Last reviewed: · Prices in US Dollars ($ USD) are approximate and for orientation only.
Route at a glance
Explore Seattle's Pike Place Market and Puget Sound ferries, loop through Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier, and finish in Portland and the Columbia River Gorge.
Estimated per-person budget ($1,750 – $3,050) covers mid-range hotels, intercity transport, timed attraction or national park passes ($80 America the Beautiful Pass), and daily dining including state sales tax and tip.
Day-by-day plan
Seattle Arrival: Pike Place Market, Waterfront & Bainbridge Ferry
Ride Sound Transit Link Light Rail from SEA Airport to Westlake ($3), taste clam chowder and smoked salmon at Pike Place Market, and take the sunset ferry to Bainbridge Island.
Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass & Ballard Locks
Marvel at Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures beneath the Space Needle, tour the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), and watch salmon ladders at Ballard Locks.
Ferry to Olympic National Park: Hurricane Ridge & Lake Crescent
Drive onto the Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge/Kingston, ascend to subalpine Hurricane Ridge (5,242 ft), and paddle crystal-clear Lake Crescent.
Olympic National Park: Hoh Rain Forest & Rialto / Ruby Beach Sea Stacks
Walk the Hall of Mosses beneath giant Sitka spruces in the Hoh Rain Forest and explore tidepools and driftwood along Ruby Beach.
Mount Rainier National Park (Paradise & Reflection Lakes)
Drive to the 5,400-foot Paradise meadows beneath 14,411-foot glaciated Mount Rainier for wildflower trails and Nisqually Glacier views.
Drive or Amtrak Cascades to Portland, Oregon (3 hrs)
Arrive in Portland—enjoy 0% Oregon State Sales Tax at Powell's City of Books, the International Rose Test Garden, and Portland's famous food carts.
Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls (Multnomah Falls) & Hood River
Drive the Historic Columbia River Highway past 620-foot Multnomah Falls, Crown Point Vista House, and Hood River orchards.
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Tasting or Oregon Coast (Cannon Beach) & Departure
Visit Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach or a Dundee Hills vineyard before flying home from PDX or SEA.
Transport, driving & pass notes
Designed for emerald forests, volcanic peaks, and coffee/food-truck capitals travel. Compare train, flight, and road-trip costs in USD ($) using our Amtrak & Rail Pass Calculator, $80 National Parks Pass Calculator, and US Trip Budget Calculator.
What to book ahead
- Apply for your $21 ESTA at esta.cbp.dhs.gov at least 72 hours before departure (or verify visa validity).
- Book Amtrak Acela / Northeast Regional tickets or rental cars 4–8 weeks ahead for the lowest USD ($) rates.
- Reserve timed-entry slots for high-demand sights (Statue of Liberty Crown/Pedestal, Alcatraz, Capitol/White House tours, or Recreation.gov park entries) 30–90 days out.
Ways to adapt this route
- Add 1–2 buffer days if traveling during summer peak or Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday weeks.
- Use our interactive Itinerary Builder to customize stops and print your day-by-day plan.