Overview

The Pacific Coast highway is the ultimate west coast road trip. The beautiful thing about taking your holiday along the Pacific Ocean is the freedom to stop and take in the ocean breeze whenever your heart desires. Some of our favourite places to stop along this journey are the Redwood Forest, Cannon Beach, Mendocino and Big Sur. Leisurely make your way down the coast and return to Vancouver via an interstate highway for a speedier trip back.
Duration
21 DAYS
Distance
4646km / 2887mi
Region
British Columbia

Route - 4646 km / 2887 mi

Day Location Distance Duration
01 Vancouver, BC to Seattle, Washington 229 km / 142 mi Approx. 2 hours 25 minutes
02 Seattle, Washington to Pacific City, Oregon 434 km / 270 mi Approx. 5 hours 40 minutes
03 --
04 Pacific City, Oregon to Gold Beach, Oregon 455 km / 283 mi Approx. 5 hours 40 minutes
05 --
06 Gold Beach, Oregon to Trinidad, California 183 km / 114 mi Approx. 2 hours 15 minutes
07 --
08 Trinidad, California to Mendocino, California 267 km / 166 mi Approx. 3 hours 25 minutes
09 --
10 Mendocino, California to Point Reyes, California 243 km / 151 mi Approx. 4 hours 20 minutes
11 --
12 Point Reyes, California to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California 323 km / 201 mi Approx. 4 hours 20 minutes
13 --
14 --
15 Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California to Santa Barbara, California 436 km / 271 mi Approx. 4 hours 35 minutes
16 --
17 Santa Barbara, California to Sacramento, California 624 km / 388 mi Approx. 6 hours 15 minutes
18 Sacramento, California to Medford, Oregon 495 km / 308 mi Approx. 5 hours 15 minutes
19 Medford, Oregon to Portland, Oregon 439 km / 273 mi Approx. 5 hours 40 minutes
20 --
21 Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, BC 508 km / 316 mi Approx. 5 hours 10 minutes
Gum wall, Pike Place Market, Seattle
Day 1

Vancouver, BC to Seattle, Washington

Heading south on BC-99 towards the United States border, you’ll begin your west coast holiday with your first stop, via the I-5, Seattle, Washington.
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Cannon Beach
Day 2 - 3

Seattle, Washington to Pacific City, Oregon

You’re heading seaside today. Take the I-5 to Highway 30 via Astoria so you can stop in at Cannon Beach and travel the coast to today’s destination, Pacific City, Oregon.
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Coast Highway, Orgegon
Day 4 - 5

Pacific City, Oregon to Gold Beach, Oregon

Enjoy your drive along the Oregon Coast Highway to Gold Beach on today’s leg of your holiday.
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Tall towering trees, Redwood National Park
Day 6 - 7

Gold Beach, Oregon to Trinidad, California

Today’s drive will take you from coastal beauty into the world-renowned Redwood National Park in northern California.
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Glass Beach, MacKerricher State Park
Day 8 - 9

Trinidad, California to Mendocino, California

Be spellbound by your first stop along today’s drive.  Eureka is a charming seaport town with loads to do and see. Hopping back on the road, you’ll be travelling slightly inland before reaching the coast again.
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Salt Point State Park
Day 10 - 11

Mendocino, California to Point Reyes, California

No doubt you’ve already snapped one thousand photos – so hopefully you still have room on your Sim card for Point Reyes.
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Bench by the Sea, Carmel
Day 12 - 14

Point Reyes, California to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California

Following CA-1 and Panoramic Highway to US-101, you’re on your way to magical Big Sur today.
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Golden Shore, Santa Barbara
Day 15 - 16

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California to Santa Barbara, California

You’ll be arriving in the city of Santa Barbara today, where dramatic mountains meet coastal bliss.
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Golden Gate Drawbridge, Sacramento
Day 17

Santa Barbara, California to Sacramento, California

It’s time to head north back to Vancouver - your first stop is Sacramento, the capital city of California.
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Mount Shasta
Day 18

Sacramento, California to Medford, Oregon

Staying on the I-5, you’ll be leaving California and arriving back in Oregon - driving through the gorgeous Shasta-Trinity National Forest and beside Mount Shasta, a potentially active volcano.
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Burnside Bridge, Williamette River, Portland
Day 19 - 20

Medford, Oregon to Portland, Oregon

Welcome to Portland, Oregon. After driving north on the I-5, you’ll arrive in Oregon’s largest and self-proclaimed weirdest city.
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Whatcom Falls, Bellingham, Washington State
Day 21

Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, BC

The last leg of your epic coastal journey takes you further north back into Canada. Staying on the I-5, you’ll drive by Seattle, through Bellingham before crossing the border into British Columbia.
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Trip Details

Heading south on BC-99 toward the United States border, you’ll begin your west coast holiday.

First stop, via the I-5, is Seattle. No trip to Seattle is complete without a visiting the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. While you’re at Pike Place, wander through the Post Alley by the Market Theater and check out the gum wall, which has been hosting chewing gum from visitors from all over the world since 1993.
You can also grab a cup of coffee from the very first Starbucks Coffee shop.   
Take the I-5 to Highway 30 via Astoria so you can stop in at Cannon Beach and travel the coast to today’s destination, Pacific City. Cannon Beach is known for Haystack Rock – a 235-foot sea stack where the 1980s movie, The Goonies, was filmed.

After stopping in here, head to Tillamook and visit the Tillamook Creamery for some ice cream or pick up some cheese for your cooler. Arriving at Pacific City, enjoy everything from beachcombing and bird watching to dining at a quaint deli  or a higher-end restaurant.
Enjoy your drive today along the Oregon Coast Highway to Gold Beach. Stop in Newport at the Historic Newport Bayfront and check out the sea lions on the public pier or stop in Florence and visit the Sea Lion Caves there.

Before arriving in Gold Beach, stop in Bandon at Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint and the Face Rock Creamery for a treat.

Gold Beach has some great hiking in Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor. Take in the magical Sitka Spruce rainforest and visit Turtle Rock – a rock formation that looks like a turtle, just off the highway.
Today’s drive will take you from coastal beauty into the world-renowned Redwood National Park in northern California. These handsome trees are estimated to be over 1000 years old and some have a circumference of 68 feet. Unfortunately, CanaDream RV’s are too big for the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree, but you can still visit and walk through to experience the wonder of these living giants.

After exploring the forest, you’ll head to Trinidad, a seaside city in Humboldt County perched on a rocky bluff overlooking Trinidad Bay. Enjoy spectacular views from local hiking trails and visit the lighthouses of the area.
Be spellbound by your first stop along today’s drive.  Eureka is a charming seaport town with loads to do and see.

Hopping back on the road, you’ll be travelling slightly inland before reaching the coast again. A must-stop is a Glass Beach near Fort Bragg, where there’s an abundance of sea glass as a result of garbage being dumped in the sea.

Mendocino, your final stop for today, offers spectacular beaches, peaceful hikes and incredible food and drink. You won’t be short on adventure or peace and quiet in this beautiful northern California town.
No doubt you’ve already snapped one thousand photos – so hopefully you still have room on your Sim card for this part of your holiday.

Stop in Point Arena and check out the lighthouse and museum here. The short climb to the top of the lighthouse offers incredible views you don’t want to miss out on. Another great place to stop is Salt Point State Park. Point Reyes National Seashore is a protected coastline offering a vast area of beaches, grassland hikes and pine forest walks. It’s a beautiful place to spot the migrating gray whales along the coast. Decide on where you’d like to stay – whether in Marin County or heading down to Bolinas and Stinson Beach, it’s a big area to explore and camp in.
Following CA-1 and Panoramic Highway to US-101, you’re on your way to magical Big Sur today. Stop in at Mavericks Beach and watch the surfers, or stay on the road and save your seaside pit stop for the gorgeous towns of Monterey or Carmel-By-The-Sea. Rugged mountains meet coastal bliss here. The perfect place to star-gaze,
Big Sur offers numerous state parks for hiking and camping. Enjoy and play in this magical California destination.
Before hitting the road today, check out the roads and make sure you pick the best route to get you to Santa Barbara. In 2017 Highway 1 was closed in this area because of one of the biggest mudslides in California history. While it has reopened, always check the roads online ahead of time to save any trouble along your journey.

Arriving in the city of Santa Barbara, where dramatic mountains meet coastal bliss, you can enjoy some small-city delights from organic food and local cafes to high-end boutiques.
It’s time to head north back to Vancouver. Taking Highway I-5, today’s journey will take you to Sacramento, the capital city of California. With plenty of camping options in and around the city, you can hunker down for the night before hitting the road again the next day.
Staying on the I-5, you’ll be leaving California and arriving back in Oregon - driving through the gorgeous Shasta-Trinity National Forest and beside Mount Shasta, a potentially active volcano. It’s the second-highest peak in the Cascade Mountain Range and the fifth highest in the state.

Medford, your final destination for today, is a small city in Oregon coined by Forbes as a global wine destination and home to the internationally-prized cheeses of Rogue Creamery. Treat yourself after a long day on the road! 
Welcome to Portland, Oregon. After driving north on the I-5, you’ll arrive in Oregon’s largest city. Spend some time here and take in the coffee houses, microbreweries and thriving creative scene, including art, music and theatre. Visit Distillery Row and head to the famous “Keep Portland Weird” wall, located just South of the Burnside Bridge,  to snap a photo. For book lovers, a must-stop is Powell’s Books, home to more than one million books.
The last leg of your epic coastal journey takes you further north back into Canada. Staying on the I-5, you’ll drive by Seattle, through Bellingham before crossing the border into British Columbia.

Other Itineraries in British Columbia

Duration 9 days
Okanagan Wine Tour
The Okanagan valley offers a tantalizing experience for anyone who loves fabulous wine accompanied by fine cuisine. This is a perfect opportunity to taste the global culinary infusion of locally grown products complemented with renowned Okanagan wines. With more than 150 wineries in the Okanagan region, our itinerary can only offer suggestions as to how to make the most of your RV wine tour experience. And please, no drinking and driving!
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Duration 7 days
Sea to Sky Adventure
You may be familiar with British Columbia’s Sea to Sky because it played a starring role when Vancouver was host to the 2010 Olympic Games. Known for its breathtaking views and Vancouver’s greatest backyard and playground, escape the city and explore the Coast Mountain Range in the towns of Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton.
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Duration 16 days
Southern BC to the Rockies Circle
Enjoy 16 days exploring the beauty of Western Canada from the Pacific coast, to the Rocky Mountains, to the interior of British Columbia. This tour gives you a unique taste of some of British Columbia and Alberta’s most spectacular sights.
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Duration 7 days
Sunshine Coast
British Columbia's Sunshine Coast is a rugged, secluded, marvelously laid-back area people instantly appreciate when they make the journey. It stretches from Gibsons to Lund in an approximate 180 kilometre-long collection of ocean-side villages, creating homes for unique waterside shops, friendly locals and the easygoing, coastal lifestyle.
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Duration 24 days
Totem Circle
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of snow-capped mountains, towering in glory as they reach out to embrace the sparkling expanse of the sea. Transport yourself to a place where the silence of the forest is broken by crunching snow and the occasional cry of a bald eagle. A place where the afternoon sun filters through the trees and warms your face, while your body revels in the exhilaration that is provided only by the most intense outdoor experiences.
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Duration 19 days
Vancouver to Whitehorse
Our one-way itinerary from Vancouver to Whitehorse takes you to unexpected places and encompasses two ferry rides along with the best of Canada’s spectacular outdoors. Take the road less travelled and explore the northern part of Vancouver Island where the adventure of a lifetime awaits you. Explore an unspoiled and breathtaking palette of rainforest, lakes and saltwater inlets while getting up close and personal with whales and sea wildlife. Then jump on a ferry to continue your exploration north along the Stewart and Cassiar Highways.
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Duration 10 days
Vancouver Island Experience
Enjoy ten days exploring the diverse landscape and culture of beautiful Vancouver Island. From rainforests to marshes, beaches to mountains, oceans, rivers and lakes, Vancouver Island is one of the world's premier locations for whale watching, birding and fishing. Your CanaDream RV is the perfect way to experience it all.
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Duration 12 days
Winter Sea to Sky
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of snow-capped mountains, towering in glory as they reach out to embrace the sparkling expanse of the sea. Transport yourself to a place where the silence of the forest is broken by crunching snow and the occasional cry of a bald eagle.
Learn more »
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