West Coast National Parks Road Trip: Olympic to Death Valley

Eleven National Parks line the West Coast states, from Olympic's rain forest in Washington to Death Valley's salt flats, and one drive of about 2,800 miles can link them all.

It's also a trip that lives or dies on the calendar. The north is best before the snow and the south is best after the heat, and a single month works for both ends. This post gives you that month, the route, and the days. Each park gets a short plan here, and the full days are in my guides.

West Coast National Parks Road Trip at a Glance

• Parks: Olympic, Mount Rainier, Crater Lake, Redwood, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Pinnacles, Channel Islands, Joshua Tree, and Death Valley.
• Start and finish: Seattle to Las Vegas (one way).
• Driving: about 2,800 miles one way, plus the driving inside the parks.
• Time behind the wheel: about 55 hours, spread over the trip.
• How many days: 18 at the least, 24 to 30 to enjoy it.
• Best seasons: September into October, driving south.
• Pass: the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass is the obvious buy, since the nine parks here that charge would cost far more one gate at a time. Channel Islands and Redwood charge no entrance fee.

Orientation sketch, not to scale. Check the official park maps for detail. Routes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); state lines from the U.S. Census Bureau.

How Many Days Do You Need?

I'd plan on 27 days. Here's the math: 11 parks at about 1.5 days each is 16, and there are 11 driving days between them, several of them about 5 hours. Redwood to Yosemite alone takes two days. Add it up and you're at 27 before you've used a spare day.

The 18-day version gives each park about a day, drops the Olympic coast, and leaves no room for a cancelled island boat. If that's what you have, cut parks instead. Stopping at San Francisco makes a good 12-day northern half, and a southern half from Yosemite to Las Vegas fits in about two weeks.

Which Direction to Drive It

North to south, starting around Labor Day. You'll get Olympic and Rainier before the fall rain and Crater Lake before the snow, and you'll hit Yosemite after the summer crowds. By the time you reach Joshua Tree and Death Valley in October, the heat is easing.

Fly into Seattle and out of Las Vegas. A one-way rental between two states can carry a big drop fee, so compare a few companies, or a rental that ends in the Bay Area with a new one from there. Las Vegas and Seattle both have plenty of flights.

The Route, Leg By Leg

Seattle to Olympic: About 85 Miles, 2.5 Hours With the Ferry

Take the Washington State Ferries boat from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, then Washington 305, Washington 3, and U.S. 101 west to Port Angeles. Olympic's road conditions matter here, because Hurricane Ridge Road closes for snow and ice; it was closed for icy conditions in early November 2026. From Port Angeles, U.S. 101 loops around the peninsula for about 230 miles to Aberdeen, past Lake Crescent, Forks, Kalaloch, and Quinault.

A short plan for Olympic: Start at the Port Angeles visitor center with lunch in the car, since the ridge had no food in 2026, and drive up Hurricane Ridge Road, most reliable July to mid-September. Walk the paved meadow paths and picnic there, then turn around. If the road's closed, walk to Marymere Falls at Lake Crescent instead. Full days are in my Olympic National Park guide.

Meadows on Hurricane Ridge facing the snow-streaked Olympic Mountains, in August 2014 (Olympic National Park photograph by C. Bubar; public domain). Photo: Olympic National Park (National Park Service), Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (National Park Service).

Aberdeen to Mount Rainier: About 120 Miles, 2.5 Hours

Follow U.S. 12 east to Interstate 5, then state routes to Ashford and the Nisqually Entrance. No timed-entry reservation was required in 2026. The park's road status page shows what's open, and late fall is when it matters: as of late October 2026, Sunrise Road and Stevens Canyon Road had closed for the season.

A short plan for Mount Rainier: Enter at Nisqually and drive straight to Paradise, past the waterfalls. Walk the Skyline Trail as far as Myrtle Falls and eat at the Paradise Camp Deli, usually open May through early October. Reflection Lakes, on Stevens Canyon Road, is your turnaround when it's open. Stop at Narada Falls on the way down. Full days are in my Mount Rainier National Park guide.

Mount Rainier National Park. The upper mountain and the Nisqually Glacier from Glacier Vista above Paradise in June 2015, in a photograph by Steve Redman of the National Park Service (public domain). Photo: Steve Redman (National Park Service), Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (National Park Service).

Mount Rainier to Crater Lake: About 405 Miles, 7.5 Hours

Split it at Eugene. Take Interstate 5 south through Portland, then Oregon 58 over the Cascades, U.S. 97, and Oregon 138 to the North Entrance. That entrance closes on November 1, or earlier if snow is significant, and Rim Drive closes for the season as well. When they're shut, go south to Medford and come in on Oregon 62, which stays open.

A short plan for Crater Lake: From the north, drive to Rim Village, walk the promenade, and step into the Great Hall at Crater Lake Lodge. Eat at the cafe, which stays open all year. When West Rim Drive is open, stop at Discovery Point and turn around at the Watchman Overlook. Leave by Mazama Village and Oregon 62. Full days are in my Crater Lake National Park guide.

Crater Lake National Park. Wizard Island and the caldera from the West Rim near the Lightning Springs Picnic Area, October 1, 2009 (NPS photograph). Photo: National Park Service, Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Crater Lake to Crescent City: About 190 Miles, 4.5 Hours

Oregon 62 drops to Medford, then Interstate 5 and U.S. 199 run through the Smith River canyon to the coast at Crescent City. U.S. 199 is narrow and curvy, so allow extra time in a big rig.

Crescent City to Orick on US 101: About 50 Miles, 1.5 Hours

Redwood National and State Parks have no gate and no entrance fee. Fern Canyon needs a reservation in season, and Tall Trees Grove needs a permit, so book those early if you want them.

A short plan for Redwood: Heading south, leave U.S. 101 for the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway and stop at Big Tree Wayside. Eat a packed lunch at Elk Prairie, since the parks have no restaurants. Back on U.S. 101, take Bald Hills Road (no RVs or trailers) to Lady Bird Johnson Grove, your turnaround. Full days are in my Redwood National Park guide.

A visitor among old-growth redwoods on Howland Hill Road in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, May 2014 (NPS photograph). Photo: National Park Service, Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (National Park Service).

Orick to Yosemite: About 505 Miles, 10 Hours

Take two days. U.S. 101 runs south through Eureka and Willits to Santa Rosa, about 265 miles. From there, cross to Interstate 580 and Interstate 205, then follow California 120 through Groveland to the Big Oak Flat Entrance. Yosemite didn't require a reservation to enter in 2026, though rules change from year to year, and the fee is $35 a vehicle. Tioga Road isn't part of this route, which is good, because it closes for snow each fall.

A short plan for Yosemite: Enter at Big Oak Flat and park once in the Valley, near Yosemite Falls. Walk to Lower Yosemite Fall, which can be dry by August, then cross Cook's Meadow to Sentinel Bridge. Eat in the Valley, where food is sold all year, and drive out to Tunnel View, your turnaround. Full days are in my Yosemite National Park guide.

Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel View overlook in June 2025: El Capitan at left, Half Dome far up the valley, and Bridalveil Fall on the right wall. Photo: EF5, Wikimedia Commons. CC0 (public-domain dedication).

Yosemite to Kings Canyon and Sequoia: About 185 Miles, 5 Hours

California 41 runs south to Fresno, and California 180 climbs east to Big Stump, about 155 miles. The Generals Highway then connects Grant Grove to Giant Forest, about 30 miles and an hour or more. The road down to Cedar Grove usually closes for winter; in 2026, everything in Cedar Grove Village closed after October 25. Check road conditions for both parks before you commit.

A short plan for Kings Canyon: Use the Big Stump Entrance on California 180 and walk the General Grant Tree loop. Stop at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center in Grant Grove and eat at the restaurant there. Panoramic Point, up a short road that usually stays closed from winter until late May, is your turnaround. Save Cedar Grove for a longer stay. Full days are in my Kings Canyon National Park guide.

A short plan for Sequoia: Coming from Kings Canyon on the Generals Highway, park at the General Sherman Tree's main lot off Wolverton Road and walk down the paved trail to the tree. Giant Forest has no food service, so eat what you packed, then drive to the Giant Forest Museum, your last stop before the road down. Full days are in my Sequoia National Park guide.

Sequoia to Pinnacles: About 200 Miles, 4 Hours

The Generals Highway drops steeply through switchbacks to Three Rivers, so long vehicles should read the park's driving directions first. California 198 then runs west through Visalia and Coalinga to California 25, and California 146 reaches the East Entrance. There's no road through Pinnacles, so don't aim for the west side. The drive around takes about two hours. The vehicle fee is $30, by card or mobile payment only.

A short plan for Pinnacles: Drive to the Bear Gulch Day Use Area early, since parking is scarce. Walk the 2.2-mile Moses Spring and Rim Trail loop, with a headlamp for Bear Gulch Cave if the cave is open. Picnic at Bear Gulch, then turn back at Peaks View for a look at the High Peaks. Full days are in my Pinnacles National Park guide.

Pinnacles National Park. Late-afternoon light on the High Peaks from the High Peaks Trail, March 2013 (Joe Parks, CC BY 2.0). Photo: Joe Parks, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/).

Pinnacles to Ventura: About 250 Miles, 4.5 Hours

Drop down to U.S. 101 at King City and follow it south past San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. The scenic swap is Highway 1 through Big Sur, which reopened between Carmel and Cambria on January 14, 2026, for the first time in almost three years. Caltrans warned of occasional closures after that, so check before you commit, and add a few hours.

Channel Islands has no entrance fee, but you need a boat. Island Packers sails from Ventura Harbor, and Anacapa is about an hour out. It decides by early morning whether a trip runs, so leave yourself a spare day.

A short plan for Channel Islands: Take the Island Packers boat from Ventura to Anacapa, booked ahead, with your lunch and water. Climb the ladder and about 157 stairs from the Landing Cove, stop at the small visitor center, and walk the flat figure-eight trail to Inspiration Point, your turnaround. Then picnic and head back for the boat. Full days are in my Channel Islands National Park guide.

Ventura to Joshua Tree: About 205 Miles, 4 Hours

U.S. 101 and California 134 lead across Los Angeles to Interstate 210 and Interstate 10 east, and California 62 climbs to Yucca Valley and the West Entrance. Cross Los Angeles at midday if you can.

A short plan for Joshua Tree: Enter at the West Entrance with a packed lunch, a full tank, and a gallon of water each, since the interior sells nothing. Walk the Hidden Valley loop and Barker Dam, picnic at Cap Rock, and drive to Keys View, your turnaround. On warm days, do the walks first thing. Full days are in my Joshua Tree National Park guide.

Early light on rock formations and Joshua trees along the Hidden Valley Nature Trail, April 2021 (NPS/Emily Hassell). Photo: Emily Hassell, National Park Service, Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (National Park Service).

Joshua Tree to Death Valley: About 260 Miles, 4.5 to 5 Hours

Head north to Interstate 15 at Baker, then take California 127 north and California 190 west to Furnace Creek. Fill up at Baker. Death Valley's road conditions change fast after storms. As of early November 2026, Scotty's Castle and its road stayed closed for flood recovery, and Titus Canyon's reopening was anticipated for May 2027.

A short plan for Death Valley: Come in on California 190 and get the road report at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. See Zabriskie Point, then drive 17 miles south to Badwater Basin, your turnaround. Stop at Devils Golf Course and Artists Drive on the way back (no vehicles over 25 feet), and eat at Furnace Creek. Full days are in my Death Valley National Park guide.

Death Valley to Las Vegas: About 120 Miles, 2 Hours

California 190 east climbs to Death Valley Junction, and state routes run through Pahrump to Nevada 160 and Las Vegas. That's your finish.

A Sample 27-Day Driving Schedule

This is the driving skeleton only. The park days are in the guides.

Day	Drive	Driving Time	Overnight Town
Day 1	Seattle to Port Angeles with the ferry, about 85 miles	2.5 hours	Port Angeles
Day 2	Olympic, driving from Port Angeles	Local driving	Port Angeles
Days 3 and 4	Port Angeles to Aberdeen on U.S. 101, about 230 miles	5 hours in all	Forks, then Aberdeen
Day 5	Aberdeen to Ashford, about 120 miles	2.5 hours	Ashford
Day 6	Mount Rainier, driving from Ashford	Local driving	Ashford
Day 7	Ashford to Eugene, about 260 miles	4.5 hours	Eugene
Day 8	Eugene to Crater Lake, about 145 miles	3 hours	Mazama Village or Crater Lake Lodge
Day 9	Crater Lake, driving from Mazama Village	Local driving	Mazama Village or Prospect
Day 10	Crater Lake to Crescent City, about 190 miles	4.5 hours	Crescent City
Day 11	Redwood, Crescent City to Orick, about 50 miles	1.5 hours	Orick or Arcata
Day 12	Orick to Santa Rosa, about 265 miles	5 hours	Santa Rosa
Day 13	Santa Rosa to Yosemite Valley, about 240 miles	5 hours	Yosemite Valley or Groveland
Days 14 and 15	Yosemite, staying in or near the Valley	Local driving	Yosemite Valley or Groveland
Day 16	Yosemite to Grant Grove, about 155 miles	3.5 to 4 hours	Grant Grove
Day 17	Kings Canyon, driving from Grant Grove	Local driving	Grant Grove
Day 18	Grant Grove to Giant Forest, about 30 miles	1 hour or more	Wuksachi or Three Rivers
Day 19	Sequoia to Pinnacles, about 200 miles	4 hours	Pinnacles Campground, or King City
Day 20	Pinnacles, then on to King City	Local driving	King City
Day 21	King City to Ventura, about 220 miles	4 hours	Ventura
Day 22	Channel Islands by boat from Ventura	No driving	Ventura
Day 23	Ventura to Joshua Tree, about 205 miles	4 hours	Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms
Day 24	Joshua Tree, driving from the town of Joshua Tree	Local driving	Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms
Day 25	Joshua Tree to Furnace Creek, about 260 miles	4.5 to 5 hours	Furnace Creek
Day 26	Death Valley, driving from Furnace Creek	Local driving	Furnace Creek
Day 27	Furnace Creek to Las Vegas, about 120 miles	2 hours	Fly home from Las Vegas

Where to Stay Along the Way

• Washington: Port Angeles and Forks for Olympic, with Lake Crescent Lodge, Kalaloch Lodge, and Lake Quinault Lodge inside the park or beside it. Ashford for Rainier, with the National Park Inn at Longmire and Paradise Inn in the park.
• Oregon: Crater Lake Lodge and the Cabins at Mazama Village in the park, Prospect and Fort Klamath outside it.
• Northern California: Crescent City, Klamath, and Arcata for Redwood, which has no lodges of its own.
• The Sierra: The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge, and Curry Village in Yosemite, Groveland and Mariposa outside. John Muir Lodge and the Grant Grove Cabins in Kings Canyon, Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia, Three Rivers outside.
• The south: the Pinnacles Campground or King City, Ventura for Channel Islands, Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms, and Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells for Death Valley.

Best Time of Year to Drive It

September into October is the only window that treats both ends fairly. Crater Lake's summer usually lasts through mid-September, and the North Entrance and Rim Drive are the first roads on this trip to close, so reach them early. Death Valley is still hot in early October, so go slow.

Summer is great in the north, but heat makes the desert unsafe for hiking and Bear Gulch Cave is closed from mid-May to mid-July. Winter is the reverse, with snow closures across the north and the Sierra. Spring gives you desert flowers and Yosemite's waterfalls, but Crater Lake and much of Rainier are still under snow.

Road Trip Tips for the West Coast

• Book the Channel Islands boat and your Yosemite Valley room first. Everything else can flex around them.
• Carry a card. Pinnacles takes card or mobile payment only.
• Bring chains in late fall. Mount Rainier requires tire chains to be carried from November 1 to May 1.
• Fill up before the Sierra and the desert. Treat half a tank as empty in Death Valley.
• Check Caltrans and WSDOT before each mountain leg, and each park's alerts before each stop.
• Don't try to hike in the desert heat. From May through September in Death Valley, stay near your car.

Plan Your Days Inside Each Park

This post gets you from park to park, with a short plan for each stop. The full days are what my guides are for: each one has nine itineraries for one, two, or three days at easy, moderate, and strenuous effort, each with a backup plan for bad weather or a closure, plus orientation maps, the park's history, and the animals you're likely to see. You get an EPUB and a printable PDF, so the day's plan can ride in the car with you.

• Olympic National Park: nine itineraries, 12 animals to look for, 6 maps, and 33 photographs
• Mount Rainier National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 4 maps, and 38 photographs
• Crater Lake National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 5 maps, and 33 photographs
• Redwood National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 5 maps, and 33 photographs
• Yosemite National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 7 maps, and 36 photographs
• Sequoia National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 5 maps, and 33 photographs
• Kings Canyon National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 5 maps, and 34 photographs
• Pinnacles National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 6 maps, and 32 photographs
• Channel Islands National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 5 maps, and 33 photographs
• Joshua Tree National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 6 maps, and 36 photographs
• Death Valley National Park: nine itineraries, 14 animals to look for, 6 maps, and 34 photographs

For This Route

The California National Parks Collection covers 8 of the 11 parks on this route (Redwood, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Pinnacles, Channel Islands, Joshua Tree, and Death Valley) in one download. For Olympic, Mount Rainier, and Crater Lake, add the single guides above. It also includes Lassen Volcanic, which this route doesn't reach.

Short on time at one stop? Just an Afternoon is my free four-hour plan for every U.S. National Park.

West Coast National Parks Road Trip FAQ

How long does it take to drive all the West Coast National Parks? About 27 days at a comfortable pace, or 18 at a rush. That's for the 11 parks here; Lassen and North Cascades would add several more.

Can I do this as a loop? Not sensibly. Las Vegas to Seattle is about 1,100 miles, so it's better to fly home.

Do I need any entry reservations? None of these parks required a timed entry in 2026, but rules change. Check Yosemite National Park alerts and Death Valley National Park alerts before you lock in dates, and remember that boats, permits, and some trails book separately.

What's the hardest part of the trip? Redwood to Yosemite, for the miles, and Crater Lake, for the season. If you're running late, Crater Lake is the one to watch.

More Road Trips and Park Pages

• Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia Road Trip: The Sierra Nevada Loop
• Washington National Parks Road Trip: Olympic, Rainier, and North Cascades
• Joshua Tree and Death Valley Road Trip: A Mojave Desert Drive
• Redwoods to Volcanoes Road Trip: Redwood, Lassen, and Crater Lake on One Loop

Before you go: roads, campgrounds, and visitor centers close for snow, fire, and repairs, so check current conditions on the park conditions dashboard, which shows every National Park at a glance, updated daily.

Planning a different route? See all my National Park road trips.

This is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Driving times are estimates without stops, and conditions change; check each park's current alerts before you go.