Best Road Trips in Washington
Washington state is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, making it the perfect destination for a road trip. Here are some of the best road trips in Washington:
Olympic Peninsula Loop
The Olympic Peninsula Loop is a 330-mile scenic drive that takes you through the Olympic National Park and along the coast. Start in Seattle and head west to Port Angeles, where you can explore Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent. Continue on to Forks, the setting of the Twilight series, and then head south to the Hoh Rainforest. From there, drive along the coast to Ruby Beach and Kalaloch Lodge before heading back to Seattle.
Plan:
- Distance: 330 miles
- Duration: 3-4 days
- Best time to go: Summer or early fall
Where to stop:
- Hurricane Ridge
- Lake Crescent
- Forks
- Hoh Rainforest
- Ruby Beach
- Kalaloch Lodge
Cascade Loop
The Cascade Loop is a 440-mile drive that takes you through the Cascade Mountains and along the Skagit River. Start in Everett and head east to Leavenworth, a Bavarian-style village in the mountains. From there, drive through the North Cascades National Park and along the Skagit River to the town of Concrete. Continue on to Anacortes, where you can take a ferry to the San Juan Islands. From there, head back to Everett.
Plan:
- Distance: 440 miles
- Duration: 4-5 days
- Best time to go: Summer or early fall
Where to stop:
- Leavenworth
- North Cascades National Park
- Concrete
- Anacortes
- San Juan Islands
Highway 101 Loop
The Highway 101 Loop is a 350-mile drive that takes you along the coast of Washington and Oregon. Start in Olympia and head south to Astoria, Oregon, where you can visit the Astoria Column and the Columbia River Maritime Museum. From there, drive along the coast to Cannon Beach, where you can see the famous Haystack Rock. Continue on to the Olympic National Park and Lake Quinault before heading back to Olympia.
Plan:
- Distance: 350 miles
- Duration: 3-4 days
- Best time to go: Summer or early fall
Where to stop:
- Astoria Column
- Columbia River Maritime Museum
- Cannon Beach
- Olympic National Park
- Lake Quinault
