A Sprint Car Road Trip Through the Pacific Northwest

Before I started this dirt racing blog, I was an avid traveler attempting to hit every National Park in the United States. I have been to nearly all 50 states and have spent countless hours on the road. During my travels, one of my favorite areas of the country was the Pacific Northwest. The pure beauty of the mountains, waterfalls and crystal clear lakes will take your breath away.

When the High Limit schedule was released, I couldn’t help but notice to the timing of their Pacific Northwest swing. The weather in Oregon and Washington during late August is perfect and it is one of the best times to plan a trip out there. I was immediately thinking about planning a road trip around this swing, as there is so much to do and see in both states that it will make the long drive feel fairly easy.

Dates

• 8/26 – High Limit Racing at the Douglas County Dirt Track in Oregon
• 8/28 – High Limit Racing at Grays Harbor Raceway in Washington
• 8/29-8/31 – High Limit Racing at Skagit Speedway in Washington

Suggested Itinerary

*estimated time on the road: 11 hours, 570 miles*

• Fly into Portland, Oregon on 8/25 and rent a car
• Skip the High Limit race at Douglas County, as the track is over 3 hours South of Portland, and the series will be moving north afterwards.
• Visit Multnomah Falls in Oregon.
• From Portland, travel North into Washington with the High Limit series.
• Attend the 8/28 race at Grays Harbor
• Visit Olympic National Park or Mt. Rainer National Park
• Spend a day in Seattle
• Skip night one at Skagit
• Catch the final two nights at Skagit on 8/30-8/31
• Fly out of Seattle on 9/1

Things to do in Portland

If you choose, you can drive the three hours south to Douglas County and attend the race. This will add an additional six hours of drive time to your trip. Personally, I would be picking up the High Limit series on their trip north into Washington as they head toward Grays Harbor.

Attractions

• Multnomah Falls – This stunning waterfall can be seen from the highway and requires no hiking. The parking lot is a short walk from the falls and there are some stairs that you can take up to the iconic bridge that you see in all of the pictures. The falls are a short, 30 minute drive from Portland and the scenery along the way is beautiful.

• The Grotto – If you want to pay the $10, a trip to this cliffside sanctuary and botanical gardens is well worth it. You can be there in just 15 minutes from downtown Portland.
• If you don’t want to spend the money, take a drive down the Columbia River Gorge. This beautiful river is surrounded by mountains and trees and offers incredible views from the seat of your car. There are plenty of places to pull off on the side of the road for pictures.
• For hikers, take the 45 mile drive over to Mt. Hood and treat yourself to endless trails. This one is a little bit out of the way, but it is worth it if you do not mind the extra time in the car.

Food/Drink

For the drinkers, Portland is full of great breweries and taprooms to keep you occupied.

• Great Notion Brewing
• Upright Brewing Company
• Wayfinder Beer
• Von Ebert
• Voodoo Doughnut
• Motorcycle Pubic House (dive bar)
• The Ship Tavern (dive bar)

From Portland, you will make your way North into Washington and head toward Grays Harbor. It’s basically a straight shot up Interstate 5 and will only take about two hours. Grays Harbor can be considered the gateway to Washington’s scenic coast. If you are up for some extra driving, the speedway is located between Olympic National Park and Mt. Rainier National Park. It will take you about two hours to get to either one. For the sake of this itinerary, I would chose Olympic.

Things to do near Grays Harbor

• Olympic National Park – Known for its unique ecosystem, this National Park offers mountains, coastal views, waterfalls, and even a rain forest. You won’t find anything else like it in the United States and I would consider it to be one of the best National Parks in the country. Little hiking is required once you make the drive, but the park is large and isolated, so plan out which attractions you want to see ahead of time. I recommend taking the drive up Hurricane Ridge to capture the stunning views of the Olympic Mountains.
• Mt. Rainier National Park – Located two hours east of Grays Harbor, Mount Rainier is another stunning landmark. On a good day, you will be able to see the snow capped peak of the mountain from miles away. Mt. Rainier has a ton of hiking trails and I would recommend the Skyline Trail if you really want to get after it. This park does require some time to really see the entire thing, so it might be best to hold off on this one for another time.
• Grays Harbor Lighthouse – The tallest lighthouse in Washington, standing at 107 feet. The lighthouse is only open from Friday-Sunday, but you still have the option to drive down to it.

Food/Drink

• Breakwater Seafoods and Chowder
• Billy’s Bar & Grill
• Fishin Hole Restaurant
• 8th Street Ale House
• Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill

After the race is done at Grays Harbor, the High Limit series immediately travels north to Skagit for racing the next day. With Skagit being a three-day event, I would personally skip out on the first night and give myself some more time to rest or see some other attractions. It is just under a three hour drive to Skagit from Grays Harbor. This drive will take you through Seattle, where you can stop at one of the historic fish markets or piers on your way. Once you exit Seattle, you will be greeted with the beauty of the North Cascade mountain range.

Things to do near Skagit

• North Cascades National Park – if you skipped out on some of the other National Parks, make sure you hit North Cascades. You can even spend a day trip there before you head to Skagit to watch some racing. North Cascades has plenty to see from the car, or a few hikes that do not require much time or energy.
• A short drive will get you over to Deception Pass State Park. The park connects the Puget Sound with Skagit Bay and offers an opportunity to see some wildlife.

Food/Drink

• Train Wreck Bar & Grill
• Big Lake Bar & Grill
• Railroad Pub & Pizza
• Skagit River Brewery
• Birdsview Brewing Company

Once the racing is done at Skagit, your PNW road trip will come to an end. It will take you about one hour and 30 minutes to get back to the Seattle airport from Skagit. There is so much to do and see in Oregon and Washington that you will never be able to complete it all in one trip. Don’t pass up this incredible opportunity to see sprint car racing in some of the most scenic parts of the country.