Longview

Getting there

By car Interstate 5 (I-5): Longview is located just west of I-5, from two exits: Exit #36B (SR-432 Talley Way) goes to 3rd Ave, then around town as Industrial Ave to SR-4 west of town. To go to the city center, go past 3rd Ave and follow signs onto Tennant Way. Exit 39 (Allen St/SR-4) through Kelso along Allen St. & US Highway 30 crosses the Columbia River on the Lewis & Clark Bridge from Rainier, OR into town as Oregon Way. From its intersection with Tennant Way the same road goes into downtown as 15th Ave. Drivers can circumvent the town along Industrial Way (SR-432) to reach SR-4 or I-5 without going through town. 1st Ave & Westside Highway runs alongside the Cowlitz River and up to US Hwy 12 south Napavine through Castle Rock. It parallels along the westside of I-5 between Longview and US Hwy 12. Ocean Beach Highway (SR-4) goes through town from I-5 as Allen St which becomes Catlin St once it reaches Washington Way. Going west from Washington Way the road becomes Ocean Beach Hwy which connects Longview/Kelso to the coast (Long Beach & Astoria) along the Washington side of the Columbia River. Washington Way Local boulevard that connects Ocean Beach Hwy (SR-4)/Catlin in West Kelso into downtown Longview.

By train 1 Kelso Station. (updated Sep 2022) in the neighboring town of Kelso, which is a stop for Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. (updated Mar 2022)

By bus The 2 Longview Transit Center on S 12th Ave & Hemlock, serves as central bus station for River Cities Transit and other regional bus & shuttle companies serving southwest Washington:

River Cities Transit, ☏ +1 360 442-5663. Local city buses around Longview proper and to neighboring Kelso. Take the #45 bus to the Kelso station where Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses stop. (updated Sep 2020) Lower Columbia CAP, ☏ +1 360 425-3430. Rural public bus system serving Castle Rock, Lexington (suburbs/rural area north of Kelso), Longview, Kalama, Woodland, and Vancouver 99th St

Getting around

Major streets radiate like wheel spokes from the 1 RA Long Square (Central Park) in the city center.

See

2 Lake Sacajawea. 3 Nutty Narrows Bridge (the squirrel bridge) (Hangs over Olympia Way northwest of 18th Ave). This 60 ft (18 m) squirrel bridge was proposed after local tenants noticed that several squirrels had died while crossing the street in search of nuts. The proposal garnered national attention and was quickly approved by the city council. It was installed on March 19, 1963, and saw use by squirrels the following day.

Do

Fall colors. Driving through Longview in the fall is a pleasure for the eyes that is more typical to New England than the Pacific Northwest. Where much of Washington state is covered with evergreen trees, the City of Longview has planted hundreds of deciduous trees all around town. Every fall the area between the civic circle and RA Long is covered in leaves of every imaginable color.

Buy

1 Triangle Center, 1015 Ocean Beach Hwy (SW of intersection of Ocean Beach Hwy (SR-4) & Washington Way, in a large triangular shaped lot). Hours vary by tenant/store. Triangle Center hosts Bed Bath & Beyond; Michaels, Maurices, Petco, Ross Dress for Less, Ulta, WinCo Foods and numerous other shops, banks & restaurants in the mall and in the immediate surrounding areas not part of the mall (Taco Bell, Sizzlers, Stuffy's, among others) along Ocean Beach Hwy & Washington Way. Unlike a traditional mall where everything is under one big roof, in a single building, this mall consists of several smaller buildings spread further out from each other in a huge parking lot. (updated Sep 2020) 2 Cowlitz Community Farmer's Market, 1900 7th Ave (New Expo Center Building at NW corner of county fairgrounds). Tu & Sa 9AM-noon from April to October. (updated Sep 2020) 3 Walmart Supercenter, 540 7th Ave, ☏ +1 360 414-9656. Daily 7AM-10PM. 4 Walmart Supercenter, 3715 Ocean Beach Hwy (Ocean Beach Hwy & 38th Ave, NW of town.), ☏ +1 360 355-3016. Daily 7AM-10PM.

Drink & nightlife

Longview loves its coffee.

1 Guse's Gourmet Coffee, 1208 Commerce Ave (Commerce Ave & Hemlock St), ☏ +1 360 425-8940. M-F 8AM-4PM, Sa 9AM-3PM. A great places to hang out and grab a drink whether it's coffee, smoothies, hot chocolates, or tea. (updated Sep 2020)

Sleep

1 Quality Inn & Suites Longview Kelso, 723 7th Ave, ☏ +1 360-762-6473. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Indoor pool/hot tub, continental breakfast, and WiFi included. (updated Sep 2020) See the Kelso article, under Sleep, for additional listings of accommodations near the Three Rivers Mall off of Allen St & I-5 (Exit #39).