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Hands down one of the most life-changing experiences we’ve had to date is the time we spent on our bicycles biking the Pacific Coast Highway. This trip was completely self-supported, meaning the two of us carried all that we needed for our 1,000+ mile cycle trip with us on our bikes. We endured days that seemed neverending, had days that went by with a breeze, and other days that ended in mountain climbs with us literally throwing our bikes down in exhaustion.
We had multiple too-close-for-comfort occurrences with cars passing centimeters away from us, a few popped tires, and bike problems here and there, but all those experiences were worth the friendships made, the delicious food we devoured at the end of a hard ride, and the peace cycling along the Pacific coast brings.
Getting to Seattle is the first of nearly 30 daily diaries of our cycle trip from Seattle to San Francisco.
Read Our Full Guide to Biking the Pacific Coast Highway Here
Each post in this cycle series will contain the daily journal entries that we kept via Track My Tour, photos captured throughout the day, and the exact route, duration, and elevation gains for the given ride.
Let’s dive into Biking the Pacific Coast Highway, Day Zero, and Getting to Seattle.
Getting to Seattle
We’re pretty lucky in the fact that we live in Oregon and had easy access to the start of the cycle trip. Our uncle threw our bikes in the back of his truck and drove us from Southern Oregon to Portland, where we stayed the night with our friend Chase.
After an evening with Chase and his wife Hillary, we woke up early the next morning to ride into the bus station and catch the bus from Portland to Seattle.
While the cycle trip down the PCH is technically Seattle to San Francisco, one must ferry from Seattle across the water to Bremerton, where you then decide to go north and cycle through Olympic National Park, or just start transversing west to the coast. We didn’t have time to add the additional cycling through the national park, but are dying to get back up there and explore that area of Washington!
Getting to Seattle Day 0 Quick Facts
- Miles // 0-20 miles depending on accommodation
- Saddle Time // 1 hr
- Elevation // 153 feet
- Accommodation // hotel in Bremerton
- Water // throughout Seattle
- Food // throughout Seattle
Our Total Gear List for Cycle Packing
Pacific Coast Highway Day Zero Journal Entry
Monday | 3 Aug 2015 | 22:33
Made it into Seattle this afternoon to check out Pikes Market Place, gum wall, and the space needle. Because we didn’t plan on Seattle being a hot destination, we didn’t book a room in advance. Therefore we had to look elsewhere. And thus, bringing us to Bremerton, WA to stay at the Motel 6. In the morning we will head to a small lake to camp just outside of Shelton. Today we ended with 24 miles of cycling through Portland, Seattle, and Bremerton.
Not sure what the elevation was, but we had some nasty hills to climb while sightseeing in Seattle.
Cycler’s Tips for Getting to Seattle | PCH Day 0
- There is a bus stop in downtown Portland where you can hop on and head straight to downtown Seattle. This is cheaper than taking the train, and for such a short ride (roughly 4 hours) we think this is the best way to get from Portland to Seattle on a budget. Check out Rome2Rio to find the best route from Portland (or rather anywhere) to Settle for you!
- We recommend giving yourself a day or two to explore Seattle before beginning your trip down the PCH. Be sure to book a place to stay in advance, so you don’t end up like us, having to stay the night well outside the city.
- When booking a hotel, be sure to ask if you can store your bike there, even before check-in! Seattle is a bike-friendly place, but the hills are brutal! And besides, nobody wants to leave a fully packed bike locked up on the road!
- Need to fly into Seattle? Compare cheap flights to Seattle here… Be sure to check if there are extra fees for checking in your bicycle! Sometimes it counts as luggage, and other airlines make it an extra cost up to $100!
- Don’t forget to gather food and water for your next day of cycling while in Seattle. Day One on the Pacific Coast Highway doesn’t offer many places to stop for either food or water! We actually ran out of water on the first day!
More on Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway
Cycle Rules in Oregon | A Bicyclist’s Manual
Did you know, in Oregon, as a cyclist you’re technically considered a car and must oblige by vehicle road rules? Use that knowledge as confidence to take over the lane when there’s not a safe shoulder and really own the road!
Our Complete Guide to Biking the Pacific Coast Highway
This post contains our gear list, all our daily journal entries, FAQs on cycling the PCH, and downloads to make your PCH cycle trip easier!
Next Daily Journal Entry on our Pacific Coast Highway Bike Tour
Running out of water, boondocking down some dirt road, and cycling just over 50 miles… day one on our journey was one for the books!
Camping for Free on your Bike Tour
Interested in learning more about camping for free on your bike tour? We’re sharing ways to find free camping, what you need to know about free camping, and even our favorite places!
Have questions about day zero? Need a bit more information about the trip as a whole? Or just want to tell us your thoughts on the idea of cycling from Seattle to San Fransisco? We’d love to hear from you.. start a conversation below!
