Northwest road trip help

[KittyKitty]

Most people we know thought we did wayyyyy too much driving on both trips, but for us, we were fine with it.

Sounds like a great trip. I live in Seattle area, and can see Rainier(the mountain, what we call it, it's that big) from the rooftop of my apt. building when it's not cloudy. National Parks are not close to each other in the West, so understand the driving.
I got a little envious when I read you went to Sequioa NP. Those trees take my breath away.

 

[GusGus77]

All along the West Coast there are tons of these roads carved into hillsides with sharp drop-offs. Can be really spectaular or really scary for someone with vertigo. Heck - Muir Woods Road in Marin County can be pretty scary since there's no railing and it's about 50-100 feet to the bottom of the hill.

If you're prepared to camp, I'm not sure Three Rivers is that great. There's camping in Sequoia National Park. Maybe Foothills if there's availability. But if you have any difficulty it's not that far to Visalia or Fresno. When I was camping in SEKI, I actually went to Visalia and Fresno for dinner. Getting back at night was a little bit scary since it was mountain roads and no lights.

If we camped it would be in Seqoia. Reservations are not yet open for that. I was thinking Three Rivers was closest if we needed a hotel.

 

[bcla]

If we camped it would be in Seqoia. Reservations are not yet open for that. I was thinking Three Rivers was closest if we needed a hotel.

Oh. I was wondering if you might be willing to risk camping at a first-come, first-served campground with a backup of heading for town if that wasn't available. Strike that - apparently 100% reservation only now due to COVID concerns. I've passed through Three Rivers before. It's really just a speck. There would be way more options in Visalia.

But again - if you're willing to camp, there are a lot more options than just National Park Service campgrounds.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sequoia/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=79563&actid=29

You can see the locations here:

 

[GusGus77]

Sounds like a great trip. I live in Seattle area, and can see Rainier(the mountain, what we call it, it"s that big) from the rooftop of my apt. building when it's not cloudy. National Parks are not close to each other in the West, so understand the driving.
I got a little envious when I read you went to Sequioa NP. Those trees take my breath away.

So we definitely want to go to Mt Ranier to say we have been there, but wondering if we could just see it in a few hours (like 4) and call it good? We have been told that it is not that exciting with the other things we are doing.

 

[GusGus77]

Oh. I was wondering if you might be willing to risk camping at a first-come, first-served campground with a backup of heading for town if that wasn't available. Strike that - apparently 100% reservation only now due to COVID concerns. I've passed through Three Rivers before. It's really just a speck. There would be way more options in Visalia.

But again - if you're willing to camp, there are a lot more options than just National Park Service campgrounds.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sequoia/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=79563&actid=29

You can see the locations here:

We are not positive if we are camping or not (we don’t know if we will have room to pack the camping stuff yet) We are not comfortable with first come/first serve since we have kids and with Covid and not being familiar with the area, we don’t want to scramble if there isn’t availability. I will look into Visalia. Thank you!

 

[bcla]

We are not positive if we are camping or not (we don’t know if we will have room to pack the camping stuff yet) We are not comfortable with first come/first serve since we have kids and with Covid and not being familiar with the area, we don’t want to scramble if there isn’t availability. I will look into Visalia. Thank you!

Visalia isn't really touristy or anything. It's the largest town among a lot of farming communities. But as such it has a lot of options if you need a place to sleep or to get supplies. Also much better when it comes to gas prices. You will be shocked at the price of gas in California.

 

[GusGus77]

So reading comments and such, is Mt Ranier worth it or are we better spending that time elsewhere?

 

[bcla]

So reading comments and such, is Mt Ranier worth it or are we better spending that time elsewhere?

I would say it's worth driving through. Just to Paradise. There's a short looping trail that might take 20 minutes where you can see a glacier.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

If we camped it would be in Seqoia. Reservations are not yet open for that. I was thinking Three Rivers was closest if we needed a hotel.

We stayed in Three Rivers on our first trip to Sequoia. It was a chain hotel, maybe Holiday Inn or Best Western, I can't remember. It was great as it was close to the entrance of Sequoia. It had a pool which our kids loved and a large laundry room that I loved!!

We stayed in Visalia on our second trip. I remember that being about 45-minutes to an our drive from the entrance/exit to Sequoia. If you are leaving Sequoia and going back in the next morning, I would NOT drive all of the way to Visalia and then backtrack the 45 minutes to an hour the next day back to Sequoia.

When we stayed in Visalia we were done in Sequoia and heading toward DL.

Oh and as much as we love to camp, the very last thing I would have wanted to do on our western trips would be to set up camp for one night. Way to much work for us. Driving to a hotel, walking into the room, having a shower and collasping on the bed after a full day of touring was what we needed!!

And I would say that Mount Rainier is worth it for 4 hours. You can drive to Paradise, take in the views and go on a short hike. Its amazing to stand in a spot with a snow covered mountain smack dab in front of you with wild flowers blooming at your feet!

edited to add, I just went back to look at your itenerary. Your going into Sequoia day 1 and back in day 2. Stay in Three Rivers for sure! You don't need the extra driving to Visalia.

edited again-We stayed at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Three Rivers.

 

[bcla]

We stayed in Three Rivers on our first trip to Sequoia. It was a chain hotel, maybe Holiday Inn or Best Western, I can't remember. It was great as it was close to the entrance of Sequoia. It had a pool which our kids loved and a large laundry room that I loved!!

We stayed in Visalia on our second trip. I remember that being about 45-minutes to an our drive from the entrance/exit to Sequoia. If you are leaving Sequoia and going back in the next morning, I would NOT drive all of the way to Visalia and then backtrack the 45 minutes to an hour the next day back to Sequoia.

When we stayed in Visalia we were done in Sequoia and heading toward DL.

Oh and as much as we love to camp, the very last thing I would have wanted to do on our western trips would be to set up camp for one night. Way to much work for us. Driving to a hotel, walking into the room, having a shower and collasping on the bed after a full day of touring was what we needed!!

And I would say that Mount Rainier is worth it for 4 hours. You can drive to Paradise, take in the views and go on a short hike. Its amazing to stand in a spot with a snow covered mountain smack dab in front of you with wild flowers blooming at your feet!

edited to add, I just went back to look at your itenerary. Your going into Sequoia day 1 and back in day 2. Stay in Three Rivers for sure! You don't need the extra driving to Visalia.

edited again-We stayed at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Three Rivers.

We ended up on a trip where we only camped for a night. I've been backpacking where that's pretty typical. On our big trip years ago we had made two single night campground stays, although one was originally planned for two nights. It helped that we used a lightweight backpacking tent that was extremely quick to set up and take down. It was small, but fine for two people just sleeping.

We even had one camping stay where we checked into a hotel after an unexpected issue came up. And it was nice because our hotel room had a shower and there were more dining options.

 

[KittyKitty]

So we definitely want to go to Mt Rainier to say we have been there, but wondering if we could just see it in a few hours (like 4) and call it good? We have been told that it is not that exciting with the other things we are doing.

You can actually see Rainier from I-5 freeway. But I agree with BCLA, about going there, and taking a hike.

I love Seattle, but don't think if you can see it in 2 hours. We always have traffic. It will take more than 2 hours to get a cup of coffee at Pike's Place.


This is my thinking.
Crater Lake, St. Helens, Rainier, are all off of I-5. See them in that order if you are coming from the south. Take Seattle ferry to Bremerton going to Olympia NP. You will see the Space needle from the ferry.

https://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/

Then coming back
Take a ferry from Poulsbo to Edmonds. You will need to go south on I-5 to pick up I-90. Or research how to take the back way to I-90. I think it's U.S. 2. Then head to Glacier on I-90. You will go thru a little of Idaho on your way to Montana.

 

[barkley]

You will see the Space needle from the ferry.

i think it's so much better to see the space needle from afar than to actually visit it. you get a much better view of what it looks like from a distance, and i don't feel that spending about $150 with tax just to ride up and look down on dirty buildings is much of a value (for me it's the beauty of the space needle architecture itself NOT what it looks down upon).

 

[chickapin parterre]

So reading comments and such, is Mt Ranier worth it or are we better spending that time elsewhere?

so where would that time be spent elsewhere?

anyhow...before your trip....there is forum over on the Disneyland fourm about californina driving and sites to see....I suggest that you ask folks, weeks before you go...what it is like to drive in Humboldt county 2021 with road conditions.

A tip....about exchanging drivers and cliff driving is that once you enter the redwoods the driving is pretty much calm...then when you are within sight of Ferndale, change drivers as the road is now 2 lanes wide, metro driving meal break...the two lanes extend north a ways, then when the lanes end. change back to cliff driver...because north till Crescent city you will be experincing very extreme cliff driving, you will be on the inside, so a little comfort....even for me....all the mountain curves in Oregon....that portion of road sends chills to my spine.

 

[bcla]

so where would that time be spent elsewhere?

Probably just I-90. But for the most part if there are several days planned, taking a half day to pass through Mt Rainier NP doesn't seem like something not worth the trip.

Personally I would recommend a trip to Lassen Volcanic NP. I thought Bumpass Hell was more interesting than Crater Lake. Not sure if it's going to be open though by June unless the snow is really low this year.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Crater lake is fine but Oregon has do much more to offer, like the coast. I’d suggest a quick trip to crater snd then driving up the coast to either Cannon beach. The views are incredible along the way. And cannon beach has fabulous sunsets against their famous haystack rock.
If you continue up the coast you will hit Astoria, right on the Columbia River. Beautiful setting. Then you could get on the highway to get up to Olympic national park. You will want to go up the coast on the ocean side so that when you come out of the Olympic area you will be I. Port Angelas or port townsrnd. Port townsend is an adorable little town. Both have ferries to Seattle but you will need to check schedules. Otherwise you head back south to the end of the peninsula and then get on the highway up to Seattle.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Crater lake is fine but Oregon has do much more to offer, like the coast. I’d suggest a quick trip to crater snd then driving up the coast to either Cannon beach. The views are incredible along the way. And cannon beach has fabulous sunsets against their famous haystack rock.

....that was my thought also until they mentioned Harris beach by brookings...having no need to ever go to brookings I had to look up harris beach and the state photos show all the features that are found along the centeral and northern coast so they can actually by-past the rest of the oregon coast and not miss any of the flavor and weather will be much better in brookings than second guessing the weather on the central and north coast.

the problem I have with the internary is the Olympic range and what is the draw...I could be jaded....as I look at the willamette valley cascades all the time and east side from sisters and pretty much get my fill of beautiful mountains. ....though it is more volocanoes than a range...which I think would be a bigger draw than a range of mountains that pretty much look like (ignorance on my part???) the Rockies..I get that rain forest is something to see but wouldn't humboldt redwoods take care of that draw.

 

[KittyKitty]

the problem I have with the internary is the Olympic range and what is the draw.

Hurricane Ridge is breath taking.
https://www.nps.gov/media/webcam/view.htm?id=81B46251-1DD8-B71B-0B29B9750DE273B5
I may be wrong the I think the OP has not been in the Western States. If they only have seen Mountains in the East, they have no idea how big ours are.

I grew up in Eugene, OR. so know how beautiful Oregon is. OPs only have 6 days.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Hurricane Ridge is breath taking.
https://www.nps.gov/media/webcam/view.htm?id=81B46251-1DD8-B71B-0B29B9750DE273B5
I may be wrong the I think the OP has not been in the Western States. If they only have seen Mountains in the East, they have no idea how big ours are.

I grew up in Eugene, OR. so know how beautiful Oregon is. OPs only have 6 days.

no ...they have not been in the western states and are by passing Rockies headed south to vegas then eastern approach to serria nevadas then I-5 along the foothills of the cascades as we Oregonians know them and then leaving the northwest back over the Rockies.

My prejudice is to take Palmer LIft and be on the mountain and grand view south that they will not see along I-5 unless they know to pull over on I-5 on the right spot at lebanon and see the the 3 sisters and where to look at Albany for Mt. Jeff. with the palmer lift they could actually hike down and say they climbed a mountain rather then following a crowded path on Rainer. ...of course it would be dangerous because they couldn't take their eyes off the grand view of the southern volcanoes as they follow the path down.... and they could visit LITTLE CRATER LAKE if they wanted to see a real lava tube in action just a short trip from Mt. Hood.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am hoping some of you are familiar with the Northwest and like to help others plan! We are going on a several week road trip in June and I am really struggling with the Northwest portion. My knowledge of the area or even the basic geography is causing problems. So here is the challenge- We have six full days and one half day to go from Redwood National Park to Glacier National Park. (So we will spend a few hours at the Redwoods in the morning and then depart. Leave Redwoods late Wednesday morning and arrive near Olympic National Park/Whitefish, MT Tuesday evening.)

In between those places we want to visit the following:
1. Somewhere in Oregon (thinking Crater Lake, but open)
2. Mount St Helens
3. Olympic National Park
4. Mt Ranier National Park
5. Seattle (but seriously only for like 2hrs- we want to go to Pike’s Place, grab a cup of coffee, see the Space Needle from a distance, and be on our way.)
6. Somewhere in Idaho (enough to say we have been there. So seriously, a 30 minute stop somewhere is sufficient. It has to be more than getting gas, though, for it to “count.”

So how would you do it day/time wise? I threw something together on paper, but not knowing the area at all, I just don’t know if it’s feasible and I don’t know the best routes or order of locations, etc. Many hours of research online just have my head spinning...so trip planners help!

Have you considered Mt Hood and the Timberline Lodge? On a college road trip I took with my son when he was a junior, we drove through that area on our way to Pullman WA and Moscow ID. We drove through the lentil fields in the Palouse area, too, and they were beautiful. We started in Spokane, followed the Columbia River, drove to Corvallis, back to Portland, over to Mt Hood, through the lentil fields, over to Pullman and Moscow, on to Montana to see Glacier, Missoula, Helena and then back to Spokane to fly home.

 

[GusGus77]

i think it's so much better to see the space needle from afar than to actually visit it. you get a much better view of what it looks like from a distance, and i don't feel that spending about $150 with tax just to ride up and look down on dirty buildings is much of a value (for me it's the beauty of the space needle architecture itself NOT what it looks down upon).

We have no plans or desire to see the space needle up close. In the distance to say “hey- there is the space needle over there!” Is all we need!