The Ultimate College Tour Travel Guide: West Coast & Pacific Northwest
Plan your ultimate West Coast & Pacific Northwest college tour: explore California campuses, Portland, and Seattle with hotels, activities, and road trip pro tips.
Courtesy of UCLA
The West Coast and Pacific Northwest are tailor-made for an epic road trip. From California’s palm-lined boulevards to the forests of Oregon and the skyline of Seattle, you’ll find schools that range from laid-back beach vibes to tech-fueled innovation hubs. This route gives you not just a taste of campus life, but also unforgettable landscapes and city adventures.
Note: I’m not suggesting you have knock out all of this in one trip! You can break it into smaller chunks - just try to give yourself a balance of checking out schools and memory-making side activities. The goal is for it to be a trip you look forward to.
Potential Schools & Route
Los Angeles → Santa Barbara → Bay Area → Portland → Seattle
This route practically begs for a road trip. Start in California, where campuses stretch from the sun-soaked coast to the Bay Area’s tech hub, then wind your way north into the Pacific Northwest. Each stop has its own flavor: beachy vibes and palm trees in Southern California, coffee-fueled study sessions in Seattle, quirky campus energy in Portland, and redwood hikes in between. You’ll cover some miles, but the mix of scenery, schools, and side adventures makes it worth every hour on the road.
Los Angeles: UCLA, USC, Loyola Marymount
Santa Barbara: UC Santa Barbara
Bay Area: Stanford, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State
Portland: Reed, Lewis & Clark, Portland State
Seattle: University of Washington, Seattle University
Courtesy of Rosewood Miramar Beach
MPKO Travels’ Hotel Picks
Los Angeles
Palihotel West Hollywood – Quirky, stylish, and walkable, this boutique spot feels laid-back and creative, perfect for families who want a taste of LA cool without the Beverly Hills fuss.
Kimpton La Peer Hotel – In the heart of West Hollywood’s Design District, this boutique luxury option balances artsy edge with approachable rates. Plus, it has a pool and rooftop lounge that feels very “SoCal.”
Santa Barbara
Rosewood Miramar Beach – Freshly reimagined and right on the sand, this Montecito icon pairs SoCal glamour with Rosewood polish (plus Fora perks).
Hotel Milo – Beachfront boutique with Mediterranean style and approachable pricing.
San Francisco
1 Hotel San Francisco – Sustainable luxury with waterfront views, serene interiors, and Fora perks for that extra edge.
The LINE San Francisco – Hip and creative, with sleek design and a buzzy rooftop bar, perfect for an affordable luxe stay.
Portland
The Nines – Glamorous luxury atop downtown Portland’s historic Meier & Frank building with Fora perks.
Ace Hotel Portland – Eclectic and budget-friendly with hipster charm and a central location.
Seattle
Four Seasons Seattle – Waterfront luxury with Fora perks, pool overlooking Puget Sound, and walkability to Pike Place.
The Graduate Seattle – Quirky, affordable luxury with collegiate-inspired design and rooftop views.
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Make it an Adventure
Los Angeles
Day Trip: Head to Malibu for beach time between tours (stop at the newly reopened Gladstone’s for lunch).
Don’t Miss: The Getty Villa Museum.
Food Break: Tacos at Guerrilla Tacos.
Santa Barbara
Day Trip: Wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley (stop at the Solvang Bakery!).
Don’t Miss: Strolling State Street’s boutiques and cafes.
Food Break: Fresh seafood at Brophy Bros.
Bay Area
Day Trip: Take the ferry to Sausalito or Tiburon.
Don’t Miss: Golden Gate Bridge views from Crissy Field.
Food Break: Dim sum in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Portland
Day Trip: Columbia River Gorge for waterfalls and hiking, or head to Corvallis to visit my kiddo at Oregon State.
Don’t Miss: Powell’s City of Books – the world’s largest independent bookstore.
Food Break: A food truck pod for Portland’s best bites.
Seattle
Day Trip: Ferry over to Bainbridge Island for a charming small-town feel.
Don’t Miss: The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP).
Food Break: Oysters at Elliott’s Oyster House.
Pro Tips
Pack for layers – West Coast weather can shift quickly between sun and fog.
Build in downtime; road trips mean long stretches, so balance school visits with scenic stops.
Use one-way car rentals if possible; it saves you from doubling back.
West Coast tours can feel just as ambitious as the East—but with sunshine, redwoods, and ocean breezes in the mix, the energy is different. These trips aren’t about hitting every single campus; they’re about finding the right rhythm.
If planning out each stop feels overwhelming, I can help craft an itinerary that flows… from SoCal sun to NorCal culture to the laid-back Pacific Northwest. You’ll get a balance of school visits, coastal drives, and downtime to actually enjoy the trip. That way, the journey feels inspiring instead of exhausting, and you get to soak up the memories while I handle the logistics.
Keep Exploring the College Tour Series
Didn’t see the school or region you’re considering? I can create a custom guide that’s tailored to your list, your timeline, and your travel style—so your college tour feels less like a marathon and more like a memorable adventure.
