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PNW Road Trip Masterlist

One of the best things about living in Idaho is the easy access to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, the PNW is known for our amazing forests, high mountains, and the phenomenal coastline; and it’s all available within driving distance. Road trips are awesome because they’re so customizable- if you don’t want to hit a certain spot, you can just drive on past it. But sometimes people don’t know where to start, so we’ve compiled a beginners list of places to hit in the PNW, starting in Boise. Tallying at about 36 hours driving time, you get a taste of each fantastic aspect of the PNW.Screen_Shot_2019-07-10_at_10.54.52_AM.png

Start In Boise 

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This is assuming you start in Boise- the home base and where you’ll end up at the end of your trip. The cool part about road trips is that you can start at any one of the spots, but since it’s a semi- circular design, you’ll still hit any of the destinations you choose. If this isn’t your starting point, but a destination along the way, we highly encourage you to explore our amazing city.

 

Mt Hood National Forest

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Only about 60 miles from Portland, Mt Hood is a must see. Whether you just go to sight see, or take the opportunity to hike, Mt Hood National Forest extends south from the phenomenal Columbia River Gorge. It’s honestly two attractions in one. The national attractions is one of the most visited National Forest in the US, and it’s easy to see why! There are over 150 developed recreation sites to choose from, so make sure this is a part of your trip.

 

Portland

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Portland is a must see in the PNW. The beauty, culture, and stunning imagery of the city guarantees an amazing leg of your trip. There’s so much to see and do in Portland that it’s definitely too much to write here, so visit www.travelportland.com to plan our your trip.

 

Oregon Coast- Seaside Oregon

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The Oregon coast is a must see part of your leg in Oregon. There are amazing towns up and down the coast, but for the purpose of this itinerary, we chose Seaside, Oregon. However, we highly recommend any of the Oregon coastal towns. Seaside is amazing because it’s so varied in activities. And everything is walkable. Go to www.seasideor.com to plan out your visit.

 

Greater Seattle Area

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Seattle is like Portland in that there is so much to do there, that we couldn’t possibly write it all here. Suffice to say, Seattle and the surrounding areas hold some of the most amazing sightseeing opportunities, arts & culture events, food, all while being encircled by unmatched natural beauty. Go to www.visitseattle.org to learn more about the city.

 

Mt Rainier National Forest

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Mt. Rainier is an icon in the Washington landscape. The park boasts amazing camping, hiking, and climbing for all levels and ages. An active volcano, Mt Rainier is the most glaciated peak  in the contiguous US, spawning five major rivers.

 

Ceour d’Alene

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A stopover in Idaho, Coeur d’Alene is a fan- favorite of most Idahoans. The weather makes most outdoor sports feasible at some point through the year. From the lake, to the amusement park, to the stunning outdoor beauty around the city, CDA is a must see on any trip through the panhandle of Idaho.

 

Yellowstone

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Yellowstone National Park is arguably the most well known National Park in the US, and we all know why. There are 12 park campgrounds to choose from, so an overnight stay (or two) wouldn’t be remiss. You can explore the thermal basins, hike nearly 1000 miles of trails, fish and boat, or ski and snowshoe in the winter.

 

Sawtooth National Forest

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At the heart of Idaho is the Sawtooth National Forest, and is considered a working/producing forest. There are a number of places to visit from the heart of the forest, including Sun Valley, Twin Falls and Redfish Lake. There’s a whopping 81 campgrounds in the forest that houses trails, fishing, ski areas, and space for whitewater boating.

 

Back home to Boise

You could always continue your road trip and head west to McCall, or back north to explore Montana. But if you choose to head back to your starting point, it’s back to Boise you go!