UK to Los Angeles and out of Seattle

Question

Hi. My daughter finishes her GCSE exams this June and along with my wife, we are thinking of flying from London to Los Angeles, hiring a car and driving up to Seattle where we would fly back home to London. We would depart around the 21st July and return 3 weeks later. I've a few questions that if anyone could help with would be great!

1) Is 3 weeks a realistic time frame to get the most out of this road trip?

2) Is a budget of £120/night for accommodation and £100/day spending money between 3 realistic?

3) Is it a good time of year to do this trip?

4) With the current political 'tensions', should we delay this trip and perhaps stay in Europe?

Answer

Your planned road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle over three weeks can be an incredible experience, covering diverse landscapes from Southern California beaches to the Pacific Northwest forests and coastline. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you plan:

1) Is 3 weeks realistic?

Yes, three weeks is a very reasonable amount of time to enjoy a leisurely road trip along the West Coast without feeling rushed. You can cover major highlights such as:

Los Angeles: Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and nearby theme parks like Disneyland.
Central Coast: Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Big Sur, Monterey, and Carmel.
San Francisco Bay Area: Golden Gate, Alcatraz, wine country, and coastal scenery.
Redwoods and Northern California: Avenue of the Giants, Redwood National Park.
Oregon Coast: Cannon Beach, Newport, and scenic coastal highways.
Seattle & Puget Sound: Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Mount Rainier or Olympic National Park day trips.

This timeframe allows 2–3 nights in key destinations with time for sightseeing, hiking, and enjoying the scenery without long, stressful drives every day.

2) Budget considerations

Assuming £120/night for accommodation and £100/day per person spending money for three people:

Accommodation: £120/night (~$150 USD) is moderate; in major cities like LA, San Francisco, and Seattle, mid-range hotels or motels may slightly exceed this, but Airbnb or budget hotels can help.
Food and activities: £100/day per person (~$125 USD) is realistic, covering casual meals, sightseeing, and occasional attractions. Splurges like theme parks or guided tours may need extra funds.
Car rental & gas: Don’t forget to budget for rental insurance, fuel, and parking fees, which can be substantial in cities.

3) Time of year

Late July is ideal for weather along the West Coast:

Southern California: warm and dry.
Central Coast & Northern California: generally sunny, though coastal fog can appear in mornings.
Pacific Northwest: generally mild and dry in July, perfect for sightseeing and hiking.

Traffic and crowds may be heavier in popular spots due to summer vacation season, so early planning for accommodation is recommended.

4) Political or safety concerns

Currently, there are no widespread travel advisories for the U.S. for tourists from the UK. Standard safety precautions (keeping valuables secure, monitoring local news, and avoiding unsafe neighborhoods at night) are sufficient. There’s no pressing reason to delay the trip for political tensions, and summer is a prime season for visiting the West Coast.

Additional tips:

Plan your route with some buffer days to rest and explore spontaneous spots along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Book accommodations in advance, especially in San Francisco, LA, and Seattle.
Pack for varied climates—Southern California will be warm, Northern California and Oregon can be cooler, especially near the coast.

Overall, your plan is realistic and should allow a memorable road trip with your family along the West Coast.