Place to Perch While Visiting Portland, OR

[Patrick M.]

We're planning on wandering up through Oregon next month and visiting Portland for a few days to see what's going on there, and would appreciate some recommendations on a nice place to park the Scamp and ourselves while there. Wal-Marts need not apply (this time!).

[Donna D.]

Just south of Portland is Champoeg State Park. I'd recommend it. Be sure to let us know when you're in the area...I'd love to meet ya

[Linda R002]

If you are planning on visiting the Portland area proper, and need to be more centrally located, there is one on Jantzen Beach that was very friendly and full service and the people that worked there were very helpful. It was also very reasonable for a big city. I think it was like $25 a night. http://www.jantzenbeachrv.com is the link. It is also within walking distance of many great stores. Sometimes, to get from Champoque to say the Zoo in Portland can take over an hour but it is a very fine park, just more remote from the Portland area.

[Donna D.]

Linda&Dale are correct...but then again, it can take an hour to get from downtown Portland to Jantzen Beach during rush hour

Another park worth noting...if you're looking to go out I-84 (Columbia River Gorge), but still want to stay in the Portland area there's: Portland/Fairview RV Park, as an added incentive...there's a brand new Camping World about 2 miles east of this park.

[Patrick M.]

Thanks guys, these are all great ideas and I'm plugging them into Streets&Trips.

I guess Portland is a big city, huh?

[Doug Mager]

....sure is, an has plenty of bridges too, much to The Trailer Goddess' shagrin, LOL

[Gina D.]

I guess Portland is a big city, huh?

Don't let Donna fool you, Portland used to have a rush minute.. now it's up to Rush 1/2 hour.

I have not stayed here, but I have snooped at the place. It's right on the Sandy River in Troutdale (Yes, there really is a town called Troutdale)

Sandy Riverfront RV resort.

Doesn't look bad at all, it's more a typically set up RV type park, but in a very nice setting and area.

[peterh]

Don't let Donna fool you, Portland used to have a rush minute.. now it's up to Rush 1/2 hour.

When I was in Portland during the early 80s "bad traffic" meant not being able to quite hit the speed limit in I-5. These days it's not unusual to spend an hour moving just seven miles from the state line (entering into Portland near Jantzen Beach from Vancouver, WA) and then spend another hour on the reverse commute. It's about the same as getting to downtown Los Angeles in the mid-eighties.

--Peter

[Gina D.]

Getting to LA is about 3 hours now.. on a Saturday.

I'll trade ya!

[Steve Walser]

Thanks guys, these are all great ideas and I'm plugging them into Streets&Trips.

I guess Portland is a big city, huh?

On your first visit to the Rose City try to keep track of how many times you cross over the same river(s) after getting on the wrong bridge. 8^)

[Vivian]

RV Park of Portland is listed in the Trailer Life Directory as Tualatin, and is a Good Sam Park just east of I-5 at exit 289. Go east .3 mile on Nyberg Road and there is another light to turn left into the park. We have stayed there several times and found it satisfactory except for the freeway noise. It is very convenient to go to Portland either on I-5 or I-205 which takes you to the east side of the city.

Vivian

[Bobbie Mayer]

I avoid Portland like the plague from about 6-10 AM and 3-7 PM. It is HORRIBLE traffic. It has been since I lived in Eugene in the early 80s. Part of the problem is severely underutilized car pool lanes as you approach the I5 bridge.

Gina, I avoid all of Southern California during the same time period, don't feel left out.

Fresno has a rush 5 minutes.

Bobbie

[Patrick M.]

We will make it a point to sleep in, and stay late! And here I thought Portland was full of electric trains, hippies and coffee stands!

[Gina D.]

Portland was full of electric trains, hippies and coffee stands!

It still is.

PDX traffic is about the same as Phoenix is now, maybe a little better.

Try the new sky tram! I haven't been on it yet.. full report please!

[peterh]

Try the new sky tram! I haven't been on it yet.. full report please!

There have been a lot of complaints and grumbling about the tram. Usual political stuff that ranges from people not liking the fact that this tram thing flies over their back yards, too expensive, ugly design and so on. I watched the thing go up, bit by bit. The support structure (in the picture below) is absolutely massive.

I haven't ridden it yet, but all in all, I like the general design, and its cool to see the tram cars going up and down the hillside.

--Peter

[Bobbie Mayer]

It looks like a Fifth Wheel Scamp going up that thing...

I think it is distracting as you drive down the freeway... unless, of course, the traffic has come to a grinding halt, or is crawling so slowly that you can get your laptop out and make connections and write emails between full revolutions of your tires... then it isn't really a problem.

Bobbie

[Patrick M.]

So it doesn't go up to the top of Mt. Hood but rather over people's backyards? How much Federal funding did it receive that I should be upset about?

[Gina D.]

It goes from downtown Portland up to the Oregon Health Sciences University on the hill south of downtown.

Tho, some from So. Cal may think it's a mountain..

[Patrick M.]

I may have to pay the $4 to ride it the 3/4 of a mile (helping offset the $2M annual operating cost and the $55M construction cost) just to see this sign from someone who didn't appreciate the ride for Health Center employees!

[Mary F]

[quote]There have been a lot of complaints and grumbling about the tram. Usual political stuff that ranges from people not liking the fact that this tram thing flies over their back yards, too expensive, ugly design and so on. I watched the thing go up, bit by bit. The support structure (in the picture below) is absolutely massive.

I haven't ridden it yet, but all in all, I like the general design, and its cool to see the tram cars going up and down the hillside.

--Peter


Attachment 7616



Thanks, Peter. That's a great pic. (I don't think we can put it on the home page, but it's a great pic.)