If you haven’t driven in the US before, Seattle is a good place to get your bearings. Roads are in good condition, navigation is straightforward and most of the driving rules will be familiar to you. The only major difference is the side of the road you’ll be driving on: the right, with overtaking on the left. As at home, seatbelts must be worn by the driver and all passengers, and you can be pulled over and fined for using a mobile phone while driving. The top speed limit on freeways in Washington State is 70mph, with limits dropping in urban areas. As always, follow the signage.

The airport sits south of Seattle, and the fastest route into the city is via the I-5, a 15-mile drive that should take around 20 minutes, depending on traffic. The same road will take you onwards, along the coast, all the way up to the border with Canada, close to Vancouver. Take it south, however, and it will swing west to Tacoma and Olympia, before plunging south again, all the way to Oregon and beyond.

The other major interstate route here is the I-90. You can either get onto it in Seattle’s centre or, from the airport, head north-east on the I-405 and then join it near Factoria. It heads inland, skirting beautiful state parks, wildland areas and Tiger, Cougar and Squak mountains. If you’re planning a road trip, it whizzes past some wonderful out-of-way towns and villages as it heads into Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and all the way to Chicago and New York. It’s a memorable coast-to-coast drive.

Seattle Tacoma Airport, or ‘Sea Tac’ as locals call it, is in a very handy spot for visiting anywhere in the Washington State area. The airfield is around 25 miles north of Tacoma itself and around 15 miles south of Seattle, but you can explore the whole state in your hire car with ease.

The best of Seattle

One of America’s ‘coolest’ cities is spread around the shores of Puget Sound with a backdrop of inspiring forests and mountains. Over recent decades, the docks and harbour have been softened by an alternative bohemian atmosphere that makes Seattle uniquely interesting. Among all those coffee bars and waterfront restaurants in converted warehouses there are major sights too. The 100-year-old Pike Place on the harbour has become the spot for street food and local farm produce. And you’ll get stunning views from the top of the Space Needle Tower and enjoy one of the world’s top music attractions at the Experience Music Project – which is a unique, artist-style building.

Explore historic Tacoma

Down at the south end of Puget Sound, Tacoma also has plenty of things to see and do. In fact, the city lists more than 100 historic properties within its limits. Tacoma is a port city that has diversified. It has become famous for its glass making, with a spectacular Museum of Glass and glass-blowing studio linked to the downtown by a Bridge of Glass.

Elsewhere look out for the collection of 300 vehicles at the enormous LeMay America’s Car Museum and the Washington State History Museum, which tells you the story of the intrepid settler of this north-eastern state. Sixth Avenue is the centre of the food and music scene, while Proctor and Stadium districts have the best independent shops and boutiques to explore.

Cultivating Olympia

To the west of Tacoma is Washington’s state capital, Olympia. It’s easy to visit the number one attraction, the 100-year-old capitol building. Free tours of the grand domed government centre are available, every day of the week. Across this compact waterside city you’ll find an emphasis of cultural attractions: Olympia serves as the artistic capital of the state too. Spot public art and murals everywhere, although the best place to view art is in the 80 acres of the Monarch Contemporary Art and Sculpture Park.

Head for the hills

A short drive to the south-west will bring you to the famous Mount Rainier National Park and a chance to see an active volcano among beautiful mountain scenery. You can explore forests and glaciers by car, by hiking or using a charming little steam train from the town of Elbe in the foothills. Car hire at Seattle Tacoma Airport is your key to unlocking sensational Seattle and the subtle joys of Washington State.