Two-week Road Trip From Seattle

Folks,
my wife and I would have two-week holidays from late Sept to early Oct. Coming from Shanghai, we'll arrive and depart at Tacoma, Seattle.

Could you guys suggest some great routes (and spots along them) at this time in year? (Canada included, perhaps)

I'm not familiar with the towns and parks near Seattle and Washington state. I personally have a mileage of roughly 3,000 miles in the US, but most of it was in California.

Another old question would be, is Yosemite accessible and worth visiting this time in year (let's say early Oct)?

Thank you very very much :DD

Really, the first thing I could recommend is that you spend some time learning and getting familiar with the Pacific Northwest. As you'll read frequently on this forum, there are not generic one-size fits all "great routes," and when you don't have a good basic idea of what you want to see and do as a starting point, it's hard to get good answers in a forum setting.

Here are some favorite threads about the region from the RTA Archives, but that should only be a starting point. You should also be taking a look at maps, books, and the many other resources of this site. Once you have a better idea of a plan, then others will be better able to give you useful suggestions.

Yes, Yosemite is accessible in October, although there is a slight chance that Tioga Pass could be closed if there is an early season storm. However, if you've already spent a lot of time in California, that would seem to be a bit of an odd choice on a trip from Seattle. Are you perhaps thinking Yellowstone?

A few paces that spring instantly to mind are Olympic NP, Mount Ranier, Portland and the Columbia river Gorge, Mount Hood, Crater Lake and the Oregon coast, possibly the Redwoods on the Cali coast. This could make a nice loop trip and if you were to travel the coast it's best to do so when heading south so that the ocean is on your side of the road. As Michael mentioned, Yellowstone is an option and quite an amazing place that would deserve at least 2 or 3 days of your time. The Grand Tetons and Glacier NP are two other places you could include in this area. There are lots of other great options for you to consider, so as Michael also mentioned, do your research and see what appeals and then we can be of more help.

Thanks to both for your quick yet detailed replies. I definitely should have done more homework myself. But you could understand the joy right after booking the flight tickets...:D

I went to California many times for business, and thus never really had the chance to go to Yosemite. Yes, Michael, your words made sense, perhaps I could first go to Yellowstone.

Anyway, I will do my homework right away before reporting back to you.

Thanks guys.

Is this trip for this year?

If so, bear in mind two things: there are many acres burning in Washington State right now, and, in late Sept/early Oct, Yellowstone is going into Winter Mode. That means a lot of the facilities and many (but not all) of the roads will be closed.

If this is for next year, the fires will probably be history, but the closures remain the same. Normally, Yellowstone starts to close down right after Labor Day, with the main closures around the 20th of September.

Click here for the list of closing dates for 2015 in Yellowstone.

Donna

Thanks, Donna.

Yes, the trip is for this year. Very useful information from you. I'll prepare for the closures (and fire fighting :D) if I choose to go to Yellowstone, then.

I think you misunderstood Donna. Washington state is experiencing wild fires not directly connected to visiting Yellowstone. Yellowstone can experience early winter weather which can cause a different type of disruption, so just keep up to date with conditions. Yellowstone can also be quite majestic at this time of year so don't write it off just yet. ;-) And hopefully those fires will be under control by then !

Gentlemen,
Here's my first draft of day to day plan…
The biggest doubt I have is, if I put Yellowstone in, then we would spend two days driving to and from there.
Do you guys think the sceneries along the route are worth it? And any place midway you suggest we can stay for a night?

Day Date Description Additional Info
1 9/27 (half day) Sea-tac -> Seattle downtown
2 9/28 Seattle
3 9/29 Olympic NP
4 9/30 Mt Rainer
5 10/1 Mt Helens, arriving at Portland
6 10/2 Portland, to Yellowstone, staying midway Columbia River Gorge
7 10/3 Arriving at Yellowstone
8 10/4 Yellowstone
9 10/5 Yellowstone
10 10/6 Yellowstone
11 10/7 To Seattle, staying midway North Cascades Hwy
12 10/8 Arriving at Seattle

What I miss out:
San Juan Island
Hells Canyon
Yakima
Coulee Dam
Crater Lake

Your first plan looks reasonable but only you can decide if you think Yellowstone is worth the drive and overall time it will take up of your holiday. It's certainly an amazing and unique place that would top most lists, but on the flip side it takes a big chunk of your time. For example, going to Yellowstone would mean you would also have to consider whether it is worth going to Olympic NP for what would amount to a few hours sight seeing. You plan to drive there from Seattle and then leave the following day to Mt Ranier, a total of 10 hours driving I would expect, and that's if you don't go all the way to the Hoh rain forest which is one of the highlights of the park.

It will depend on which route you choose between Portland and Yellowstone, but Spokane is the type of distance that will allow a little time to sight see through the Columbia river Gorge but not leave too much to do the following day to get to Yellowstone.

If you are planning on going to Yellowstone, you better get on to booking your accommodation first. Even though it is the end of the season, the accommodation is likely to be fully booked.

West Yellowstone is the nearest outside the park accommodation.

Lifey

Speaking about accommodation in Yellowstone, is it better to stay in different places across the three or four nights or, just in one place, say near the West Entrance?

I just stayed at the Lodge at Yellowstone Lake -- all of the housing at the lodge is in cabins. I recommend staying at one place -- that way you know where you will be at night and can set up your remaining exploration time.

West Yellowstone wouldn't be my first choice -- it's not actually in the park, but it's fine if that's what is available to you.

If you have sufficient $$$ Yellowstone Lake Hotel is elegant and a nice place to stay.

The other thing -- is always, always ask if lodging is available when you are there. On paper everything is fully every single night of the summer period. But there are always cancellations and one can find accommodations if you are lucky and persistent!

Mark

We took the opposite approach and stayed in different locations to cut down on the 'out and back' miles to different areas of the park. First night was West Yellowstone on arrival day and then Canyon lodge and cabins and Grant village inside the park to visit north and south areas respectively. It worked for us, but this originally came down to booking what was available, now we would do it again given the choice.

No luck. All in-park lodges are sold out. So I guess I could stay at West, North, East, and South Entrance -- each for one night -- no joking...?

--- edit ---

My bookings are:

10/3 - Gray Wolf Inn & Suite -- Yellowstone West Entrance
10/4 - Pahaska Tepee Resort -- Yellowstone East Entrance
10/5-10/7 - Absaroka Lodge -- Yellowstone North Entrance

So basically, I'll spend the first two days around the bottom part, and the last two around the upper part. Does this look good to you guys?

Yes, as mentioned above -- by the time of the year -- all park lodges are ALWAYS SOLD OUT ON PAPER. But there are cancellations every night. A month ago, I checked with a lodge at about 4:00 pm -- No vacancies anywhere in the park... After driving an hour further south, I checked again at about 5:45 pm and a vacancy had opened up at the Lake Yellowstone Lodge (where I had checked earlier) -- so I turned around and went back to the lodge. I don't mind the risk of not having confirmed reservations when I travel -- in most places -- but if that would drive you crazy then you should get reservations. (And it sounds like you have already done that).

Mark

Since you are going to be staying out of the park each night -- one thing to keep in mind... There is a definite ebb and flow to the vehicular traffic every day. I think this effect will be greatly minimized when you are visiting -- because you will be there in October, so my comment is really more of a heads-up to anyone reading this thread and thinking about visiting in the peak summer months of July or August. My observational data is limited, because I only saw a couple days of this in July -- but waits at the entrance stations can be up to an hour if you are attempting to enter the park between 10:30 and 12:30 in the morning. Likewise, just about all of the attraction parking lots are jammed to over-capacity between 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm. Around 4:00 pm every day, most visitors begin to mosey back to their campgrounds, lodges, cabins or out of the park lodging and parking lots are generally open and the roads are less busy.

So, for your visit, driving in the early morning or late afternoon is the best time to avoid highway congestion and -- it is also the best time to see animals.

Again, I am sure that there will be much less congestion on the roads when you visit -- but you should be prepared to be stuck in a line of traffic from time to time. It's part of the deal. Especially if bison are involved -- they "love" to mosey downs the center line of the highways -- don't ever honk at them -- they take offense.

Have a fantastic trip.

Mark

Our experience was similar to Mark's. Get into the park at first daylight. You have a better chance of sighting wildlife (without the resulting "animal/bear jam" in traffic), there will be less people at the most popular attractions and therefore better parking. We were at Old Faithful before 7 in the morning, got a front row parking place, and about the only other people standing around waiting for OF to erupt were some who had stayed at one of the inns/lodges in the area.

We had no problem with staying outside of the park in West Yellowstone, but we were on a budget. There weren't a whole lot of lodge rooms available on our budget, so we were willing to drive in/out of the park each day. West Yellowstone is located RIGHT on the outside of the western boundary to the park, and there were plenty of eateries and other amenities available.


Donna

Thanks to Mark and Donna.

We'll be early birds, then. :P

So the basic formula inside the park is "Park & Hike" from one spot to another?

Think of the most popular spots, Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Geyser basin etc and try to build them into early and late in the day visits and during the day visit the areas not so popular with day tourists like the Artists Paint pots and the mud pots and the open spaces of Lamar valley etc. It will be slow going, but very enjoyable. If you could find available lodgings in Canyon village you could spend a good part of the day hiking along the rim of the Grand canyon of the Yellowstone without driving, there is a path that leads to the rim from the cabins, but yes, in general it is a case of driving from one place to another and then walking.

Thanks Dave, great tips indeed!

I'm also thinking about the places to stay on the way from Portland to the Park, and from the Park back to Seattle.

Some easy search from Google suggests Troutdale, Hood River, Cascades Lock, or the Dalles for the former, and C'ouer d'Alene for the latter.

Non of the towns suggested for on the way to Yellowstone will be near enough to get to Yellowstone the following day. You would need to explore the Gorge during the morning and then continue to at least La Grande to make a comfortable drive to Yellowstone. Coeur d'Alene would make a good point on the way back.

Gotcha, Dave. Really helpful information. Now the most difficult part of accommodation has been completed under you guys' help.

We'll stay at Boise on the way to the park, and at Coeur D' Alene on the way back.

Just be aware that Boise will be a long day on the road if you want to sight see along the Columbia river Gorge that's why I suggested somewhere around La Grande. One option would be to take note of a few lodgings along the way and see how you go for time without booking a Motel in advance.

Thanks Dave.
I adjusted the reservation to La Grande.

Updated Plan:
Date Activity - Accommodation
9/27 Seattle - Seattle
9/28 Seattle - Seattle
9/29 Olympic NP - Forks
9/30 Hoh Rain Forest - Inside the Park (Paradise Inn)
10/1 Mt Rainer - Portland
10/2 Columbia River Gorge - La Grande
10/3 To Yellowstone - Yellowstone West
10/4 Yellowstone - Yellowstone East
10/5 Yellowstone - Yellowstone North
10/6 Yellowstone - Yellowstone North
10/7 To Seattle - Coeur D' Alene
10/8 Arriving Seattle - Seattle

Looks good. I presume that the Paradise Inn is the one at Mt Ranier, not in Hoh ? With an early start you may have time to drive to Hurricane ridge in Olympic NP for expansive views, but check the weather/visibility first. We are actually in the Gorge, Mt Ranier and Olympic just 10/14 days ahead of you.

I hope you have a great trip, be sure to drop by and share your trip memories with us. [and photos perhaps, we like photo's. ;-)

Yes, Dave. Paradise Inn is inside Mt. Rainer. On that day we would visit Hoh, and stayed in Mt. Rainer.

I'll definitely share with you the photos, and what's the conventional way of doing so? Through Google Plus or directly put them here?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kevin_chn

I'll definitely share with you the photos, and what's the conventional way of doing so? Through Google Plus or directly put them here?

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If you go into the Field Trip Reports Forum, all the instructions are there. I too look forward to reading about your trip, and seeing some pics.

Lifey

Thanks Lifey. I've already seen some amazing pictures of others there :P.