West Coast Road Trip Itinerary: Can`t Miss Stops Along Highway 101!

Have you always dreamed of a West Coast road trip through the United States? So had we! Route 101 is absolutely breathtaking and considered one of the best drives in the world. This phenomenal coastline will let you experience a variety of different landscapes and scenery as you make your way through Washington, Oregon, and California. Keep reading for the best stops on a West Coast road trip and how to find them!

Seattle

Seattle is the perfect balance between nature and the city. There are trails, parks, mountains, and beaches as well as delicious restaurants and impressive architecture. Known for its tech scene, its friendly people, and Starbucks, Seattle is an amazing place to start your West Coast road trip!

Hurricane Ridge

You will find Hurricane Ridge 3.5 hours West of Seattle. Follow a scenic 17-mile drive up to a visitors center with many hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulties. Observe spectacular views and stop for lunch at the picnic areas or the snack shop. Note that there is a $25 USD charge to enter the park.

Olympic Hot Springs Hike

It’s about a 1 hour drive from Hurricane Ridge to this trail head. Olympic Springs Hike is an easy 5 mile round trip trek with a relatively low elevation gain. You will cross the river multiple times throughout this hike and be rewarded with several natural pools when you arrive at the top.

FairHolme Campground

This lovely lakefront campground is only half an hour from the Olympic Hot Springs trailhead. Rent kayaks for $20 USD/ hour from the general store or go for a swim in the lake. Click here for more information about the campsite and some of the best hiking trails on your West Coast road trip!

$20 USD per night
Restrooms, no showers
Check-Out: 11 AM
No reservations, first come first served. If you hope to get a lakefront campsite, plan to get there early!

Sol Duc Falls

There are many things to do when visiting the Sol Duc Valley which is just a 30-minute drive from FairHolme Campground. Relax with a massage, soak at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, or go on one of the several hikes in the area. One of the most rewarding hikes is a 1.6-mile return trip to get to the Sol Duc Falls.

Ruby Beach

A unique and stunning beach, full of sea stacks and driftwood. Drive 1.5 hours south along highway 101 to find the Ruby Beach parking lot. From here you will see a well-maintained trail to the beach.

Kalaloch Tree Root Cave, Washington, USA

Kalaloch Campground

10 minutes down the road from Ruby Beach is one of Washington’s best campgrounds! It is backing onto the beach with access to many trails, tide pools and even gray whales occasionally spotted playing in the waves just off shore. Make sure to find Kalaloch Tree Root Cave during your stay.

$22 USD per night
Restrooms, no showers
Reserve online here, some sites remain first come first serve

Pacific Beach State Park

Pacific Beach Campground: A 1.5 hour drive from Kalaloch and one of my absolute favorite West Coast road trip stops! There are 18 tent sites that literally back onto the ocean. Walk for miles exploring the wide, beautiful beach where you can enjoy a sunset campfire.

Price: $25-35 USD per night for a standard tent site
Check-In Time: 2:30 PM Check-Out Time: 1 PM
Hot Showers
Reserve online here

Cannon Beach

A unique little town 3 hours from Pacific Beach. Home to Oregon’s famous landmark; Haystack Rock. You can hike, surf, lay on the beach or explore the local shops and restaurants. If you’d like to stay the night, check out Wrights for Camping family-run campground which is 5 minutes from the beach! There are also tons of boutique hotels and cute B&B’s to choose from.

Tillamook Creamery

An amazing dairy factory one hour south of Cannon Beach. They promote local farmers and products without growth hormones or artificial sweeteners. Take a tour, try some samples and make sure to stop for a treat on your way out. It’ll be the best ice cream you have on your entire trip!

Cape Lookout State Park

Cape Lookout Campground: Find a great tent site near the beach only 20 minutes from the Cheese Factory. Spend time in the water or hike up Cape Lookout Trail for jaw dropping views of the coastline.

$21 USD per night for a standard tent site
Check-In Time: 4 PM Check-Out Time: 11 AM
Hot showers and restrooms available
Reserve online here

Sand Masters

Visiting the worlds first sand-boarding park is a fun way to break up your drive. Sand Masters is 2.5 hours from Cape Lookout State Park and a unique place to get a few hours of activity in. Rent a board at the shop for $ 16 USD and drive just up the road to the sand dunes!

Coos Bay

Drive 1 hour from Sand Masters to Sunset Bay Campground and set up camp. From there you have access to Sunset Bay State Park, Cape Arago State Park and Shore Acres State Park.You could easily spend a few days between these three areas. Explore hiking trails, rugged cliffs, landscaped gardens, Cape Arago Lighthouse, and many beautiful beaches. This was the cheapest campsite of our trip and well worth the stop!

$19 USD per night for a standard tent site
Check-In Time: 4 PM Check-Out Time: 1 PM
Hot Showers and restrooms
Book online here

Crater Lake

Although Crater Lake is 4 hours inland from Sunset Bay Campground, this bucket list destination is absolutely worth the detour! The stunning lake was formed by the volcanic collapse of Mount Mazama. You can drive 33 miles along the rim of the crater which offers awe- inspiring views and access to numerous hiking trails. Another activity option is to take the ferry to Wizard Island near the Western edge of the lake.

We passed on staying at Crater Lake Lodge because of price and camped 7 km down the mountain at Mazama Village Campground instead. The campsite is excellent, but be sure to make a reservation early because the sites fill up quick!

$23 USD per night for a standard tent site
Check-In Time: 4 pm Check-Out Time: 11 am
Showers and restrooms available
Book online here

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods Campground: A three and a half hour drive from Crater Lake, this wonderful campsite is in the heart of the redwoods with over 20 miles of walking and hiking trails nearby. You can also choose to fish or kayak in the Smith River.

$35 USD per night
Check-In Time: 2 pm Check-Out Time: 12 pm
Showers and Restrooms
Book online here

Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park

You will enter this state park approximately 20 minutes South of Jedediah Smith Redwoods Campground. Throughout the Park there will be many opportunities to stop and take photos of the wonderful landscape. You will find hiking and walking trails, rugged coastline, massive redwood trees, a beach and a tide pool.

Drive Through Klamath Tree

Klamath Tree is the newest of the drive-thru redwoods and is just 10 minutes from Del Norte State Park. The opening is quite large and critical areas of living wood were avoided to help sustain the tree’s health.

Gold Bluffs Beach Campground

Gold Bluffs Beach Campground is 40 minutes from the drive-thru tree. This is the perfect place to stay for a change of scenery on your West Coast road trip. Explore hiking trails, go for a walk in Fern Canyon (where parts of Jurassic Park were filmed), or hang out on the beach!

$35 USD per night
Check-In Time: 2 pm Check-Out Time: 12 pm
Showers and restrooms
Reserve online here

Big Lagoon

A beautiful lagoon, located 40 minutes from Gold Buffs Campground in Humboldt Lagoons State Park. Stop here for a few hours to kayak and enjoy the beach.

Avenue of the Giants

This famous roadway runs parallel to Highway 101 for 31 miles. The beginning of this detour is 1.5 hours South of the Big Lagoon. Avenue of the Giants takes you along some of the most magnificent redwood trees, a few cute little towns, and The Shrine Tree. This is another drive-thru tree which has an opening made primarily by nature.

Glass Beach

A beautiful and unusual beach 2 hours from the Avenue of the Giants. The sand is made up of small, smooth, coloured pieces of glass. Created from years of dumping garbage North of Town, the sea and currents broke down the glass and piled it on this beach.

Santa Rosa

A 2 hour drive from Glass Beach, Santa Rosa is part of Sonoma County and known for its wineries. We made Santa Rosa our home base for exploring the Sonoma and Napa Valleys because accommodation is much cheaper here.

Hot Air Balloon Ride: Wake up early to enjoy the sunrise from a hot air balloon! Experience marvellous views of the valley and the vineyards complete with a champagne breakfast after landing. Up & Away Ballooning offers a great safety record and excellent customer service for $239 USD per person.

Wine tour: There is no shortage of vineyards and wine tours in this area. We loved Terrific Tours because it was affordable, had small groups and a really fun tour guide. We stopped at 5 vineyards on this all day tour and had lunch in an adorable little town. The Northern Sonoma package has a free pick-up in Santa Rosa and costs just $100 USD per person.

San Francisco

San Francisco is a wonderfully unique city full of life and colour. Home to the famous former prison; Alcatraz. It is also known for the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and Fisherman’s Wharf. From stunning city landmarks to secret prohibition bars there are endless exciting things to do in San Francisco. Make sure to plan at least a few days to take it all in!

Kirby Cove Campground

Hands down the best place to stay in San Francisco! Located across the river from downtown very close to the Golden Gate Bridge. You will enjoy phenomenal views of the bridge and downtown from the campground beach.

$30 USD per night for a tent site, hike in only.
Check in: 1 pm Check out: 12 pm
Outhouses, no showers
Book online here

Berry Creek Falls Loop

A moderately strenuous 9.5-mile hike that takes you to 4 picturesque waterfalls and redwood groves. It is about a 1-hour 30-minute drive from San Francisco and slightly inland. If you are up for the challenge, the views will make it worth your while. Don’t forget to bring $10 for the park entry fee. Click here for more information.

Monterey

1.5 hours from Berry Creek Falls or 2 hours from San Francisco. Spend the day on the beach, visit the aquarium, or go whale watching or kayaking in Monterey Bay.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

A small beach city on California’s Monterey Peninsula. Check out the museums, Carmel Mission, art galleries and fairy tale cottages. Point Lobos State Reserve has hiking, walking, scuba diving and magnificent views. Carmel-by-the-Sea also gives you access to the famous 17-mile drive. There is a $10 entrance fee but it is home to some of the most beautiful views on the Peninsula.

Big Sur

The breathtaking stretch of road from Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Simeon will be a highlight of your West Coast road trip. The drive will take 1.5 to 2 hours and you will want to pull over ever few minutes to take photos! Some of the best stops include Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Beach, McWay Falls (an 80-foot waterfall from the cliffs onto the beach) and the Bixby Bridge.

Hillside Hot Tubs at Sycamore Mineral Resort and Spa

This lovely resort located only an hour away from San Simeon is a must-see! Relax for an hour in the hillside hot tubs for $15 USD per person. They even allow you to bring your own wine or beer up to your private tub overlooking the forest! If you would like to treat yourself further, the Sycamore Mineral Resort offers beautiful rooms and a pool for around $200 USD per night.

Point Mugu State Park

Sycamore Canyon Campground: 2.5 hours drive from the hot tubs, this beautiful campground is close to the beach with lots of trees and bushes for added privacy. The gate is locked at 10 PM and opens at 8 AM, so keep that in mind when planning your arrival/departure.

$45 USD per night
Token operated showers
Book online here

Sky Diving

Sky diving along the California coast is an amazing experience and a must-do for adventure lovers! We went with Sky Dive California Coastal and had a blast. The instructors were a lot of fun and we felt very safe. If you go on a weekday and pay in cash the price is $209 USD per person. It is more expensive to pay by card or if you decide to go on the weekend.

Santa Monica

A coastal city, West of downtown Los Angeles and an hour from Point Mugu State Park. Home to Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, Muscle Beach and Bergamot Station, it’s got plenty to keep you occupied throughout the day.

The Venice Beach Boardwalk: Stretches about 1.5 miles along Venice Beach and you will find hundreds of vendors and street performers. You can buy pretty much any souvenir you can think of and get your fortune read, watch a man walk across broken glass, or get a tattoo. In addition, there is a large selection of restaurants, bars, bike rentals and surf shops along the way.

The Santa Monica Pier: A great place to stop for an evening of fun. About a half an hour’s walk from the Venice Beach Boardwalk, you can enjoy food, drinks, rides, and street vendors. The Ferris wheel offers amazing views of the beach and the water.

From Santa Monica we decided to skip L.A. because we have both been there previously. If you have time to stop in on your West Coast road trip, there is an endless list of things to do and places to see. Hollywood, Universal Studios, and Disneyland are just the beginning!

Dana Point

About 1.5 hours from Santa Monica depending on the L.A. traffic. Relax in the sun, go surfing at Salt Creek or Doheny State Beach, or explore the shops and marina. Go hiking on one of the many trails in Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area or take a 1-hour ferry ride to Catalina Island! Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari offers some amazing tours from the harbour complete with underwater viewing spots on the boats!

San Clemente State Beach Campground

A great campground close to the beach, surfing, and the shopping pier. Being only 15 minutes down the road from Dana Point, you will have access to tons of activities.

$40 USD per night
Check-In time: 2 PM Check-Out time: 12 PM
Showers and restrooms
Reserve online here, a number of first come first serve spots always available

Carlsbad

30 minutes south you will come across this oceanfront city known for Tamarack Surf Beach and Carlsbad Village. Check out LEGO-land, The Flower Fields, and the Museum of Making Music. The Carlsbad Lagoon is a water sports center that rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, stand-up paddleboards, wave runners, and speedboats.

La Jolla

La Jolla is known for its rugged coastline. It’s a marvellous little village with so much to do! You can surf and snorkel, para-glide or go on a boat tour. Visit the beach or see a show at the La Jolla Playhouse. Visit Torrey Pines Gold Course, the Del Mar Race Track or Temecula Wine country. Plan to spend a few days here to experience as much as you can.

La Jolla B&B Inn: Am amazing B&B with a 3 course breakfast just 1 block from the ocean. It is a little pricey but absolutely worth the money for a relaxing, romantic couple of days.

San Diego

A remarkable place to end your West Coast road trip. Known for its parks, family attractions, and 70 miles of beaches San Diego has something for everyone. The San Diego Zoo, Legoland, and Sea World are a few top sights. Enjoy a huge culinary culture as well as almost 100 golf courses, a rich military history, and tons of outdoor activities.

We hope you enjoy your west coast road trip! Please feel free to contact us with any question or comment below with your favorite stops. We`d love to hear from you!

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