10 Ultimate Seattle To Vancouver Road Trip Itinerary
Seeking the ultimate US-to-Canada road trip route? This is it. Discover the best stops from Seattle to Vancouver on a road trip.
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Summary
- Take a road trip from Seattle to Vancouver for stunning coastal vistas, outdoor adventure, and charming towns along the scenic route.
- Explore Olympic National Park's old-growth forests, tour the Boeing Factory in Everett, and relax on Whidbey Island's beautiful beaches.
- Don't miss Chuckanut Drive's breathtaking coastal views, Campbell Valley Regional Park for hiking, and the charming fishing village of Steveston.
Winding along Washington's rugged Pacific coastline and through scenic mountains and farmland, this 130-mile road trip between Seattle and Vancouver offers glimpses of the region's natural beauty and diverse attractions. It even includes many of the stops on the scenic Amtrak Cascades train route from Seattle to Vancouver.
Stops include hiking Olympic National Park's old-growth forests, touring the Boeing commercial jet factories, exploring the Lake Chelan shores in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, and taking in Whidbey Island's laid-back charm. The cost to visit Vancouver ranges from budget-friendly to luxurious, depending on visitors’ travel style and preferences, but for budget-minded travelers, there are also plenty of cheap vacation spots in Vancouver, such as Granville Island, Gastown, and Chinatown.
Naturally, many travelers enjoy the route from Seattle to Vancouver, as it showcases some of the most beautiful scenery on the West Coast of the USA as tourists head up toward Canada. Outdoor adventure, coastal vistas, and charming towns await along this picturesque international route. Here is the ultimate road trip itinerary for Seattle to Vancouver road trippers, detailing the top stops along the way.
10 Olympic National Park
Located along Washington's rugged Pacific coastline, Olympic National Park is a highlight of any Seattle to Vancouver road trip.
Sprawling over 3.8 million acres, the area is filled with alpine meadows, old-growth forests, and over 60 miles of pristine beaches displaying the park's awe-inspiring ocean vistas and mountain scenery.
- Fee: $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days
- Hurricane Ridge Road Operational Months: Late May to mid-October
9 Boeing Factory Tour
About an hour's drive north of Seattle lies the city of Everett, home of the world’s largest factory, The Boeing Everett Factory. Here, visitors can go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the commercial aircraft manufacturing facility. Visitors see firsthand where iconic planes like the 747, 767, 777, and 787 are constructed.
Those planning a trip to Vancouver who stop by the Boeing Factory Tour will have front-of-the-line access to aviation history and the construction of aircraft.
Tours for the Boeing Everett Factory, including the general admission tour, are $33
8 Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Sprawling over 3.8 million acres of mountainous terrain, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest offers a variety of outdoor recreation along the northern section of the road trip route between Seattle and Vancouver.
Highlights include visiting the scenic Lake Wenatchee area, hiking trails around Leavenworth, and exploring the majestic landscape near Lake Chelan with swimming or kayaking.
- Entry is free
Seasonal wildfire hazards may temporarily restrict access to some trails
7 Whidbey Island
Accessed via a short ferry ride from Port Townsend across Puget Sound, Whidbey Island is another one of the best stops for a Seattle to Vancouver itinerary. It has a laid-back island charm with beautiful beaches, quaint towns, picturesque farmland, and shorelines.
History buffs can tour the historic naval station in Oak Harbor, the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI), or visit the antique shops of Langley.
- Ferry fee: Varies on the date, transport method, and vehicle size
Weekends and summers are the busiest seasons for ferry travel. Also, Greenbank Farm is an educational spot for seeing heritage livestock.
6 Chuckanut Drive
North of Bellingham lies the scenic Chuckanut Drive, which is one of the best stops from Seattle to Vancouver on a road trip, as it's renowned for its breathtaking coastal vistas.
Winding for 22 miles along steep coastal bluffs above the shores of Samish Bay, this nationally recognized scenic byway weaves through verdant forest with periodic overlooks of the water and islands below. A relaxing morning leading to an afternoon drive to take in the area's natural beauty makes way for a peaceful journey.
- Free Entry
Cyclists are often along the route, and there are periodic areas of narrow roads.
5 Campbell Valley Regional Park
Located east of Abbotsford, Campbell Valley Regional Park is another one of the best road trip stops from Seattle to Vancouver for an afternoon picnic. Its 1,444 acres offer extensive hiking trails that wind through forests and meadows, with the Cascade Mountains rising to the east.
The park's camping facilities and extensive recreational amenities make it an ideal nature explorers' base camp, found a little over halfway between Seattle and Vancouver.
Camping reservations are recommended during peak season, but be sure to book campsites early.
4 Edmonds
Edmonds is found between Seattle and Everett along Puget Sound’s shoreline. It charms visitors with its historic downtown waterfront and the pier walking trails that give views of sailboats and frequent whale sightings.
Things to do in Vancouver after the trip include hiking in Stanley Park, visiting the Vancouver Aquarium, and taking a ferry to Granville Island.
Many local restaurants serve fresh fish here, with shoreline dining available.
3 Mount Vernon
The oldest city of Skagit County’s river towns, Mount Vernon is known for its tulip fields that attract thousands of visitors each spring. Though the tulip festival spans just a few weeks each April, it's still worthwhile visiting the surrounding Skagit Valley anytime to take in the pastoral farmland scenery.
Drives through the countryside dotted with barn murals and bulb farms leave room for much more to explore.
2 Bellingham And Fairhaven
Surrounded by mountains and waterways, Bellingham is the ideal spot to spend a night near the end of the Seattle to Vancouver road trip route. Its international airport also makes timely connections convenient if one needs to cut the trip short. One of the best places to visit in Bellingham is Whatcom Falls Park, which is superb for a stroll and picnic.
Also, another spot near Bellingham is Fairhaven; an afternoon spent here reveals its bookstores, cafés, and marina.
1 Steveston
For those continuing onward from Bellingham into Canada, the charming fishing village of Steveston on the South Arm of the Fraser River near Richmond provides relaxing scenery with a fresh outdoor atmosphere. The boardwalk runs along the waterfront lined with restaurants, shops, and fishing boats.
A stroll through the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site educates visitors about its fully restored 1930s-era salmon cannery.
On weekends and busy times, expect limited availability for parking downtown
