Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For flights, we recommend Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates. Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you! We always use Expedia's easy to use platform for hotels. To keep cell service while traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi. For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Get Your Guide also does the trick. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance. Lastly, my packing list for any international or domestic travels.
Planning Your Road Trip
I'll be honest, like I mentioned above this itinerary is very jam-packed. Each day you'll be heading to a new spot while staying somewhere new - however, you'll be able to see a large area of Oregon as well as Seattle. If you have a few days to spare then I highly recommend adding longer stops at the Oregon Coast and in Crater Lake National Park. Even though it's fast paced, we had an incredible time.
To prepare for your road trip, you'll need to get flights in and out of Seattle and rent a car. Once you land in Seattle and pick up your rental I also recommend stopping at a grocery store to get some road trip snacks! Depending on what time of year you're visiting, you might also need to rent some tire chains.
Our Favorite Tours near Seattle :
- Space Needle & Chihuly Garden - Seattle Harbor Cruise - Mt. Rainier National Park Day Trip
4 Day Seattle & Oregon Itinerary
Day 1 : Portland
On your first day, after arriving in Seattle, you'll need to pick up your rental car. From here, I recommend driving to Portland, about a 2-3 hour drive straight through. Don't worry, you'll have day 4 to explore Seattle. Once you get to Portland, I recommend exploring the area! Some of my favorite things to do is exploring the Columbia River Gorge (including Multnomah Falls & Latourell Falls), before heading to the Valley Public House for their famous pizza and drinks. And before you leave Portland in the morning, I recommend stopping at Genie’s Cafe for a delicious breakfast!
Day 2 : Oregon Coast
From Portland you can begin making the drive to Eugene. If you're like us and want to take the scenic coastal drive, it'll add a few extra hours, especially if you're visiting in peak summer tourist season. Some of our favorite stops along the way were Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach, Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site (much quieter than Cannon Beach), Devil's Cauldron - a 0.5 mile trail to an amazing overlook, Rockaway Beach (which is home to the "Original Pronto Pup"), and the Tilamook Creamery - which has yummy ice cream flights!
Day 3 : Crater Lake National Park
On the morning of day 3 I would begin the drive to Crater Lake National Park, about a 2 hour drive. Similar to the Oregon Coast, the National Park was another spot we wish we had at least a few days to explore. However if you're just here for one day like us, we recommend driving the 33 mile long Rim Drive, with over 30 overlooks you're sure to find some incredible views. You can also hike down to the lake itself via Cleetwood Cove Trial or take a boat or trolley tour if you have a bit more time! After you're done in the National Park you'll need to make the 4 hour drive back to Portland. Because we got in kind of late, we stopped at Ojisans Ramen Food Truck & Voodoo Donuts!
Day 4 : Seattle
When you do make it back to Seattle, I would visit the Space Needle & Chihuly Glass Exhibit, which are right next to each other and can be done fairly quickly. In the park, make sure to grab a local "Seattle Dog" at Dog in the Park (Seattle Dogs are famous for having cream cheese on them), then make your way down to explore Pike's Market (which also has top sights like the Gum Wall, Market Grill - try their famous Blackened Salmon Sandwich which is 100% worth the hype - and Pike's Place for their famous Chowder Sampler). You can even grab coffee at the "First Starbucks" across the street before your flight home!
Watch our Seattle & Portland Adventures here!
Other posts you might like :
-> 10 Epic Things to Do in Maui -> Best Budget Friendly Activities in Oahu -> Acadia National Park Guide
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Hi, we're Deborah & Tyler!
After our first move to Alaska, we decided to take a gap year and visited 30+ countries on a budget of $100 a day. This blog shares our best budget saving travel tips & international itineraries.
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