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Get out the map and hit the road for some family fun and adventure. Photo: iStock
Road trip!
A good road trip is a rite of childhood: piling into the car and hitting the open road for a family adventure. These are the kinds of trips where we orient our kids to the travel of our youth, where bonding (and squabbling over what music we play) is inevitable, and where memories of mileposts and road trip games are created.
These seven driving routes from the Seattle area (plus one bonus!) will immerse you in the heart and soul of Northwest landscapes and communities. You’ll feel the spray of waterfalls, smell the desert sage, stop at funky attractions for fun photo ops and fill up on fantastic roadside eats. Each stop is handpicked to add a unique experience to your trip. Let’s go!
- Southwest Washington Coast
- The Columbia Gorge
- The Mountain Loop
- North Olympic Peninsula
- Wenatchee Valley to Lake Chelan
- Mount Rainier
- Grand Coulee
- The Sunshine Coast, B.C.
More family getaways around Washington: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2015, but family road trips never go out of style. It was updated most recently on June 20, 2025, by ParentMap’s managing editor, Allison Sutcliffe, who verified all the travel details so families can plan a great vacation! Mile markers mentioned are from Seattle and are approximate.