If you’re looking for a unique day trip itinerary from Vancouver, Washington then the Clark County scenic drive should be on your radar!Today we’re sharing the perfect itinerary for this unique one day scenic drive in Washington State. This beautiful road trip includes fantastic food, a historic mill, wildlife viewing opportunities, several quaint downtowns, and waterfalls. In spring you can also enjoy seasonal wildflowers and tulip picking. You’ll find something for everyone along this route, and it’s a great weekend activity for out of town visitors and families. See below for our full Clark County scenic drive itinerary!

This blog post was written in partnership with Visit Vancouver, Washington. All opinions and perspectives are our own.

Looking for more Vancouver, Washington travel inspiration? We also have a full 2 day weekend itinerary for Vancouver, and a guide to the best spring flower locations in and around Vancouver, Washongton.

Clark County scenic drive Itinerary

The ultimate Vancouver, Washington road trip

If you’re looking for the perfect way to explore Vancouver, Washington and Clark County then I highly recommend spending a day doing the Clark County scenic drive. See below for how to spend a full day exploring this beautiful 1 day road trip in Washington!

Breakfast at Bleu Door Bakery in Vancouver, WA

Start your adventure with breakfast at Bleu Door Bakery in downtown Vancouver, Washington. This adorable French-inspired bakery and cafe makes fresh pastries and breads, and they sell sandwiches and heartier sit-down meals. I recommend enjoying a meal in their light and bright cafe location, but you can also grab your meal to-go from their pickup window outside the cafe!

For breakfast we enjoyed their biscuits and gravy (they make a vegan-friendly mushroom option!), as well as  blueberry tart and their seasonal lemon rhubarb bread pudding. 

Wildlife viewing along the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour

After visiting Battle Ground Lake State Park head west to Ridgefield National Wildlife for an auto tour! Located in Ridgefield, Washington just 25 minutes north of Vancouver, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect an overwintering area for migratory birds. 

This area is beautiful to visit year round, and you can opt to hike (note that some trails close seasonally), or do a 4 mile auto tour to see the birds. We’ve done the auto tour several times and always enjoy seeing the abundant birds, as well as the beautiful landscape. This is an especially good activity for rainy days because you can stay in your vehicle during the tour.

Travel tip: Entrance to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is $3 per day or $15 for an annual pass. Alternatively, you can purchase an America the Beautiful annual pass and use it here, as well as national parks and other public lands.

Lunch at La Catrina in Ridgefield, Washington

After your autotour, head into downtown Ridgefield to have lunch at La Catrina. La Catrina is a charming food truck featuring delicious Mexican flavors. We both got fajita burritos, which were fresh, flavorful, and generously sized. Their hot sauce was a fantastic addition! 

If you have extra time I also recommend exploring downtown Ridgefield. This charming city has a quaint downtown with local shops and restaurants. 

Visit a U-pick tulip farm at theHolland America Flowers’ Tulip Fields (spring)

If you’re going this drive in spring I recommend adding a stop at the Holland America Flowers’ Tulip Fields tulip U-pick fields! Located in Woodland, Washington just 30 minutes north of Vancouver, the Holland America Flowers’ Tulip Fields, this fun family-friendly experience offers visitors the opportunity to pick their own tulips!

In spring you can take pictures in the beautiful tulip fields, and to pick your own flowers for $1/flower throughout April. Payment is cash only, and is on the honor system.

Travel tip: As of April 14, 2025 the fields were in full bloom and open to the public for the 2025 season! Please note that pets are not allowed in the fields. 

See a piece of history at the Cedar Creek Grist Mill

Next, visit a unique piece of history in Clark County by visiting the Cedar Creek Grist Mill. The stunning Cedar Creek Grist Mill is a unique historical grain-grinding mill. The mill is water-powered, and sits in a beautiful wooden structure along the river. There is also a tall covered bridge next to the mill. This mill is part of the National Register of Historic Places.

Because they are volunteer run, the hours you can go inside the mill are limited. You can go inside the mill on Saturdays from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. However, outside of those hours you can still visit and walk around the outside of the mill at any time. 

Want to get good photos of the Cedar Creek Grist Mill? I recommend bringing a wide angle lens with you! All of our camera gear is linked below.

Visit Moulton Falls Regional Park

After visiting Cedar Creek Grist Mill I recommend heading to Moulton Falls Regional Park for a short hike or stroll. Located at the confluence of the East Fork of the Lewis River and Big Tree Creek, Moulton Falls is a beautiful 387-acre regional park. Here you can find a network of hiking trails, volcanic rock formations, picnic tables, and a beautiful waterfall. 

Depending on how much time you want to spend at Moulton Falls Regional Park you can do a full 2+ mile hike, or simply walk to the falls (just steps from the parking lot) and do a short stroll to the park’s historic arched bridge.

Travel tip: the rocks here can be quite slippery, so be careful when walking near the water! Children and pets should be watched at all times, as the falls can be dangerous.

Take in the views and watch salmon migrate at Lucia Falls

Next, head a few minutes down the road to Lucia Falls Regional Park. Here you can take a short walk down to a beautiful waterfall. During certain times of year you can watch salmon migrate upstream here! 

Go for a short hike at Battle Ground Lake State Park

For your last hike of the day I recommend driving to Battle Ground Lake State Park! This beautiful state park has a lot to explore, and you can enjoy a wide veracity of activities here. Options include kayaking, fishing, boating, camping, horseback riding, and biking. As of 2025 campsites range from $12/day to $30+, so this makes for a great low-cost lodging option close to Vancouver, Washington.

If you’re looking to hike here we recommend the upper and lower loop trail, which is about 2 miles and includes 200 feet of elevation gain and loss. The lower trail offers great views of the lake, but is a bit rocky in places and can be muddy after rain. The upper trail offers fewer views of the lake, but the path is easier to navigate and in spring you’ll see trillium and other wildflowers along the path. 

Travel tip: you will need to display a Washington Discover Pass ($30 annually) or pay a $10 entrance fee for the day. 

Dinner in downtown Vancouver, Washington

After spending a day exploring the Clark County scenic drive I recommend returning to downtown Vancouver for dinner. Below are two recommendations for excellent places to eat, both of which are located on the Vancouver waterfront. 

Grassa on the Vancouver Waterfront

Grassa is a fast casual local chain that started in downtown Portland in 2013 (I had just moved to Portland when they first opened and I remember the hype!). They have a modern Italian flair, and serve fresh pasta dishes, salads, delicious appetizers and tasty cocktails. Their Vancouver waterfront location is light, bright, and spacious. The price points are also extremely reasonable. 

We enjoyed their spaghetti aglio olio with garlic, chili flake, olive oil, grana, and breadcrumbs, and their black truffle pappardelle with butter, grana, and cracked black pepper. We also ordered their buratta, which comes with charred bread, roasted pear, grapes, and arugula. 

Ruse Crust Collective on the Vancouver Waterfront 

Ruse Crust Collective on the Vancouver Waterfront is one of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver, and we always try to visit when we’re in town. They are known for their own beer, cocktails, and their pizza, and have a full menu with something for everyone. 

I can’t emphasize this enough: their Detroit-style pizza is truly phenomenal. This spot easily makes the list of the top 5 best pizzas I’ve ever had! The sizes are generous, and can easily feed two hungry people. Our go-to order is the Greektown without olives. I’m also a huge fan of their beets and burrata salad (served with delicious chili crisp), and their rotating smoothie-style tart ales. Their full tap list can be found here.

Evening stroll along the Vancouver, Washington waterfront (plus, grab a little treat!)

End your evening with a stroll along the Vancouver, Washington waterfront. This vibrant park and walking path in downtown offers excellent views of the river, as well as the Columbia River Interstate bridge. During warmer weather you’ll see buskers out playing music, and kids playing in the park. This is truly one of my favorite areas of Vancouver! 

I suggest ending the night with ice cream from Salt & Straw’s Vancouver location, or walking a few blocks north to enjoy a beer at Loowit Brewing. Salt & Straw is famous for their unique ice cream flavors (they once served an ice cream with sea urchin in it!), and Loowit had delicious beer that they brew in-house.

I hope you found this guide to the Clark County Scenic Drive helpful! Looking for more Vancouver, Washington travel inspiration? We also have a full 2 day weekend itinerary for Vancouver, and a guide to the best spring flower locations in and around Vancouver, Washongton.