FAQ: Seattle to Portland

Seattle to Portland Road Trip Distance

• 146 miles / 234 km as the crow flies
• 174 miles / 278 km driving distance along the most direct route along the I-5 (read below for more scenic options if you aren't in a hurry)

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Portland to Seattle Drive Time

Los Angeles and San Francisco are both large and populated cities (Seattle in particular), so traffic conditions can affect the drive time on either end. With optimal traffic, taking the I-5, you should be able to make it in three and a half hours without stops.

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Places to Visit Between Seattle and Portland

If you're willing to take some time to stray from the I-5, there's some beautiful places to see on either side of the highway such as:

• Mount Rainier National Park
• Olympic National Forest
• Olympic National Park

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Is it Better to Drive or Fly From Seattle to Portland?

The usual pros and cons of driving all apply; such as environmental impact and lower cost (especially when using MirrorTrip) which both weigh in favor of driving. Normally, speed is the main advantage to flying however in this case I think given the short duration of the trip, you're probably likely to spend more time waiting around in airports than you would on the road.

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