Getting Here, Getting Around
Bordered by mountains, flanked by rivers, surrounded by fertile farmland, the Portland Metro area is well known for its beautiful setting. But don’t let those high mountains fool you: Portland accommodates many modes of transportation and allows easy travel once you arrive. The territory is well served by trains, planes, and buses, and its public transportation system is comprehensive.
Portland International Airport, or PDX, is the regional airport for all of Oregon and much of southwestern Washington. From here, in addition to its national and international service, commercial air service provides flights to Eugene, Salem, and Medford. Feeder and regional airlines also serve Pendleton and Klamath Falls in eastern and southern Oregon, in addition to providing flights to Newport and North Bend on the Oregon coast. Flights to the airport in Redmond, Oregon, will take you to the popular resorts and natural attractions of Bend and the rest of central Oregon.
Portland’s Amtrak station operates trains to and from Seattle, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as nearby towns such as Corvallis and Eugene. Greyhound buses provide ground transportation in all directions, and buses run regularly to and from Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia; Boise; Denver; Salt Lake City; and major cities in California.
Two interstate highways intersect Portland. I-84 runs east and west through the Columbia Gorge from Portland to Idaho and beyond, and I-5 runs through Portland on its way from Canada to Mexico. Often you’ll hear references to the I-5 Corridor, the stretch of I-5 that runs from Portland to Eugene.
From I-5, routes travel west across the Coastal Range to the Pacific Ocean and US 101 and east through several mountain passes, across the Cascade Mountains to central and eastern Oregon. During the winter some of the passes through the Cascades are closed. Those that remain open year-round may be subject to periodic closures due to weather. Traction devices (chains and studded tires) are often required for winter travel through the Cascades (and at times, through the Coastal Range). The Oregon State Police strictly enforce laws requiring motorists to carry traction devices.
City: Portland, OR
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Address: 7000 Northeast Airport Way
City: Portland, OR
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Address: 800 Northwest 6th Ave.
3. Greyhound Lines
City: Portland, OR
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (503) 243-2361, (800) 231-2222
Address: 550 Northwest 6th Ave.
Description: Portland’s Greyhound Lines bus station is a remarkably clean and modern terminal on the far northern end of the city’s transit mall adjacent to Amtrak’s Union Station, both of which are a short walk from downtown. The station has plenty of seating, a concession wall, and a small, pleasant cafe. Greyhound is the only transcontinental bus line serving Portland. The Greyhound terminal is included in the public transportation system’s Fareless Square, so once you’ve arrived, it is easy to connect with city buses.
City: Portland, OR
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Address: 4012 Southeast 17th Ave.
5. C-Tran
City: Portland, OR
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (360) 695-0123, (503) 283-8054
Address: 2425 Northeast 65th Ave.
Description: C-Tran is the bus service for Vancouver and Clark County, Washington. By arrangement with TriMet, C-Tran also offers service across the Columbia River to downtown Portland. To get from Vancouver to Portland, the ticket price is $2.40. C-Tran and TriMet honor one another’s tickets, so an All-Zone ticket for TriMet can be used on C-Tran, except for the Portland Express; the fare for this convenient trip is $3.25.
City: Portland, OR
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Address: 1734 Northwest 15th Ave.
7. Northern Lights
City: Portland, OR
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (877) 355-9195
Address: 7316 SE 162nd
Description: Provides personal transportation service to the north coast, including Cannon Beach, Seaside, Astoria and Warrenton.
8. Portland International Airport
City: Portland, OR
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (503) 944-7000, (877) 547-8411
Address: 7000 Northeast Airport Way
Description: The largest, most convenient airport to the northern Oregon Coast is Portland International Airport, PDX. You can rent a car there, and take US 26 or US 30 to the North Coast. You can also take Caravan Airport Transportation to Lincoln City, or hire a charter service to fly you anywhere on the coast. Many airlines fly into PDX. Call your travel agent.