Day 3: Port Angeles, WA to Astoria, OR
Postcard from Astoria, Oregon.
Another early morning meant driving the first part of today’s 336 miles in misty, foggy weather with white clouds still sleeping in the valleys and majestic conifers guarding both sides of the road.
A few miles after Forks, I took a break from the 101 highway loop, heading towards the Hoh rainforest for a longer than expected easy hike among trees covered with clumps of hanging moss, stuck there silently hugging each other for thousands of year. Kinda romantic.
Back to the coast right after leaving the rocks and driftwood of Ruby beach, it was heavy rain for about an hour followed by a sunny and smooth solitary ride, highway hopping between the 101, 109 and 105. Whatever closer to the ocean.
Ending the day entering Oregon while ticking off another place from my bucket list of roads I wanted to drive in this country: the iconic 4 miles long Astoria-Megler Bridge. Beers now.
——
– “That’s what I said. You always contradict me. I was right. I knew it. It was about the history of Astoria, and, these are the rejects.”
– “Kind of like us, Mike, the Goonies”
Driving from Port Angeles to Astoria Cheat Sheet
Accommodation in Astoria:
- Astoria Rivershore Motel, 59 W Marine Dr, Astoria, OR 97103 Nice classic motel walking distance from the waterfront and from the small city center.
Where to eat and what to see between Port Angeles WA and Astoria OR
- The In Place, 320 S Forks Ave, Forks, WA 98331. Can’t get more PNW than this. Dining here feels like being in an episode of Twilight (obviously) or Twin Peaks.
- Hoh Rain Forest, 18113 Upper Hoh Rd, Forks, WA 98331 A rain Forest in the Pacific North West? Sounds impossible but it is true. A beautiful preserved rainforest with incredible vegetation. Get there early to avoid queuing and/or feeling like you are in Disneyland
- Ruby Beach When I got there it was misty, it was windy AF, the ocean raging and overally the weather couldn’t have been worst: it was just perfect.
- Mo’s Restaurant, 101 15th St, Astoria, OR 97103 There are a bunch of Mo’s all over the Oregon coast. This particular one is right on the water, the seafood is decent, the people working there very nice. I got there 5 minutes before closing time and everyone was extremely welcoming. PNW hospitality I guess.
- Fort George Brewery, 1483 Duane St, Astoria, OR 97103 great beers, you can have flights, in a beautiful building right in downtown Astoria.
Driving from Port Angeles to Astoria FAQ
It really depends on your route: the shortest one is about 210 miles. If you take the (recommended) Olympic Peninsula Loop the miles goes up to 241. My itinerary included a visit to the Hoh rainforest and some other detours and ended up being 336 miles
The shortest route from Port Angeles to Astoria can be done in 4 and half hours. Since I drove the Olympic Peninsula loop, stopped from breakfast at Fork and did a few hours hike in the Hoh rainforest, getting to the motel in Astoria took me about 12 hours.
You are driving surrounded by nature, with never-ending forests, beautiful trees everywhere. It is really a magical place miles away from the busyness we are all used to in our big cities.
The Hoh rainforest is a must stop if you are around the Olympic peninsula. Also Ruby Beach is a wild and fascinating place that worth stopping for a few minutes. Leaving Washington State to Enter Oregon you’ll drive the beautiful and iconic 4 miles long Astoria-Megler Bridge.
You are in the PNW. Forget about convertibles (if it might rain, it will rain) or sports cars. A midsize is probably the best option, something bigger and more robust like a 4wd or a pickup if you can (to feel like a local lol), even better.
West Coast road trip pictures: photos taken between Port Angeles and Astoria
My itinerary on a West Coast road trip
- Seattle to San Diego road trip – main article
- Day 1: Sea-Tac to Seattle
- Day 2: Seattle to Port Angeles
- Day 3: Port Angeles to Astoria
- Day 4: Astoria to Florence
- Day 5: Florence to Crescent City
- Day 6: Crescent City to Fortuna
- Day 7, 8 and 9: Fortuna to Napa
- Day 10 and 11: Napa to San Francisco
- Day 12: San Francisco to Monterey
- Day 13: Monterey to King City
- Day 14: King City to San Luis Obispo
- Day 15: San Luis Obispo to Carpinteria
- Day 16-17-18: Carpinteria to Los Angeles
- Day 19-20: Los Angeles to San Diego
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