Are you looking for some of the best west coast road trips to embark on to explore the beautiful United States?
There are so many incredible viewpoints scattered around the United States, and many of them can be found in the western half of the country. I
From towering mountains to miles of coastline and bustling cities, you can find all sorts of fun adventures in the Western US. Many of them you can connect to put together one epic road trip.
So make sure that you stop and take in the views. Click photographs and don’t forget to pair them with epic road trip captions. I mean, you definitely want to keep your Instagram followers updated on your trip don’t you?
In this post, I’m going to share some of the very best road trips on the West Coast, so you can get out and explore the beautiful country. Trust me… After this you are going to want to take a whole month off for a road trip in the USA!
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Table of Contents
Best West Coast Road Trips
1. Olympic Peninsula
Recommended Time: 5+ days
Located in far Northwestern Washington, the Olympic Peninsula is one of the most diverse landscapes in all of the Western US.
Within this peninsula, you will find temperate rainforests, waterfalls, miles of ocean coastline, snow-capped mountains, roaming wildlife, and so much more.
There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails to explore the diversity of the Olympic Peninsula, or you can drive the ring road and take in all of the views from your car.
The peninsula starts near Seattle, Washington, and loops around the entirety of Olympic National Park. Towns to stop in along the way include Port Angeles, Kalaloch, and Forks, which is the city that the popular movie series ‘Twilight’ is based on. The best stops include Hurricane Hilly, Ruby and Rialto Beaches, and one of the best waterfalls close to Seattle, Sol Duc Falls.
The best way to experience the Olympic Peninsula is to road trip around Highway 101, which is a very long road. It’s recommended to have at least five days to fully explore this park, but the more the better.
2. Washington National Parks
Washington National Parks are always a great as part of any West Coast road trips.
Recommended Time: 7+ days
If you’re looking to see a bit more of Washington than just the Olympic Peninsula, then put together an entire Washington National Park road trip.
Washington is home to three national parks, Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades. Each of these has its own unique attributes and all of them are very different from each other. So putting them all into one road trip will allow you to experience some amazing diversity throughout the Pacific Northwest.
If you fly into Seattle, start in North Cascades National Park. Here you’ll find rugged mountain landscapes with endless hiking trails that lead you through breathtaking views.
Then make your way south and loop around Olympic National Park. See the temperate rainforest, Olympic Mountain range, and stop in some of the coastal cities on the Pacific Ocean.
Lastly head to Mount Rainier National Park, where you’ll find Washington’s tallest mountain. There are more hiking trails and viewpoints to check out here.
The best way to end your road trip is to fly out of Portland, Oregon, because this route allows you to see a bit more of Washington, and you might even want to stop at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
3. Utah’s Mighty Five
Recommended Time: 5+ days
Another unique area to road trip through is Utah. This Southwestern state is home to 5 national parks, which can all be added together to create one epic road trip.
Starting on the western side of the state head into Zion National Park. Here you’ll find the iconic Angels Landing and Narrows hikes.
This unique park is filled with towering red rock formations called hoodoos. You can hike down into the deep canyon to see these hoodoos up close for yourself.
Continue heading east and make a stop at Capital Reef National Park. Within this park, you’ll find even more red rock formations that you can hike and take the scenic drive through. If it hasn’t sold out yet for the day, stop by the Gifford House for freshly baked pie.
Next on your list is Canyonlands National Park. This underrated Utah park almost feels like a mix between the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. You’ll find towering hoodoos as well as deep canyons.
Lastly is Arches National Park, which is home to over 2,000 documented arches. The most popular is Delicate Arch, which is the tallest freestanding arch in the park.
4. Pacific Coast Highway
Few West coast road trips can beat a trip along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Recommended Time: 10+ days
The Pacific Coast Highway is an amazing stretch of land that goes all the way from Seattle in Washington to the bottom of California. There are many ways that you can embark on this West Coast road trip, depending on how much time you have.
Some people like to start all the way down in San Diego and work their way up to Seattle. Others will prefer to make it a smaller road trip and take it in sections like San Diego to San Francisco or Seattle to Newport.
If you have the time, I recommend going all the way from California to Washington. Although you’re following the same road, Highway 1, for the entire way, you will see a lot of diversity throughout the trip if you make the entire drive.
A few of the best stops to make along the way include San Diego, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Fort Bragg, Newport, Astoria, Port Angeles, and Seattle.
5. Yellowstone, Grand Teton And Glacier National Parks
Yellowstone National park is one of the best west coast road trips that you could ever consider!
Recommended Time: 7+ days
These four national parks found in Wyoming and Montana are some of the most popular parks in the United States. Yellowstone was the very first part to be created in the country, and has remained one of the most popular parks to date.
This road trip through these beautiful mountain-filled states will allow you to see some of the best views on the west coast.
Start down in Grand Teton National Park, near Jackson Hole. Drive through the scenic roads in Grand Teton, and enjoy the views of the rugged mountains. There are many great hikes in Grand Teton to check out as well.
Then make the drive up to Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is most well known for its roaming wildlife, so you might see everything from mountain goats to grizzly bears. Spend some time hiking the trails here and checking out popular places like Yellowstone Lake.
Lastly drive all the way up, almost to Canada, where you’ll find Glacier National Park. This stunning park is filled with alpine lakes, wildlife, and breathtaking views. One of the most popular things to do is to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Because of how long the drive is from Yellowstone to Glacier, I would recommend having at least one week to do this trip. It’s one of those amazing West Coast road trips that you will be talking about for a long long time!
6. Columbia River Gorge
Looking for the top west coast road trips? The Columbia River Gorge is one of the best!
Recommended Time: 3+ days
Located right between Washington and Oregon, is the Columbia River Gorge. This beautiful stretch of land lines the Columbia River as it stretches across the Pacific Northwest before flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Sounds like one of those epic West Coast road trips that you are dreaming off? I bet!
Along the Columbia River Gorge, you’ll find hundreds of miles of hiking trails, almost a hundred waterfalls, and incredible viewpoints. There are also several adorable small towns to stop into.
Oregon’s tallest waterfall is found in the gorge, Multnomah Falls. If you’re a waterfall lover, this is the place to be. You can find several of them just slightly off the road so you don’t even have to hike to them. A few of the most popular include Bridal Beil Falls, Tunnel Falls, and Latourell Falls.
One of the best parts is that the Columbia River Gorge is also close to Portland. So you can explore Oregon’s largest city while you’re in the area, and easily fly into the airport if you need to.
7. Colorado National Parks
If you are on the look out for some cool West Coast road trips then consider spending time in Colorado.
Recommended Time: 7+ days
Another great west coast road trip is to spend some time exploring Colorado’s national parks. There are four of them spread throughout the beautiful state. Plus, there are loads of campgrounds in Colorado, if camping is your thing!
Start in Northern Colorado about an hour from Denver in Rocky Mountain National Park. This park is home to some of the United States’ most popular mountains; the Rockies. You can hike through the mountains, enjoy the views, and search for roaming wildlife.
Then head south into Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, where you’ll find a mesmerizing canyon that drops into the earth. This is the most underrated park in Colorado!
Your next stop should be Great Sand Dunes National Park, where you’ll find miles of white sand dunes. Be sure to rent a sandboard and test your skills at flying down the dunes.
Lastly, Mesa Verde National Park is a very unique place to visit. Here you can see historic sites that date back to the Pueblo people that lived here hundreds of years ago. They are preserved and with a tour, you can visit them. You can see why this makes one of the best west coast road trips!
8. San Diego to Los Angeles
San Diego to Los Angeles is one of the best West Coast road trips.
Recommended Time: 3+ days
This stretch of road trip on the west coast is a bit shorter and would make for a perfect weekend trip. You’ll travel through some of the best parts of Southern California.
Start in San Diego and check out all there is to do in this major city. Spend some time on the popular beaches, try their authentic Mexican food, or take a tour to go whale watching. You’ll find some pretty unique things to do in San Diego too!
If you have a bit of extra time, you might consider adding on a trip to Joshua Tree National Park, or maybe even Mojave National Preserve. Although these are quite far out of the way.
Then start making your way north towards Los Angeles. Here you’ll find some of the most popular parts of California. From the Hollywood Walk of Fame to the Hollywood sign, Los Angeles has plenty for visitors to do.
Since it’s one of the shorter West Coast road trips, you can likely get away with just a few days!
9. Crater Lake National Park to Portland
Epic West Coast Road Trips? The trip from Crater Lake National Park to Portland is definitely one of them!
Recommended Time: 5+ days
While we’ve covered Washington’s national parks, what about Oregon’s? Oregon has just one national park- Crater Lake.
Start down in Crater Lake National Park and explore the deepest lake in the United States. The water is chilly, but if you’re up for a unique adventure, head down the Cleetwood Cove trail and take a dip.
Then make a few stops in Willamette National Forest. Here you’ll find Umpqua Hot Springs, Toketee Falls, and Tamolitch Blue Pool.
From here, you can either head up through Salem or Bend. If you go towards Salem, visit Silver Falls State Park. And if you choose Bend, visit Mount Bachelor and Smith Rock State Park.
As you head towards Portland, stop in Mount Hood National Forest to see Oregon’s tallest mountain. In the winter, you can ski here, and in summer, check out the hiking trails.
Once you’ve made it to Portland, check out all of the great things to do like Pittock Mansion, Powell’s City of Books, and the Portland Japanese Garden. It’s one of those places where you just want to travel with a campervan. Just make sure that you carry all the campervan essentials if you choose to head out on this trip!
10. Oregon Coast
One of the most scenic West Coast Road Trips is along Oregon’s coast!
Recommended Time: 5+ days
Oregon’s coast is one of the most beautiful stretches of land along the Pacific Coast Highway. So if you want to see some of Highway 1 but only have a short time, choose this section.
Start in Southern Oregon near Brookings. Make your first stop at the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. Here you’ll find amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, including the most popular Natural Bridges. Look in the distance for whales!
As you head north, you’ll come across several state parks and scenic viewpoints to stop at.
Cape Blanco State Park is home to a lighthouse, and Thor’s Well showcases a unique ocean phenomenon. In Pacific City, visit the stunning Cape Kiwana State Natural Area and climb the dunes.
All the way on the northern tip of Oregon, you’ll come across Cannon Beach and Astoria. There are so many more stops to see, including many hidden gems that you’ll find along the way. This is just one of the reasons why it is one of the popular West Coast road trips.
11. Las Vegas to Phoenix
Las Vegas to Phoenix is one of the most amazing West Coast road trips that you can embark on!
Recommended Time: 5+ days
This next west coast road trip starts in Las Vegas, otherwise known as Sin City. Start off by exploring some of Las Vegas, such as The Strip or Fremont Street.
On your way from Las Vegas to Phoenix, stop at the Hoover Dam to see one of the most impressive engineering feats in history.
A few other detours that you can add to this trip include Valley of Fire State Park, the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Sedona. Each of these are stunning locations that are perfect for outdoor lovers.
The Grand Canyon and Sedona are two of the best places to see in Arizona for hiking and exploring. I mean the hordes of Grand Canyon quotes fall short when it comes to describing this breathtaking natural wonder.
After a few hours, you’ll make it to Phoenix. Here you can explore a botanical garden, more outdoor areas, an archaeological park, and more. This is Arizona’s capital city, so there is plenty for visitors to do. You can even make your way down to Tuscon if you have the time. This why it is one of the best West Coast Road trips.
12. Yosemite To Redwood National Parks
Yosemite is an ideal place when it comes to West Coast road trips!
Recommended Time: 5+ days
This long road trip winds across Central California into Northern California. It starts in Yosemite and heads up to the Redwoods.
Yosemite is a stunning national park that features towering rock formations. There are hiking trails all over that allow you to really explore the park, including extreme hikes like Half Dome.
As you begin to head across to the coast, you’ll come into San Francisco, where you can explore the large city. Cross over the Golden Gate Bridge, the beaches, and Point Reyes National Seashore.
Then head north and stop in Fort Bragg for a unique glass beach. Eventually, you’ll connect to Highway 101 and then come into Redwoods National and State Parks.
This park is home to some of the tallest trees in the world, which you can drive through and explore the trails.
13. Seattle To Glacier National Park
When it comes to epic West Coast road trips, a trip from Seattle to Glacier National park is one that you will always remember!
Recommended Time: 5+ days
There are so many amazing road trips on the west coast, especially in the area around the Pacific Northwest. This one starts in Seattle and takes you across the Northwestern US to Glacier National Park.
Start in Seattle and explore the Rainy City by doing things like seeing the Space Needle, Puget Sound, and Pike Place Market. Then start making your way towards Montana.
You can take a few routes, one that goes through Leavenworth or another that goes through Snoqualmie. Which you choose will give you different things to do.
You’ll then pass through Spokane, Couer d’Alene, Idaho, and St. Regis, Montana. Along the way, you’ll have incredible views of the mountains.
As you make your way north, you’ll pass Flathead Lake, where you can stop and enjoy the lakeside. Then head into Glacier National Park.
Within the park, watch for wildlife, embark on a hike, visit Logan Pass, and drive Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The US west coast is home to some of the most beautiful places in the entire country. Taking a west coast road trips is one of the best ways to explore this stunning part of the world.
If you’re looking for a way to learn more about the country and get out and enjoy the diversity of the country, this is the place to do it.
From the major cities to the towering mountains, the west coast is packed with things to do for everyone.
About The Author
Kassidy is an avid hiker who loves spending her spare time exploring the PNW and beyond. She loves to share her adventures over on her blog, The Hiking Helper.
