I-5 Road Trip Guide: Vancouver WA to Seattle FIFA Matches

The World Cup is officially taking over the Pacific Northwest! If you are driving up US Interstate 5 for the matches this summer, make Vancouver, Washington, your game-day pit stop. As an Official Fan Zone for the Seattle matches, we are kicking off the tournament excitement with watch parties at Big Al’s Family Entertainment Center. Whether you are popping off the highway for world-class burgers, exploring historic sites, or looking for a comfortable place to break up the drive, here are the must-see I-5 pit stops in Southwest Washington.

Big Al’s Family Entertainment Center (Official Fan Zone)

Vancouver, Washington, is an Official Fan Zone of the FIFA World Cup 26™, where the Greater Vancouver Chamber, Visit Vancouver WA, and Big Al’s have partnered to bring the global game to life. Featuring a massive arcade, bowling lanes, and a monumental 55-foot wide HD stadium screen, Big Al's is the premier hub to catch official watch parties—including the massive USA vs. Australia match on June 19 and the Egypt vs. Iran showdown on June 26. Check out the full watch party schedule (running from June 15 through the Round of 16 on July 6). 

In-N-Out Burger (Vancouver & Ridgefield)

You don’t have to drive all the way to California to experience a true American fast-food phenomenon! Washington’s very first In-N-Out Burger locations are perfectly positioned right along your route north. Soccer fans and road-trippers alike can pull right off Interstate 5 to cross this bucket-list burger off their list. Swing by the brand-new Vancouver location on SE 3rd Way, or catch the other spot just a few minutes north in Ridgefield (Exit 14). Order a Double-Double, get your fries "Animal Style" from the secret menu, and fuel up for the drive with a classic milkshake. Other famous honorable mention chains include: Crispy Cones, Raising Cane's, Voodoo Doughnut, Dave's Hot Chicken, 85°C Bakery Cafe, The Yard Milkshake Bar, and Salt & Straw. 

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is quite unique as one of the few active National Park sites located right in a downtown. Established in 1825, this historic site was the 19th-century fur-trading headquarters for the Hudson’s Bay Company, making it an early melting pot where British, French-Canadian, Indigenous, and Hawaiian cultures came together. Visitors love watching live blacksmithing demonstrations (there is a small entry fee for the fort's interior) or exploring early aviation history at the adjacent Pearson Air Museum (free). If you just want a quick break from driving, you can walk around the expansive, tree-lined park grounds. It is the perfect spot to stretch your legs, get some fresh air, and relax before tackling the traffic on the way north.

The Vancouver Waterfront 

Experience the modern energy of the PNW at the newly developed Vancouver Waterfront. Stretching along the Columbia River, this walkable district is a chic pit stop to sip world-class Washington and Oregon wines at urban tasting rooms like Maryhill Winery or Willamette Valley Vineyards. If you want to stretch your pit stop into an overnight stay, the waterfront features boutique accommodations right on the river. Recharge in style at the sleek AC Hotel by Marriott or check into Hotel Indigo, making sure to grab a pre-match nightcap at their Witness Tree Lounge rooftop bar for sweeping views of the Columbia.

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

Minutes off I-5, the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge offers visitors a taste of northwest nature and cultural history. You can take a break from the highway by driving the refuge's 4.2-mile auto tour loop (located at the River S Unit), where you are almost guaranteed to spot bald eagles, herons, and sandhill cranes roaming the lush wetlands. Pop over to the refuge's separate Carty Unit entrance to visit the Cathlapotle Plankhouse—a full-scale, meticulously reconstructed Chinookan cedar plankhouse. It is an easy-to-access cultural stop that honors the region's Indigenous heritage before you continue your journey north. Please note that the Cathlapotle Plankhouse is sacred to our tribal communities. Please do not climb on it, remove wood, or otherwise damage it.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Just an hour and a half north of Vancouver, witness one of the most famous geological wonders. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens dramatically reshaped the landscape, and a quick detour off Interstate 5 at Castle Rock (Exit 49) takes you straight up the scenic Spirit Lake Memorial Highway (SR-504). While the very upper stretch of the highway undergoes long-term repairs, you can still access incredible views of the blast zone, beautiful hikes like the Hummocks Trail, and the spectacular Science and Learning Center at Coldwater, which sits just 7 miles from the volcanic crater. It’s a bucket-list photo-op and the ultimate PNW backdrop.  

Where to stay in Vancouver, WA