Route from Astoria, OR to Wenatchee, WA

US12 should see quite a bit of recreational traffic. It's the SE entrance to Mt Rainier, with a state park and National Park campground just to the north on 123. The summit is a ski area, and Rim Rock lake on east side is surrounded by camping options.

While I love 12, If I were towing but still wanted a scenic drive, I'd take 14 or I84 t0 97 and then north.

Rhagfo, but your route is longer. ???

Don and Eileen wrote:
Thank you, all. Paulj, your suggestions are most welcome. We'll do 12. By the way, we've driven the Gorge a few times and love it, but don't mind missing it this time in favor of a quicker drive.
Also, the other recommendation of 2 is also appreciated. We've driven that beautiful route from the east to the west, but want to stay away from drive up and around Seattle.
Thanks again!

Well ScottG lives in Bothel a little north and east of Seattle, so the 405 to Hwy2 makes sense to him. Hwy 12 is a beautiful drive and you miss the mess north of Olympia.

Thank you, all. Paulj, your suggestions are most welcome. We'll do 12. By the way, we've driven the Gorge a few times and love it, but don't mind missing it this time in favor of a quicker drive.
Also, the other recommendation of 2 is also appreciated. We've driven that beautiful route from the east to the west, but want to stay away from drive up and around Seattle.
Thanks again!

US30 to Longview is a given.

I5 north is busy but rural freeway, relatively straight and uneventful to Olympia. From there north it is increasingly urban freeway, with the usual rush hour issues. WSDOT has a good traffic cameras.

WA18 is a cut off to I90, a mix of 2 lane and divided. The intersection of 18 and 90 is one of the busier ones.

WSDOT photos of this interchange

I90 is the main freeway over the Cascades. US970/US97 is a mountain pass 'short cut' to US2. An alternative is to stay on I90 to the Columbia River, and several state highways on the east side of the river north.

US12 is good highway. Valley bottom to Packwood, then over a pass. As with most Cascades crossings the west side is twistier and steeper, the east side more of a long flowing grade. US82 is a fast low pass between Yakima and I90.

When I first saw the question I was tempted to suggest I84 through the Columbia Gorge, and US97 all the way north. But from Astoria that has to drop quite a ways south, adding a couple of hours to the drive. Still, it is scenic, and I've done it, with a campover along the Gorge.

I prefer I405 to Hwy 2. Gorgeous drive!

X2 One trip into Seattle will comnvince you.

US 12 has some narrow portions. It is far the most scenic route. The narrow crooked portion is on the east side. West side is a good highway.

Thank you!