Lots of traffic on 205. In my family's experience.

You can cross the Columbia at Longview, then take Hwy 30 south then cut down to 26 (sorry I don't know that road name ,maybe Cornelius Pass?) , then get on Hwy 47 southbound which will take you to Hwy 18 then just follow that to Lincoln City.

We've done that both north and south bound and missed all the Portland mess :-)

If it was just for traffic - I would do just like what half-Brit said. But since the OP said "rejoin" 99 - I was thinking they were wanting to follow the old Hiway. It used to go from border to border.

Good point. It's funny - on the Calif forums everybody still calls it "Highway" 99 even though it's been all freeway (except for a little section north of Sacramento) for at least 20 years! There are occasional posts asking about the traffic lights ;-)

What are you trying to avoid? Recently we have take I-405 through downtown. to avoid the mess on I-5 by the Rose Garden.

I worked downtown for 17 years. We always took Barbur Blvd from Tigard in and out of downtown. but that was rush hour. I still do often if I-5 up the hill is messy.

I am not sure I-205 gains you much. It also has a lot of traffic and it narrows to 2 lanes each direction south from Oregon City At busy times that can just crawl. plus 205 is 10 miles longer from where they separate in WA and where they come back together in OR. and even more difference if you want to use 99W.

Wow...thanks everyone for responding so quickly! I was just trying to avoid the traffic through Portland after crossing the Columbia River bridge from Wash to Oregon. We are leaving Tacoma about 8:00 a.m. and should be nearing Portland about 11:00am. Is traffic bad around 11:00? Would it just be better to stay on I-5 and take Salem exit to Tigard? We really like the drivefrom Tigard through Yamhill and McMinnville. Oregon is sooo beautiful. I'm jealous and would like to retire there! 10 more years to do that!

That is Exit 294 off I-5, I would not call it Salem exit. Tigard or Coast exit. At 11 you should be ok on I-5.

Mid day traffic is just normal traffic unless there is an accident. Heavy of course but not slow-n-stop usually.

We always take 405 instead of 205...it runs west of the freeway. 205 takes you w-a-a-a-a-y out of the way. Take exit 302B and keep to the right. Follow signs to Salem.