Best road to Oregon Coast (Fort Stevens)

Are you coming in via Portland or Seattle? If you are coming down I84 through the Gorge you can go through Portland to Hwy 26 - we go this way with our RV just fine but going through Portland can be a bit crazy but it's probably the easiest and fastest route. You can also go down I84 and take I205 North to Longview then cut back and get on Hwy 30 to Astoria. Time is about the same so it's really up to you. Do be aware of the winds along I84, particularly if you come down thorugh Spokane through the Tri-Cities (Richland/Kennewick/Pasco)

Where are you coming from and on which highway?
From Portland area, I would take US 30 along the Columbia.

South to 90, 18, 5, cross the bridge at Longview, 30 is one of several "best" routes.

Avoid I-90 and WA SR 18. Coming west from Spokane on I90 take US 395 to I84 to US 30.

enblethen wrote:
Avoid I-90 and WA SR 18. Coming west from Spokane on I90 take US 395 to I84 to US 30.

I agree with the I90 to 395 to I84, then to me it is a tossup between 30 or 26. Either way you still need to pass through Portland. My experience has been schedule you pass through between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.

rhagfo wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Avoid I-90 and WA SR 18. Coming west from Spokane on I90 take US 395 to I84 to US 30.

I agree with the I90 to 395 to I84, then to me it is a tossup between 30 or 26. Either way you still need to pass through Portland. My experience has been schedule you pass through between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Or what we did last year, if you go US395 to I84. Take I205 N to I5 in Portland/Vancouver to Longview. Follow truck route to cross the river back into Oregon. Then US30 to Ft Stevens.

The stretch of US30 from Portland through Scappose/St Helens/etc... is very slow with lots of stops.

YMMV. Good luck and have fun!

//KMac

Thank you. This is very helpful.
I am actually landing in Spokane and fron there I can take whatever route is best.

MC

kmac7800 wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Avoid I-90 and WA SR 18. Coming west from Spokane on I90 take US 395 to I84 to US 30.

I agree with the I90 to 395 to I84, then to me it is a tossup between 30 or 26. Either way you still need to pass through Portland. My experience has been schedule you pass through between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Or what we did last year, if you go US395 to I84. Take I205 N to I5 in Portland/Vancouver to Longview. Follow truck route to cross the river back into Oregon. Then US30 to Ft Stevens.

The stretch of US30 from Portland through Scappose/St Helens/etc... is very slow with lots of stops.

YMMV. Good luck and have fun!

//KMac

If one remains on 26 you never have to be on surface streets.

We always travel to Longview and cross the Columbia then take 30 to Astoria. There is one way traffic in downtown Astoria that gets a little tight plus a roundabout outside of Astoria. I suggest you look at Google Earth to determine your lane discipline, especially with the roundabout.

Another route is to take highway 4 from Kelso and travel along the north side of the Columbia River. This drive is pretty scenic with a good road, but is longer than 30. You then have to cross over the Columbia on the bridge at Astoria. That bridge is high with wonderful views. Some people I know refuse to take it, fear. This route bypasses downtown Astoria. If taking this route, spend a night at the regional park in Skamakowa. Get a site in the lower section on the river, your size won't be an issue. Having the huge ocean going vessels traveling a couple of hundred yards from your rear window is a treat.

If you take 84 to highway 26 to Seaside, you will have to drive through Portland which could take considerable time due to traffic, as in an extra hour. Then north through Seaside which will also be slow.

Thank you again.
We are in the process of moving from a 32ft TT to a 44 ft North Point 5fer.

We spend most of our summers in the Oregon Coast, Glacier area. We would love the extra room. I am however getting a bit nervous with both the extra work (DEF) to run the diesel and 44ft 5fer on the state campgrounds.

We have booked all our sites thru summer. They are all 50ft plus in Fort Stevens, Bullards and Harris Beach. A few people mentioned having issues with narrow campground roads and being unable to back into even large sites with a dually and 44ft 5fer.

It is probably all in my head but I am just being cautious. Fortunately, it 8s not a cost issue. The extra breathing room would be great. I just don't want it to come at the cost of stress getting into sites.

Any feedback will continue to be appreciated :-)

MC