Washington (State)

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Washington State (WA for short) is state in the Pacific Northwest region of the contiguous United States.

Some describe the stretch of land between Seattle and Olympia as a mean, thick, urban corridor of 200 miles of city. This implies the availability of intercity buses - you can get all the way from Olympia to Bellingham for a relatively low fare, although several transfers are needed, typically in Lakewood, Downtown Seattle, Everett, and Mt. Vernon. According to information on Digihitch, there are a lot of good rest stops in WA, especially heading North from Portland, Oregon, on I-5. There is also some bus service that loops all the way around the Olympic peninsula, although unless you're here when it's pouring rain, it'll be faster to hitch.

In the state of Washington, the hitchability is very dependant on the area. Northwestern Washington (anywhere north of Everett) is, for example, extremely easy to hitchhike with waiting times averaging about 20 minutes on interstate on-ramps for a solo 6'6 tall, slightly intimidating guy (and considerably less on smaller roads). Although the urban corridor that was mentioned before can be problematic, it is nonetheless not exceedingly difficult to find someone going past the corridor in the direction of Oregon. The direction British Columbia may be harder though. Eastern Washington seems to be a bit more tricky to deem 'good' or 'bad' for hitchhiking. While the area in Spokane's vicinity is definitely not the most hitchfriendly, in certain parts, such as the area around Okanagen, it is very easy to hitchhike. In other words: hitchhiking in Washington varies dramatically depending on which area you find yourself trying to thumb through.

Law

Title 46

Chapter 61
RCW 46.61.255 Pedestrians soliciting rides or business.
(1) No person shall stand in or on a public roadway or alongside thereof at any place where a motor vehicle cannot safely stop off the main traveled portion thereof for the purpose of soliciting a ride for himself or herself or for another from the occupant of any vehicle.
Chapter 4 Definitions
RCW 46.04.500 "Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk or shoulder even though such sidewalk or shoulder is used by persons riding bicycles.

When hitchhiking, stay on the shoulder where there is a safe place for someone to stop for you and you should be alright.

Federal Districts

Note:All land regulated by the National Park service prohibits hitchhiking under the Code of Federal Regulations Title 36 section 4.31: Hitchhiking or soliciting transportation is prohibited except in designated areas and under conditions established by the superintendent.

  • Mount Rainier National Park

4.31 has not been amended here, so hitchhiking is prohibited.

  • North Cascades National Park

4.31 has not been amended here, so hitchhiking is prohibited.

Places to see

Washington is a trove of raw, wild, gorgeousness.

Have a look at the Sjrideshare for the archipelago county of San Juan in Washington State.

If you're in the Anacortes area, definitely make a visit to Deception Pass State Park. The entrance is right on highway 20, with some great scenic views both on the bridge and the beach.

The Olympic Penninsula is exquisite and glorious, with the only certified rain forest in the contiguous states. If you take a ferry across the Puget Sound (a kind of mystical fjord that hosts the worlds largest octopi), hitchhiking the peninsula is a blast: bring hiking gear and head into the mountains for a few days. Bring a poncho: 220 inches (560 cm) of rain per year here.

Experiences

Pouring rain; dusk; we were almost there, but only had a weak tent for the night. Guy picked us up, brought us to his idyllic mountain lair/home & fed us crab soup & fresh roadkill venison, driving us to the trail-head in the morn. Best meat of my life. - User:Kalan


I have spent most my life in washington state and started hitching when i was 15, on backroads from town to town, from there i have hitched 101, and up and down i-5 many times, with many rides, and a high success rate, friendly people, but yes lots of rain, washington has always been my easiest hitching experience behind only oregon.... but yes of course for some lame reason no walking on the freeway, and i have been cited a few times, but if you think you can get a ride before a $60 bill, its worth it - j-rod

Hitchhiking in Washington is above average, although slightly below average around the tricities (Kennewick). There are some spectacular scenic areas in Washington, but a precious minority of major roads actually go through the mountains, you must make a deliberate attempt to cross one of the passes in the cascades to see Washington at its best. LOTS of humidity and dew even on the east side of the state, be prepared to wake up wet. Thewindandrain (talk) 00:33, 2 June 2013 (CEST)

"Hitching in WA was a very frustrating experience. Further south, around the Tri-Cities, it wasn't too difficult (not easy, but not hard), but Spokane was a completely different story. I waited 7 hours one day for a ride out of Spokane, and not one person stopped. I camped out by the railroad tracks, and started again the next day. It was another 5 hours before someone FINALLY stopped for me. At least no cops bothered me. If you can, avoid trying to get a ride within the city of Spokane, but going South to the Tri-Cities, and out of there to Portland, you shouldn't have much trouble." -Ned

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Wikipedia:Washington