Get Downtown - Get There Southwest WA

Get Downtown

Choose your own path to get here.

Commuting to downtown Vancouver is easy. Here are some easy directions and useful resources to help you plan your trip.

Biking

Take the scenic route on your bike ride to downtown. We’ve got some great resources to make each trip a new experience.

Download local and regional bike map from the City of Vancouver’s website. Check out the new interactive web version of the Vancouver and Clark County bike map.

From the South

Use our detailed path map to find the best way to get here from south of the Columbia River. If your travel takes you around the I-5 bridge, this map will take the confusion out of your trip. Download the PDF here.

From the East

Bike the path along Columbia Way. Or take the bike lanes on Evergreen, Mill Plain and McLoughlin Boulevards to get to downtown Vancouver. For more information, see the Vancouver Bike Map.

From the North

NE St. Johns Road and NE Hazel Dell Avenue will get you to downtown Vancouver. If you’re closer to downtown, F Street, Jefferson Street, and Kauffman Avenue are low-traffic biking options. For more information, see the Vancouver Bike Map.

Walking Directions

If you’re starting within a mile of downtown, consider walking! Most people can easily walk a mile in about 20 minutes. And since Downtown Vancouver is an easy 15-minute walk from top to bottom. Everything you need is just a few steps away.

North to South

Main St. is a charming walk, past new shops, and restaurants through our Uptown District.

East to West

Evergreen Blvd is a beautiful route to take through downtown Vancouver’s retail district near Esther Short Park.

Transit

C-TRAN

It’s easy to take the bus from just about any location in Clark County and Portland. Here are some tips and links to help with your trip planning.

From Vancouver Clark County Area

C-TRAN has several routes offering direct service to downtown Vancouver, and others can get you here with one transfer. Plan your trip at c-tran.com.

From Portland, Beaverton, and Gresham

C-TRAN offers bus routes to Vancouver destinations from Downtown Portland City Center, OHSU, the Lloyd Center, Gateway, Parkrose, Delta Park, and Jantzen Beach.

Portland metro area residents have greater access through TriMet.

Plan your route to downtown Vancouver at c-tran.com or trimet.org.

Train

Amtrak

All Aboard! Amtrak’s Cascades route is a fun way to take a relaxing adventure when traveling to downtown Vancouver.

From Downtown Portland City Center

Amtrak offers trips to downtown Vancouver six times a day from Portland’s Union Station. Plan your train trip at Amtrak.com.

From Oregon, Washington, California, and Canada

Amtrak’s Cascades route gets you to downtown Vancouver from different parts of Washington and Oregon as well as California and Vancouver, BC. You can also enjoy a quick trip on the Cascades from Oregon City, and Kelso/Longview.

Learn more about Amtrak’s Cascades train and bus service at Amtrak.com.

Driving Directions

Get to the heart of downtown Vancouver from any area. With convenient freeway access, you’ll find your way here in no time at all.

From the North

Head south on I-5 and exit Mill Plain Blvd. Veer right towards City Center onto 15th Street. Turn left onto Washington Street, into the heart of downtown.

From the South

Head north on I-5 and take exit 1B. Turn left onto 6th Street following it until you reach Esther Short Park and the center of downtown Vancouver.

From the East, via I-84

Head west on I-84 toward Portland. Stay in the left-hand lanes to exit I-205 north. Continue on I-205 staying in the right-hand lane. Take exit 27 SR 14 toward City Center. Continue on SR 14 and take the City Center exit. Turn left onto 6th Street and follow it to Esther Short Park and the center of downtown Vancouver.

From the East, via SR 14

Head west on SR 14. Take the City Center exit and turn left onto 6th Street. Follow 6th Street a few blocks to Esther Short Park and the center of downtown Vancouver.