Tualatin? Sherwood? (Portland, Lake Oswego, McMinnville: travel, job, sick)

[Sobefobik]

I commute from Portland to McMinnville everyday. You would actually be going the opposite way of traffic, so it wouldn't be bad at all. Everyone is right when they say the traffic from Sherwood to McMinnville is bad, but this would not be a problem for you because of the direction you are going.

I would personally want to live in McMinnville for the sake of convenience, and it really isn't that much farther from Portland than Sherwood. The drive from Hillsboro to McMinnville is actually a really nice and pretty drive, but it takes an hour. This is not something that I recommend.

Sherwood is a very nice little town. I think that you will enjoy it. Don't consider Tigard. I don't think it's that great of a town unless you like strip malls, and it will really increase your commute time.

[Lee151]

When I go out to McMinnville to see customers I'm going from Portland and I still run into bad traffic through Dundee even at off hours. I take Wilsonville Rd. to Newberg and see customers there too. I go at all times of the year and usually between 10 and 2. It is certainly worse heading west in the late afternoon and east in the morning but still I'd say it is bad on a regular basis.

[Sac_Sol]

Originally Posted by Sobefobik

I commute from Portland to McMinnville everyday. You would actually be going the opposite way of traffic, so it wouldn't be bad at all. Everyone is right when they say the traffic from Sherwood to McMinnville is bad, but this would not be a problem for you because of the direction you are going.

I would personally want to live in McMinnville for the sake of convenience, and it really isn't that much farther from Portland than Sherwood. The drive from Hillsboro to McMinnville is actually a really nice and pretty drive, but it takes an hour. This is not something that I recommend.

Sherwood is a very nice little town. I think that you will enjoy it. Don't consider Tigard. I don't think it's that great of a town unless you like strip malls, and it will really increase your commute time.

Thank you everyone for the replies. I haven't checked in a few days. Sobefobik, how long does your commute take from Portland to McMinnville? Any backroads, or short-cuts I should know about (i.e. a way to bypass Dundee?)

[Sobefobik]

If there are no accidents, it usually takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. I am also conveniently located to the freeway on the south side of Portland, so it may take you longer depending on what area you move to.

I wish I did know of a way to get around Dundee! I'm sure that the locals know ways around, but I don't. But like I said, If you are commuting south on 99W in the morning, it's not that bad through Dundee. All of these people are saying that Dundee is SO horrible at all times. It's not when I go through it in the morning hours.

I am actually looking for another job right now because the commute is too far for me. I don't hit a lot of traffic, but it's really taxing on me driving that much. If I were you, I would take Sherwood into consideration. You would be going the opposite way of traffic, and it would probably take you about 35 minutes to get to work. (I haven't timed it from there so I'm not totally sure.)

Of course, If you don't mind driving very far, Portland is definately a doable commute.

[Sobefobik]

I forgot to tell you something. If you do move to Portland, there are some alternate ways, and they take you around Tigard rather than having to hit all of the lights. It doesn't save you anytime, but it's a really nice drive through some farm country. (unless, of course, there is a wreck on 99 and it then saves you a lot of time!)

Instead of staying on 99, you take another highway in Newburg. you take a highway that connects you from Newburg to Wilsonville. I believe it's called the "Old Willsonville Highway." From Newburg, you take a slight right on to highway, I believe, 129. Then you turn left at a sign where it says "Wilsonville." That takes you straight into Wilsonville, then you hop right on to I5.

By the way, it takes more time getting home than it does going to work. It can sometimes take 1.5 hours to 2 hours to get home. Not usually 2, but it can on very congested days.

[blazen]

There are no alternatives to Tualatin Sherwood Rd. Try getting from Sherwood to I-5 without using that road. Impossible. Total gridlock.

Enjoy!

[Lee151]

The only way to do it is to take 99W through Tigard, which is just as bad.

You can get to Wilsonville from Old Town Sherwood without using it but it won't save you any time. You have to back track and Boones Ferry can be really slow too.

[blazen]

Guys...doesn't all this tell you that the traffic is horrible in the Portland metro area and the quality of life sucks?

The weather is bad, the traffic is horrid and most people are rude and nasty.

Other than that, this is Shangri-La.

LOL!!!

[Sobefobik]

"Blazen" doesn't know what he/she is talking about. The Tualatin Sherwood highway is ANOTHER way that you can take. Seens that I just told you about another way, this would mean that there are other ways than just the Tualatin Sherwood road.

I hate it when people post comments on here and they have no idea what they are talking about. If you're going to post information that is no factual, than put a disclaimer on your comment that says you have no idea what you're talking about.

People in Oregon are friendly, and our traffic is a lot better than in other places. Have you been to Seattle. If you had, you would know that it's a lot worse up there.

[lifes2short]

sobefobik is correct...there are definitely alternative to T-S Road. We use them all the time! I can think of 4 off the top of my head. This is from Sherwood to I-5. Very easily done.