Commute from West to East? (Portland, Gresham: to rent, homes, school)

[Wilcox03]

I tried looking through these forums to find an answer but didn't quite find what I was looking for. Hopefully I didn't miss it...but I thought I'd ask anyways.

I go to school out at Mt. Hood Community college and will be for just another year then I'll be done. We live in Milwaukie right now but looking to move to Beaverton and/or Aloha maybe as these places have more affordable/nicer homes to rent. I know the commute would SUCK, but wondering if anyone knows how long it would take from 185th and/or Cedar Hills area to downtown pdx? I think once I get past through the sylvan tunnel, I would imagine I would be going against traffic and 84 eastbound would be pretty smooth out to Gresham. Just trying to get an idea how long I would need to plan to get through the rough spot on 26/sylvan tunnel.

Thanks!

[figmalt]

With no traffic, it takes 15-20 minutes to get from 185th through the Sylvan Tunnel. With traffic, you're looking at about 30-40 minutes. In really bad traffic, it can take 2+ hours to get to I-84/Troutdale.

It tends to get very congested just past Cedar Hills going up the Sylvan Hill, again at the I-405 split after the tunnel, and I-84/Banfield to I-205. A lot of times you just creep along in those areas.

I did Hillsboro to Clackamas Community College for a school year--it wasn't fun, but I survived it. Luckily my class was in the middle of the day so I didn't have to fight rush-hour traffic. If you can arrange your schedule to avoid peak transit times, it shouldn't be unbearable.

[Rob Allen]

If you live on the south side of Beaverton or Aloha, you could consider using Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway instead of 26. In low-traffic conditions it's a little slower than 26, but it's much more consistent; instead of the 15 min-to-2 hrs range figmalt mentioned, it's more like 20-to-30 minutes.

[figmalt]

Originally Posted by Rob Allen

If you live on the south side of Beaverton or Aloha, you could consider using Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway instead of 26. In low-traffic conditions it's a little slower than 26, but it's much more consistent; instead of the 15 min-to-2 hrs range figmalt mentioned, it's more like 20-to-30 minutes.

Just want to clarify that 2+ hours is what it takes to get all the way to Troutdale from Tanasbourne in the worst of rush-hour traffic. If we're just talking about getting to Portland, the worst I've had is about an hour.

But yes, there are side streets that can get you there in about the same amount of time (both north and south of 26). Another option is Germantown Road, Hwy 30, to I-84. I've taken that to get to the airport and avoid 26. It took a little over an hour. I wouldn't recommend it in the winter, though.