Mount Rainier emerging from the clouds. All photos courtesy of junior Aidan Field.
San Luis Obispo High School Students work on a tight budget, but there are still ways to see some of the most scenic places North America has to offer. Using carpooling, gyms, and camping, SLOHS students can see the great outdoors even while being cheap.
This is a road trip I completed myself. Take this trip, or take inspiration from it when exploring the great outdoors.
Day One – SLO to Mount Shasta: Leave San Luis Obispo around 5 to 6 a.m. and head to the southern entrance of Mount Lassen Volcanic National Park. Get there in the early afternoon, this will allow plenty of time to make stops while driving through the active volcano. There are plenty of opportunities to go on short hikes. Navigate the alpine meadows, lakes, steam vents, and mud volcanoes.
Emerald Lake in Mount Lassen Volcanic National Park shining in the noon afternoon light.
Then head north to Mount Shasta. Get there before sunset and enjoy the purple and orange sky reflected on the fourteen thousand foot high volcano’s glaciers. That evening, camp in a vehicle, or stay the night at the various motels the Mount Shasta area has, with nightly rates as low as seventy dollars.
Mount Shasta glimmering in the morning sunrise.
Day Two – Mount Shasta to Mount Rainier: From Mount Shasta, shoot for leaving around 5 a.m. and head to Klamath Falls. On this drive, enjoy the drive along the north side of Mt. Shasta, getting a great view of the largest glaciers California has to offer. Klamath Falls has a Planet Fitness, a gym membership can be used to take a shower and get ready for the day. From there, drive north to Crater Lake National Park, the deepest lake in the United States. Drive on the west rim, headed north, to be right along the lake on the drive.
The deepest lake in the US still has some snow in late July.
After Crater Lake, drive to Bend or Eugene, Oregon. Bend is a charming city with the only Blockbuster left in existence, or go to Eugene and tour the University of Oregon.
After that stop, drive north and enjoy Oregon’s largest city, Portland. After that, cross the border into Washington and head towards Mount Rainier. Once near Mt. Rainier, set up camp in a motel, campground, or a car.
The Cowlitz River runs alongside a campsite and glows blue at dusk.
Day Three – Mount Rainier to North Cascades: Try and leave as early as possible, if it’s a weekend, the west entrance to the park is going to be packed, so try and enter through the eastern entrance which is open on weekends.
Mount Rainier towers over Paradise’s alpine meadows.
The area around Paradise is true paradise.
Explore around Paradise on Mount Rainier, even short trails have breathtaking views of the cascades.
Other mountains in the Cascade Range shine brightly on a summer day.
It’s important to get there early because in the summer months, clouds can quickly rise above Paradise, blocking views. In the early morning this is less common.
The space needle glows golden during the afternoon.
Spend the morning in Mount Rainier then head to Seattle and sightsee. There is so much to see in Seattle, but Pike Place Market and the Space Needle are the easiest on a rush.
Optional Day – It’s okay to stop in Seattle for a Day, this road trip is fun, but after several days of drives and hikes, a day to take a break in the city is nice. Get a hotel/motel for the night in Seattle.
At the end Day Three or the Optional Day, drive to North Cascades National Park. Get there early for multiple reasons. The drive into the park is amazing, and it takes time to check in to a hotel or campground. Campground reservations require weeks to months in advance, I was unable to make a reservation so I stayed at North Cascades Inn.
Day Four – North Cascades to Forks: North Cascades is one of the most inaccessible National Parks in the lower 48. Casually exploring the park is limited to two options. Take the scenic drive to Washington Pass, or go on the short (seven mile) hike to Cascade Pass.
One of the paved segments of Cascade River road winds through a glacial valley.
Cascade River road is the only road that actually leads into the park, and it requires a twenty mile drive on a maintained gravel road to access. Off-roading tires are recommended, but not necessary. Caring about not adding scratch marks to one’s car paint would require a slow speed, however the road could take less than an hour with the proper vehicle. I did the route in a Tesla Model Y, going at fifteen miles per hour and I encountered zero scratching or clearance issues. For local comparison, it’s nothing compared to TV Tower Road (West Cuesta Ridge).
The top of Cascade Pass is truly breathtaking.
The seven mile hike is the best for beginner hikers, with breathtaking views which are more than worth it. Experienced hikers can continue to trails like Sahale arm. With a permit, backpacking in the area is possible. The park is genuine paradise, and it’s worth it even for this singular trail.
Many mountain goats make North Cascades National Park their home.
That’s not to say the Cascade Pass area is all North Cascades National Park has to offer. Camping out in the area for multiple days is ideal, and it would allow much more time to explore other trails.
When leaving the park, head to Forks (yes, the Forks from “Twilight”). It’s a five hour drive. Personally, I would take the route that goes around Olympic National Park on the north and east side of the peninsula to avoid repeating the route when heading south.
Day 5 – Forks to Oregon: After staying near Forks for the night, go on a short walk in the rainforests of Olympic National Park. Then drive south on the 101 along the coast. There isn’t much in particular on the coast from this point on. Stay on the 101 through Oregon. Spend the night in a town like Newport or Rockaway Beach. Despite the lack of particular attractions, the Oregon coast is beautiful.
Day 6 – Oregon Coast to California North Coast: Continue down the 101 to California, and spend the night there.
Gigantic redwood trees tower over park guests.
Day 7 – The Redwoods to SLO: The final day of the road trip will go to Redwood National Park. The gigantic trees are natural wonders, and it’s worth spending a few hours in these rainforests admiring their might. Then, drive south towards SLO.
I completed this road trip with my dad in 2023. I was unable to do the part along Olympic National Park and the Oregon Coast unfortunately, but it’s completely worth it. Planning a road trip like this takes a lot of logistics and planning beforehand. Take into account road conditions and be sure to have emergency contacts and stay in touch with friends and family, knowing dates, plans, locations, and times. Many parts of this route lack reception.
Also, this guide shouldn’t be followed verbatim. Feel free to adjust accordingly: Add stops, add extra days, and/or skip stops. Stop in Vancouver, do half of the trip, or stay in Portland, the possibilities are endless.
Having more time is also an advantage, and I personally would spend more time in places like North Cascades and Mount Rainier. The advantage of this blueprint is that it only takes a week. This road trip is a small sample of the West Coast. The biggest thing I took from this road trip was knowing where I wanted to go back to.
This trip would require a few hundred bucks on gas, plus a few hundred more on food and overnight costs. Carpooling with friends and/or family to split the cost can make it more affordable.
This road trip is best from mid-June to late-July. After July, fire season can really kick up. Additionally, even in early June, roads are closed due to snow and ice.
The beauty of this trip is that it doesn’t require crazy expenses like airfare or expensive hotels. Explore the West Coast and all its beauty casually. It’s an unforgettable journey that won’t be regretted.
