A Seattle to Salt Lake City road trip is a great idea. Maybe you are heading home from or heading to a vacation or maybe you found cheap flights out of the SLC airport. Utah is home to some of the most unique landscapes in the U.S. in my opinion so a Seattle to Utah road trip is definitely a good idea for a fun family vacation.
This Seattle to Salt Lake City road trip itinerary will take you through several beautiful Oregon sights to break up the road trip and provide ample opportunity to stretch your legs. I recommend booking your hotels or campgrounds a couple of months in advance, especially during the summer and on holiday weekends. Things will fill up!
Treat this guide or Oregon itinerary as a create your own adventure. If there is something you want to take out, take it out! If there is something extra you want to add in, then do it! This is a guide based on what we did on our trip with minor tweaks for things I think we could have done better.
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Seattle to Salt Lake City Road Trip Overview
Cities:
- Seattle, WA
- Lincoln City, OR
- McMinnville, OR
- Bend, OR
- Boise, ID
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Baker City, OR
Activities and Highlights!
- Beaches
- Hiking
- Waterfalls
- Good Food
- Ice Cream
- Volcanos
- Museums
Day One: Leave Seattle
Day one driving distance: 332 Miles
Driving time: ~ 6 H 15 min
Morning: Leave Seattle early in the morning and head to Portland to grab some donuts from Voodoo Doughnuts. These unique and extremely popular donuts are a fun treat to start this road trip off right.
Afternoon: Next drive over to Cannon Beach to see the famous haystack rock formation. Spend some time on the rocky beach and enjoy walking in the freezing water! When you are ready for some lunch head over to the Tillamook Creamery for lunch. You get to see the tillamook factory where the cheese is made (plus samples!), shop at the gift shop and eat yummy food and ice cream! I loved the cheese curds and the hazelnut and salted caramel ice cream the very most.
Just make sure you leave the beach slightly before you’re super hungry because there is a one hour drive between the two.
Evening: By now you should be nice and full and ready for an afternoon nap. Drive the rest of the way to our first stop in Lincoln City. A quaint seaside city on the Oregon coast. Make dinner in your rental or hotel, or grab something from HWY 101 Burger.
While we were there we stayed near the water and had a fire on the beach and roasted marshmallows. It was a great time and I highly recommend it, just remember to keep the fire away from the drift wood and dress warm because it gets chilly in the evening, even in the summers.
Day 2: Explore Lincoln City, OR
Day two driving distance: 71 Miles
Driving time: ~ 2 H 10 min
Morning: First thing in the morning head over to the Lincoln City Glass Center. Here you can watch craftsmen make glass items, take a class to make your own glass souvenir and shop from a selection of premade items. If you want to make your own, sign up in advance online because their walk-up slots fill up extremely fast.
Fun Fact: the Lincoln City Glass Center makes and hides hundreds of their famous glass balls all over the local beaches for people to find. They have stopped temporarily due to COVID but hopefully they’ll start up again soon. Make sure you’re looking while out on the beach.
After the glass center if you have extra time you can walk over to Public Access Beach (by a restaurant named Mo’s) to see seals resting on the beach.
Afternoon: When you get hungry head to J’s Fish and Chips and grab their $6 lunch special of cod or chicken strips or burgers with fries and a drink. It was delicious and extremely affordable. Right next door is the outlet mall, they have great shops for brands like Columbia, Nike and more. If I didn’t have to fly home I DEFINITELY would have snagged some hiking boots from Columbia.
Next, head to Roads End Beach for a couple of hours to enjoy another west coast beach. They may have chilly water but the sand is still fun to play in and the waves are relaxing to listen too. You don’t have to stay long but it would be sad to miss out on seeing the beach during the day.
Evening: Lastly for today, start driving towards McMinnville but stop by Drift Creek Falls on your way. This is a 3.2 mile out and back trail, super easy trail but with the fun reward of a beautiful waterfall at the end.
Then finish driving to McMinnville for the night. We ate easy snack-y foods on the trail and in the car but if you are looking for a fun restaurant then my brother (who lived in the area) recommends Alf’s Ice Cream and Burgers. The food is good but there is also a pet monkey named Elvis that lives in the lobby which is a fan favorite!
Helpful Road Trip Posts
Day Three: Exploring Mcminnville
Day three driving distance: 184 Miles
Driving time: ~ 3 H 00 min
Morning: Today you get to see the world’s largest wooden airplane at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. This museum is HUGE. It is two separate buildings with dozens or real and replicated life sized aircraft. Along with the Spruce Goose (the largest wooden plane) there are many airplanes from different eras along with many signs telling you lots of fun facts about each of them. Then in the space portion of the museum there is a SR-71 Blackbird that my dad and brother geeked out over.
It was a fun museum and I was impressed by the exhibits.
Afternoon: for lunch head to McMenamins for lunch. This restaurant is located in Hotel Oregon, a haunted hotel on the main street of McMinnville. McMenamins is a chain that puts pubs and breweries in haunted buildings throughout Oregon!
After lunch, drive to the Tamolitch Blue Pool Trailhead. This is a 3.6 mile popular trail that leads to a bright blue pool of freezing spring water! It looks stunning. This was on our original itinerary but unfortunately we had to cut it from ours due to visiting friends in the area. However you should definitely do it and let me know if you loved it!
Evening: Now drive to Bend where you will stay the night. On the way make sure you stop in Sisters for dinner and dessert. In the corner of a small gas station is a mexican restaurant named Tacos El Comal run by an older hispanic gentleman. He makes all the food to order (not as fast as a fast food joint) and it is delicious! Plus the servings are huge, I recommend sharing each entree between two people.
Across the street is an ice cream joint that serves homemade ice cream! Sno Cap is another must visit place in my opinion. Both places close at 7 pm though so make sure you get there in time!
Day Four: One Day in Bend, OR
Day four driving distance: 60 Miles
Driving time: ~ 1 H 45 Min
Morning: If you’re feeling up to it, get up early and hike Pilot Butte. An easy 1.8 mile hike with a great view over Bend and a spectacular place to watch the sunrise.
Next grab some breakfast to fuel up for a fun and active day! We really enjoyed the baked goods at Great Harvest Bread Company but I would have loved to have found a locally owned spot to eat at. Last up for the morning is another easy hike. Tumalo Falls is an easy hike with a great view over a waterfall. There is a lookout point from down below that is easily accessible for people that enjoy nature but are physically unable to hike.
Afternoon: After hiking all morning I recommend grabbing something to eat! We did not and there is nowhere to buy food at the next location. Luckily we had car trip snacks that (barely) held us over till dinner!
Newberry National Volcanic Monument is a fun and unique place to explore. Start with the Lava River Cave to escape the hot afternoon sun. This hike takes you through underground lava caves that are a chilly 40 degrees fahrenheit. It is DARK bring a lantern or rent one for $5.
Next head the visitors center and take the bus up to Lava Butte. It costs $3 per person but the view from the top is amazing. You can see the 7,000 year old lava fields from above, they are massive! Plus on clear days you can see the surrounding mountain peaks. The lookout tower has awesome signs telling you the names of each peak.
Last up, if you still have the energy, head over to the Molten Lava Field trail. This trail will take you a short way into the lava field and you can see just how desolate the lad is under all the rough black volcanic rock.
Evening: Now head back into town for dinner at Pine Tavern. They have delicious sourdough scones with honey butter. And when you are done eating head just up the street to Goody’s Chocolate and Ice Cream for some well deserved ice cream!
Day Five: Drive, Boise, Drive
Day five driving distance: 657 Miles
Driving time: ~ 10 H 15 Min
Morning: Get up and grab some breakfast, it is time to drive. Today will be heavier on the driving but there will be a nice break when you get to Boise. I recommend leaving about 7 so that you’re rolling into Boise just in time for lunch.
Afternoon: Stop in Boise for a bite to eat. CSGinger.com has a list of places that look AMAZING. Kind of makes me want to head back to Boise for a few days to try them all!
Evening: The last thing for today is to finish the drive to Salt Lake City.
Day Six: Explore Salt Lake City
Day fsix driving distance: 54 Miles
Driving time: ~ 1 H 5 Min
Congrats you made it! From here there is so much you could do, and depending on how much time you have in Salt Lake City you could travel around the state a little or stick close by. This will describe a fun day in the city but there are also several day trips from Salt Lake City you could take. Or you could visit one of Utah’s five National Parks, or their 43 state parks, my favorite is Goblin Valley for its unique rock formations or Bear Lake for a fun water day!
Morning: Grab some breakfast and then head out the door to beat the heat on another hike! There are so many to choose from but a favorite is Bell Canyon Trail to Lower Falls, it is a moderately difficult 4.6 mile trail. It has a fairly steep last half mile but the rest of the trail isn’t bad and the payoff is great. You get views of the valley and a small waterfall.
Afternoon: Next grab some lunch and explore downtown. There is so much to see in downtown Salt Lake. From delicious food (hello Crumbl) to sights like Temple Square, the capitol building (a must see in the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom) to shopping at City Creek Mall.
Evening: After you are done exploring downtown, snag some dinner. Tucanos Brazilian Grill is a splurge but absolutely delicious or Red Iguana is a mexican place I only hear rave things about. Then head to a Jazz game or a theatre show at Hale theatre. Both fun options, it just depends on your preferences.
More To Do in Utah:
- Swimming in the Great Salt Lake
- How to Spend a Relaxing Day in Park City, UT
- One Day in St. George, Utah
- Top Winter Activities and Events in Utah
Day Seven: Road Trip from Salt Lake City to Seattle
Day seven driving distance: 832 Miles
Driving time: ~ 12 H 30 Min
The week is up so if that is all the time you had it is time to head home. If you have more time in Utah, YAY! Make sure you explore a state or national park for the day. Otherwise, here is my suggestion for the drive home.
It is a 12 and a half hour drive so I would just drive it all in one day. If you need to break it up due to timing then Baker City is a great spot almost exactly halfway between Seattle and Salt Lake City.
We ended up sleeping here on our way to Seattle to break up the drive since we had my 6 month old son with us. I looked up places to eat and left my list at home, so here they are if you want to try them as you drive through!
- Lefty’s Taphouse
- Oregon Trail Restaurant
- Sweet Wife Baking
- Geiser Grand Hotel
Lastly, the End of the Oregon Trail Museum is in Baker City, Oregon so if the kids need a place to explore maybe check that out too!
FAQ’s
How Far is Seattle from Salt Lake City? What is the Drive Time?
The quickest route, straight through without stopping, from Salt Lake City to Seattle is 829 miles and takes 12 hours and 40 minutes to drive on average with no slow downs.
Where Should I Stop Between Salt Lake City and Seattle?
There are so many places you could stop when taking a Seattle to Salt Lake City road trip or vice versa. This post highlights one possible route through Central Oregon. You could also swing out east and stop in Grand Tetons National Park or Yellowstone National Park. Alternatively, you could road trip through different cities in Idaho like Boise, Rexburg etc.
Baker City, OR is halfway between Salt Lake City and Seattle so it is a great stopping point.
Tips for Your Drive
- Before you go on your trip make sure you take your car to the mechanic and have it checked out. They will check fluids, belts and bolts and it could potentially prevent your car from breaking down and bringing your trip to an unexpected halt.
- If you are traveling on a tight budget bring your own food and drinks in the car. Eating out and buying gas station food adds up quickly. This is an easy way to save a lot of money and eat a little healthier. A cooler is one of my road trip essentials.
- Get plenty of rest, especially before longer stretches of driving, and stay hydrated. It is important to be alert on the road for your safety and those around you.
This post on tips for road tripping with babies is very helpful if you are road tripping with babies or young kids! (Coming Soon).
Seattle to Salt Lake City Road Trip
I know you are going to have a blast on your Seattle to Salt Lake City road trip! I do just want to add that this could also be a road trip from Portland is you are in that area as well.
Most road trips I take tend to be straight through drives with no stops that I use to get me to my destination quickly. It was fun taking the opportunity to drive slowly and explore the different cities and towns we drove through on the way to our destination. If you have the time I would definitely recommend doing the same!
