Seattle to Redwoods National Park: A Road Trip Guide

The distance from Seattle to Redwood National Park runs from about 545 to about 700 miles, depending on the route and the endpoint you pick. One driving calculator puts the direct route at 545 miles (877 km), taking 9 hours 31 minutes in normal traffic. That figure is vendor-reported and assumes clear roads and no real stops.

A second source puts the fastest I-5 route at around 700 miles and 12 to 13 hours of driving in its 2026 estimate. The difference is partly about where "the park" begins. Redwood National and State Parks stretch along the northern California coast, so a drive to the Crescent City area ends well before one that continues south toward Orick or Arcata.

Plan around the larger number. Fuel stops, meals, Portland traffic, and I-5 construction all add time that a map estimate leaves out. A day that looks like nine and a half hours of driving will feel closer to eleven once you stop.

Treat 545 miles as the best case and 700 as the planning case. If your Seattle starting point is north of downtown, or you want to reach the groves around Prairie Creek rather than the park's northern edge, expect the longer end.

Take I-5 if you want to get there fast. Take US-101 if the drive is part of the trip. The two routes cover similar mileage on paper, but they feel very different behind the wheel.

I-5 runs south through Tacoma, Olympia, Portland, and into California. It is the quickest option, with steady speeds, frequent services, and few surprises. The tradeoff: you spend most of the day looking at freeway. The Journey Builder estimate for this route is around 700 miles.

The coastal route leaves I-5 and picks up US-101 for the Oregon Coast. One 2026 source puts the scenic US-101 route from Seattle to Arcata, CA at roughly 550 miles. That number looks close to the direct drive, but it ends in Arcata and does not account for how slowly 101 moves through small towns, viewpoints, and two-lane stretches. Budget a full extra day.

For a deeper look at the coastal leg, the Oregon Coast road trip in seven days breaks it into realistic driving days and camping bases.

Treat the drive as a sequence of legs, each ending at a place you want to sleep. The steps below follow the order you will drive them. The first leg covers the Washington stretch, and later steps add the coast and the park itself.

1. Leave Seattle and choose your road. Head south on I-5 through Tacoma and Olympia, or head west to pick up US-101 near Olympia for the coastal route. Leave before the morning commute builds if you can.
2. Stop overnight in Portland. Portland sits about 3 to 4 hours from Seattle, well short of halfway to the park. That is a short first day, which works in your favor: you arrive with time for dinner and a walk.
3. Choose the coastal detour or stay on the freeway. If you want the coast, head west from Portland or Salem toward Tillamook and join US-101. From there you pass Cannon Beach, the Oregon Dunes, and Coos Bay. Each is worth a stop, and none is quick.
4. Cross into California. Continue south on 101 through the last of Oregon. The scenery shifts from dunes and headlands to tall timber as you near the state line.
5. Make Crescent City your base. It is the park's gateway city and headquarters location, with the widest range of food and lodging near the northern groves.
6. Know the access rules. Redwood National and State Parks have no entrance fee and no entrance stations. Most attractions sit along Highway 101 and the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, so you can arrive at any hour without a gate.
7. Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. It runs parallel to Highway 101 through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and puts you close to old-growth trees without a long hike.

If Portland is your real starting point or you want a shorter second half, the Portland to Redwood National Park by car guide covers that stretch in detail.

A 5 day trip works only if you accept long driving days and little time in the trees. A 7 day trip gives you two or three rest days, which is where the redwoods pay off. Either schedule fits a Seattle to Redwood National Park drive, but they ask different things of you.

The 5 day version splits roughly as Seattle to Portland, Portland to the southern Oregon coast, the coast to Crescent City, a day in the park, then the drive back. It is tight. Any delay on I-5 or 101 eats the one day you came for.

The 7 day version adds a second night on the Oregon Coast and a second day in the park. If you can spare the time, pick this one. If you build a 5 day national park road trip around this route, expect to give up either the coast or the park, not both.

For help sizing the mileage against your days, the national parks road trip planner walks through how to match driving legs to your schedule.

You can add Olympic National Park before heading south, but it costs you at least two days. Olympic sits west of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula, so the detour comes first, before you join I-5 or US-101.

The usual loop leaves Seattle by ferry or via Tacoma, circles the peninsula, and picks up US-101 near Olympia. From there, the trip to the redwoods follows the route covered above. The peninsula adds a full driving day plus time on the ground, and the rainforest and coastal trails reward a slower pace.

That changes the math for a trip from Olympic National Park to Redwood National Park. A 5 day schedule that includes both parks is not comfortable. You will spend most of each day in the car and see both places only briefly. Seven days is the realistic minimum for covering both without rushing.

If Olympic is your priority, the Olympic National Park in 4 days itinerary shows how much time the park needs on its own. Then decide whether the redwoods fit the days you have left.

Start with the drive itself. The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway runs through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and puts you among old-growth trees without a long hike. Pull over at the signed groves along the parkway and Highway 101 and walk the short paths into the trees.

The trees matter more once you know what is left. The National Park Service says 96% of the original old-growth coast redwoods have been logged. The same source says Redwood National and State Parks protect 45% of the remaining old-growth forest in California. That is why the groves here feel different from a typical forest.

There is no entrance fee and no entrance station, so you do not need to time your arrival around a gate. Most attractions sit along Highway 101 and the parkway.

For lodging, Crescent City is the practical base. It is the park's gateway city and headquarters location, with the widest choice of motels, restaurants, and fuel. Campgrounds exist inside the parks and in state parks, and cabins and rentals appear in nearby towns. Book ahead for summer, since supply is small and fills early. Confirm each campground's reservation rules with the right source, the National Park Service or California State Parks, before you commit.

Late spring through early fall is the easiest window for this drive. Roads stay clear, days run long, and the coast is at its most pleasant. The redwoods stay green all year, so winter and early spring still work if you pack for rain and plan for shorter daylight.

Before you leave, run through this checklist:

• Pick your route and your number of days first, then book the nights.
• Reserve Portland and Crescent City lodging early if you travel in summer.
• Check road conditions on I-5 and US-101 the morning you drive.
• Fill the tank before long coastal stretches.
• Confirm campground rules with the right source before you commit.

Stitching the legs together yourself means juggling driving days, overnight bases and stops. Describe the trip to Xavier in plain language: your starting point, dates, group size, budget and vehicle, plus any stops you already want. Xavier confirms a trip brief, then builds your Xpedition one day at a time, with stops and driving legs on an interactive map. Book lodging, campsites and tours with the providers yourself. Xavier does not book anything on your behalf and does not check live availability, permits or road conditions, so check campground rules and park conditions with the land agency before you go. Plan this trip with Xavier. Without an account you can confirm a trip brief and build Day 1; a free account builds and saves the whole trip. For what the paid plan adds, see Xplorer Pro vs Free: what you get.

Seattle to Redwood National Park is a 545 to 700 mile drive that works best split over at least two days. Take I-5 if you want speed, take US-101 if the coast is part of the point, and plan around the longer distance estimate.

Decide how many days you have before you book anything. Five days means a tight trip with one day in the trees. Seven gives you room for the coast and a second day among the redwoods. Lock in your Portland and Crescent City nights first, then fill in the rest.

Distances, drive times and campground rules change, so confirm each with the provider or agency before you travel.

1. Wanderlog: Seattle to Redwood National Park drive. Vendor-reported 545 miles and 9 hours 31 minutes.
2. Journey Builder: Seattle to Redwoods National Park. 2026 estimate of about 700 miles and 12 to 13 hours.
3. Wayro: Seattle to Arcata road trip along the Oregon coast. About 550 miles on the scenic US-101 route.
4. National Park Service: Redwood National and State Parks FAQs. Old-growth statistics and entrance information.