First Time Going to Washougal

You'll be somewhat limited to where you can go with a wagon if you go to the infield, and going through the tunnel probably not a good call.  It's always been crowded when I've been there, but maybe less in the bottom area by the old amateur start if you wanted to just get in an camp out at a spot.

Get there early. I wouldn’t bring a wagon. Have fun!

A wagon may hinder your mobility. May not be an issue if you like to find a spot and sit the whole time, but I could never. I love to jump to a different area for each moto. Washougal has narrow/low culvert tunnels, uneven ground and not to mention the steep ass hill if you ever wanted to watch from up top. I'd just throw the kiddo on your back when you want to change areas. Just watch their head entering the tunnels.

The washougal website says they search your car when you pull in is that true?  Why? and how would they have time for that??  

Yes they search it, to look for alcohol and firearms. 

Yes, and they will pull out your spare tire, check under the hood and search your bags too. They ain't messin around.

Edit: They weren't as bad as previous years. They definitely searched but they weren't stringing your belongings all over and making a mess.

I've never been searched on the way into the parking lot on Saturday morning.

They search for camping, not for race day parking.

They only search you if you're camping. I had no problem smuggling beer in. It's hilly and rough - a wagon would hinder you. I'd carry your kid for the parts he can't walk

2 years ago the did a quick car search on day of parking for alcohol.  Maybe depends on how busy they are, but they had about 5 people searching cars on the way in.  From the responses here, YMMV, but I would not take a chance bringing something you don't want confiscated.  If you do want beer at the track, they basically corral you into one of two beer gardens where you can't see anything, I like a cold beer, but never bothered at this track, it is not worth it. Also, as others have said, if you do not get to the track early (like 7AM-ish), you may be in a long line to get in.   I have heard of many people missing motos waiting to get in.  Same applies to when you leave, even if you leave at the beginning of the last 450 moto, you are still going to be in a notable amount of traffic to get to the freeway from people doing the same thing.  You may be better off spending an extra couple of hours at the track after the race to avoid the crowd and spending hours in traffic which really sucks if you have a small bladder, there is not exactly a place to pull off for many miles in stop and go traffic.

For a place to stay, close as you can, but the Portland airport area hotels are nicer, don't have 'event pricing' and were always convenient and close enough.

Thanks for the info . I saw so many trucks come through town on the highway I decided to drive out from Montana to go to the race.  

As others have said, a wagon would limit your mobility - some great viewing up the hills.

There are some better places to eat in Camas (one town toward Portland from Washougal. 

Enjoy! I used to stay in Vancouver, WA when I attended, you are on the WA side of the river just a touch closer to Washougal. Typically I stayed at a mid-range Marriott brand in Vancouver. JT$ was at my hotel one year...

I you are driving from Montana why not stay somewhere east of the track? That is the direction you are coming from. Hood River, White Salmon. Hell, even The Dalles.

And when you leave the track...you are going to turn left to head East and you will miss the big traffic jam that is headed west. 

What time do you guys drive in Saturday morning?

I’d like to beat the rush if possible. I’ve always gone during the week and camped to race amateur days but this year I’m just showing up for Saturday

Exactly, I have a secret campsite EAST of the track. I miss all that in the morning at least. Then just hang out after the last moto. 

I'm not the op . I'm staying at the Dalles. I plan on leaving there around five thirty just beat the traffic because I definitely don't have traffic like that where I'm from!  

Wow I just realized the last race I went to was washougal when jlaw got third.  That's 17 years ago....

Ive never had my vehicle searched on Saturday AM coming on in the nearly dozen times I've been since 2010.  However, backpacks and bags get searched at the gate every time.

You're not going to beat the post race traffic unless you skip second 450 moto entirely (why anyone would do that I dont know).  We always hang around for the podium ceremony, walk around to see all the sections of track and how gnarly the ruts got (not walking on the track), maybe lay out in the grass under a shade tree to just relax or nap after being up since the ass crack of dawn to beat traffic, then slowly head back to the parking lot for a picnic dinner.   Then drive home mostly traffic free.

Also, there is minimal cell coverage at the track, and on race day it drops to zero as the cell towers get overwhelmed with thousands of fans trying to send selfies and check live timing.

I also like to screenshot the start lists with race numbers beforehand for both classes because there's always a handful if 3 digit privateer guys that I probably know their names but dont have every race number memorized since they get very little screen time on the broadcasts.  Gives me more guys to watch and cheer for early in the motos in the gaps between the leaders coming around.

Wonder how much area the VIP, MotoSport, Vendors, beer gardens will take up this year. I swear it's 10% less availability along the fenceline every year.

If you're coming from the east, there is a back door route off 14 east of Washougal.  Salmon Falls road off Highway 14, left on Canyon Creek Road, left on Washougal River Road to N.E. 412th avenue.  Avoids trying to navigate downtown Washougal.

Even staying in Portland I'd more often than not head out to Cascade Locks and cross the Bridge of the Gods to 14 to access that way.  Beautiful drive, although I've not done it since the fire a few years ago.

I got searched going to Will Call yesterday. If you are doing the right thing, nothing to worry about.

The Camas area used to have a sawmill that had a bad smell around that area. Not sure if that is still an issue. Just remember driving through Camas every year and it was awful. 

Go early, expect to stay late. I’d advise against the wagon. I had to hike in to Glen Helen one year with a baby in a stroller. No fun. 

I thought you were going to say, if one has time they should take a couple of days to drive around the nearby Olympic peninsula. 

It’s definitely WORTH seeing. Most beautiful place I’ve ever hated living. 

The drive up the west side, over the top, and down the east side of the peninsula is still the most beautiful drive I've ever done.