Portland’s famously rainy, overcast winters make the call of the sun impossible to ignore. Head south through California’s wine country, along the Pacific Coast, or straight to the desert — these drives deliver warmth, clear skies, and adventure.
Portland → Redwoods → Mendocino → San Francisco → Santa Barbara → Los Angeles
Hug the Pacific Coast through towering redwoods, charming Mendocino, and across the Golden Gate before reaching the warm sunshine of Santa Barbara and LA. One of the world’s great coastal drives.
Portland → I-5 South → Sacramento → Bakersfield → Los Angeles → San Diego
Take the fast route straight down I-5 through California’s Central Valley and arrive in San Diego’s perfect climate. Year-round sunshine, incredible tacos, and a laid-back surf culture await.
Portland → Redding → Sacramento → Bakersfield → Palm Springs → Joshua Tree
Drive south through Northern California and into the warm Coachella Valley. Palm Springs offers mid-century modern style, natural hot springs, and winter highs in the 70s surrounded by dramatic desert mountains.
Portland → Crater Lake → Reno → Las Vegas → Phoenix
Combine Oregon’s most stunning natural wonder with the warm desert Southwest. Stop at Crater Lake (spectacular in any season), pass through Vegas, and end in Phoenix’s 70-degree winter paradise.
Portland → Boise → Salt Lake City → Flagstaff → Sedona → Tucson
Head southeast through the intermountain West to the red-rock beauty of Sedona and the warm Sonoran Desert around Tucson. This drive offers some of the most varied landscapes in America.