Road Tripping Between Seattle & Portland – 8 Stops To Turn Your Drive Into An Epic Road Trip!

We have been doing the Seattle to Portland road trip, and then back from Portland to Seattle, for so many years now that I cannot count how many times we have done it. Sometimes it is part of a longer road trip to areas that are South of Portland or into California, and sometimes we have ventured up north of Seattle. Often we just make the approximately 3-hour trip by just driving straight through. Other times we like to take our time and make the road trip part of our vacation. We have made all of these stops over the years (not all in one road trip though), so I wanted to share some ideas for others who are planning to travel this stretch of the highway.

These ideas can help you plan one stop as part of a bigger road trip – or you can pick a few and turn your travel time into part of your trip. If I want to take my time, I might pick two to three stops per trip, but if you are going to make only one stop Centralia is around the midpoint between the two cities. Recently my mom and I did a road trip like this, where we built in three stops -and the trip down was so much fun. It really did feel like part of our vacation, rather than just driving for a long stretch on travel days.

Driving directly down 1-5 is the best option for saving time on North-to-South trips or vice versa. Although it is not a scenic route compared to driving the coast or other more scenic routes, there are plenty of fun stops to make along the way if you know where to go.

More Northwest Road Trip Ideas To Check Out:

Before we get into 8 great stops along 1-5, here are a couple more road trip itineraries we have put together as well.

• If you are driving West to East, or vice versa on the 1-90, check out our list of stops to check out on a trip between Seattle and Northern Idaho here.
• Or if you want to check out the Kitsap Peninsula we share a fun road trip itinerary here too.

Driving I-5 – 8 Fun Stops To Make on a Seattle To Portland Road Trip (or from Portland to Seattle):

When we want a really scenic trip, we take an alternative route to I-5 (like up or down the coast). So for these I-5 road trip stop ideas, it was important to keep them close to the freeway. It kind of defeats the purpose for me when I am driving I-5 to make stops that take lots of extra driving time. The time you spend at each stop will affect your travel time, but these ideas should not take you too much extra time to get to or to get back onto the freeway.

The idea is not to stop at every single stop mentioned here in one trip (but you could if you wanted to really make it a road trip), as that would add quite a bit of travel time. This can act as a resource for you though for when you want to find a place or two to take a break on your trips from Seattle to Portland or from Portland to Seattle.

1) Tacoma – W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory

• How far off or I-5: Approximately 10 minutes.
• Fee: Free / Donations Accepted
  
• Where to Eat in the Area: McMenamins Elk Temple

You will need to take the 705 freeway to get here from 1-5, but altogether it is just a few miles off the freeway, and a quick and easy stop to stretch those legs.

The W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory is a fun stop to make that will not take too long and is free (donations suggested). It is a small indoor botanical garden that you can generally find free street parking out in front of. It will not take long to go through it, but it is fun to get out and stretch your legs to enjoy the gardens, without taking too much time away from your trip.

It is open year-round and is indoors – so you can visit rain or shine. You will also find it is part of the Wright Park Arboretum, and if it is a nice day out you may want to spend more time strolling through there as well.

If you would prefer a larger garden, another option is the Lakewold Garden (just over a mile off of the freeway in the Lakewood area – so a bit further south). This is a larger garden, but there is also an entrance fee for this one. We share more about visiting this garden in our Gardens in Seattle and Tacoma article. 

Recommendation on Where to Eat In this Area – McMenamins Elk Temple

If you are heading back to the freeway from the botanical conservatory, this spot sits right next to the entrance you need to get back onto the freeway. That means it is a great spot to grab a bite to eat on your trip, and it would be hard to get any closer to jumping back on the freeway to finish your road trip.

This location is the 7-story, old Elks temple on the hill in downtown Tacoma, restored a few years ago into the McMenamins Elks Temple location. It now houses 6 restaurants/bars (& one hidden bar). It would make a great stop for any trip in this area.

2) Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

• How far off or I-5: Approximately 5 minutes.
• Fee: The daily entrance fee is $3.00 per four adults and children under 16 years are admitted free
  
• Where to Eat in the Area: Nisqually Bar & Grill

The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is located just off of I-5 and offers approximately 4 miles of round-trip trails that will lead you through all the refuge habitats. You can go as far as you want, making this a great option for short stops or longer ones.

It is also a great spot for nature lovers, as you are bound to see some wildlife (birds at the very least) and there are nice boardwalks for many of the paths. I love to stop here when it is not raining especially when the kids needed to get some wiggles out when they were younger.

If you want to venture a little further to explore Mt Rainier, we share more about the Nisqually entrance here too (this will take quite a bit more time but can be a popular destination).

Recommendation on Where to Eat In this Area – Nisqually Bar & Grill

The Nisqually Bar and Grill is about a 5-minute drive from the Wildlife Refuge and offers your standard pub food, plus it is conveniently situated near 1-5, so it has easy access back onto the freeway. It is family-friendly and has fun “kitschy” decor that makes this stop memorable. If you want a spot with lots of different options on the menu, and a fun/memorable environment, this could be the option for you.

Plus, if you are traveling with a group of adults and you’re not driving, these guys make a bloody mary in a pitcher.

3) Tumwater Falls

• How far off or I-5 – Approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
• Fee: Free 
  
• Where to Eat in the Area – Falls Terrace is our general recommendation here, but it is temporarily closed. Let us know if you have another favorite spot in the area.

How often can you find a real waterfall right off of the freeway, when you are driving in urban areas? This spot is very unusual for that reason and a great way to get a scenic stop in when traveling down a pretty un-scenic stretch of I-5. Another nice thing is that there are no parking fees here. The Tumwater Falls Park is 15 acres and runs right along the Deschutes River & there is a half-mile walking path where you can check out several falls including the Upper Falls, Middle Falls & the main Tumwater Falls. You can find out more about it here.

Recommendation on Where to Eat In this Area –

Falls Terrace is temporarily closed, but this was my usual recommendation for this area, so keep your eyes on it to see if it reopens. I have also heard good things about Jean-Pierre’s Three16 if you are looking for a nice restaurant (it is a French restaurant and fine dining), or this stop is around 10 minutes from Olympia if you want to stop at one of the recommendations we share for there below.

Jen’s daughter did the page program for teens at the Capital. It is longer than a quick stop, but you can learn more about it here if interested. 

4) Washington State Capital 

• How far off or I-5 – Approximately 10 minutes.
• Fee: Many places are free to visit, and walking around outdoors is free. 
  
• Where to Eat in the Area: Food Truck Plaza or Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar

If you are interested in history or government, this can be a fun stop. You can make it a shorter stop, or a longer stop, depending on what you want to see and do. For example, you could plan a free 50-minute tour of the Legislative Building (aka the Capital Building) or just walk around and see the sites outdoors for a shorter stop.

Recommendation on Where to Eat In this Area

Food Truck Plaza – If you are looking for variety, as well as good prices, the Food Truck Plaza in downtown Olympia can make for a fun place to grab a bite to eat. You can also check this page here for more food truck offerings in the area (there are around 20 in this area).

Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar If you want a nice restaurant, this is a popular spot to check out. It is focused on oysters, but they have quite an extensive menu with many other options as well (many are seafood, but there are also burgers and salads). If you are looking for the best quality food, this spot is going to be one of the best on the list here in terms of offering great food, but it will also cost you a little more. You will need to pay for parking here, but there is paid street parking near the restaurant. They do also offer a happy hour option if you happen to be stopping during those times, which can save you a little money too.

5) Great Wolf Lodge

• How far off of I-5: Approximately 5 to 7 minutes, depending on time at lights. 
• Fee: There is no fee to enter the resort, but there is a parking fee now if you are there for more than 30 minutes ($15 per day). 
  
• Where to Eat in the Area: Great Wolf Lodge has a handful of spots you can eat inside of the resort. However, my favorite spot is the Burger Claim restaurant in the parking lot next door. The bonus is that their parking is free too. 

We have stopped at the Great Wolf Lodge many times on a road trip. It used to be my favorite spot to stop prior to Great Wolf Lodge implementing a parking fee for their lots. You cannot access the waterpark without a reservation (you can purchase Great Wolf Lodge Day Passes if you want to make it a longer stop), but you can enjoy many of the other amenities, Let the kids play in the arcade, or enjoy the mirror maze, ropes course, mining for gold and making a build a bear. All of these activities have a fee, so the arcade is probably the most affordable option. That or just stop for a bite to eat and walk around the resort.

New bar and restaurant areas have been added or remodeled in the recent Great Wolf Lodge update!

Recommendation on Where to Eat In this Area – Burger Claim

You can of course eat at one of the newly remodeled restaurants in Great Wolf Lodge, which would be lots of fun if you want to be in the middle of the lodge ambiance. However, another idea is to go over to Burger Claim in the parking lot next to Great Wolf Lodge (walking distance from the lodge).

I prefer Burger Claim for the quality of their food and their prices. They offer great burgers, fresh-cut fries and sweet potato fries, good salads, and more, and it is generally more affordable than the Great Wolf Lodge restaurants. Plus, you will be parked in their free parking lot (saving you a $15 parking fee). You can then walk over to GWL after your meal and let the kids enjoy the arcade for a bit to get some of that time in too.

6) Centralia Outlet Mall Shops

• How far off or I-5: A few minutes (right off the freeway)
• Fee: No Fee
  
• Where to Eat in the Area: La Tarasca or

If you do not live near an outlet mall, this can be a fun stop to make for some shopping. The most popular store here for my kids is always the Nike Outlet, but you will find more options like Coach, Under Armor, Columbia, and my favorite stop in the area – the Bath & Body Works outlet store.

Now, to be honest, we live near a few of the outlet malls, so we can visit other options without too much effort – and the Centralia one is one of my least favorites. However, if you do not live near another outlet mall option, and especially if you like the discounted Nike merchandise and do not live near one of these stores, this might be a fun stop for your family.

Recommendation on Where to Eat In this Area – La Tarasca Mexican

La Tarasca has been around for many years now, and has been a recommended stop by many people I have talked to throughout the years if you like Mexican food. It has a colorful and fun interior, and I like to order the mole when we stop in, but there are lots of options including tamales, chile rellenos and so much more. I never skip the flan when we stop here either!

7) Kalama’s Waterfront or Downtown Area

• How far off or I-5: Approximately 5 minutes
• Fee: No fee, free parking
  
• Where to Eat in the Area: McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge or one of the food trucks over at the Mountain Timber Market.

Kalama is a great area to get off of I-5 for many reasons. One big reason is that everything is close to I-5, so it provides easy on and off access for the freeway. Plus, it has a waterfront, more than one option of fun places to eat, and beautiful waterfront parks to relax at or take walks along.

Recommendation on Where to Eat In this Area: 

McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge

Eat at the Lodge: There are a couple of spots to dine at the McMinnville Lodge. The first floor has a main dining area with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a lounge area (open during specific hours). There is also a 4th-floor lounge, where you can be seated outdoors with sweeping water views (my favorite spot and where we sit if the weather is nice).

Mountain Timbers Market and Waterfront

Another great waterfront stop off of I-5 in Kalama is the Mountain Timber Market next door to the McMenamins Lodge (a short walk away) with playgrounds, walking paths, and a market full of sweet treats, a few dining options, and the world’s once largest single cedar tree totem pole at the length of 140′ laying horizontally inside. It’s a great place for families to stop for a couple of hours or a quick break. it is a short walk away from the lodge so it is easy to visit both, and a fun way to move your legs after being in the car. You will also find things like a Birria Food Truck, and other food trucks, ice cream, coffee, and more.

Downtown Kalama 

On just the other side of the freeway, you will also find things like antique malls and burger shops in the downtown Kamala area.

8) Vancouver Waterfront

• How far off of I-5: Approximately 5 minutes
• Fee: No fee
  
• Where to Eat in the Area: lots of options here.

The Vancouver waterfront offers many restaurant options, as well as walking paths (and waterplay areas for the kids in the summer), and beach areas. It sits right next to Portland, so it can be an alternative option to stopping in Portland if you are continuing on further south down the interstate highway. It is a great spot sitting riverside, with miles of walkways, multiple restaurants, and shops to explore.

Recommendation on Where to Eat In this Area (Find Lots of Options Here)

There are a number of spots to eat, and many favorites – like WildFin, El Gaucho, and 13 Coins. Beaches can be a nice spot if you want to sit outside in warmer weather, and it is more affordable than some of the nicer restaurants in this area, or the Cove is popular for finer dining. There are also a number of food trucks in the area if you want something more affordable.

Road Tripping Between Seattle & Portland – 8 Stops To Turn Your Drive Into An Epic Road Trip! is a post from Thrifty NW Mom