7 days · Washington and Oregon
7-Day Pacific Northwest Road Trip
By the Compass & Trails editor · Last updated 20 September 2026
Trip Overview
A week in the Pacific Northwest should assume rain on at least one day and smoke on another in fire season. This itinerary starts in Seattle, spends time at Mount Rainier and Olympic, then runs the Oregon coast far enough to feel the shift in light and towns. It does not include a full North Cascades backpack or a Crater Lake add without cutting something else. Drive less than you want to. Sit in a coffee shop when the pass is in a cloud.
Driving timeAbout 16–20 hours of moving the car across the week, depending on ferry vs. driving Olympic access
HikingRainier meadow loop, Hoh valley day, coastal beach walks, one Oregon headland
OvernightsAshford or Packwood, Forks or Kalaloch, then Oregon coast towns
Ideal seasonMid-July through mid-September for high roads and meadow trails
Best Time to Go
Late July–early September. June still holds a lot of mountain snow. October is quieter and wetter.
Budget Considerations
- Ferry fares if you use Washington State Ferries—check current schedules.
- National park pass.
- Coast lodging in August is the budget line item that surprises people.
We do not list live prices. Check current park fees and lodging quotes.
Packing List
- Rain pants, not only a jacket
- Microspikes for early Rainier snow
- Binoculars for coast wildlife from a distance
Day-by-day structure
Day 1 — Seattle to Rainier
Mount Rainier National Park · Transfer day · Driving: About 2.5–3.5 hours from Seattle
Morning. Pick up the car, grocery, drive toward the Nisqually entrance.
Afternoon. Paradise or Longmire depending on reservations. Short walk only if you arrive late.
Evening. Ashford / Packwood.
Hiking options. Nisqually Vista or a short Paradise walk
Scenic stops. Paradise meadows if snow has receded
Overnight. Ashford or Packwood
Planning notes. Do not add Mount St. Helens today.
Day 2 — Skyline Trail
Paradise · Full hike day · Driving: In-park
Morning. Skyline Loop while weather is better.
Afternoon. Reflection Lakes if Stevens Canyon is open, or rest.
Evening. Same base. Pack for a long Olympic transfer.
Hiking options. Mount Rainier Skyline Trail
Scenic stops. Paradise glaciers
Overnight. Ashford or Packwood
Planning notes. If the mountain is in a total cloud, hike lower forest trails and save elevation for a clearer hour.
Day 3 — Olympic rainforest
Hoh Rain Forest · Drive plus 3–6 hours walking · Driving: A long Washington interior-to-peninsula day
Morning. Long drive to the Hoh. Confirm road status.
Afternoon. Hall of Mosses plus as much Hoh River Trail as time allows toward Five Mile Island.
Evening. Hoh Campground, Forks, or begin coast shift.
Hiking options. Hoh River Trail; Hall of Mosses
Scenic stops. Rainforest canopy
Overnight. Forks or Hoh
Planning notes. Fuel before the Hoh Road.
Day 4 — Olympic coast
Washington coast · Flexible weather day · Driving: Moderate coastal miles
Morning. Ruby Beach or another signed beach. Watch tides if you walk toward headlands.
Afternoon. Kalaloch or Second Beach depending on energy. No sea-stack scrambling on wet rock.
Evening. Coast lodging. Early sleep.
Hiking options. Beach walks on signed access
Scenic stops. Sea stacks from the beach, at a distance from nesting areas
Overnight. Kalaloch area or Forks
Planning notes. This is your rain day if needed. Beaches still work in drizzle.
Day 5 — South to Oregon
Oregon Coast (north) · Mostly driving · Driving: Full transfer day
Morning. Drive south. Allow border-to-coast time; this is not a short hop.
Afternoon. Cannon Beach or a quieter state park if parking is a mess. Stay on sand and signed paths.
Evening. Cannon Beach, Manzanita, or Tillamook area.
Hiking options. Short headland trail if you arrive with daylight
Scenic stops. Haystack Rock from a respectful wildlife distance
Overnight. North Oregon Coast
Planning notes. Do not collect every viewpoint. Pick a town and walk.
Day 6 — Oregon headlands
Central Oregon Coast · Scenic driving day with one hike · Driving: Slow Highway 101 miles
Morning. One lighthouse or headland trail (check Oregon State Parks pages for the unit you choose).
Afternoon. Cape Perpetua or a similar public overlook area if you continue south.
Evening. Newport or Yachats.
Hiking options. One signed headland loop
Scenic stops. Tidepools only where legal and during safe tides
Overnight. Central coast
Planning notes. Tide tables matter more than Instagram spots.
Day 7 — Exit
Portland or a return north · Exit day · Driving: 2–4 hours depending on where you slept
Morning. Last beach walk or a direct inland drive to PDX.
Afternoon. Airport buffer. Coastal traffic into Portland can stall.
Evening. Flight or a Portland night.
Hiking options. None required
Scenic stops. Whatever you pass without stopping if you are tight on time
Overnight. Homeward
Planning notes. Return the car with time for fuel and photos you already took, not new ones.
Shorter Version
Five days: Rainier plus Olympic, fly out of Seattle, skip Oregon.
Longer Version
Ten days: add North Cascades or Crater Lake, not both unless you drop the coast.
Alternative Routes
- If Paradise reservations fail, try Sunrise on Rainier’s east side (also busy, also seasonal).
- If the Hoh Road is closed, shift to the coast and Hurricane Ridge, checking that road too.
Common Planning Mistakes
- Booking a ferry you cannot reach because Rainier parking ran long.
- Treating coastal miles as freeway miles.
- Hiking Beehive-style cliffs on a PNW trip without reading the trail. (Acadia comparison: iron-rung trails are a different park.)
Planning notes
- Rainier and Olympic may use timed entry or parking systems. Read both parks the week you go.
- Tsunami evacuation signs on the coast are not decoration. Know the uphill route from your lodging.
FAQ
Ferries or driving to Olympic?
Ferries can be pleasant and also delayed. Driving around via Olympia is longer and more predictable. Choose based on your Rainier exit time.
Linked places
Destinations: Washington Oregon
Trails: Mount Rainier Skyline Trail Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island
Road trip companion: Pacific Coast Highway
