Astoria, OR to Vancouver, BC
Mar 22nd, 2005, 06:35 AM
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Astoria, OR to Vancouver, BC
I am in the process of planning a motorcycle trip for several couples from California to British Columbia. We will be spending one night in Astoria, Oregon and are trying to figure out the next night's stop somewhere in between Astoria and Vancouver, B.C. Preferably, a nice hotel/inn/motel that has a good restaurant for dinner within walking distance. Any advice on areas or routes, etc. would be appreciated. Thank you!
Mar 22nd, 2005, 05:43 PM
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Going directly, it is 318 miles to Vancouver, BC, from Astoria, Oregon. Seattle is a little over half way of this journey, and I think it would be an ideal place for you to spend a night. You will have many options for places to stay that are conveniently located to restaurants.
I'm not a motorcyclist, but leaving Astoria, a nice ride for you would be to cross the Columbia, get on the road that heads toward Ilwaco, and then 101 to Raymond. (There is a public restrooom in South Bend and a McDonald's and a good Dairy Queen in Raymond.)
From Raymond, Route 6 to Chehalis will take you through pleasant, rolling farm land. I would also suggest, that on your way north from Seattle, you get off I-5 at Exit 212 and get on Route 9. This is a lovely drive that ends in Sumas--a border crossing.
Have fun, you guys.
I'm not a motorcyclist, but leaving Astoria, a nice ride for you would be to cross the Columbia, get on the road that heads toward Ilwaco, and then 101 to Raymond. (There is a public restrooom in South Bend and a McDonald's and a good Dairy Queen in Raymond.)
From Raymond, Route 6 to Chehalis will take you through pleasant, rolling farm land. I would also suggest, that on your way north from Seattle, you get off I-5 at Exit 212 and get on Route 9. This is a lovely drive that ends in Sumas--a border crossing.
Have fun, you guys.
Mar 24th, 2005, 06:41 AM
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Happytrailstoyou: Thank you so much for the great help!!! We will definitely try to use the routes you posted. Yes, we will have fun. We are on a two week trip, Vancouver, Banff, Glacier Park and ending up in Bend, OR. We will be traveling in late July, so hopefully will have decent weather.
Mar 24th, 2005, 08:31 AM
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I would suggest an alternate route which I think might offer more interest to biking couples. Cross the Columbia and turn right on SR 401, keep on it to SR 4, which runs along (more or less) the north bank of the Columbia River through some very scenic and historic country. You will hit I-5 at Longview/Kelso; take it an hour and a bit north to the US 101 cutoff at Olympia (part of the loop US101 makes around the Olympic Peninsula) then follow 101 north along the west side of Hood Canal all the way to Port Townsend for your overnight. Probably around 5 hours BIS hours plus stops - a beautiful day trip. There are numerous lodging possibilities in Port Townsend, a lovey old town on Puget Sound.
Next day, take the Port Townsend-Keystone ferry over to Whidbey Island and take SR 20 north over Deception Pass (must-see) then east to the junction with SR 237. North on 237 through the Skagit Valley to the junction of SR 11. North on SR 11 aka "Chuckanut Drive" - a quite scenic and fun road - to Old Fairhaven, Belingham's historic waterfront district. From there, either back roads or I-5 to the border, then BC 99 into Vancouver. Again, around 5 hrs BIS plus ferry/border waits.
The SR 9 option mentioned by Happytrails is also a good idea; my experience with it however is that the time saved at the Blaine border crossing is consumed with suburban traffic entering Vancouver from the east.
A lot of this is weather-dependent, too; you don't mention when this trip will occur, so suggested routes might vary according to conditions.
Next day, take the Port Townsend-Keystone ferry over to Whidbey Island and take SR 20 north over Deception Pass (must-see) then east to the junction with SR 237. North on 237 through the Skagit Valley to the junction of SR 11. North on SR 11 aka "Chuckanut Drive" - a quite scenic and fun road - to Old Fairhaven, Belingham's historic waterfront district. From there, either back roads or I-5 to the border, then BC 99 into Vancouver. Again, around 5 hrs BIS plus ferry/border waits.
The SR 9 option mentioned by Happytrails is also a good idea; my experience with it however is that the time saved at the Blaine border crossing is consumed with suburban traffic entering Vancouver from the east.
A lot of this is weather-dependent, too; you don't mention when this trip will occur, so suggested routes might vary according to conditions.
Mar 25th, 2005, 06:43 AM
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Thank you Gardyloo. This is the type of route that my husband was hoping to find. Port Townsend looks abosolutely wonderful for an overnight. Do you have any recommendations for lodging or restaurants (within walking distance of lodging). This motorcycle trip will take place the first of August, so hopefully the weather will be decent.
Again, thank you!
Again, thank you!
Mar 25th, 2005, 02:59 PM
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Chico,
Please let your husband know that the routing SR4, I-5, and 101 from Astoria to Port Townsend is 399 miles and that 101 is not very scenic except for a short stretch north of the Quinault Indian Reservation and when it passes along the shores of Crescent Lake.
SR 4 is a beautiful drive, but the drive by Willapa Bay and Route 6 are beautiful too and by going that route you will avoid the 40 hectic miles of I-5 between Longview and Chehalis.
Unfortunately, there is no reasonable way quiet or scenic road that parallels I-5 from Chehalis to Exit 212, which I recommended.
I recommended Highway 9 north of Exit 212 because it is a lovely drive, not because it ends in Sumas. However, Sumas is an entry to Canada.
Please let your husband know that the routing SR4, I-5, and 101 from Astoria to Port Townsend is 399 miles and that 101 is not very scenic except for a short stretch north of the Quinault Indian Reservation and when it passes along the shores of Crescent Lake.
SR 4 is a beautiful drive, but the drive by Willapa Bay and Route 6 are beautiful too and by going that route you will avoid the 40 hectic miles of I-5 between Longview and Chehalis.
Unfortunately, there is no reasonable way quiet or scenic road that parallels I-5 from Chehalis to Exit 212, which I recommended.
I recommended Highway 9 north of Exit 212 because it is a lovely drive, not because it ends in Sumas. However, Sumas is an entry to Canada.
Mar 26th, 2005, 06:42 AM
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Astoria-Port Townsend via Hood Canal is about 240 miles.
The stretch of 101 between Potlach and Brinnon on 101 is scenic.
The ferry crossing from Port Townsend to Keystone would be a treat on a clear day, especially if there is not a long wait for the ferry as there is so often in the summer.
The drive from Keystone to Vancouver is about 230 miles--a total of 470 miles.
The drive from Astoria to Seattle via Route 4 or Route 6 is about 200 miles, and the drive from Seattle to Vancouver via Route 9 and Sumas is about 165 miles--a total of 365 miles.
The stretch of 101 between Potlach and Brinnon on 101 is scenic.
The ferry crossing from Port Townsend to Keystone would be a treat on a clear day, especially if there is not a long wait for the ferry as there is so often in the summer.
The drive from Keystone to Vancouver is about 230 miles--a total of 470 miles.
The drive from Astoria to Seattle via Route 4 or Route 6 is about 200 miles, and the drive from Seattle to Vancouver via Route 9 and Sumas is about 165 miles--a total of 365 miles.
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