Washington State Road Trip

Driving Our Van South Through Washington

Our Route

Duration: 7 Days

Distance Driven: 565 km

Places Visited: 4

Travel Date: October 2022

Our journey from Vancouver to Cancun in our DIY camper van with our dog Finnley has officially begun! In October 2022, we spent our first seven days driving south through Washington State, taking in all the beauty and charm the state has to offer.

We started our adventure by crossing the Canada-US Peace Arch border, excited to see what lay ahead. Originally, our plan was to visit Mount Baker and Mount Rainer, but we left later than planned and missed the chance to explore those stunning locations due to snowfall. Instead, we improvised and set our sights on Seattle, Olympia, Mount Saint Helens, and Vancouver – all incredible places in their own right.

Seattle

Seattle is a captivating tech city with a thriving coffee culture and a fascinating history. During our visit, we took a walking tour with Joe with Seattle Free Walking Tours. The tour was both informative and entertaining. We learned about the history of Seattle and how it was rebuilt because of a fire. He also showed us some iconic statues and buildings around town, and he shared lots of fun coffee and food facts.

Later, we explored some of the city’s most prominent landmarks, including the Space Needle from Kerry Park, the Pier, Pike Place Market, the gum wall, and the first Starbucks. We even stumbled upon a coffee shop that had a robot barista!

Seattle Vlog

Looking for inspiration for your next trip? Let our Seattle travel video be your guide to this vibrant and exciting destination.

Olympia

Olympia is a charming city that offers a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Seattle. As we explored the historic downtown, we were delighted to find lots of great coffee shops and a pretty boardwalk with a stunning view of Puget Sound. Nearby is a picturesque park and lake with a beautiful view of the Legislative Building, which was also a highlight of our visit.

During our stay, we dedicated some time to touring the grand Washington Legislative Building. The interior is truly breathtaking, with marble from around the world adding to its grandeur. It was a great way to learn more about the history and politics of Washington State.

To get a true taste of Olympia’s local flavor, we made a stop at the farmers market. Here, we found an array of fresh, locally sourced produce and other goods. It was the perfect opportunity to stock up on groceries and support the local community.

Olympia Vlog

Looking for inspiration for your next trip? Let our Olympia travel video be your guide to Washinton’s state capital.

Mount Saint Helen’s

Next, we headed to Mount Saint Helens National Monument. This volcano is the youngest and most active in the Cascade mountain range, and is famous for literally blowing its head off in the 1980’s. Ash from the eruption circled the entire world within two weeks of the eruption!

The volcano was obscured by clouds when we visited, but we still thoroughly enjoyed the informative exhibit about different types of volcanoes and their eruptions.

Vancouver

Our last stop in Washington was Vancouver, a beautiful city located on the north side of the Columbia River, which creates the border between Washington and Oregon. We loved visiting Fort Vancouver, walking along the Columbia River, and admiring the fantastic street art.

As an added bonus, we found a restaurant that had really good tacos!

Camping in Washington

During our travels, we made use of two great camping options in Washington. First, we stayed at a few Boondockers Welcome spots, which are included in our Harvest Host Membership. These spots provided a safe and convenient place to stay after crossing the border, and were particularly useful when we explored cities, as they offered great locations and opportunities to chat with locals and get insider recommendations. Second, we took advantage of the rest stops along I-5, which were perfect for a good night’s sleep.

Final Thoughts

All in all, our trip through Washington was amazing, and we’re beyond happy to be on the road! Although we missed some highlights on this trip, we’re confident we’ll make it back to Washington to explore some more in the future.