Tour · Seattle, Washington · since 1979
Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic
Saturday, July 10, 2027, 5:00 a.m. through Sunday, July 11, 2027, 7:00 p.m. This is the 48th STP.
What is the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic?
The Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (STP) is a 206-mile supported ride from the University of Washington in Seattle to Holladay Park in Portland, Oregon, held the second weekend of July. Riders finish in one day or two, with the two-day overnight at Centralia College. Cascade Bicycle Club has run it since 1979, and 6,400 riders took part in 2026. The next edition is July 10–11, 2027.
Registration lives on the event page. As of September 2026 it is closed; Cascade says member registration re-opens in January 2027. The 2026 ride sold out before the July 5 registration deadline.
- Next edition
- Usually
- Second weekend of July (2026 was July 11–12)
- Start
- University of Washington E-18 Lot, Walla Walla Road NE, Seattle, WA 98195
Seattle, Washington - Distances
- 206 miles — Ride it in one day or two. Two-day riders overnight at the official midpoint in Centralia, WA (mile 101).
- Terrain
- Country roads and small-town streets between Seattle and Portland, rolling with a few real hills; no Interstate 5.
- Climbing
- 5,100 ft on the longest route
- Riders
- 6,400 riders in 2026 (sold out); the record was 10,000 in 1991
- Cost
- 2027 opening prices: $165 members, $210 non-members, $90 youth 18 and under. 2026 standard-rate pricing later rose to $310 members / $355 non-members.
- Founded
- 1979 by Cascade Bicycle Club. The first edition was a race, won by Jerry Baker of Seattle. It became a non-competitive ride in 1981.
- Organizer
- Cascade Bicycle Club
How the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic started
Cascade Bicycle Club started the STP in 1979. That first year it was a race, and Jerry Baker of Seattle won it. In 1981 the club changed the format to a recreational ride open to any speed and ability, which is what it has been since.
The ride grew fast. Cascade reports a record 10,000 participants in 1991, and for years the club capped the field at 10,000 and sold out in spring. In 2018, according to Wikipedia, 1,854 of nearly 8,000 riders attempted the full distance in one day.
The 2020 and 2021 rides were cancelled because of COVID-19. The event came back in 2022. The 2026 edition, presented by Alaska Airlines, had 6,400 riders and sold out. The 2027 ride will be the 48th.
What to expect on the day
The start is the E-18 parking lot at the University of Washington. One-day riders leave between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m.; two-day riders leave between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. Cascade tells riders not to leave after 7:30 a.m., because the luggage trucks close and you will be behind the support services.
The route is 206 miles with about 5,100 feet of climbing on country roads that stay off I-5. Full rest stops are at mile 20 (IKEA in Renton), mile 55 (Spanaway Middle School), mile 109 (Chehalis Recreation Park), mile 147 (Riverside Park in Lexington) and mile 177 (St. Helens Elementary), with 13 smaller mini-stops in between. The official midpoint at mile 101 is Centralia College, which has medical, mechanical and food for purchase, plus overnight options for two-day riders.
The finish is Holladay Park near Lloyd Center in Portland. Portland Bicycling Club runs the finish line with up to 130 volunteers and also runs Friday buses to Seattle for Portland-based riders. Registration includes free snacks and drinks at the official stops.
Weather in Seattle for the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic
Seattle in July is the driest month of the year: average high about 77°F, average low about 58°F, with only about 0.7 inches of rain and roughly 3.6 days with measurable precipitation. Expect a cool, damp 5 a.m. start and a warm afternoon south of Centralia.
Loading the forecast for Seattle…
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Times are local to Seattle.
The town
Sleep, eat, fix the bike.
Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, on Puget Sound in King County, Washington, with about 737,000 residents. It is home to Cascade Bicycle Club and the start of the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, which leaves from the University of Washington each July. Cyclists come for the STP, the club's training rides and a dry, mild summer.
Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), about 14 miles south of downtown; the Link light rail runs from the airport to downtown in about 38 minutes for around $3 and continues to the University of Washington. Portland is about three hours south by car or train, which is how most two-day STP riders get home. You do not need a car for the STP start if you stay in the University District.
Group rides around Seattle
Free, recurring, open to anyone. Ride with locals the day before, or the week after.
Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic FAQ
Do I have to ride it in one day?
No. Most riders take two days and overnight in Centralia at mile 101. One-day riders start earlier, between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m.
How much climbing is there?
Cascade lists 5,100 feet of elevation gain over the 206 miles. The terrain is rolling with a few real hills, not mountainous.
Where does it start and finish?
It starts at the University of Washington E-18 lot on Walla Walla Road NE in Seattle and finishes at Holladay Park in Portland, Oregon.
Does it sell out?
Yes. The 2026 ride sold out ahead of its July 5 registration deadline. Member registration for 2027 is expected to re-open in January 2027.
What does registration include?
Free snacks and drinks at the official rest stops, luggage transport for two-day riders, a marked route and mechanical and medical support at the major stops.
How do I get back to Seattle?
Cascade sells return transportation and Portland Bicycling Club runs Friday buses from Portland to the start. Check the transportation details page on cascade.org when registration opens.
Sources · 8 pages we read
- cascade.org https://cascade.org/rides-events/seattle-portland-2027-2027
- cascade.org https://cascade.org/rides-events/seattle-portland-2026
- cascade.org https://cascade.org/rides-events/seattle-portland-2026/route
- cascade.org https://cascade.org/news/2020/01/50-years-and-how-far-weve-come
- en.wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_to_Portland_Bicycle_Classic
- portlandbicyclingclub.com https://portlandbicyclingclub.com/seattle-to-portland/
- strambecco.com https://strambecco.com/event/seattle-to-portland-stp/
- weatherspark.com https://weatherspark.com/y/913/Average-Weather-in-Seattle-Washington-United-States-Year-Round
Facts checked September 15, 2026. Dates and prices come from the organizer and change. Confirm on the official site before you book anything.
