Amazing deals on 2026 road trips are still available – Get in touch today!
Visit Seattle, Olympic NP, Mt Rainier NP, Portland, Oregon Coast, Crater Lake NP, Redwoods NP, Napa Valley, San Francisco, Monterey, Big Sur, Santa Barbara & LA
Our popular Ultimate West Coast road trip will take you from Seattle down to Los Angeles. As you cruise south, you’ll parallel the gorgeous Pacific Coast whilst visiting the very best that Washington, Oregon and California have to offer. The route offers astounding natural beauty throughout, and visits three of America’s best National Parks and four of its most exciting and culturally rich cities. Check out this three-week itinerary below to see why our Ultimate West Coast road trip is a must-do for any keen road-tripper.
West Coast road trip highlights:
Share this trip
We’ll suggest properties to match your preferred budget, be it low-cost, mid-range or high-end luxury that you’re looking for. We can also mix it up so you’ll experience a range of standards and experiences along your West Coast road trip.
All of our West Coast USA road trips can be tailored to meet your requirements. Do you have more or less than 21 days for your road trip? No problem, we can bolt on extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.
First stop on this epic west coast of America road trip is Emerald City – Seattle. After you’ve checked into your carefully selected Seattle hotel, why not enjoy dinner at one of Seattle’s excellent restaurants? We highly recommend the seafood joints found in and around Pike Place Market, which offers delicious options for a wide range of budgets. Finish Day 1, by watching the sunset from one of the piers or perhaps even from The Seattle Great Wheel.
If you need a cup of coffee to get you going following yesterday’s flight? Then head down to the first-ever Starbucks, located in Pike Place. After coffee and breakfast, spend the day discovering one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, famous for its great coffee, music scene, and ever-growing tech sector. Sightseeing highlights include historic Pioneer Square, the vast Museum of Flight and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Complete the day by visiting the iconic Space Needle, for epic views of the City, the Pacific Ocean and Mt Rainier in the distance.
Olympic is arguably the most varied National Park in all of America, with beautiful lakes, moss-covered rain forest, hot springs and rugged, enormous beaches. Situated in the far northwest of Washington State, Olympic is one of the wettest places you’ll ever visit, and this unique climate makes Olympic National Park an unforgettable and atmospheric place to explore. Enjoy the sunset overlooking the serene waters of Lake Crescent, or drive up to Hurricane Ridge for endless mountain views.
Drive anti-clockwise around the Olympic Peninsula to discover two of the West Coast’s most magnificent beaches, Rialto Beach and Ruby Beach. Marval as gigantic sea stacks, endless beaches and enormous driftwood are all battered by the mighty Pacific Ocean. In between these two epic beaches, lies Hoh Rain Forest, where you’ll walk amongst old-growth trees smothered in moss along short flat hikes. Your personalised Road Trip Pack will show you how to find these beaches and many more places of outstanding natural beauty along this wonderfully wild coastline.
Leave Olympic National Park behind you and head southeast to another of America’s very best natural wonders. Mt. Rainier National Park stands proud on the horizon, which can be seen for miles around. After checking into your lodge, spend the afternoon hiking through spectacular subalpine wildflower meadows that offer breathtaking views of this massive, active volcano. Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak outside of Alaska and offers stunning scenery, including rushing waterfalls, ancient forests and gigantic glaciers.
Drive south from Mt. Rainier, and then head east on Highway 14 on the Washington State side of the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge. Cross the mighty Columbia River and enter Oregon using the “Bridge of the Gods”, and then turn west towards Portland. As you drive along Columbia River Scenic Highway, you’ll pass seven magnificent waterfalls, the most famous and noteworthy being Multnomah Falls, with its two-drop cascade that attracts visitors from around the world.
You’ll find countless trendy shops, cool cafes and excellent restaurants on the streets of Portland. Plus, this is a Tax-Free shopping town, so if you intend to go shopping whilst you’re road-tripping, then this is a great place to do it. If the thought of shopping doesn’t excite you, then Portland’s other tourist attractions include a Japanese Garden, the Pittock Mansion and the Portland Art Museum.
Witness enormous sandstone boulders, which look like they’ve been dropped from the heavens, while you road trip along this 360-mile stretch of stunning coastline. Rugged, wild and windswept – Oregon’s beauty is up with the best of them. First stop, Cannon Beach, in the northwest corner of Oregon, is one of the jewels of the entire West Coast of America. As you take the short drive from Portland, be sure to stop by Ecola State Park – which is one of many State Parks you’ll admire as you cruise down the amazing Oregon coastline.
Leave adorable Cannon Beach and cruise south using legendary Highway 101; this celebrated road spans almost the entire West Coast, from Seattle in the north to Los Angeles in the south. Along with the equally iconic Highway 1, Route 101 will be your chosen road for most of this West Coast road trip. The Oregon section of Highway 101 is less developed than certain parts of California. So relax and enjoy nature’s artistry at work as you cruise through mist-covered forests and pass by vast sun-soaked beaches.
Whether we’ve saved the best West Coast State until last, you’ll have to decide on this impossible question. Today, you’ll begin the California section of this ultimate road trip along the USA’s West Coast. First stop in the Golden State is majestic Redwood National Park, located in the very north of California. You won’t believe your eyes as you witness the enormous size of these giant coastal redwoods, standing up to 100m high and 11m in diameter.
Many of the world’s biggest trees are found in Redwood National Park. Coastal Redwoods were once common throughout the West Coast of America, but sadly, they’re now only found in Oregon and northern California. Spend the entire day walking beneath these magnificent trees and let your stresses melt away.
You don’t have to love wine to enjoy this gorgeous area. These two neighbouring wine valleys offer spectacular scenery, with perfectly manicured vineyards stretching across continuous rolling hills. The scenery can be enjoyed by car, train, or even on an early morning hot-air balloon ride.
Spanning the headlands between Marin County and San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the world’s most beautiful structures, whether you walk, bike or drive across it. You can also gain stunning views of the Bay, the Bridge and San Francisco beyond by driving up Conzelman Road on the north side of the bridge. Once you hit town, you’ll spend two fun-filled days enjoying all that this iconic West Coast city has to offer.
Once the famous morning fog lifts, one of America’s favourite cities will be revealed. Ride a cable car, climb the steep streets and get into the vibe that only San Francisco can offer. Packed with Victorian charm, remarkable restaurants, spectacular shopping and famous movie locations, this iconic city really has it all. Alcatraz Island is often near the top of many visitors’ to-do lists. Take in more spectacular views of San Francisco, Angel Island and the Golden Gate Bridge as you ferry across the Bay to this former prison. Once back on the mainland, grab lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf, and then visit more iconic San Francisco tourist spots like Union Square, The Painted Ladies (pictured) and Golden Gate Park.
Cruise through endless orchards and through the rolling hills of old Gold Rush Country. Highway 49, like San Francisco’s American Football team, is named after the 1849 Gold Rush, and it’s one of our favourite roads in California. Next, you’ll drive up gorgeous Sierra Nevada roads to find California’s premier natural wonder – Yosemite National Park. Our road trip experts, with their firsthand experience, will help you find the perfect Yosemite hotel for you and your budget, be it inside the National Park or just outside it.
Yosemite National Park is over 1180 square miles of nature at its most sublime. The most visited area of the National Park is Yosemite Valley, where vast rock faces, crystal-clear waters, staggering views, and spectacular waterfalls combine to make Yosemite a genuine national treasure. As the day comes to an end, head upto Glacier Point (pictured) to watch the sunset over the best view in Yosemite National Park.
Leave Yosemite following the Merced River and head west towards Monterey Bay, which was once California’s capital and remains a must-stop for any West Coast USA road trip. It’s great to start the day in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, and after a few hours of scenic driving, complete the day sitting on possibly the best beach you’ll ever visit in Carmel-by-the-Sea. This cutest of small towns is also home to numerous art galleries, fine restaurants and gorgeous homes. Plus, Point Lobos, which is a stunning coastal State Park where Sea lions give birth to pups on inaccessible beaches, sea otters frolic in the bays, and whales slowly migrate past. Pure beauty that can only be fully enjoyed through hiking the many short walks.
If you want to go whale watching whilst on the road trip, then Monterey is the place to go. In the morning, leave Carmel for the short drive to Monterey, which sits just next door. We recommend the renowned “17-Mile Drive” to find Monterey, passing upscale coastal homes, Pebble Beach Golf Club, and a beautiful, rugged coastline. Monterey Bay was once famous for its whaling and sardine industries; today, it focuses on marine education and conservation through its world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium and the best whale-watching on the West Coast.
Big Sur is known as the best driving experience on the West Coast. Experience curvy roads, enchanting State Parks and stunning coastal vistas. At the end of this 100-mile scenic drive, you’ll find Hearst Castle perched upon “The Enchanted Hill”, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Hearst Castle is indeed the product of one man’s ambition, wealth and imagination – If time allows, consider popping in for a visit. This affluent, sun-soaked town, built in a Mediterranean style, is one of the central coast’s finest destinations. Highlights include State Street’s shopping and restaurants, wine tasting in the Funk Zone and enjoying the city’s beaches.
The sight of the Santa Monica Pier brings your Ultimate West Coast drive to a fabulous end; Santa Monica’s beaches and old-fashioned Pier are a worthy finishing point for any road trip. Relax on the vast “Baywatch” beaches, explore the famous Pier, or shop to your heart’s content on Third Street Promenade. Perhaps you’ll prefer to watch some of LA’s crazier characters play basketball or push weights over in neighbouring Venice Beach, hire a bike and ride the promenade between these two hip and laid-back parts of LA.
As always, you’re free to do as much or as little as you like. So relax by the pool or beach, or head inland to explore Beverly Hills and neighbouring Hollywood – the choice is yours. Famous for glitz and glamour, these areas offer the chance to discover film star mansions, the home of the Oscars and to walk Hollywood Boulevard looking for the handprints of your favourite movie stars. Just a short drive northeast lies the Griffith Observatory, perched high on a hill overlooking the urban sprawl of LA. Lastly, if you have a few extra days to spend away, you can extend this trip to visit Orange County and San Diego. Alternatively, Palm Springs and Las Vegas can be added to complete your Ultimate West Coast road trip.
Share this trip
You’ll find answers to most of your questions right here. If you still need assistance, Feel free to get in touch, and we’ll be sure to get back to you promptly!
Not a problem. If you are lucky enough to have extra time to explore more places or add more rest days, then just let us know and we’ll adjust your trip to match your preferred timescale.
We strongly advise that you purchase travel insurance for your holiday to cover you against medical expenses, theft and other financial costs. Should you need to cancel before travelling, some insurance policies may pay out for any loss of funds that have been paid to us and which cannot be refunded under our cancellation policy.
Many of our trips have a different end destination than the starting point, so this is not a problem. Please note a fee sometimes applies for one-way rentals between other regions or states, which will be paid to the supplier directly when collecting the vehicle. We’ll endeavour to inform you of this charge within your quote.
No, far from it. We work with a range of properties from 3* to 5*, so we can adapt the trip to match most budgets. We have access to rooms in more than 800 hotels, motels, lodges and B&Bs across North America.
The minimum age to rent a car is 21 in the United States or Canada, although, in addition, any drivers under 25 years of age will generally incur a surcharge.
Please use the form below to request a quote from our team. Fields marked with an * are mandatory. Please note that we currently only serve customers based in the UK & The EU.
Not quite what you’re looking for? Get in touch to discuss your Bespoke Road Trip plans, or check out these similar road trip itineraries…
ARTCo customers can be confident that we only work with the very best service providers, such as Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Alamo. Any payments made to us are fully protected via the government’s ATOL scheme (Flight packages) or Financial Failure Insurance (Non-Flight Packages).
