VERDICT: We gave 5 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!
This guide forms part of our complete USA Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the United States.
This article is part of our 🚗 5-Day Pacific Northwest USA Road Trip series, exploring Washington and Oregon. Beginning at the Sumas border crossing in British Columbia, our 1,397-kilometre adventure takes us through historic coastal towns, spectacular beaches, iconic cities and one of America’s most famous volcanoes.. Read the complete itinerary here.
Day 1: Historic Bridges, Sea Lions & Astoria’s Waterfront ✅
Day 2: Haystack Rock, Puffins & Oregon’s Most Beautiful Beach ✅
Day 3: Shipwrecks, Cheese & Portland’s Weird Side ✅
Day 4: Volcanoes, Forests & The Mountain That Changed America ✅
Day 5: Small-Town Charm, Ferries & The Journey Home ✅
An early morning border crossing, scenic coffee stops, Mount Rainier views, an unexpected windshield crack and a memorable first evening discovering Astoria’s waterfront charm.
We’re Off; Day One of our USA Road Trip
Every great road trip begins with anticipation and a little uncertainty. For us, Day 1 of our 5-day Washington and Oregon adventure certainly delivered both.
We left Canada’s Sumas Border at 6:45am and immediately wondered if travelling during America’s Juneteenth long weekend would mean heavy traffic and long delays. Fortunately, our concerns quickly disappeared.
The border crossing was quiet, with only about a dozen vehicles ahead of us. Before long, we were driving through the charming town of Lynden and making our way toward Bellingham.
Our first planned stop of the day was in Fairhaven. After joining Interstate 5 South for a short stretch, we exited and enjoyed breakfast at the Otherside Bagel Cafe.
Sometimes these little stops become some of your favourite memories. Sitting down with refreshments before a long day of driving gave us a chance to slow down, reset and properly begin our journey.
Back on the road, we passed one of our favourite Pacific Northwest drives, Chuckanut Drive. We’ve travelled this coastal route before and highly recommend adding it to a future itinerary if you have extra time.
Soon after, we passed beautiful Lake Samish and continued south through Skagit County, home to the popular Skagit Casino Resort. Lake Samish is an 800-acre freshwater lake located south of Bellingham. The lake is stocked with Kokanee, Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Bass and Yellow Perch.
At this point, Seattle was still 76 miles away.
Our plan all along was to simply drive through the city rather than stop. Seattle can quickly become overwhelming with its six-lane traffic corridors, so our goal was simply to pass through efficiently and continue toward the Oregon coast. We have spent time in Seattle before, so our intent was to discover new destinations. Despite the heavy traffic we were soon saying goodbye to Seattle.
By 10am, the weather was absolutely perfect at 23°C. Along the way, we passed the impressive Tulalip Resort Casino and were treated to beautiful views of Mount Rainier in the distance. Even from afar, its snow-capped peak dominates the skyline and serves as a constant reminder of how spectacular the Pacific Northwest truly is.
We had been told to take the more scenic route via Olympia, and we’re glad we listened. Road trips aren’t always about reaching your destination quickly. Sometimes the detours become part of the adventure.
We stopped for our second break of the day at The Owl’s Nest Coffee & Pastries, another excellent opportunity to stretch our legs and recharge before tackling the final section of our journey.
Unfortunately, shortly afterward, our day took an unexpected turn.
A stone flew up and struck our windshield. What initially looked like a simple rock chip quickly transformed into a creeping crack spreading across the glass. This was particularly frustrating because we had only purchased the vehicle two weeks earlier. Not wanting to take any chances, we stopped at ACE Hardware in South Bend for some advice. With a temporary solution in place, we carefully taped both the inside and outside of the windshield before continuing our drive.
By this point, we had already driven 434 kilometres. As we continued south, roadside signs began telling an entirely different story.
We passed Goose Point Oyster Company and numerous signs for the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. Another thing we couldn’t help but notice were the frequent Tsunami Evacuation Route signs posted along the highway.
Living in British Columbia, seeing these reminders isn’t entirely foreign, but they certainly catch your attention and reinforce just how connected these coastal communities are to the power of the Pacific Ocean.
Eventually, we reached one of Astoria’s most recognizable landmarks, the magnificent 6.6-kilometre Astoria-Megler Bridge. It serves as the final iconic link of the U.S. Route 101 between Canadian and Mexican borders.
Stretching across the Columbia River between Washington State and Oregon, the bridge is an engineering marvel and one of the longest continuous truss bridges in North America.
The water below was particularly choppy, making the arrival even more dramatic. We soon arrived at our hotel, The Commodore Hotel, parked the car and unpacked. Despite the windshield incident, the 7.5-hour drive had been excellent.
Not wanting to waste a moment, we headed out for a late afternoon riverfront walk. It stretches 10 kms and takes you past historic piers, old cannery ruins, marine wildlife and the Maritime Museum. We discovered Astoria’s wonderful Nordic displays and six fascinating troll sculptures, enjoyed fish and chips from the famous Bowpicker Fish & Chips and took note of two attractions we’d be exploring the following day: the Astoria Column and the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
To finish the evening, we headed downstairs to the Stranded Cafe, conveniently located beneath our hotel.
The café was celebrating its grand reopening with a series of live music events, and we were fortunate enough to catch Snail Patrol, an indie folk duo featuring guitar and banjo.
With a glass of wine, an espresso martini and dessert in front of us, it was exactly the relaxing ending we needed after such a busy day.
Sometimes travel isn’t about checking off landmarks. It’s about those unexpected moments. The quiet border crossing. A scenic coffee stop. A surprise windshield break. A hidden Nordic park. Live music you didn’t know existed.
All in all, our first day was absolutely jam-packed, but incredibly rewarding.
And if Day 1 was any indication of what was ahead, this Washington and Oregon road trip was shaping up to be something very special.
10 Reasons To Visit Astoria, Oregon
1. Visit The Astoria Nordic Heritage Park
One of Astoria’s hidden gems, this free waterfront park celebrates the region’s Scandinavian roots. Six beautifully crafted troll sculptures each tell a unique immigrant story through QR-code audio tours, making this a fun experience for both adults and children.
2. Experience The Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
Held every June, this long-running festival celebrates Nordic traditions with music, dancing, theatre performances, handcrafted goods and authentic Scandinavian foods.
3. Eat Famous Bowpicker Fish & Chips
Operating out of a converted fishing boat, Bowpicker has become an Astoria institution. Their lightly battered albacore tuna fish & chips regularly attract long lineups and are worth the wait.
4. Explore The Historic Waterfront
Astoria’s waterfront offers spectacular views of the Columbia River, colourful buildings, local shops and excellent opportunities for photography.
5. Discover Maritime History
The Columbia River Maritime Museum is one of the finest maritime museums on the West Coast, showcasing shipwreck stories, Coast Guard rescues and Pacific Northwest history.
6. Ride The Historic Riverfront Trolley
Nicknamed “Old 300,” this volunteer-operated trolley provides a charming way to explore Astoria’s waterfront attractions at a very affordable price. Check train times located within the train shelters.
7. Admire Astoria’s Scandinavian Heritage
You’ll find Nordic flags, cultural displays and historical references throughout downtown, highlighting the city’s strong Scandinavian influence.
8. Explore A Beautiful Historic Downtown
Astoria is packed with independent shops, coffee houses, art galleries and beautifully preserved historic buildings.
9. Enjoy Incredible Photography Opportunities
Between the Columbia River, colourful murals, historic architecture and waterfront scenery, Astoria is a photographer’s paradise.
10. Use Astoria As A Base To Explore Oregon’s North Coast
Astoria sits perfectly at the northern tip of Oregon and makes an ideal starting point for exploring nearby destinations like Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock and Seaside.
Exploring Astoria
- Astoria-Megler Bridge
- Astoria Food Icon – Bowpicker Fish & Chips
- Rusty Cup Cafe
- Columbia River Maritime Museum
- Road Trips Across Oregon
Nearby Attractions:
Plan Your Next Trip
- Commodore Hotel (Astoria)
- Hotels
- Rental Cars
- Tours
- Travel Insurance
- e-Sim ( best for online access)
- Packing Lists
With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.
