How long drive portland to san francisco

I spent a good chunk of time here looking at the view and running up and down the sand dune. If you are in this area and the fog allows you to see more than 10 meters in front of you , there are some really beautiful natural landmarks to see.

I am not even going to share the photo I took as it is essentially a white wall of fog haha. This lighthouse is one of the most photographed in Oregon!

Further down just a few hundred meters are the Sea Lion Caves. Worth a visit if you like sea lions! You might want to rent dune buggies and ride around, though I personally find walking through them more peaceful. This is a pretty neat stop if you have kids or like dinosaurs. Stop here if you want a bigger town to spend the night in or grab a meal here! There are also TWO Starbucks if you need a coffee fix. It was nice to have a good sit down meal after days on the road. There are also some touristy landmarks to visit here.

I hear that people often fly by Eureka, but I thoroughly enjoyed our time here. Some of the short trails off the road were my favourite stops of the road trip! Crater Lake is a striking reminder that much of the Cascade Mountain range contains 20 major volcanos. If your road trip from Portland to San Francisco is in the warmer months, ride along Rim Driver, which encircles the lake, to get a different perspective. You can also pre-book a boat trip, including a tour of Wizard Island, or hike down the steep Cleetwood Cove Trail to access the lake.

It also includes a beautiful stretch of coastline populated with sea lions. There are also several other trails and stops along the road through the park. Grab a brochure at the information center to see what interests you. Fort Bragg, not to be confused with the immense North Carolina military installation, is a must.

How the glass got there is not so pretty a picture. Fortunately, the state is now doing more to preserve both the Pacific Ocean and its coastlines. Napa Valley is the most famous territory. Its three dozen grape varieties and signature Cabernet Sauvignon have been tasted by everyone from Hollywood celebrities to Silicon Valley moguls and international elites. But Sonoma County, about three hours south of Fort Bragg, is almost equally popular and offers a slightly more laid-back experience. For a quiet, somewhat less touristy time in Wine Country, consider stopping by Healdsburg about 45 minutes north of Sonoma and an hour and a half north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The small town offers old-world charm, farm-to-table cuisine, and, of course, ample wine tasting opportunities. Further down the California Coast in Marin County, make one last stop for a moment of serenity in nature before heading to your final destination. Along with a thriving elephant seal population along the sea cliffs, you can observe deer and elk in their natural habitat at the nearby Tule Elk Reserve. Located in a great area for exploring Bend, they have a number of clean and comfortable rooms available and a number of amenities to make sure you have a great stay.

Click here to see their availability. This eco-friendly lodging has a number of quaint rooms available, a great location and includes breakfast sourced from local farmers each morning.

If this is more your speed, there are countless options to choose from, including this historic Belle Millhouse within walking distance of the city centre! Click here to find the best private rentals in Bend! Click here to browse more hotels in Bend! Lighthouse Inn — This inn is a great place to base yourself in Crescent City. You can read more about our experience at Bigelow Hot Springs here.

By far our favourite hot spring! Umpqua was really the highlight of our Oregon road trip. As you can probably tell, Oregon is all about hot spring hunting. If you want to find out more about them, check out our post on 19 of the best hot springs in Oregon for more information! Hiking distance: 20 minute walk from the parking area This is one of my personal favourite waterfalls ever!

This place is only a 5 minute drive from Umpqua Hot Springs so it definitely makes sense to do both these in the same day. You can read more about it in our blog post from our last Oregon road trip. Saying goodbye to Oregon and hello to California!

Treehouse A Frame treehouse. If I could build my own home, it would look pretty similar to this place. Not only did we have easy access to beautiful Lake Shasta, gorgeous views and total peace and quiet for our entire stay, but this place literally looks like its straight out of a fairytale. We stated downtown at the Hilton in the financial district, which was great but arguably in quite a sketchy part of town.

After a fantastic night at the Aframe Treehouse, we hopped in the car and continued on down to San Francisco for the last leg of our journey. I think this time we finally found the perfect place to see it from. Let us introduce you to the view from Battery Spencer. On our tour, we stopped at 3 vineyards as well as a quick stop at Muir Woods first. It was a real endurance race, but a lot of fun and we highly recommend it. This was a whistle-stop tour through some of the absolute highlights of Oregon and Northern California and should appeal to anyone that likes good food and the outdoors!

This blog post is sponsored by Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. Havasupai is the colloquial name for a part of the Havasupai Indian Reservation in Arizona that has become enormously Today, sprawling over the hillside above Arcata, Humboldt State University dominates the city and promotes a youthful, artistic and intellectual ambiance.

Check out the main plaza , where lots of restaurants and shops reside. The town also contains many restored Victorian homes—driving or walking, getting lost in the neighborhoods of Arcata is not time wasted. Looking for something else? What a lush and sprawling state park to visit. Agate Beach is two miles of solitude and splendor with awesome beachcombing opportunities. On any given day, you can find a variety of rare rocks, such as jasper, agate, and even jade hence, its name.

Collecting stones at Agate Beach is allowed, but visitors are limited to one armload per person. Prairie Creek SP is the perfect spot for those with limited time. The main attraction: Fern Canyon Trail. This hike really cannot be missed. It is hands down one of the most beautiful places in California I had ever laid my eyes on. Take a drive on the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway , which will be an eye-capturing adventure in itself.

Trailheads appeared approximately every half-mile, so select some at random and explore different parts of the park for a few hours. Lassen belongs to the Cascade Mountain Range and is considered one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world, last erupting in This park has everything from volcanic summits to geothermal areas and stellar waterfalls. While Lassen is open year-round, 24 hours a day, many facilities are only open for the summer season and road access is limited in the winter months.

Notable landmarks worth stopping by here are Bumpass Hell mile roundtrip hike , Kings Creek Falls 2. Without question, Burney Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the state.

The ft waterfall draws many road trippers and adventurers to McArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park all year round, even when the rest of the waterfalls in California have turned into small trickles in the summer. There is a short 1-mile hike you can take after soaking in the beauty of the falls. Visitors can enjoy the interpretive signs on the nature trail and enjoy the shaded greenery of the park.

The end of the trail leads you to the bottom of Burney Falls where you can experience the majestic falls up close. Stop in the Mount Shasta area Siskiyou County to experience out of this world landscapes shaped more by volcanoes.

One of the prettiest trails to check out is the 2-mile path along the McCloud River which leads to a trio of spectacular waterfalls lower, middle, and upper falls. Definitely worth checking out if you love chasing waterfalls. Depending on what time of year you visit Siskiyou County, you can choose to go hiking or skiing on the mountain.

Crater Lake National Park was established in and the only national park in Oregon. The park encompasses the caldera of Crater Lake, a remnant of Mount Mazama a destroyed volcano , and the surrounding hills and forests. The biggest reason to come here is to feast your eyes on the lake, clocking in at 1, feet m deep at its deepest point.

Crater Lake takes the cake for being the deepest lake in the United States and the second-deepest in North America. We recommend checking out the Discovery Point Trail , which is an easy 4.

This makes for a great intro hike before exploring the rest of the park. If you love chasing sunrises, try getting to Crater Lake National Park before sunrise. Sunrise on Watchman Peak is epic! After a picnic lunch at one of the many amazing viewpoints, head down the Cleetwood Cove Trail 1. The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is a historic highway that starts on Century Drive in Bend and winds its way through 66 miles of towering mountain peaks and lakefront vistas.

The route offers stunning mountain views including Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, and South Sister. Stop along the way at one of 14 alpine lakes in the area to enjoy various recreational activities. The byway is open late spring through fall, but some sections are closed during the winter months due to snow.

Exploring the Newberry Crater is a great way to learn about the geological history that helped make Central Oregon the beautiful place it is. Stop at Paulina Falls , an foot double waterfall located only a short walk from your car. From there, check out Paulina Lake, a lake area complete with a lodge, restaurant, and watercraft rentals. Once you descend down steps into the darkness, then hike a mile each way to explore this massive lava tube.

Ice stalactites hang from the ceilings even during the summer season, giving it that out-of-this-world feel. If you are looking for fun things to do with kids, this is a great place to explore. Sunriver is a neighboring town located south of Bend on the Deschutes River. In the wintertime, they have ice skating here as well. Summers are ideal for hiking, biking, rock climbing, and water sports, while winters are perfect for skiing or snowboarding on Mt.

Seriously, the sheer amount of fun you can have here is unreal. Redmond is a hub in the high desert along the 26 with a rejuvenated downtown, a growing beer scene, and lots of recreational activities to enjoy.

Head to Downtown Redmond for a light stroll among fine dining restaurants, boutiques, bookstores, and cafes. For family-friendly fun, check out the Splash Park or the ice rink in the heart of the city.

I added this to the list in hopes that anyone reading this is also in love with alpacas as much as I am. You can expect to spend 45 minutes to 1 hour here. If you enjoy scenic views of towering canyons or rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park is the place for you. Rock climbers from all over the country flock to Smith Rock State Park to experience the thousands of climbing routes in the park.

The most rewarding and most challenging hike here is the 3. Smith Rock State Park is a popular attraction, and with that comes potential challenges with parking, especially during the peak season and on weekends.

If you want to beat the crowds, visit on a weekday or try to get there before 8am on weekends. This lake is all about the view—featuring Mount Hood towering overhead nearby. This creates an amazing mirrored view of its snow-capped peaks, especially on a clear day. If you have some to spare, consider doing the 1.

Timberline Lodge is a magnificent historical mountain lodge, built during the Depression Era. This is yet another great place to grab a bite to eat with a side of awe-inspiring views. One of the most beautiful waterfalls in the entire Northwest is just a quick hike away on your route from San Francisco to Portland. Hood and the grand Ramona Falls. The trail itself is relatively easy, but the hike requires either crossing the Sandy River on fallen logs, rock hopping, or trudging through the river.

Because of where Ashland is located where the Siskiyou and Cascade Mountains meet , there is no shortage of scenic views and outdoor adventure here. This park is the absolute gem of Ashland! Medford is considered the heart of the Rogue Valley and is the largest city in Southern Oregon. Main Street in the downtown area is lined with boutiques, antique shops, restaurants, brewpubs, and entertainment options. Medford is also a great destination for families with children.