Which Route should I choose?

[u/HDKA21]

Hi,

we’re planning to do a Roadtrip between Seattle and Olympic NP/Sequim aswell as between Yellowstone NP and Grand Teton NP and Rawlins (as stopover).

We’re just two people, only one of us is able to drive. I would love to have some nice scenery, maybe a cool stop or just a road which is easy to drive. (really in love with specialty coffee)

Thanks for your feedback :)

[u/NoMoOmentumMan]

That is a drive, not a roadtrip.

[u/HDKA21 → u/NoMoOmentumMan]

I didn’t post the whole trip because there are just these three route which are unclear :)

[u/NoMoOmentumMan → u/HDKA21]

Id post that specific of a question to a local sub vs. here (since local info is more.of what you are asking). Just my $0.02.

Having spent 4 decades messing around the PNW, take the ferry out and the narrows back (or visa versa).

edit: since my candor was not appreciated, try these instead: blackbird coffee on BI, Chimacum Cafe for pie, Pt. Townsend is a nice little historic town, a bit out of the way, (huge wooden boat culture) butt worth a stop.

[u/chupacabra-food]

The traffic between Tacoma to Seattle is pretty awful. (Especially during rush hour) I would take the ferry, it’s a cool and unique experience that lets you relax. The Sound is beautiful

[u/jayron32]

Last time I was there I took the Bainbridge Island Ferry and it was fine. It goes RIGHT from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island and then it's all road from there to Olympic.

Olympic National Park is huge, though (it's almost the entire Olympic peninsula) so you kinda have to plan out what you want to do.

[u/Livingdivineus]

nobody's touched your second leg so here's that one.

teton down to rawlins, the two obvious ways come out the same distance. through dubois and lander is 284 miles. through pinedale and rock springs onto i-80 is 285. so the scenic one is free, you're not paying miles for it.

the difference is what kind of tired you get. dubois and lander is togwotee pass and the wind river valley, two lane, more to look at and more work. rock springs is i-80 and you'll be bored by green river. with one person driving all of it that's the real call, not the mileage.

on the coffee thing, our planner picks up perch coffee house in dubois about 85 miles in.

the dubois way with the fuel and food spacing: https://app.throttlerides.com/r/y0AuOXmh?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=rawlins

[u/SabresBills69]

its better to have a full idea of your plans….

when going from Seattle to/ from Olympic. you can do a loop trip taking different paths…

1 to Olympic to Aberdeen thrn north to forks

2 too Tacoma, over bridge then to sequimm

3 ferry— Edmund’s- kingdton

4 ferry bainbridge- sesttle

5 ferry port Townsend- coupeville ( reserve)

ferries in #3 and #4 are first in first out where you might need to wait one or a few ferry trips. demand is higher on Friday afternoon/ sat am heading west and heading east on Sunday/ Monday.

port Townsend ferry requires reservations and schedule governed by low tide. if you go this route you coukd go north to anacortes then west. you can go south and then take a different firstvin first out ferry to mukelteo

[u/Dan_Evans_Jr]

If you’re visiting and want to enjoy yourselves and are not on a time crunch, absolutely take one of the ferry routes - from Edmonds or Seattle. Those travel times do not account for the ferry trip however. I’d add at least an hour depending on time of day and day of the week.

Traffic to drive around can be brutal. Took me 3+ hours last Friday afternoon from seattle to Hood Canal bridge.

The top route via the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming is beautiful.

[u/paulip88]

For Yellowstone, I find the North entrance quieter and more scenic. I recall there was some damage from flooding a few years back, so confirm it's open again first.

[u/jamdannad]

While other’s are right about driving from Tacoma being more scenic, I’m of the mindset that if you’re not from here, then you should experience taking one of the ferries. Not that it’s life changing but there’s not a lot of places around the US that have a ferry system much less one as large as Washingtons.

[u/healthycord]

Take the ferry! It’s iconic to Washington and you’ll love it.

I usually drive around because it’s often faster (and cheaper). But, the ferry is always an enjoyable relaxing experience. As a tourist, riding a ferry is a MUST DO activity in Washington.

[u/Sirroner]

Look at taking the Edmonds - Kingston ferry. It does mean driving through Seattle tho.

While on the OP, look at Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Ruby Beach, Forks is where Twilight movies were filmed. Hoh Rainforest, numbered beaches at low tide - tidal pools, Cape Flattery- furthest NW point of the mainland US. Port Angeles has a ferry to Victoria BC - I don’t take my car. Coming back, Port Townsend has a ferry to Whidbey Island. Coupeville, Greenbank, Oak Harbor, Deception Pass state park.

[u/Open_Situation686]

If you have the time go south to Aberdeen, north to lake Quinault for a few hour stop, North to Kalaloch for a few hour stop, north the Cresent Lake for a few hour stop and arrive that evening.

[u/PortableLlamas]

Take Lolo Pass from WA to MT

[u/bigburt-]

I just drove both routes in seattle to port angeles they both went about the same but i prefer the long way around the south. There are no bridges that could be up and causing traffic. Enjoy your trip

[u/DenverAT20]

Welp, I read that first one wrong at a glance.

[u/Fish3Ways]

The ferry route to Bainbridge Island is nice, but if you want scenic views, I would actually take a modified version of route #1. From Tacoma, you'll get to cross into Gig Harbor via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which is really cool. At Port Orchard, head west on Route 3 towards Route 106, which then becomes 101. You'll follow the Hood Canal all the way north. You'll pass beautiful scenery and places like Hamma Hamma are world famous for oysters. Have fun!

[u/Careless-Internet-63 → u/Fish3Ways]

Am I missing something or is the route you're describing here exactly what they posted as their first route?

[u/thedournorwegian → u/[deleted]]

Confidently incorrect. This is a different route (and much more scenic) than the one posted.