afternoon.
San Francisco
If you’re traveling all the way to Northern California, there are so many great places to check out in San Francisco! If you’ve never been there before, you might want to check out some of the most iconic activities and destinations, such as:
- The Golden Gate Bridge
- The Wave Organ: one-of-a-kind!
- Fisherman’s Wharf: a tourist trap with decent food and great photo opps
- 16th Ave Tiled Steps: another photo opp, and a chance to get in some extra steps after all that time in the car
- Ride a trolley
If you’ve already done the big tourist spots or you would rather spend your time doing some lesser-known activities, you might want to check out:
- Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line: an art installation tucked into the forest floor in Presidio
- Land’s End Labyrinth: not the easiest hike, but worth it!
- Japanese Tea Garden: get away from the hustle and bustle of the city
- Sutro Baths: ruins by the seaside
- Coit Tower: 360-degree views of the Bay
Yosemite
Yosemite has a lot to offer nature lovers, from the giant sequoia trees it’s famous for and a stunning 2,425-foot waterfall! Yosemite is still 95 percent wilderness, making it a unique experience unlike most other national or state parks. Don’t miss the photo opp at Tunnel View on your way out!
Washington State
Space Needle
Located just a few minutes away from Pike Place Market {a must-stop for any coffee lover}, the Space Needle is one of the most iconic spots in Seattle! This landmark is definitely the best way to take in the full view of Seattle!
This location may not be for those afraid of heights- the building is 605-feet tall and a 10mph gust of wind can cause the Space Needle to sway up to an inch! {Don’t worry though, it’s designed to sustain winds of up to 200mph.}
On the flip side, if you’re into daring adventures, you can bungee jump off the Space Needle!
Mount Rainier National Park
There’s a lot to do at the beautiful park Mount Rainier National Park! Some highlights include:
- Ex-Nihilo Sculpture Park: random collection of animals, motorcycle riders, and monsters, all from materials found by the artist
- Gondola Rides: ride up, then hike down to enjoy the wildflowers
- Photo opps: Mount Rainier is packed with social-media worthy photo opps, like Christine Falls, Crystal Mountain, and Grove of the Patriarchs. Take the scenic route and see as many as you can!
- Crystal Mountain: enjoy interpretive walks and guided horseback rides in the summer, and skiing in the winter
Mount St. Helens
Once referred to as the Mount Fuji of America, Mount St. Helens experienced a catastrophic eruption in 1980 that removed the upper 1,300 feet of its summit in a debris avalanche. Today, the volcano boasts a horseshoe-shaped crater that is partially filled with a lava dome and glacier. Prior to visiting, keep an eye on the VolcanoCam for updated information.
The Visitor’s Center is a must-see attraction that offers stunning views of the volcano, a large step-in model of the mountain, theatre programs, and a functioning seismograph.
If you enjoy hiking, Mount St. Helens has several trails that range from short one-hour hikes to multi-day excursions, including one of the longest lava tubes in the world – the Ape Cave. It is recommended to check the park’s status and road conditions before embarking on any hiking trips.
Oregon
The Oregon Coast is just as beautiful as the California coast! A few stops to consider are:
- Seaside Aquarium: feed the seals!
- Crescent Beach Hike: 3.6 mile easy hike
- Haystack Rock: 235-foot monolith formed by lava
- Short Sands Beach: serene beach away from the crowds
- Tillamook Creamery: take a yummy tour!
Portland
“Keep Portland Weird” is the well-known slogan that Portland locals passionately embrace. This unique city is perfect for aimless wandering for a few hours, where you might stumble upon a vegan café or a single-origin coffee bar that will delight your whole family.
Another must-visit destination is Multnomah Falls, situated in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. The falls are picturesque all year round, and to reach the top, you’ll need to embark on a moderate 2-mile hike.
Time to Build Your West Coast Road Trip Itinerary!
The West Coast is filled with an endless array of attractions and activities- some of the best in North America! We’ve covered a handful but there are so many great places to stop that embarking on an epic road trip for an entire year wouldn’t be enough to see everything that each state has to offer!
Therefore, it’s essential to identify a few “must-sees” for your family and fill in the gaps with other exciting adventures, should you have extra time. Overstuffing your itinerary with too much can result in a rushed trip, leaving you unable to fully enjoy the stops you truly desire to make.
No matter what stops you decide to make, I hope that you and your family have the best time on your west coast USA road trip!
Don’t miss these great road trip destinations from Las Vegas or these scenic day trips from Las Vegas!
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