San Diego to Portland Road Trip Guide

This protected marine sanctuary offers incredible seal and sea lion viewing opportunities just minutes from downtown San Diego.

Kids love watching these playful marine mammals sunbathing on the rocks and swimming in the crystal-clear waters. The Children's Pool (actually a beach!) provides perfect viewing spots while Sunny Jim's Cave offers underground ocean exploration. Early morning visits provide the best wildlife viewing with fewer crowds.

Stay nearby at San Diego campgrounds with easy access to the coast. Campland on the Bay offers waterfront RV sites perfect for families.

Los Angeles has so so much to see and do that you could spend a whole week in the City of Angels and still not check off everything on your list. A great family-friendly choice in downtown Los Angeles is taking a trip to The Broad Museum.

Opened by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, the museum is a great place for the family to learn about modern art at any time of the year. The Broad is entirely free for visitors, but if you would like to see Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Room Exhibits (which are the main attraction to the museum for many) it is recommended that you arrive early so you can enter into the online reservation queue.

Since The Broad is downtown you are only a few minute's walk from Grand Central Market where flavors from around the world unite in one large mall full of delicious food. RV camping in Los Angeles is a little limited, but there are several private RV campgrounds and the county-run Dockweiler RV Park.

Your first big change in scenery will occur if you decide to head inland from Los Angeles and pay a visit to Death Valley National Park. Under a four hours drive away, Death Valley feels like a completely different planet. The park contains the lowest point in the whole country and the conditions can also be incredibly hot depending on what time of the year you are going on your road trip.

Despite the name suggesting otherwise, Death Valley National Park is full of diversity, a lot of which is smaller than meets the eye. Park staff offer guided tours if you want to learn more about this incredible area, and the Episode IV Star Wars movie was also filmed at the park, so if any family members are fans you can see these sights.

Death Valley National Park is best visited during the winter months when temperatures aren't over 100 degrees. The park has several campgrounds that offer RV camping, including the Furnace Creek Campground where you can reserve a site in advance.

The next logical destination as you make your way up to Portland is to pay a visit to Yosemite National Park. One of the most well-known national parks, Yosemite feels like a world away from Death Valley even though it is only a four-hour drive.

Over four million people visit Yosemite National Park each year to witness its untouched beauty and for many, it is a dream destination. Waterfalls, mountains, lakes, and glaciers await you, along with plenty of opportunities to learn about the park through ranger-led programs. During the winter months, there are also some fantastic skiing opportunities thanks to the five lifts and 10 runs at Badger Pass.

Yosemite National Park has plenty of campsites available to rest at, but it is important to book a site in advance since this is one of the most popular camping destinations in America.

One of the benefits of road tripping inland on your way to Portland is that you will get to see and experience so many diverse environments. Lake Tahoe is located around two and a half hours north of Yosemite National Park and is the perfect place for some lakeside relaxation.

The lake is massive and is located in both California and Nevada, so you do have the option to venture into Nevada if you are interested in crossing another state off your list. For those who want to have some fun in the sun, you can go boating, stand-up paddleboarding, or go swimming in one of the many designated areas. The winter months are also a hub of activity with snowshoeing, skiing, and snowboarding all possible due to the surrounding mountains.

Most of the campgrounds near Lake Tahoe are located at the southern end with many public and private campgrounds for you to choose from.

Following your trip to Lake Tahoe, it is time to head inland, with the small city of Chico being the perfect place to spend a day. Chico is only a few hours away from Lake Tahoe and is a great family-friendly destination no matter what time of the year you are visiting.

One of the main highlights in Chico is Bidwell Park, which is a historic area known as the largest City Park in the country. Encompassing 2,500 acres, the park has a fantastic education center where your little ones can learn about nature and participate in many programs and activities.

Chico also has a thriving craft beer scene, so if you fancy a drink this is the place to find a brew. The Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has a special tour that you can book in advance to make sure that you won't miss out.

Northern California is dominated by towering trees and large forests, so while you are on your way north it is a great time to check at least one of them out. Shasta-Trinity National Forest is the largest in California and is located nearly directly off the Cascade Wonderland Highway that continues on to your final destination.

There are over two million acres within the forest, along with over 6,200 miles of waterways. If you love to fish, Trinity Lake will be one of the best places on your road trip to cast out a line, especially if you are looking to catch bass. The kids can be entertained with the multiple easy hiking trails and the chance to explore the Lake Shastra Caverns.

Shasta-Trinity National Forest is also home to five campgrounds that are suitable for RVs so you will have plenty of choices when it comes to deciding where to park for the night.

As you are reaching the end of your trip, there will be several options of places to visit before you make it to Portland. Known for its friendly atmosphere, Eugene is a relaxed place that is great to unwind before you reach Portland. The city is known for having a great restaurant scene, specifically because of the farm-to-table method of sourcing ingredients that is common at most of the well-known restaurants. Check out Grit Kitchen and Wine if you are looking for a restaurant in the farm-house style or Akira for those craving sushi.

If the kids are feeling adventurous, there are also plenty of great kayaking areas along the Willamette River. Many companies run guided tours, so if you didn’t bring your own kayaks you will have no trouble finding a place to rent them from.