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Tips for biking to Portland

Hey, has anybody biked from Seattle to Portland? I am considering making the trip this September. I don't want to ride in the big pack that does the STP because i'm a loner, not a joiner.
Are there good hotels to stay at on the way? (I don't want to sleep under the stars.) Anything I should avoid or be aware of?

Thanks in advance for any advice ya'll have.

Misty Brown asked in Bicycles 10 months ago | Report

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    I did the same, and enjoyed it. Route & notes here: http://dsz123.net/PortlandBikeTrip/

    I'd recommend skipping the first part of the STP route and going over to Vashon, then over to Tacoma (by ferries) instead. Meet up with the STP route south of Tacoma and you're golden.

    I did the trip in 3 days, and stayed at the McMinnamin's Olympic Club in Centralia the first night, and then at a motel in Longview.

    Good luck!

    dsz123 answered in Bicycles 10 months ago | Report
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    I've done it a few times both with the STP and bike touring with friends - first of all the STP route is pretty good - avoids Tacoma's cars and the midway point of Chehalis/Centralia, has hotels and grocery stores and a brewpub and is a long day's ride away. There's an awful lot of sprawl and industry to get past when leaving Seattle, so I'd recommend leaving early to beat the traffic (or you could put your bike on a southbound bus and get off in Auburn or someplace, but that's not exactly biking) OR you could get on the ferry to Bremerton and ride southwest towards Shelton.

    Crossing the Columbia can be done at Astoria, Kelso/Longview or I-5 at Vancouver - only the latter has any sort of infrastructure for crossing the bridge - the first two are long, scary, and exposed, but people do it...

    have a good trip!

    JAT answered in Bicycles 10 months ago | Report
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    I haven't done it, but my best friend almost did. He was hit by a car in Tacoma... so don't get hit by a car.

    JJM answered in Bicycles 10 months ago | Report
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