Sacramento to Bellingham Road Trip Guide

Located in the heart of Seattle, right off the Puget Sound, Pike Place Market is one of the staples to this rainy city. There you will find fresh flowers, unique shops, great coffee, and plenty of entertainment. Right behind Pike Place Market is the Seattle Eye, which is a Ferris wheel that has beautiful views. While visiting the market, many people love stopping at the first-ever Starbucks! It’s a small shop with a long line, but it’s a fun place to see.

Right up the road in Capitol Hill is the Starbucks Roastery which is definitely worth seeing if you love coffee. Don’t forget to stop at the iconic gum wall, where tourists stop to take photos and add their piece of gum to the wall! You’ll also want to take a photo in front of the Pike Place Market Sign to show your friends and family!

Before making your way out of Portland, consider making a stop at the Oregon Zoo. This zoo has changed names three times and is one of the most popular zoos on the west coast. It is located just two miles from downtown Portland and has been open for over 130 years! With over 64 acres to explore, you’re bound to have a good time during your visit. With classic zoo animals like giraffes, lions, bears, and zebras, this zoo will entertain you for hours.

There are also more unique animals there as well including an African python, Allen’s swamp monkey, and dwarf mongoose. There are changing exhibits here that always offer something new for visitors. You can stay at a nearby RV park, like the Fox Run RV park, before heading north towards Seattle if you need some rest.

OMSI, or The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a unique museum located in Portland, Oregon. This museum focuses mostly on science and technology. There are a variety of different things to see during your stay. For starters, there are three different auditoriums that have activities each day of the week. You can see movies in the theater, feel like an astronaut in the planetarium, and learn something new within the exhibition halls.

There are rotating exhibits and you’re bound to see something new every time you visit. Check out the calendar on the website to see what exhibition will be on display during your trip. If you’re traveling with children, there are play areas for them as well. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is large enough to take up an entire afternoon!

While Shasta-Trinity Forest is a great place to stretch your legs, now that you’ve made it to Oregon, Umpqua National Forest is the next best thing. With nearly one million acres to explore, it's full of different activities that everyone will enjoy. You may want to pack the RV with a mountain bike or pair of hiking shoes to get the most out of this pit stop.

Mount Thielsen has a peak of nearly 10,000 and if you reach the top you’ll have an amazing view of the national forest. If your trip is during the warmer months, you’ll be able to enjoy an afternoon of surfing and white water rafting! If you find yourself visiting during the winter, skiing is another popular activity that visitors enjoy. You can stay at Umpqua National Forest overnight to get some rest before reaching Portland.

You’ve made it out of California and you’re a bit closer to Bellingham. With around 550 miles left of your trip, it’s about time to make a romantic pit stop. If you’re traveling with your partner, Dancin Vineyard is a great place to stop along the way to Washington. There you will be able to enjoy a delicious candlelit meal.

Before you eat, you may want to explore the vineyard on a self-guided tour where you’ll be able to see all of the different grapes that they use for their wine. After the meal you and your spouse can see how wine is made and take part in a wine tasting. Like something out of a fairytale, Dancin Vineyards has picnic tables where you can enjoy a flight of wine with an amazing view of the mountains. To avoid drinking and driving, please stay at one of the local RV parks.

If there is one thing that you need to plan to do during a road trip, it’s to stretch your legs! Not only is this good for your body, but it will also give you the energy to keep trucking along. You’ve almost made it to Oregon, but first, it’s time to stop at the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. This is a great place to leave your phone locked in the motorhome and just enjoy being outside. Shasta-Trinity National has plenty of different activities for visitors to enjoy.

If you like hiking, there are several trails to choose from. You can also catch your own dinner right from the lake. If you or your partner is an adrenaline junkie, you can climb Mount Shasta for a really amazing view of the forest. After a long day outside, it’s time to make a campfire and sit under the stars. You can camp right within the national forest before going to Oregon.

As you continue your way towards Washington state, you’ll eventually make your way to Redding. Redding is a beautiful northern city in California that has a great outdoor venue to explore called Turtle Bay Exploration Park. This area takes up over 300 acres and there is plenty to see. Whether you have an hour to kill or an entire day, this is a great stop to make. When you think of things to do in Redding, many will suggest stopping at the Sundial Bridge.

Luckily, this iconic bridge is part of the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. You’ll also get to spend time in a stunning arboretum or make your way to the botanical garden. Turtle Bay also has a museum and wildlife center if that’s something you’re interested in. There is a simple campground nearby called Chappie-Shasta OHV Area where you can sleep for the night.

Before heading out of Sacramento, you may want to start the road trip at the California State Capitol Museum. You don’t have to be a history buff or into politics to enjoy this point of interest. The California State Capitol Museum offers guided tours daily from the time it opens to just before it closes. One thing that’s unique about this building is that there is a theater in the basement that shows educational videos that are entertaining.

After watching a movie or two, you can grab a cup of coffee at the coffee shop in the basement to give you energy for your road trip! There’s also a buffet-style restaurant not too far from the theater if you’re hungry. If you need to get some rest before continuing the trip, you can park your motorhome or camper van at a local RV park, like Sacramento Shade RV Park.