The Ultimate Washington Road Trip itinerary for summer

Are you planning a Washington Road Trip this summer and wondering how to make the most of your time exploring this beautiful state?

Nestled in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, Washington is home to the awe-inspiring Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. From the stunning coastlines to the towering mountains, Washington offers ample natural beauty and outdoor activities that make it the perfect summer road trip destination. Exploring Washington had been on our US Travel Bucket list for the longest time. I am happy to say that Washington lived up to our expectations and I am excited to share the Washington road trip itinerary with you all.

We spent 10 days driving across the state of Washington exploring different National Parks, admiring beautiful waterfalls, and hiking numerous trails. In this travel guide, I will shared all about our trip from what to do, how to do it, where to stay, and things to know before you go.

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How to get around

The best way to plan this road trip would be either renting a car or a camper van. We rented an SUV which we picked up from the Seattle Airport. Here are a few things you should do when you pick up your vehicle:

• Check the car for any damage and consider taking photos or videos.
• Make sure the gas tank is full.
• Consider getting rental car insurance if you don’t already have coverage.

We used Google Maps for navigation, and it worked perfectly. Always download the offline map because the network might not be reliable in the national park area.

What to pack for the trip

The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable in summer, with hot days and cold evenings. Consider packing these items :-

• Pack a rain jacket and a down jacket, along with a beanie and gloves for rainy and chilly days.
• In addition to casual clothing, it would be best to bring hiking tops, bottoms, and shoes.
• If you plan to hike moderate to difficult trails, investing in good hiking poles is recommended.
• In case you visit in early summer, you may encounter snow on the hikes, so I suggest bringing crampons.
• Pack snacks for the hike, such as chips, chocolate bars, or sandwiches, as well as water, trail mix, and fruits.
• Day backpack and reusable water-bottle or water Reservoir for hikes.
• Don’t forget a phone charging cable and a power bank for the hike and the road.
• For capturing your journey, consider bringing a camera, lens, and tripod for better-quality pictures.

Budgeting for the trip

People travel in various ways, but to help you understand the cost of our road trip to Washington, we have provided a breakdown below.

• Flight – We booked our flight with Alaska miles which we redeemed via Bilt Rewards. Otherwise, it costs between $ 400-600 per person roundtrip (NYC – Seattle).
• Accommodation – We booked the hotels for an average $100 – $150 per night.
• Car Rental – We rented the car for $65 per day for 10 days. You might be able to find a better deal than this. We already have insurance, so we didn’t need to get one. However, if you don’t have insurance, it will be an extra expense, and we really suggest getting it for your peace of mind.
• Gas – The charge for the whole trip was around $400
• Food & Drinks – We budgeted around $60-70 per day for two people + Road Trip snacks about $100 for 10 days.
• Other Costs – National Park Pass: $80 and $2 for time reservations needed for Mount Rainier National Park

If you want to save money, consider renting a Campervan or camping in your car, staying at campgrounds, and cooking your own meals.

Best time to visit

We went on a road trip to Washington in July. Summer (July-August) is the peak season for visiting and the best time for hikes. Another option is to plan the road trip for early autumn, between the last week of September and the middle of October. Autumn would be the ideal season to see the yellow larches in Washington, especially in the North Cascade National Park and Mount Rainier National Park area.

10 day Washington road trip Itinerary for summer

Day 1 – Fly to Seattle

We flew from Newark to Seattle on a non-stop flight that took about 6.5 hours. Our Washington road trip started with picking up our car, stopping for groceries, and heading to Olympic National Park. After driving for 3 hours, we reached Port Angeles where we stayed for the night.

Day 2 & 3 – Olympic National Park

We started our day with Coffee & breakfast at Mountain Cafe. After that, we drove around to explore the Olympic National Park.

• Visited Hurricane Ridge and hiked the short trail – Big Meadow & High Ridge
• Stopped at Madison Falls – 0.1 mile hike from the parking lot
• Hiked Sol Duc Falls trail – 1.8-mile round trip
• Hiked another trail – Marymere Falls – 2-mile round trip
• At the end of the day, we enjoyed the sunset at Crescent Lake

The next day after breakfast, we left Port Angeles and drove to explore the Rainforest and Coastal side of Olympic National Park.

• We drove to Rialto Beach. Here, you can hike the popular ‘Hole in the Wall’ trail, which is a 3.5-mile round trip beach hike. Make sure to check the tide situation before starting this hike.
• For lunch, we stopped at the town of Fork for lunch. If you guys are Twilight fans, you may know this town.
• Next, we went headed to the Hoh Rain Forest where we hiked – The Hall of Mosses Trail (0.8 miles/ 1.2 km) & The Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles/ 1.9 km)
• For sunset, we visited Ruby Beach.
• If you have extra time, visit Kalaloch Beach. Here, you can check out the most popular attraction “Tree of Life”.

Unfortunately, when we visited the coastal area, it was covered with fog and rained continuously. After spending some time in the beach area, we drove to Aberdeen, WA to stay for the night.

If you have extra time, you can check out Cape Flattery – The northwestern most point of the contiguous United States.

Port Angeles & Fork would be the best places to stay for exploring the Olympic National Park. There are plenty of campgrounds (Inside and Outside the Olympic national park) available which I would suggest to book in advance as it fills up really fast.

Day 4 – Mt Baker region

We set off early in the morning and drove for 6 hours from Aberdeen to the Mt. Baker area, making a few stops for gas and food along the way. We had booked a hotel in Glacier, WA on the Mount Baker highway for the night. After checking in, we headed to Picture Lake and Artist Point to catch the sunset.

Picture Lake was truly picture-perfect, with very few people around. The best part is that you don’t need to hike — it’s just a few steps from the parking area.

After visiting Picture Lake, we drove to Artist Point. When we visited Artist Point in the first week of July, it was covered in snow. If you are planning to hike in the area, I would suggest visiting between mid-July and September.

We witnessed a breathtaking sunset from Artist Point, as the sky turned a beautiful shade of yellow. It was absolutely stunning! Another great spot to catch the sunset would be Picture Lake.

Day 5 & 6 – North Cascades National Park

After exploring the Mt. Baker area, we headed to another beautiful national park – North Cascades National Park. We drove on the North Cascades Highway, stopped at various viewpoints, and hiked a few trails. It took us about 3 hours to reach our first stop of the day.

• Diablo Lake viewpoint – is one of the most popular viewpoint on the road because of the gorgeous turquoise blue lake with mountains on the backdrop.
• Thunder Knob Trailhead – 3.4-mile roundtrip offers gorgeous view of Diablo Lake.
• Rainy lake hike – 2.0-mile round-trip easy hike on a paved trail. At the end of the trail, you will be rewarded beautiful views of a glacial lake.
• Washington Pass Overlook – One of the best roadside view of the iconic Liberty Bell Mountain towering over the highway.

When we set out for the day, our plan was to hike the 8-mile Maple Pass Loop. However, upon arrival, we found that most of the trail was covered in snow. The park ranger advised us not to attempt the hike without proper snow gear. Since we were unprepared for a snow hike, we decided to skip it.

We spent the night at a hotel in the charming old western town of Winthrop, WA. If you have the time, I would recommend exploring the quaint town of Winthrop.

The next day, after having breakfast at the hotel, we went hiking in North Cascades National Park before moving on to our next destination. We hiked the Blue Lake trail, which is approximately 5-miles round trip. When we reached the end of the trail, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the lake overlooking the mountains.

Leavenworth

This quaint little town was a perfect stop for the next national park. Here are the things we would recommend doing when you visit this charming town.

• Go for an Alpine coaster ride at Leavenworth Adventure Park.
• Take a stroll around the downtown area.
• Grab a Bavarian-style beer and try bratwurst at München Haus.
• If you have an extra day, go for a hike. The most popular day hike nearby is Colchuck Lake, a 9-mile roundtrip with 2800 m elevation gain & considered hard.

For the night, we stayed in one of the hotels in downtown Leavenworth. The hotel is situated perfectly within walking distance of all the major attractions.

Want to explore Leavenworth without a car? Check out these tour options from Seattle!

Day 7 , 8 & 9 – Mount Rainier National Park

We left Leavenworth after breakfast and headed to Mount Rainier National Park. It took us about 4 hours to reach the Stevens Canyon (SE) Entrance of the National park with few stops in between.

After reaching the Ohanapecosh visitor center in Mount Rainer National Park, we parked our car at one of the day parking areas and headed for a hike. We did Silver Falls trail, which is a 3-mile loop from the parking lot. The hike was easy and the falls looked breathtaking. Another short hike you can do in this area is – Grove of the Patriarchs, however, it is closed to the public as of July 2024.

We then drove via Steven Canyon Road towards the Ashford town, where we had booked our hotel for the night. On the way, we stopped at the Reflection Lake before calling it a day.

We stayed in one of the beautiful cabins just 5 minutes from the Mount Rainier National Park (Longmire entrance). It is a good choice if you don’t have Timed Entry reservations (in summer) and want to enter the park before 7.00 am. (as of 2024)

Paradise area (Day 8)

Paradise is a highly popular area located in the southern side of Mount Rainier National Park. This area features stunning meadows covered with vibrant wildflowers during the summer months. There are a variety of hiking trails available, ranging from easy strolls to challenging alpine routes. Here are the things I would recommend to do at this part of the National Park.

• Make a quick stop at Christine Falls Bridge, a beautiful roadside waterfall.
• Take a short detour to Ricksecker Point – Enjoy the gorgeous view of Mt Rainier
• Pull over at Narada Falls – Look for a rainbow on a clear sunny day!
• Spend the rest of the day hiking in and around Paradise Visitor Center. When we visited only Nisqually Vista Trail & Skyline Trail – Myrtle Falls were open. Other trails were covered in snow. So if you are planning to hike in this area and also looking for wildflowers, I would suggest visiting between the late July and September.
• The best hikes to do here – are Skyline Trail, Comet Falls Trail, and Pinnacle Peak Trail.

As of 2024, visitors to the Paradise section of the park will be required to make reservations between May and September in order to enter from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. The cost of the reservation is $2 per vehicle. If you do not have a reservation, you can enter the area before 7:00 am or after 3:00 pm. This reservation is in addition to the National Park Entrance Fee.

We booked the next two-night stay in Packwood, WA. This town is situated just 15 minutes from the Southeast entrance of Mount Rainier National Park.

Sunrise area (Day 9)

Sunrise is located in the east side of Mount Rainier National Park and offers numerous hiking trails that wind through the rugged, yet stunning wilderness. The Sunrise area provides a unique perspective of Mount Rainier, offering mesmerizing views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers. Here are the things I would recommend –

• Head to Tipsoo Lake before entering the Sunrise Road (preferably at sunrise)
• Hike Emmons Moraine trail near White River Campground – 4.2 miles out & back
• Drive the Sunrise Road and pull over at the Sunrise Point Lookout
• Visit Emmons Vista overlook, a short hike from the parking lot.
• Hike Mount Fremont Lookout Trail – 5.6-mile moderate hike. We did this hike at sunset and the view from the lookout was gorgeous. Remember to carry a headlamp, if you plan this hike for sunset.
• Sunrise area offers some of the best stargazing opportunities. If you are in the area for the night, I would highly recommend staying after sunset and enjoying the sky full of stars. Bring your camera, tripod, picnic blanket, and snacks. You need permits for overnight parking, so plan accordingly.

As of 2024, visitors to the Sunrise section of the park will be required to make reservations between July and September in order to enter from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. The cost of the reservation is $2 per vehicle. If you do not have a reservation, you can enter the area before 7:00 am or after 3:00 pm.

Ashford & Packwood would be the best places to stay for exploring the Mount Rainer National Park. There are plenty of campgrounds (Inside and Outside the Mount Rainier national park) available, which I would suggest to book in advance as it fill up really fast.

Apart from the Paradise and Sunrise area, you can also explore the Carbon River area of Mount Rainier National Park. It is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours away from the Paradise and Sunrise region. One of the well-known hikes in the Carbon River region is the Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout, which is about a 7.5-mile round trip. Unfortunately, when we visited, the road to Tolmie Peak was closed at that time.

Want to explore Mount Rainier National Park without a car? Check out these tour options!

Day 10 – Fly back home

After our epic Washington Road Trip, it was time to say good bye! But before heading to airport we went to visit few places in & around Seattle.

• Snoqualmie Falls
• Twin Falls
• Pikes Peak Market
• Space Needle

Explore Seattle with these tour options!

Things to know Before you go!

1. With this Washington travel guide, you will cover 3 national parks and a few national forests on the way.
2. Each National Park requires entrance fee of around $30 per vehicle. If you are planning to visit more than 3 National Parks or National forests, I would suggest to buy an Annual National Park pass for $80.
3. Summer is the peak season for travel, especially during weekends or national holidays. You may find it difficult to find parking or experience long waits while entering national parks.
4. Before planning your Washington road trip, check whether the roads are open for the season. Sometimes, they won’t open until mid July due to snow closures.
5. As of 2024, you need a reservation to enter the Paradise and Sunrise sections of Mount Rainier National Park. Please check the park website for more details.
6. There are limited services inside the national parks, so make sure you have enough gas and food.
7. If you love kayaking or paddle-boarding and own one, there are plenty of options along the way.
8. Make sure you have downloaded an offline Google map of the areas you are planning to visit, as you may come across places with no network.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days Do you need for the Washington Road Trip?

I would say 10-14 days would be best, if you are planning to hike and enjoy everything. 1-2 days in Seattle, 3 days in Olympic National Park, 3-4 days in Mount Rainer National Park, 1-2 days in North Cascade National Park, 1-2 days in Mount Baker area and 1-3 days in Leavenworth & hiking in the Enchantments. Also, if you have more time you can visit the San Juan Island.

Where to Start and end your road trip?

Seattle would be a good place to start and end your trip. If you are planning to fly, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport serves as the main airport for arrivals from various locations in the US and around the world.

What is the best month to do this road trip?

July to September is the best time for this road trip. During this time, most places are open and it’s ideal for hiking. August, in particular, is great for seeing wildflowers. However, it’s important to note that many roads are not open until mid-July, and some hiking trails may still be covered in snow until that time. Make sure to plan your trip accordingly.

Final Thoughts

It can be overwhelming to decide which places to visit when planning your PTOs. I hope you find this post helpful for planning your epic Washington road trip.

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