Few travel thrills beat stepping off a plane, pointing the car toward salt air, and ending the weekend above the treeline. These airport‑friendly escapes pair beaches and bays with ridgelines and alpine lakes—no complex logistics, just satisfying contrasts and short drive times.
Seattle: ferries and the Cascades
Touch down at SEA and grab your Seattle car rental. Start with waterfront coffee and a quick ferry to Bainbridge for orca‑spotting odds, then swing east to Snoqualmie Pass for easy hikes and waterfall views. With an extra day, trace the loop around Mount Rainier’s scenic drives for meadows and glaciers. Target 2–3 hours of driving per day so you have time for trail stops and viewpoints.
Portland: sea stacks to volcano vistas
From PDX, a Portland car hire puts Cannon Beach within two hours—Haystack Rock at low tide is a classic. Roll back via Tillamook creameries, then climb the Historic Columbia River Highway for short waterfall walks. If weather’s kind, finish on Mount Hood’s Timberline Road at golden hour and watch cloud shadows sweep the Cascade crest.
Los Angeles: surf sunrise, ridge sunset
Pick up wheels at LAX and trace the Pacific Coast Highway for tide pools and pier views before swinging inland to the San Gabriels for an Angeles Crest overlook. Malibu mornings and Mount Wilson evenings give you a 360‑degree Southern California sampler without leaving the county. Add a Santa Monica bike spin to loosen up after the flight.
Boston: harbor breezes to granite summits
From Logan, set up a North Shore–to–White Mountains weekend. Stroll Rockport’s coves, then aim for Franconia Notch or Mount Washington’s Auto Road (seasonal). Fall foliage weekends are popular; start early for parking and consider midweek travel for lighter traffic.
San Francisco: lighthouse to ridgeline
Rent near SFO and combine coastal bluffs with Marin headlands. Point Reyes’ lighthouse viewpoints pair beautifully with Mount Tamalpais for sunset. If you’ve got Monday off, extend down to Big Sur for bridges, tide pools, and espresso views. Fog can be thick—carry patience and keep headlights on.
Sample weekend template (any city)
- Day 1: Land before noon → beach walk or lighthouse → seafood dinner near the water.
- Day 2: Morning coastal stop → scenic drive inland → mountain viewpoint hike → stargazing.
- Day 3: Sunrise overlook → brunch → return on a different route for fresh scenery.
Traffic & timing tips
- Beat city rush by scheduling flights that arrive before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
- Coastal parking lots fill by late morning on sunny Saturdays—arrive early or aim for late‑afternoon golden hour.
- Mountain trailheads clear after 2 p.m.; consider a sunset hike with headlamps and layers.
- Check pass requirements (state parks, recreation areas) and buy online to skip kiosks.
What to pack in the trunk
- Quick‑dry towel, compact picnic kit, and camp chairs.
- Light puffer + wind shell; weather flips quickly between ocean and ridge.
- Small cooler with freezer packs for beach snacks.
- Paper maps for dead‑zone mountain gaps.
With Hola Car Rentals you can compare compact crossovers for winding coast roads and roomy SUVs for mountain gear—always with clear pricing. Perks that keep weekends easy include:
- Free Cancellation up to 48 hours before pick‑up.
- All‑Inclusive+ Rate with maximum coverage.
- Free travel insurance up to US$150,000.
- Cashback on tolls on selected itineraries.
- No additional fees, save up to 60% guaranteed.
Grab the keys, split your days between sea spray and summit air, and book with Hola Car Rentals—the simple way to turn one weekend into two vacations.
Prefer to keep fuel stops light? Filter for hybrids when you compare vehicles. Many coastal and mountain towns now offer convenient charging and hotel lots with Level‑2 plugs, so an efficient crossover can cover the whole loop with a single nightly top‑up.
