I have said it once or twice, maybe a dozen times over the last few weeks. If you’re considering or have ever considered seeing the Oregon Coast via a Roadtrip… DO IT!
Sammy and I talked about it a few times, but nothing ever came of it. Other plans and trips took priority and it kept getting pushed to the bottom of our Family Travel Bucket List. If the Oregon Coast is on your list too, take our word for it, it’s worthy sitting at the top with the big guys.
We wanted to share our roadtrip itinerary not just because we’ve had a few requests. We also feel like if we can help make this family roadtrip happen for another it would mean the world to us knowing we helped.
Our trip started in Vancouver, British Columbia and ended at our last stop in Seattle, going as far as Cannon Beach. There is so much more to the Oregon Coast than what we did, but we only had the 8-days. We made the most of the trip and hit all the spots we felt were most important.
The entire trip was 1,186 km (737 miles) and was broken up into 4 main stops. Vancouver to Olympia, to Portland, then Cannon Beach ending in Seattle and then back home to Vancouver. Overall the trip was amazing! Our only complaint was that we didnt have enough time at each stop. I’ll go into more details below.
Here is our 8-day Oregon Coast Roadtrip Itinerary;
First Stop OLYMPIA
Vancouver to Olympia – 4 hours – 326 km (202 miles)
Located 96 km (60 miles) south of Seattle, Olympia is Washington’s state capital. Our plans to stop in Olympia for the night were simply to break up the long haul from Vancouve to Portland. However what we discovered was a sweetest little pocket of Washington we may have never found. I hunted down the coolest airbnb rental we’ve ever stayed at. A tiny house that came equipe with goats, Moo Moo and Trooper. Quite the expereince to say the least, so happy that we vlogged it, I never want to forget it. Visited Olympia’s Hands On Childrens Museum and ate the most delicious Mexican Food. Olympia will defintaly hold a little place in our hearts, a great start to our Oregon Coast Roadtrip.
We wrote 2 blog posts all about our stay in Olympia including a vlog and home tour of the airbnb tiny house we stayed in. Check them all out here:
- The best things to do in Olympia for families
- Tips for living in a Tiny House with kids
- Airbnb Tiny House home tour
Olympia Recommendations
Accommodations: Airbnb Tiny House
Attractions: Hands On Children’s Museum
Restaurants: Peppers Mexican Restaurant
Second Stop PORTLAND
Olympia to Portland – 2 hours – 184 km (114 miles)
Oregon’s largest city, Portland is known for it’s motto, keep it weird Portland. If that alone doesn’t drive you there, then their donuts, microbreweries, coffeehouses and people will. We absolutely loved Portland, especially Sofia. Between the art scene, shopping, the food trucks parked EVERYWHERE and the people watching; 2 days was no where near enough time for us. We ate our way through the city and had no shame at the end of the day, even when one of those days consisted of 3 donut shops. Had the coolest breakfast experience where we made our own custom pancakes. Portland was a favorite! Next time we will allow 3 to 4 days to really check out all the city has to offer.
We wrote another 2 blog posts about our favorite things in Portland. Check them all out here:
Portland Reccommendations
Accommodations: Airbnb Coach Home
Attractions: Powell’s Books
Restaurants/Snacks: Voodoo Doughnuts, NOLA Doughnuts, Blue Star Donuts, Pip’s Original, Slappy Cakes, and Hopworks Urban Brewery
Third Stop CANNON BEACH
Portland to Cannon Beach – 1.5 hours – 127 km (78 miles)
A small coastal city in Oregon, Cannon Beach is a place everyone must expeience at least once in their lives. From walking the promonade to visiting Haystack Rock, discovering ocean life in tidal pools and beach combing at sunset. Cannon Beach is as magical as I am making it sound you guys. TRUST ME! While some of our group stayed in Cannon Beach, we stayed in Seaside, about 13 minutes from Cannon Beach. The RV resort my brother and his family stayed at was lovely. Sadly the Airbnb Beach House we rented, not so much. While it was located just steps off the beach, the home was extremely run down in my opinion, lots of wear and tear. It’s why I am not recommending it. However our friend Michael stayed in Seaside the week after us and his place looked fabulous. We had 3 days here and it was no where near enough for us, we felt like we had just scratched the surface. We love the beach!
Wrote a blog post about what we feel the top things you just must see before leaving Cannon Beach. Check it out here:
Cannon Beach Reccommendations
Accommodations: Cannon Beach RV Resort
Attractions: Seaside Shootout, Funland Arcade, Seaside Promenade, Haystack Rock, Seaside Aquarium, Carousel Mall, and Seaside Inverted
Restaurants: Dundees Bar & Grill
Fourth Stop SEATTLE
Cannon Beach to Seattle – 3.75 hours – 320 km (198 miles)
A city surrounded by water, mountains and forests, Seattle is our home away from home. We manage to get here about twice a year and can never get enough. While this trip was really only to break up another long drive from Cannon Beach home, we did our very best to MAKE THE MOST OF IT. 24 hours in the city and I’d say we did well to “take it all in”. We stayed in a new part of town which was incredible, walking distance to a bunch of major attractions, we ate the BEST PIZZA EVER and stood on top of the world. At least it felt that way. Seattle never disapoints.
We wrote a blog post that will help all those short on time that are visiting Seattle. Check it out here:
- What to do with 24 hours in Seattle
- Seattle’s 5 Insta-Worthy Selfie Spots
- Roadtrip to Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo
Seattle Reccommendations
Accomodations: Staybridge Suites
Attractions: The Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Pike Place Market, and Woodland Park Zoo,
Restaurants: Serious Pie & Biscuit
Why an Oregon Coast Roadtrip?
So many reasons. SO. MANY.
If you enjoy a good family roadtrip this one is perfect for so many reasons. The distances between each stop never exceeds 4 hours. Which if you’re like us 4 hours is about the most we can handle cooped up in a car. 16 Peppa Pig episodes, 26 games of eye-spy, and 37-minutes of picking smarties out of the trail mix and we’re more than done.
We’re going to do this trip again, more time at spent in Portland and Cannon Beach and were going to add in a few more stops. If you have just a week and are looking for a great family roadtrip, I couldn’t recommend the Oregon Coast MORE!
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Cheylynne Snow says
This is something I’ve wanted to do for years and this blog made the cut of awesomeness!!