Thousands of cyclists leaving Seattle for Portland on Saturday morning
Drivers traveling between Seattle and Portland this weekend may see some extra two-wheeled riders on their trip.
Starting Saturday, July 11, bicyclists will make the 207-mile journey across the Pacific Northwest as part of the 47th annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. Roughly 6,000 bicycles will travel along state highway and local roads between the two cities, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
WSDOT officials, law enforcement and STP organizers will be stationed along the route to help direct bike and walking traffic.
2026 Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic route
Riders will begin the STP ride at the University of Washington campus, along Montlake Boulevard in parking lot E-18. Riders traveling the course in one day start at 5 a.m. PT, while those traveling over two days begin at 5:30 a.m. PT.
STP riders travel south through the Arboretum and along Lakeside Avenue South on Lake Washington. After leaving Seattle and heading through Renton and Puyallup, the route moves west out of city and into a large green space south of Join Base Lewis-McCord in Tacoma.
The route moves onto SR 507 from there and follows local roads along the I-5 corridor south into Oregon.
The route ends at Holladay Park in Portland, and riders are expected to conclude their ride between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. PT on Saturday and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. PT on Sunday.
See the full route map here.
Will there be traffic near the STP ride this weekend?
This weekend's group ride will travel along state highways and local roads only. While there won't be any direct delays on Interstate 5, some of the local roads will be impacted.
Here's where WSDOT is anticipating the most traffic this weekend:
- Saturday, July 11: SR 7 in Pierce County in the morning, SR 507 in Thurston and Lewis counties in the later morning to early afternoon
- Sunday, July 12: SR 411 from Castle Rock to Longview, SR 432 and SR 433 along the Lewis and Clark Bridge
How much does it cost to ride in the STP Bicycle Classic?
Registration for this year's event is closed, but pricing varied depending on when you registered and differs between Cascade Bicycle Club members and non-members.
- Early bird pricing: $165 for members, n/a for non-members
- Standard pricing: $200 for members, $245 for non-members
- Spring pricing: $230 for members, $275 for non-members
- Late pricing: $310 for members, $355 for non-members
Youth pricing cost $90 across all registration times.
Is it against the law to ride a bike without helmet in WA?
There is currently no state law requiring cyclists to wear a helmet, according to WSDOT. However, many of the counties on the STP route do require helmet use.
State law does require helmets for anyone riding an e-bike or motorized scooter. Check local county and municipal codes for more information on helmet laws.
Tips for riders and drivers this weekend
Riders can visit wsdot.wa.gov/bicycling for more info on laws and safety and route planning as you explore the region on two wheels.
Zachary Fletcher is a trending news reporter with USA TODAY Network's Washington state team. Keep up with him on X (@zdfletch), BlueSky (@zfletcher.bsky.social) or reach him at zfletcher@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thousands of cyclists leaving Seattle for Portland on Saturday morning
Reporting by Zachary Fletcher, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 1:50 PM.