Pacific Northwest Road Trip Planner: Glacier National Park to Seattle
This epic road trip begins in Glacier National Park and travels through the Pacific Northwest including Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park. This entire area is beautiful. It is full of green mountains, glaciers, lakes, wildlife, and miles and miles of hiking trails. You are excited to begin your road trip through the Pacific Northwest and want to know the best time of year to visit, where to stay, must-see attractions, and where to eat while there. Researching the best things to do on a Pacific Northwest road trip while working full time is overwhelming and you don’t have hours to spend on the internet. Save time and plan an unforgettable trip full of top activities with this ultimate Pacific Northwest road trip itinerary from Glacier National Park to Seattle.
When is the Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park and the Pacific Northwest?
Summer is the warmest time of year to visit the Pacific Northwest, with temperatures averaging in the 70-80s. July is the sunniest month with the least chance of the mountain hiking trails being cloud-covered. The National Parks are busiest from June through September and may have long wait times at the entrance gates. Fires are common in forested areas in the late summer and often result in a smokey haze. Roads begin to close in late fall. Winter brings dark clouds and snow. Weather is unpredictable in the spring, be prepared for snow and fog.
What is the Best Way to Travel to Glacier National Park and the Pacific Northwest?
You will need your own transportation to follow this 10-day Glacier National Park and the Pacific Northwest road trip itinerary. Save precious PTO by flying from your home to Glacier Park International Airport and renting a car to continue the journey. This is a one-way itinerary, book your rental car and return flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
How Long Do You Need to See Glacier National Park and the Pacific Northwest?
The Pacific Northwest includes the states of Oregon and Washington and part of Idaho. This itinerary is a 10-day road trip beginning in Montana’s Glacier National Park and traveling through Idaho and Washington. If possible, add one day to Olympic National Park and two days to Seattle Washington. If you are traveling internationally and have more time, continue the road trip down the Oregon coast into California and return through San Francisco.
How Expensive are Glacier National Park and the Pacific Northwest?
According to Budget Your Trip, the average daily budget for a Glacier National Park to the Pacific Northwest road trip is approximately $160 – this includes gas, a rental car, lodging, food, drink, and entry fees.
What to Pack for a Glacier National Park and the Pacific Northwest Road Trip
A little bit of everything. Dress in layers and bring a warm jacket for the evening. Summer temperatures average in the 70s during the day and cool significantly at higher elevations and in the evening. Convertible pants with zip-off legs are perfect for hiking. Sunscreen, an umbrella, and a rain poncho are essential at any time of year.
Day-by-Day Guide for a Road Trip From Glacier National Park to the Pacific Northwest
ROUTE AT A GLANCE: Glacier National Park, National Bison Range, Wallace Idaho, Coeur d’Alene Idaho, Spokane Washington, Leavenworth Washington, Snoqualmie Falls, Mount Rainer National Park, Olympic National Park, Seattle Washington
MILES: Approximately 1250 miles
HOW MANY DAYS: 10
Day 1: Arrival (45 miles)
Arrive at Glacier Park International Airport
Pick up a rental car and drive toward Glacier National Park
Stop in Whitefish for a late lunch/early dinner and browse a few stores
Make your way to Super Foods in Columbia Falls, MT for water and snacks
Check into your accommodation and make your way to Lake McDonald
Photograph Lake McDonald from the lodge, hike to McDonald Falls and check out Sacred Cascades from the footbridge
If time allows, take the Trail of the Cedars boardwalk to Avalanche Gorge (.7 miles)
Watch the sunset on Lake McDonald
Day 2: Going to the Sun Road (150 miles)
Glacier National Park is famous for its Going to the Sun Road. You will also find glacier-capped mountains, alpine forests, crystal clear lakes of red, yellow, orange, and purple pebbles, valleys of wildflowers, waterfalls, huckleberries, mountain goats, moose, cougar, wolves, grizzly and black bears.
Read Complete Glacier National Park Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Start early and spend the entire day exploring the pullouts and hikes along the 50-mile Going to the Sun Road
Photograph Bird Woman Falls, Haystack Falls, and the Weeping Wall
Stop at Big Bend to take a photo of the valley and mountains
Check out the Oberlin Bend lookout and watch the mountain goats
Hike 1.5 miles to the Hidden Lake overlook from Logan’s Pass Visitor Center and watch for mountain goats and bighorn sheep along the trail
Photograph the Jackson Glacier
Hike to Baring Falls (.7 miles RT), St Mary Falls (1.7 RT hike) or Virginia Falls (3.5 RT hike)
Photograph St Mary Lake and Wild Goose Island
YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE
Day 3: Many Glacier (126 miles)
6 am Leave the hotel and drive to Many Glacier for 8 am arrival, watch for bears on the way.
9 am Check out the lodge at Many Glacier before taking the boat across Swiftcurrent Lake to Lake Josephine, which requires a very short up/downhill walk between the lakes.
10:30 am Hike 1.1 miles (one way) to Grinnell Lake. Return and enjoy a picnic lunch (bring with you). Now hike in the opposite direction toward Grinnel Glacier as far as time allows.
Take the last boat back to the lodge and relax on the porch overlooking the lake before making the 2-hour drive back toward Lake McDonald.
Day 4: Two Medicine Lake (150 miles)
7 am Get up early and drive out to Polebridge Mercantile for a Huckleberry Bear Claw (30 miles, 1 hour).
9:30 Drive out to Two Medicine Lake and see two waterfalls in one at Running Eagle Falls.
Hike 1.4 miles RT to Paradise Point, or 9.7 miles around Two Medicine Lake.
Take the boat across the lake then hike 4 miles RT past Twin Falls to Upper Medicine Lake.
Hike a section of the Continental Divide on the Mt. Henry Trail or 5.5 miles to No Name Lake
Day 5: Drive to Spokane (180 miles)
Stop by the National Bison Range on your drive toward Spokane Washington. The range is located on tribal land and has a free-roaming herd of bison. The Red Sleep Mountain Drive is a one-way gravel road with steep grades and switchbacks through the grasslands. The drive is slow and I did not see any bison. Prairie Drive follows a creek and does not require as much of a time commitment, I did see a herd of bison in the distance. Would I do it again? No. But I’m glad I did it once.
Continue driving through Idaho and stop in the town of Wallace for lunch. Wallace Idaho is the world’s largest silver producer and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the richest mining town still in existence. The historic center is a great place to stretch your legs and have lunch. Continue another 50 miles to Coeur d’Alene Idaho. Take a walk around the lake in Coeur d’Alene and do some shopping in the downtown stores. If you love water sports, you will not regret adding an extra day to the itinerary on the lake in Coeur d’Alene.
Spokane Washington is known for having the largest urban waterfall in the US. Spokane is Washington’s second-largest city and a great overnight stop. Check into your hotel and head down to the Riverfront to ride the cable car across the falls, then have dinner in a nearby brewery.
Read 40 Great Things to Do in Spokane Washington
6 am Check out of accommodation and drive toward Spokane Washington
8 am Search for buffalo on the National Bison Range
11 am Stop for lunch and explore the cute town of Wallace Idaho
1 pm Take a walk around the lake in Coeur d’Alene Idaho
3 pm Arrive in Spokane, ride the cable across the falls, check out the Riverfront, and enjoy dinner downtown
Overnight in Spokane Washington
Day 6: Leavenworth Washington and Snoqualmie Falls (350 miles)
Leavenworth Washington is a Bavarian-themed town in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. You will find traditional Bavarian clothing, biergartens, nutcrackers, gingerbread, big pretzels, bratwurst, schnitzel, wooden balconies, and tiered roofs overflowing with flower baskets. Snoqualmie Falls is a 268-foot waterfall near Seattle Washington. The falls receive 1.5 million visitors each year and are one of the most popular things to do in Washington. There are several upper falls viewpoints along a boardwalk as well as a steep hiking path down to the lower falls.
Read Things to Do in Leavenworth Washington
8 am Leave Spokane and drive to Leavenworth Washington
11 am Explore the Bavarian-themed town and have lunch
2 pm Continue on to Snoqualmie Falls, arrive at 4 pm, and view from the upper and lower parking areas
Overnight Buckley Washington
Day 7: Mount Rainier National Park (300+ miles)
Mount Rainier National Park is a glacier-capped active volcano in Washington’s Cascade Mountain Range. The area is known for its mountain views, old-growth forests, glacier-fed lakes, waterfalls, alpine meadows of wildflowers, huckleberries, marmots, goats, and black bears. There are 300 Alpine Lakes, countless waterfalls, and 260+ miles of trails including the 93-mile Wonderland Trail.
Read Complete Mount Rainier National Park Travel Guide
8 am Enter the park at the Nisqually entrance and drive-up Paradise Road. Stop for a photo at Christine Falls Bridge, check out the view from Ricksecker Point, stop at Narda Falls and walk .2 miles to the viewpoint, see Ruby Falls from the road.
10 am Drive the scenic Paradise Road Loop. Hike the 1.2-mile RT Nisqually Vista Trail to the Nisqually Glacier viewpoint, enjoy lunch with a view, or relax with a Rainier beer at Paradise Inn, check out the views and fields of wildflowers on the Skyline Trail, walk the 1-mile RT path to Myrtle Falls and Edith Gorge Falls.
3 pm Merge onto Stevens Canyon Road. Check out the view from Inspiration Point, photograph Mount Rainier’s reflection on Reflection Lake, view Upper Sunbeam Falls, Martha Falls, Lower Sunbeam Falls, and Picture Frame Falls from the road.
5 pm Stop at Ohanapecosh. Cross the suspension bridge and walk through an old-growth forest on the 1.3 RT Grove of the Patriarchs Trail, hike 1 mile RT to Silver Falls (the trailhead is across from the Grove of Patriarchs), Continue driving on Hwy 123 for 25 minutes to Tipsoo Lake to arrive at sunset.
Overnight in Lacey Washington
Day 8: Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is 1 million acres and known for having three ecosystems, including glacier mountains, a rugged coastline, and a rainforest. You will find old-growth forests, alpine ridges and meadows, glacier-fed lakes, sandy beaches, rugged coastlines covered in driftwood, sea stacks, tide pools, waterfalls, hot springs, and fern-covered hiking trails.
Read Complete Olympic National Park Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
6 am Check out of accommodation and drive to Murhut Falls Trailhead on the Olympic Peninsula. Hike 1.5 miles to the falls and continue on to Rocky Brook Falls (.5 mile)
10 am Arrive at Hurricane Ridge. Take a boardwalk hike and enjoy lunch at the visitor center cafe
1 pm Stop at Madison Falls on the way to Lake Crescent. Photograph the Storm King Ranger Station
3 pm Hike 1.7 miles to Marymere Falls
5 pm Stop to watch the salmon swim upstream at Salmon Cascades before taking the 1.7-mile hike to Sol Duc Waterfall
8 pm Have a late dinner and check out Forks Washington, the setting of the Twilight series.
Overnight Forks Washington
Day 9: Olympic National Park
6 am Leave Forks Motel and drive to Rialto Beach, hike 1.5 miles to Hole in the Rock
9 am Drive to First and Second Beaches and admire the sea stacks
11:30 am Visit Hoh Rainforest and walk the .8-mile Hall of Moses loop through the rainforest
1 pm Check out the sea stacks and garnet-colored sand at Ruby Beach
3:30 pm Drive to Kalaloch Beach and see the Tree of Life
4:30 pm Drive to Quinault Rainforest and hike the mile loop to the Kestner Homestead. Drive to the other side of the lake and check out roadside Merriman Falls
7 pm Arrive in Ocean Beach for a late seafood dinner
Overnight Ocean Beach
Day 10: Depart
End this Glacier National Park and the Pacific Northwest road trip itinerary by waking up early and grabbing a coffee and a pastry before taking a morning walk on the beach. Spend as much time as possible enjoying the resort town of Ocean Beach before making the 4-hour drive to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with time to return the rental and check in for your departing flight.
Alternatively, get up early and explore as much of Seattle as time allows. The city is famous for being the home of the first Starbucks, the birthplace of grunge, the Space Needle, flying fish, a gum wall, seaplanes, and houseboats.
Read 45 Things to Do in Seattle Washington
Be sure to check with the Visit the Pacific Northwest USA for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
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Pacific Northwest Travel Guide
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Pacific Northwest Attractions and Day Tours
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