When we started planning our U.S. West Coast itinerary, it was a little overwhelming… the West Coast is huge! From the Pacific Northwest to Southern California, there are enough national parks, scenic drives, beaches, cities, and outdoor adventures to fill months of travel. The biggest challenge we had was deciding what to leave out.
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For our family of five (including three kids ages 6 to 11), we knew we wanted to end our West Coast road trip at Disneyland. From there, we worked backward to create a route that balanced spectacular natural scenery (for Mom and Dad) with plenty of activities that would keep the kids engaged and excited as well. And we wanted to see as much as possible, since we figured this might be the only time we’d have two full weeks to explore the West Coast.
Not everything went according to plan, but we rolled with the changes and ended up having one awesome family vacation that we still talk about years later.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly road trip that combines beautiful outdoor adventure with kid-friendly attractions, this 2-week US West Coast itinerary is worth copying!
Below is a quick glance at our destinations and where we spent the night. Keep reading to get a detailed description of each day.
| Day | Destination | Overnight |
| 1 | Arrive in Portland | Portland |
| 2 | Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood | Mount Hood |
| 3 | Mount Hood and Rafting on the Deschutes River | Mount Hood |
| 4 | Deschutes National Forest and Crater Lake | Crater Lake |
| 5 | Crater Lake to Lake Tahoe | Lake Tahoe |
| 6 | Lake Tahoe | Lake Tahoe |
| 7 | Lake Tahoe | Lake Tahoe |
| 8 | Lake Tahoe to San Francisco | San Francisco |
| 9 | Redwoods, Monterey, and Scenic Highway 1 | Monterey |
| 10 | Monterey to Yosemite | Yosemite |
| 11 | Yosemite | Yosemite |
| 12 | Yosemite to Disneyland | Anaheim |
| 13 | Disneyland | Anaheim |
| 14 | Disneyland and Crystal Cove State Park | Los Angeles |
| 15 | Fly Home | — |
Before You Hit the Road
Here are a few planning tips that helped us on our trip:
Fly into one city and out of another. Flying into Portland and home from Los Angeles let us cover a lot of ground without wasting time backtracking.
Plan to do laundry. We purposely booked a vacation rental with a washer and dryer halfway through the trip so we could pack lighter and wash clothes instead of bringing enough for two weeks.
Mix busy days with slower ones. We switched off long sightseeing days with places like Lake Tahoe where we could relax by the pool, cook dinner, and recharge.
Don’t try to see everything. We knew we couldn’t fit the entire West Coast into one trip, so we focused on the destinations that interested our family most instead of trying to check every famous place off the list.
Expect plans to change. Some of our original plans changed because of wildfire smoke and weather, but those changes ended up leading to some of our favorite memories.
Don’t underestimate the driving. Some days involved six or more hours in the car, so we intentionally built in longer stays where we could slow down and relax.
PORTLAND (Day 1)
Our US West Coast itinerary begins in Portland, but just as a launching point for our adventure – we didn’t take time to explore this city. We arrived late in the afternoon, picked up our rental car, and spent the evening stocking up on supplies before hitting the road the next morning.
Drive Time: ~30 minutes from the airport to downtown
Overnight: Portland
Quick Tip: If you’re taking a long road trip, buy an inexpensive cooler and groceries on Day 1. Packing picnic lunches and drinks saved us both time and money throughout the trip.
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE and MOUNT HOOD (Days 2-3)
Day 2: Columbia River Gorge
After breakfast we began one of the most scenic drives in Oregon – driving through the Columbia River Gorge. The route winds past dramatic cliffs, overlooks, and some of the state’s most impressive waterfalls.
Three waterfalls are especially worth stopping for: Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Multnomah Falls. We packed a picnic lunch to enjoy on the way, and then made a quick detour across the river into Washington for some ice cream before continuing on to Mount Hood.
That evening we checked into Timberline Lodge, a historic (and slightly dated) alpine lodge near the base of Mount Hood with incredible mountain views. We stayed in a spacious room with bunk beds that the kids loved. While the lodge’s dining options weren’t great, relaxing in the pool after a full day of sightseeing was the perfect way to end the day.
Drive Time: ~2.5 to 3 hours
Overnight: Mount Hood (Timberline Lodge)
Quick Tip: When traveling with kids, think about their interests and balance those with the sightseeing. We purposely booked hotels with pools whenever possible, because our kids love to swim. After long days sightseeing, an hour of swimming gave the kids something to look forward to, and gave us parents a chance to relax.
Day 3: Mount Hood and Deschutes River Rafting
The Timberline Lodge sits on beautiful property, so this morning we took a short and easy hike from the lodge for great views of Mount Hood. A ski lift can take you higher to get even better views, but not all of us like heights, so we opted not to do that.
After lunch we drove an hour east to Maupin for a half-day River Drifters rafting adventure on the Deschutes River. The conditions couldn’t have been better – the temperature outside was near 100 degrees F, which made the 60 degree water feel refreshing!
The whole experience – floating, paddling, and traversing several Class I-III rapids – would have been awesome… except that our raft flipped while going through one of the rapids (note: this isn’t common, our raft was the only one to flip that day). Everyone was okay, but some of us were a little shook up after that, and it took some time to fully relax again.
After rafting we enjoyed much-needed milkshakes at a small diner in Maupin before heading back to Timberline Lodge.
Drive Time: ~2.5 hours roundtrip to Maupin
Overnight: Mount Hood (Timberline Lodge)
Quick Tip: Our raft flipping reminded us how important it is to take these adventures seriously. Fortunately, we all paid attention to the safety talk before getting in the raft so we (even our 6-year-old) knew what to do if the raft should flip.
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK (Days 4-5)
Day 4: Deschutes National Forest and Crater Lake
We had a long 4.5-hour drive to Crater Lake National Park today. We broke up the trip with a stop in the Deschutes National Forest (just south of Bend, Oregon) to visit the Lava River Cave and Big Obsidian Flow.
Both were big hits with our kids, especially when we turned off our flashlights to experience total darkness in the Lava River Cave.
Being fans of the Minecraft video game, they already knew what obsidian was which made Big Obsidian Flow a must-see for them.
When we arrived at Crater Lake in the late afternoon, we were disappointed to learn that smoke from nearby forest fires had settled in and was blocking views of the lake. We still drove the rim but could barely see the lake at all!
We checked into our Mazama Village cabin (which was more like a hotel room) inside Crater Lake National Park and grabbed dinner at the nearby Annie Creek restaurant while deciding what to do tomorrow given the smoke over Crater Lake…
Drive Time: ~4.5 hours
Overnight: Crater Lake
Quick Tip: If your kids are obsessed with Minecraft like ours were, don’t skip Big Obsidian Flow. Seeing real obsidian made the stop fun and memorable.
Day 5: Cleetwood Cove Trail and Drive to Lake Tahoe
Despite the smoke, we woke up early and hiked the steep Cleetwood Cove Trail (the only trail that leads from the rim down to the shores of Crater Lake). Once we got below most of the smoke, part of the lake finally came into view. It’s famous blue water was still visible, but with all the haze, the views were not nearly as breathtaking as we had hoped for.
The climb back up was much more challenging, especially for our young daughter, but after making several rest stops, we finally made it to the top.
Because of the hazy conditions, we canceled our Wizard Island boat tour and decided to leave a day early for Lake Tahoe instead. Fortunately, we were able to cancel the last night of our Crater Lake cabin and check into our Lake Tahoe Airbnb a day early.
The drive to our Airbnb on the south side of Lake Tahoe in Zephyr Cove, Nevada was long – 6.5 hours – but we saw some great views of Lake Tahoe on the way into town. After settling in, we cooked dinner while the kids enjoyed a refreshing swim in the pool.
Missing out on seeing Crater Lake at its best and bluest was disappointing, but travel rarely goes exactly according to plan. We didn’t know it at the time, but good times lie ahead for us in Lake Tahoe…
Drive Time: ~6.5 hours
Overnight: Lake Tahoe (Zephyr Cove, NV)
Quick Tip: Summer wildfires can affect visibility through the West. Build a little flexibility into your itinerary so you can adjust if weather or smoke changes your plans.
LAKE TAHOE (Days 6-7)
Day 6: Heavenly Gondola and Nevada Beach
Having two full days to relax in Lake Tahoe was a welcome change of pace after all the driving we had done the previous two days. Our Airbnb was in a great location in Zephyr Cove in a complex that included a swimming pool, hot tub, and recreation room. While we were disappointed to leave Crater Lake a day early, having that extra day in Lake Tahoe ended up being a blessing in the end.
Day 6 started with a gondola ride to the top of Heavenly Mountain for incredible panoramic views. We all enjoyed that experience, and a highlight was finding a climbing wall, lawn games, and a park at the top for the kids.
After riding the gondola back down and grabbing lunch, we headed to Nevada beach on Lake Tahoe for a cold, but beautiful and memorable, dip in the water.
We made time for more swimming back at our condo pool and finished the night with a home-cooked meal and board games.
Drive Time: <1 hour (just driving around town)
Overnight: Lake Tahoe (Zephyr Cove, NV)
Quick Tip: Sometime during your trip, stay in a vacation rental with plenty of room to cook dinner, stay in, and enjoy a relaxing evening together. It saves money and gives everyone a chance to recharge before the next adventure.
Day 7: Biking in Lake Tahoe
Our family likes to rent bikes on vacation as a fun and active way to see the sights. Today, we rented bikes from Anderson’s Bicycle Rental in South Lake Tahoe and biked along the National Forest Bike Trail. It’s paved, mostly level, and separated from cars making it a great trail for families. We rode through mostly forested areas before arriving at Baldwin Beach and looping back around.
Later that day we relaxed at the condo pool, played games in the rec room, and once again had a home-cooked meal in our condo. A late-night ice cream run rounded out the day.
Drive Time: <1 hour (just driving around town)
Overnight: Lake Tahoe (Zephyr Cove, NV)
Quick Tip: A late night ice cream treat is always a good idea!
SAN FRANCISCO (Day 8)
We got an early start today as we had a 3.5-hour drive to San Francisco. After arriving around lunchtime, we spent the afternoon exploring Fisherman’s Wharf, watching the famous sea lions, souvenir shopping, and making yet another ice cream stop before touring Alcatraz.
If there’s one attraction making time for in San Francisco, it’s Alcatraz! The ferry ride across the bay, the fascinating history of the prison, and the excellent audio tour combined to create one phenomenal experience for the whole family.
After Alcatraz we drove by the famously steep Lombard Street and then over the Golden Gate Bridge where we stopped for some great family photos.
From there, it was on to our hotel in San Mateo, with a stop at In-N-Out Burger – a definite hit with the kids. The evening ended with a relaxing swim in the illuminated outdoor pool.
We didn’t have much time in San Francisco, but with careful planning, we managed to have a lot of fun seeing many of the city’s iconic sights without being too rushed.
Drive Time: ~5 hours
Overnight: San Francisco (San Mateo)
Quick Tips:
1) You can see much of San Francisco in a short amount of time, but it helps to plan ahead.
2) Reserve the Alcatraz ferry well in advance so you don’t miss out – it’s worth your time and money!
3) Even if the Golden Gate Bridge looks covered in fog from across town, continue making your way to it. The conditions got clearer the nearer we got to it.
MONTEREY, the REDWOODS, and HIGHWAY 1 (Day 9)
From San Francisco we headed south to Monterey. Along the way we made a slight detour to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and walked the easy Redwood Grove Loop Trail. If you’re traveling with children, don’t skip this stop. The trail is short, easy, and incredibly rewarding. Within minutes you’re standing among giant redwood trees that make everyone feel tiny. It was one of the easiest and most family-friendly hikes of our entire trip. The photos we took here remain some of our favorites.
By the time we arrived in Monterrey it had started drizzling, so we decided to check out Monterey Bay Aquarium. While it didn’t quite live up to our expectations given its reputation, it was still a worthwhile visit and helped us stay dry.
Later that afternoon we began the drive down scenic Highway 1 toward Big Sur, but the weather was still overcast and rainy. Realizing we wouldn’t get the iconic coastal views we had hoped for, we turned around and went back to Monterey and capped off our day with a relaxing dinner downtown.
Drive Time: ~3 hours
Overnight: Monterey
Quick Tip: Don’t miss the Redwood Grove Loop Trail at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. It’s short, easy, and one of the most rewarding hikes for not that much effort.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK (Days 10-11)
Day 10: Giant Sequoias and Yosemite Valley
After checking out of our Monterey hotel, we hit the road towards Yosemite National Park, stopping for a picnic lunch at a park in the small town of Groveland before entering the northwest side of Yosemite through the Big Oak Flat entrance.
Before reaching Yosemite Valley, be sure to stop at Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. The hike is a bit of workout, especially for younger kids, but seeing these towering trees up close is well worth the effort. One of the highlights is walking through the famous tunnel tree.
That evening was spent in a tent cabin in Yosemite Valley, one of our favorite lodging choices of the trip. We really enjoyed the fun of camping without having to pitch a tent or sleep on the ground.
After dinner at one of the Yosemite Valley restaurants, a short drive led to beautiful evening views of Half Dome, followed by an amazing Walking Starry Skies program in Yosemite Valley offered by the National Park Service.
Drive Time: ~5 hours
Overnight: Yosemite
Quick Tip: Stay inside Yosemite National Park if your budget allows. Being able to enjoy sunrise, sunset, and evening programs without driving in and out was super convenient.
Day 11: Biking Yosemite Valley
One of the best decisions we made during our trip was renting bikes to explore Yosemite Valley. We picked them up in the morning, including a tandem bike so our 6-year-old wouldn’t have to bike herself, and spent the day pedaling through some of the valley’s most beautiful scenery.
Along the way we stopped at Vernal Fall for a hike, visited Swinging Bridge to wade and skip rocks in the Merced River, and cooled off at a small beach near Housekeeping Camp where we all took the plunge into the icy water.
Exploring Yosemite by bike gave us the freedom to move at our own pace and ended up being one of the most fun and memorable days of the entire trip.
Later in the day we also took the short hike to Bridalveil Fall and drove to Tunnel View for some amazing panoramic photos. After dinner we watched the sun set near Half Dome again.
Drive Time: ~ 30 minutes (roundtrip to Tunnel View)
Overnight: Yosemite
Quick Tip: Renting bikes really enhanced our Yosemite visit… it let us cover more ground while still stopping wherever we wanted.
DISNEYLAND (Days 12-13)
Day 12: Yosemite to Disneyland
We got an early start today as we had a long 6-hour drive ahead of us… but since the destination was Disneyland, the kids didn’t have any problems waking up early! On our way, we stopped at another In-and-Out Burger for lunch before arriving at our Disneyland hotel around 1:30pm. With temperatures soaring into the 90’s, we spent the afternoon swimming in our hotel waterpark before heading into the Disneyland California Adventure park that evening.
Drive Time: ~6 hours
Overnight: Anaheim
Quick Tip: If you don’t have one where you live, introduce your family to the fast food chain In-N-Out Burger. It quickly became a family favorite!
Day 13: A Full Day at Disneyland
The next day we split our time between the two Disneyland parks (California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park), with an afternoon break back at our hotel waterpark. It was a fantastic (but exhausting) day, and our kids absolutely loved it.
Drive Time: 0 hours
Overnight: Anaheim
Quick Tip: Taking a midday break back at the hotel made the long park day much more enjoyable for everyone.
CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK and LOS ANGELES (Day 14)
We spent the morning back in the Disneyland parks before checking out and heading to Los Angeles for our final night. On the way we took a short detour to Crystal Cove State Park, which a friend had recommended to us for a great place to watch the sunset.
The ocean views were spectacular, and our kids loved playing in the surf and exploring the shoreline. The waves were strong enough that we parents stayed on high alert, but everyone had a fantastic time. And we caught a beautiful sunset after having a burger and milkshake at the nearby Crystal Cove Shake Shack.
Crystal Cove was a nice relaxing way to end our trip, especially after a few busy days at Disneyland. That evening we drove to Los Angeles and stayed near LAX to make our departure the next morning easy and stress-free.
Drive Time: ~1.5 hours
Overnight: Los Angeles
Quick Tip: Don’t miss the sunset at Crystal Cove – it was stunning and made the perfect final stop. After two busy Disneyland days, it was exactly the relaxing ending we needed before flying home.
Looking Back on Our West Coast Road Trip
To this day, we love flipping through our scrapbook from this trip because it captures so many amazing family memories. Not just the major landmarks, but all the smaller moments too, like all the frigid water we swam in (at the Deschutes River, Yosemite and Lake Tahoe) and all the ice cream stops we made (too many to list!).
Not everything went according to plan… smoke obscured much of Crater Lake, our raft flipped on the Deschutes River, and rainy weather prevented us from fully experiencing the scenic Highway 1 drive towards Big Sur. But those setbacks didn’t detract from the trip.
Our biggest challenge planning this US West Coast itinerary was deciding how much ground to cover. For our family, this route struck the right balance to keep Mom and Dad happy, while still mixing in plenty of activities that our kids loved. Yes, there was a lot of driving. But we knew that going in, and for us it was worth it to experience so many different parts of the West Coast in a relatively short amount of time.
As you plan your own West Coast road trip itinerary, think carefully about the travel pace that’s right for your family and prioritize the destinations and experiences that matter most to you. Don’t be afraid to adjust your plans when things don’t go perfectly, because sometimes the unexpected moments end up becoming the memories you talk about for years afterward.
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