Looking for ideas for the perfect Pacific Northwest and Seattle to Vancouver road trip? Seattle and Vancouver are well worth a US-to-Canada road trip, and if you want to enjoy everything these two cities offer five days is the perfect amount of time to see it all. The drive from Seattle to Vancouver alone and seeing these views is an activity in itself, and when my sisters and I visited we also loved taking the cable car to the top of Grouse Mountain near Vancouver. Make sure to make a reservation for their delicious restaurant with insane views, more on that later! If you want to know how to plan the perfect road trip and more, keep reading for my itinerary!

Seattle to Vancouver road trip: A complete 5 day itinerary

How to get from Seattle to Vancouver

If you’re planning a Seattle to Vancouver road trip the best option is to fly into Seattle airport and rent a car to drive to Vancouver. If you’re flying within the United States, flying into Seattle will still be considered a domestic flight and you can avoid international fees. The drive from Seattle to Vancouver is only around three hours, depending on how many stops you make along the way and the time spent stopped at the Canadian border.

How to book a Rental Car

If you book far enough ahead of time, it’s always easiest to rent a car from the airport for your arrival and departure. If you plan to fly in and out of Seattle, the airport isn’t too far from the city and it will be easiest to pick up and drop your rental car from here.

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Information for crossing the Canadian border

If you want to monitor wait times at the border, here’s an app you can download for up-to-date times. You can also monitor wait times from Washington’s border crossing information website. Since the pandemic it’s always best to check government websites to monitor for any travel updates.

Even though it may slip your mind, DO NOT forget to bring your passport. If you are the driver of your rental car you will also need to show a valid driver’s license at the border.

Seattle to Vancouver itinerary

Day 1: Start your road trip exploring Seattle

Your first stop should be Alki Beach Park

If you’re planning a Seattle to Vancouver road trip, you can save on international fees by renting a car from the Seattle airport. After picking up your rental car, head to Alki Beach Park. This beach is one of the most beautiful and is very accessible with ample street parking. This beach has a half mile of beachfront and stunning views of Elliot Bay. If you’re looking for some of the best places to eat in the area, head to Cafe Flora for their delicious baked goods!

Take a stroll at the University of Washington

The University of Washington is known for its stunning cherry blossom trees, sadly when my sisters and I visited in March they hadn’t yet bloomed. We lucked out when the rain clouds finally cleared since it can be quite wet in Seattle. If you’re visiting the campus make sure to wander into Suzzallo Library. This library looks straight out of one of the Harry Potter movies!

Head to this spot for the best view of Seattle

Drive to Gas Works Park for beautiful views of Seattle. After you’ve enjoyed the view, wander down to the popular Fremont area and stop at the delicious Theo Chocolate or Fremont Brewing Company for a drink!

Where to stay along your Seattle and Vancouver road trip

If you’re looking for the best places to stay in Seattle here are a few recommendations below that are reasonably priced with epic views. Make sure to inquire about parking where you decide to stay!

Best Neighborhoods in Seattle

Waterfront/Downtown: Pike Place is one of the best things to see and do in Seattle, but this waterfront area can be quite pricey to stay in. If you’re only staying in Seattle for a weekend, I would recommend staying here. This rooftop bar has stunning views of the city!

Listed on Seattle’s National Register of Historic Places, this has one of the best locations in the city

This hotel overlooks Elliot Bay and has one of the best views of Seattle from the rooftop bar

Belltown: This area is just north of the waterfront and is probably the second-best area to stay if you’re visiting Seattle. It is one of Seattle’s trendiest areas full of bars, restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops.

A perfect location for those coffee lovers steps from Seattle’s Starbucks Roastery

Pioneer Square: This is one of the oldest areas in the city. It is also home to the ‘underground Seattle’, which you can explore on a guided tour.

Located near Pioneer Square and the historic district is this luxurious four-star hotel

Queen Anne: Home of the Space Needle and the famous Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Queen Anne area it’s an easy walk from Pike Place Market. You may find prices a bit more reasonable here versus downtown.

A Queen Anne location with great reviews and a mid-range price point

Best Neighborhoods in Vancouver

Downtown: In most cities, the downtown area is where you’ll find the best hotels and places to stay, and this is also true for Vancouver. Vancouver is quite a compact city but feels like a miniature Manhattan. Staying downtown will be within walking distance of Gastown, Yaletown, and the West End where you’ll find all the best restaurants and bars.

A four-star hotel located in the heart of downtown Vancouver

A garden oasis in downtown Vancouver

Yaletown: Vancouver can be an expensive place to visit and stay, but Yaletown can offer affordability without being too far from the city center.

This hotel offers a rooftop pool in Vancouver’s Yaletown

This spot offers affordability and is located right around the corner from the Stadium-Chinatown train station

West End/Stanley Park: This area is close to Stanley Park if you’re looking for green space within the city. Make sure to inquire about parking, as the park doesn’t offer overnight parking.

Here’s a luxurious option with incredible views of the waterfront

Enjoy one of Seattle’s best rooftop restaurants

Seattle’s landscape is best enjoyed from a rooftop. A popular rooftop restaurant and bar to check out is Mbar downtown. Please keep in mind this restaurant does close during winter, so make sure to check the restaurant’s website for current information and reservation requests. Their food is delicious; one of the items we tried was the Lebanese fried romesco with tarator and nigella seed. Sound exotic? According to Rooftop Guide Mbar is listed as the number one in Seattle. Terra Plata is another popular rooftop restaurant as well.

Day 2: Visit Seattle’s Pike Place Market & the Space Needle

Have breakfast at Starbucks Reserve Seattle Roastery

Start day two of your Seattle to Vancouver road trip at the Capitol Hill Starbucks Reserve Seattle Roastery. This is one of the best things to see in Seattle as Starbucks was founded here. You can also visit the original location at Pike Place Market which operates like a traditional Starbucks store.

Learn about the history of Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is the site of Seattle’s oldest settlement. Make your way through cobblestone streets to restaurants, art galleries, and shops. This underground walking tour is quite popular and one of the best things to do in Seattle. For a better view head to Smith Tower’s 35^th floor observatory.

Reserve tickets for the Space Needle

We made our reservations online to visit the Space Needle the day before, accounting for the weather. The Space Needle has been recently renovated and offers a variety of restaurants and shops. You can also visit the popular Chihuly Garden and Glass which is right next to the entrance for the Space Needle. They do offer valley parking onsite, but we were able to park on the street at a meter nearby.

Keep in mind you can buy a combined ticket for entrances to both the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden, but we chose just to buy tickets for entrance to the Space Needle because of time constraints.

Best things to see and do at Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market highlights

A few of the highlights of Pike Place Market include the Mexican Grocery, Piroshky Piroshky Bakery, Rachel’s Ginger Beer, and the iconic Starbucks store- the first brick-and-mortar store of the Starbucks empire.

Find the Secret Garden

A bit hard to find, Pike Place Market does have a secret, public rooftop garden overlooking the Sound. The views are incredible overlooking the water and the Seattle Great Wheel.

The Seattle Great Wheel

The Seattle Great Wheel is a bit touristy but does have great views of Seattle from the top. Since parking is hard to find at Pike Place Market, most of the surrounding meters have two-hour limits. Even though the Seattle Great Wheel is only a ten-minute walk from the market, make sure to find a garage where you can park for an extended period or be mindful of the metered time. There is a residential area fairly close by that also has metered parking.

Enjoy the sunset at Kerry Park

One of the best views of Seattle if not the best is from Kerry Park. There is a large green space here, so pick up some lunch from Pike Place Market and bring it here to enjoy before sunset.

Keep in mind Kerry Park is small and parking is very limited. The surrounding area is quite residential, so be cautious where you’re parking as most streets are for residents only.

Optional Day Trip to Whidbey Island

If you’re looking for another beautiful area of the Pacific Northwest to discover consider a stop at Whidbey Island. There is a bridge that connects the island from Seattle, but if you’re continuing to Vancouver from the north part of the island it may require a car ferry. Check out the Whidbey Island ferry routes to help plan your trip!

Seattle weekend trip

Seattle is the perfect city to spend the weekend or even a girl’s getaway. You can mix and match any of the days from this Seattle to Vancouver road trip itinerary, or even plan a whale-watching adventure or day trip.

Day 3: Start your drive to Vancouver

First stop- Capilano Suspension Bridge

The next morning get an early start for your drive from Seattle to Vancouver. It is such a scenic drive, so stop along the way to enjoy the views. As I’ve mentioned before don’t forget your passport as you will need to show it at border control! Before arriving in the city of Vancouver, make sure to stop at the Capilano Suspension Bridge. This is one of the best things to see and do in Vancouver. Make sure to spend a few hours exploring the bridge and the surrounding living forest and cliff walk.

It’s around a three-hour drive from Seattle to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, minus border traffic. If you want to make sure to arrive when the park opens and avoid the crowds plan your time accordingly. When researching how to visit Capilano, it is one of many Vancouver suspension bridges.

Shop at Lululemon’s first brick-and-mortar store

If you’re a fan, the original Lululemon store is located in Vancouver! As a Lululemon fan, I was quite excited to visit but it just resembles all the other stores!

Enjoy dinner in Vancouver’s Gastown

Gastown is known for its culinary experiences, so make a reservation for the Alibi Room. Here are a few other ideas of the best restaurants in Vancouver according to Culture Trip.

Day 4: Explore Vancouver’s Seawall and Grouse Mountain

Make reservations for brunch at the Teahouse in Stanley Park

Stopping for brunch at the Teahouse in Stanley Park. is an absolute must. This teahouse really is such a hidden gem! While in Stanley Park make sure to visit the Seawall and spend some time admiring the views of Vancouver.

Ride the epic Skyride at Grouse Mountain

Even though Vancouver is a great city to visit, it seems all the hidden gems are located outside the city. Having dinner at The Observatory and taking the Skyride to the top I promise will be one of the highlights of your trip! The Skyride is not just for the restaurant but for skiers and snowboarders taking it to the top to enjoy the snow. Make sure to watch for incoming traffic when getting on and off the Skyride!

If you’re interested in other places in North America that are great for skiing and snowboarding, Whistler is massive and such a lovely place to visit. New England has some smaller ski resorts that are wonderful too.

Day 5: Drive to Seattle from Vancouver

Taking a road trip through the Pacific Northwest should be on everyone’s bucket list! It also helps that Seattle makes for the perfect girl’s weekend getaway or weekend trip. Keep reading for a few other recommendations for the best destinations for a girl’s trip!

What’s the best time to visit the Pacific Northwest?

Spring and fall are the best times to visit the Pacific Northwest as you can avoid crowds and experience beautiful spring blooms or autumn colors. Keep in mind with this Seattle to Vancouver road trip itinerary you can mix and match any of the Seattle or Vancouver days depending on your travel plans!

New England is another one of the most beautiful areas in the United States. Its fall foliage rivals that in popular European locations, and spring is also a great time to visit if you’re looking for beautiful blooms.