Dia duit agus fáilte – that’s Irish for hello and welcome – to this blog post featuring our PNW van life road trip. You are in for a treat if you decide to embark on your own road trip around the glorious PNW – one of my favorite parts of the world.
When you live full time in a van most of your life is a road trip! Because of Covid, all our recent adventures have been traveling in a van – and we love it. The PNW – Pacific Northwest is one of the best places in the US for a road trip – the scenery is truly stunning, there are lots of little hidden gems along the way (be sure to follow signs that catch your interest.)
Not everyone wants to or can live in a van but our PNW van life road trip below can be enjoyed by anyone with an adventurous spirit and the willingness to rent a van or RV for a few weeks to explore the great outdoors.
We love to hike, ski, cycle and be outside but the following van life road trips can be adapted for most interests and abilities so keep reading for inspiration for your next great adventure.
Table of Contents
Top tips for traveling in a van
If you already live in a van, feel free to skip this part. Otherwise, buckle up for a very quick primer on how to travel comfortably and happily in a campervan. Our tiny home on wheels has a living space of 84sqft, most of which is taken up by the bed, kitchen cabinets and bench. But we are very comfortable and contented with our small quarters and have learned a few tricks to help you adjust quickly so you can thoroughly enjoy your van life road trip.
- Pack smart and light. Don’t bring jeans or strappy sandals if you’re planning a National Park hiking extravaganza. Think multi-purpose clothing – my workout leggings serve as long johns in the winter; I have zip-off pants/shorts; shower flip flops that also work on the beach.
- Plan ahead. We are fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants travelers but when we’re heading away from civilization, we carefully plan for food. Because our fridge is small, we cannot carry two weeks worth of cold food. Instead, we create a menu based on dry staples like beans, rice, tinned veg etc… Whenever we pass through a town or by a farm stand, we stop for fresh veggies, eggs and cream.
Always fill up your gas/diesel tank when you are close to half full; better to be safe than sorry.
Keeping your water tank topped up is a good rule of thumb when traveling in a van. Gas stations often have potable water spigots. If you’re staying in formal campgrounds, use their water to fill up before heading out. Worst case scenario – use gallon bottles from the grocery store to fill your tank.
- Choose your sleeping spot ahead of time. There is nothing worse than driving around hoping to find a spot when you’re exhausted after having a fabulous day. Use apps like iOverlander and Sekr for dispersed camping suggestions.
- Set reasonable expectations. Disappointment is the result of unmet expectations and you want your van life road trip to be extraordinary, not disappointing. Here are some rules of the road to help you set those expectations:
- It will always take longer to drive than you think it will.
- No matter how many times you sweep the floor, it will be dirty.
- Put everything away properly – it will keep your tiny home feeling spacious and comfortable and make it easy to find items when you need them.
- Yes, you have a destination but a large part of the joy of traveling in a van is the detours and delightful surprises along the route – embrace the unexpected.
- Know how your van works before heading out on your epic van life road trip.
Coastal PNW van life road trip
The first trip we took in our van was in our own backyard before we began our DIY conversion (read this post for more info.) We had a blast, enjoyed the freedom to stay a little longer, explore a little slower and felt a lot more relaxed and less stressed.
Trip details
- 720 miles – begin in either Seattle, WA or Portland, OR
- 7 stops: Seattle – Olympic National Park – Cape Flattery – Pacific Beach – Cape Disappointment – Cannon Beach – Portland – Seattle
- Plan to : hike, beach walk, surf, visit cities & breweries
- Bring: rain & cool weather gear (yes, even in summer!) binoculars, walking shoes
Things to do on your PNW van life road trip
Seattle, WA
Seattle is a van-friendly city and you will find it quite easy to get a decent overnight spot in most areas of the city. You could spend a month in a city the size and diversity of Seattle and not run out of things to do. The city is famous for its aquarium, Pike’s Place Market, great theater and music.
Our three favorite neighborhoods are Greenwood, Capital Hill and Ballard – each one has great breweries, food options and places to safely park your van and sleep over night.
If you want to get outside while in Seattle, there is a ton of hiking out the I-90 corridor (east of Issaquah) and I love Discovery Park right on the Puget Sound. My service dog, Maggie the messy OES, is happiest when we take her to Magnuson dog park on Lake Washington.
Olympic National Park, WA
One of three national parks in Washington State, Olympic NP is the only temperate rain forest in North America and is home to eight Native American tribes. With gorgeous hiking trails, beaches and plenty of cultural and natural resources, you will not regret the time you spend in this beautiful PNW treasure.
It is a huge park and visiting it properly will involve lots of driving (which is not included in the total miles of the trip.) Be sure to check out the Olympic NPS site to plan your visit and make camping reservations ahead of time – dispersed camping is usually very difficult to find near national parks though you might get lucky and find a spot in Port Angeles.
Cape Flattery, WA
Situated in the northwesternmost point of the contiguous US, Cape Flattery is on the Makah Reservation and sits at the corner of the Pacific Ocean and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. And it is stunning.
You will need a permit to park at the trailhead – visit Makah.com for info.
Side note: If you’re a Twilight fan, be sure to visit Forks.
Pacific Beach, WA (or Westport if you’re a surfer)
Pacific Beach is a family favorite – we visited the first year we moved back to the US in 2004 and have gone back often since then. It is one of the widest beaches I have ever been on and you can drive on the beach though I don’t recommend it unless you have 4-wheel drive (we got stuck in our van on a beach in CA!!)
Depending on the time of year, dogs are allowed on the beach and most of them are off leash if under voice command. People are generally very friendly and you can walk for miles along the Pacific enjoying mostly the sound of waves.
There are formal campgrounds near Pacific Beach which certainly removes any stress caused by searching for dispersed camping on the few streets of the tiny town. If you want a fancy meal, check out the restaurant in the Ocean Crest, Mopclips, otherwise, plan to bring your own food.
Westport Beach, WA is southwest of Aberdeen and a great spot for surfing. We are not currently surfers (it’s on our 2023 wish list) but the crowds are a true testament to the great waves and community in this tiny town. It is quite easy to find dispersed (free) camping in Westport.
We’ve enjoyed several delicious seafood meals in the collection of “downtown” restaurants after a refreshing (read blustery winds!!) walk along the ocean.
Cape Disappointment, WA
We discovered this lovely spot in 2020 and have been back a few times since. It is a state park and you will need a WA Discover Pass to visit. The park has several great hiking trails and hidden beaches, the campgrounds are quite lovely and offer no-reservation/same day spots.
The town of Long Beach is just up the road from Cape Disappointment State Park and we found plenty of dispersed camping options close to the beach. The mostly-paved Lewis & Clark Discovery Trail runs through Cape Disappointment State Park to Long Beach – a great spot for some cycling. There is a decent-sized grocery store in Long Beach to replenish your food stocks.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
We are not huge fans of tourist hot spots, especially when they are not particularly friendly to van-lifers but the beaches along this part of the Oregon coast are stunningly beautiful – the iconic Haystacks, the puffin rocks, miles and miles of easy beach strolls.
If you’re a shopper or like to browse, park in the large lot near the town center and wander the quaint streets. There are plenty of eating options, including yummy ice-cream and breweries.
Our favorite beach spot is a little further south at Tolovana – we’ve always found easy parking but get there early in high season. There is a lovely grocery market and restaurant in walking distance and it offers easy access to HWY 101 which is where you will have to head to find dispersed camping. It is illegal to park and sleep in your vehicle in Cannon Beach. There are formal campgrounds but reserve early.
Portland, OR
Visiting Portland in a van is a great option as the city is very van-friendly and you will be able to secure a safe overnight spot in several neighborhoods.
Portland is famous for its hipster atmosphere, great local eateries and breweries. There is the delightful Portland Farmer’s Market on Saturdays where you will find local delicacies and a great supply of fresh veggies and fruit to fill your cupboards. And you cannot spend an evening in Portland without visiting Darcelle’s – a Portland institution and one of the most fun nights we’ve had in a long time.
Getting outside around Portland is easy – we love the Leach Botanical Gardens for a scented afternoon stroll but for a good hike, the Columbia River Gorge, east of Portland has plenty to offer. Check out this AllTrails list.
Skiing on your PNW van life road trip
In case you are skiers like us and are traveling in a van through the PNW during ski season, I wanted to highlight some of the great ski spots.
If you have an Ikon pass, you will have access to Mt Bachelor in Oregon ( a top notch resort when the snow is good) as well as Crystal and The Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington.
If you are a member of the Powder Alliance, you will be able to ski several days at White Pass, WA as well as Timberline in Oregon (two of our PNW faves) and a few other resorts in the PNW.
A quick note if you are a pretty serious skier and have been spoiled by the snow in the Rockies – the snow in the PNW is not light anf fluffy; it tends to be heavier, wetter and is often slushy.
Final thoughts
We haved lived in the PNW since 2004 when we moved here from Dublin and it is a gorgeous part of the world. I love the greenness, the well-defined seasons, the access to the great outdoors and one of my favorite elements – the Pacific Ocean.
Now that we are full time van lifers and traveling in a van to lots of different places, I am happy to report that the PNW is still one of our favorite regions to explore. In fact, our plan for summer 2022 is basically to hop between Mt Rainier, our two kidlets who live nearby and the PNW beaches.
Be sure to let me know if you’re in the area and I’ll turn the kettle on. (Yes, we have a kettle in the van; it’s all about abundance and living our best life which for us includes fresh ground coffee and Irish tea!!)
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