dmdellicolli

I am traveling from Seattle to Portland with my girlfriend in a month or so. I see its about 200 miles, and I would like to extend this out to 4-5 days to keep it mellow. What is a good scenic route, since time is not really an issue. Thanks in advance.

-Dan

jamawani 

Four to five days?

I'd cross over to Port Townsend - great town.
Then ride down US 101 to just north of Shelton.
Hwy 102 and county roads thru Matlock to Brady.
Then Hwy 107 and back to US 101.
(Optionally, you can ride thru a coastal loop on Hwy 105)
Then US 101 to Naselle and Hwy 4 to Cathlamet.
Cross the Columbia on the ferry and take US 30 into Portland
You come into Portland and pass the historic St Johns Bridge.
(Or you can take Hwy 47 to Pittsburg and down to Scappoose - steep)



If you are a AAA member there are two detailed maps that cover the area -
Plus show all the parks and public camping facilities
1) Olympic Peninsula
2) Columbia Valley
Make sure to get these whatever route you choose.

Best - J

PS - Portland bike maps
https://www.portlandonline.com/TRANSP...809#nhood.maps

jamawani 

There'a a shuttle up to Mukilteo
Then a ferry across to Whidbey Island - very bike friendly -
Then another ferry over to Port Townsend.

Plus -
You'll have tailwinds all the way from the coast to Portland.

Bekologist

wset side of the sound definetly. having done that ride, its excellent.

5 days, you're going to want to do some serious wandering as per jamawani's route.

more direct, its' 1- 200 mile day, 2, 100 mile days, or 3 70 mile days to portland on a relatively direct, very senic and relaxing, ride down the west side of the sound.... edited to correct

seattle to bremerton ferry, down to just west of olympia, and into capitol forest. camping abounds to near Mima Mounds natural area, then you meander thru grand mound, centralia/chelalis if you need hotel services, or staying west, meandering near Napavine and Winlock then the old, west side highway past Castle Rock, across the Columbia at Longview/ more hotel service and into portland on the 30.

added The old farm roads between Napavine and Longview are quite nice and direct. a bit of indirect necessary between Grand mound and Napavine. The East side of I-5 roads between Cehalis and almost Vancouver is nice riding as well, but seems much busier, and leaves you in not quite as conveinent approach to Portland versus the 30.

dmdellicolli

Thanks so much for the info! I wasn't quite sure how long it'd take, but i see that 5 days would take an awful lot of meandering.

dmdellicolli

Any great camping spots along the way? I would really like to plan this trip around great destinations along the way. Thanks again for the help.

Bekologist

Good camping in and around Capitol forest south of Olympia. There's a primitive CG directly to the west of Mima Mounds natural area. From Grand Mound to to Longview the camping is sparce W side, more plentiful E side of I-5. Oregon miles into Portland has 2 legit CGs and plentiful stealth camping, also there's a LARGE island park that's day use only (stealth) as you get closer to the city. And Lief Erickson Drive (stealth) but that's pretty hilly. By the time you approach these, you're about an hour from downtown.

The youth hostel on East bank side- E. Hawthorne? has camping sites in the backyard but reckon you've got Portland accomodations.