California to Whistler, BC Canada

[Stu Man]

Hey all you California NGV owners !

If you can make it to Medford Oregon from Northern California :

1) Medford to Hillsboro Oregon (near Portland) is 222 miles
2) Hillsboro to Lakewood Washington is 148 miles
3) Lakewood to Seatac (Seattle's airport) is 25.2 miles
4) Seatac to 152nd Street in Surrey (just south of Vancouver) is 131 miles
or Seatac to Mission BC, (just east of Vancouver) is 140 miles
or Seatac to Clearbrook BC (just south east of Van) is 132 miles

Once you get to Vancouver, there are 19 Public NGV stations in and around Vancouver, B.C.

The Mission and Clearbrook NGV stations are just North of the Sumas (or Huntingdon) Border Crossing. This crossing will have WAY less traffic.

From any of the Vancouver NGV stations it is just 80 miles to Whistler (160 miles round trip). There are NO Natural Gas stations in Whistler, so watch your mileage.

All mileage estimates were obtained from maps.google.com

I used www.cngprices.com to get current NGV Stations.

ROAD TRIP !

Stu Man

[jetboatjohnny]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

From Chico, CA to Medford, OR is 219 miles
Cngprices shows the station not operational.

[cnguser]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Stu Man
At risk of leaving one of us CNG'rs stranded - the run from Medford to Hillsboro is a good 278 miles, quite more than your post.
I doubt the standard GX might make that without another tank.
It is about 224 miles from Medford to Chico, but a lot of steep mountain climbing there in lower gears.
If we could just get CNG fuel stations at Redding and Eugene, I think this would be a great trip!

[gsmdbari]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

I am a new member here, and live in Seattle. I am in talks to purchase a new Honda NGV @ a Honda Dealer in Northern Cal. I know I can fill up locally here at Sea-Tac airport but would desperately like to drive it up from Cal. Looks like it is pretty difficult north of Sacramento. Has anyone made it somehow?
How much cost and trouble is it to purchase an additional tank to use for the trip? Can you use a loose tank or do you need a hard plumbed type unit with a switching valve from the main tank?
Sorry for the ignorance
-Don

[cnguser]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Don
Why go to Calif to purchase? Renton Honda & Beaverton Honda are the same owner dealerships. I ordered and bought my GX at Beaverton Honda in Oregon. They have 1 in stock now. Both are authorized GX dealers if you check the American Honda web site...or call the corp offices in Torrance, Calif. Also listed is the Bellevue Honda dealership.
I believe unless you have the car sent by transport from Calif to Washington, you will get to pay the Calif sales tax. Not to mention what you will also pay for Washington taxes. Sounds like an expen$ive deal.
If you want a road trip, buy it in Beaverton. I have made the trip from here to Seattle area with plenty of fuel left.

[gsmdbari]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Thanks very much! I assumed I could not purchase it here. I wouldn't mind the challenge of a road trip but I won't avoid any taxes unless I wait till Jan '09 to purchase it. Then, I understand I won't have to pay Wa. sales tax on a GX.
I will check the local Honda dealers.

[OptimaCNG]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Does anyone complete the Bayarea->Vancouver/Whistler, BC CNG trip ? I am planning to visit my buddy with my 08 GX.

[Stu Man]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Does anyone complete the Bayarea->Vancouver/Whistler, BC CNG trip ? I am planning to visit my buddy with my 08 GX.

Hi OptimaCNG :

I used www.cngprices.com and maps.google.com to gather information on getting a CNG vehicle from The Bay Area to Whistler, B.C.

Chico, CA to Medford OR is 223 Miles ( I would telephone both stations )
Medford, OR to Hillsboro, OR is 278 miles (steep and mountainous )
Hillsboro, OR to Lakewood, WA is 148 miles

From Lakewood, WA, going North, you have 3 other Clean Energy stations in SeaTac, Bellevue, and Everett. I have used the Bellevue and Everett Stations, and received real good fills on the 3000 psi pump. I know there is a 3600 PSI Pump in Everett, and if I remember correctly there is also a 3600 PSI pump in Bellevue WA.

Once you get to Vancouver, B.C. all the www.cngprices.com CNG location and pump price is current and accurate. There is only 3000 PSI in Vancouver. The cngprices.com pricing is in cents per Liter. Take the value you see on cngprices.com then muliply by 3.78541 to obtain the Price per U.S. Gallon.

I don't know what your fuel range is, but if you are really motivated to make this trip with your GX, perhaps you could contact a Towing Service in Hillsboro that would be willing to load your GX on to a flat deck truck, then drive you North for maybe 60 miles, then drop you off.

Bring your snowboard

[OptimaCNG]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Hi OptimaCNG :

I used www.cngprices.com and maps.google.com to gather information on getting a CNG vehicle from The Bay Area to Whistler, B.C.

Chico, CA to Medford OR is 223 Miles ( I would telephone both stations )
Medford, OR to Hillsboro, OR is 278 miles (steep and mountainous )
Hillsboro, OR to Lakewood, WA is 148 miles


Bring your snowboard

Thank you for your information. I am worrying the range from Medford, OR to Hillsboro, OR (278 miles), because I drive Civic GX, my drive range for full tank approx. 220 to 250. I don't know can I make it with steep and mountainous condition. I think I can use cruise control to keep speed under 75 mph and wish it can extend my drive range to make it happens.

I am planning my winter trip with my NGV. I wish I can carry all my gears with my trip to Whistler, BC. I don't really want to ride on flat bed tow truck on my trip Thank you for your advise.


Derick

[Stu Man]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Thank you for your information. I am worrying the range from Medford, OR to Hillsboro, OR (278 miles), because I drive Civic GX, my drive range for full tank approx. 220 to 250. I don't know can I make it with steep and mountainous condition. I think I can use cruise control to keep speed under 75 mph and wish it can extend my drive range to make it happens.

I am planning my winter trip with my NGV. I wish I can carry all my gears with my trip to Whistler, BC. I don't really want to ride on flat bed tow truck on my trip Thank you for your advise.


Derick

OK, Derick :

I hope you are able to make your road trip OK. If you can just make that 278 mile lag between Medford, OR and Hillsboro, OR, you will be able to make it all the way to Whistler, B.C., no problem Remember, there is no CNG in Whistler.

Once you have completed your Road Trip, please be sure to post the details of your NGV trip. With the Winter Olympics coming to Whistler and Vancouver in February of 2010, there may be other NGV'ers wanting to know the details of your NGV Road trip.

Good luck !

Stu Man

[Linda]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Medford to Hllsboro is 281 miles, station to station, a long haul for any GX. If you get a full fill at Medford and cruse at 55mph you will come up about 10 miles short. Oregon DOT has a service center in both Eugene and Salem, If you call them ahead of time they might be able to help. After Hillsboro it's a clear run to Tacoma and then on to Vancouver, BC. Be sure you have AAA+.
Good luck and and be sure to let all of us know how it goes.
Linda

[OptimaCNG]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

That's the range made me worry. I have AAA+ with me anytime. Did anyone pass through from Medford to Hllsboro with GX?

[gringostar]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Hey all you California NGV owners !

If you can make it to Medford Oregon from Northern California :

1) Medford to Hillsboro Oregon (near Portland) is 222 miles
2) Hillsboro to Lakewood Washington is 148 miles
3) Lakewood to Seatac (Seattle's airport) is 25.2 miles
4) Seatac to 152nd Street in Surrey (just south of Vancouver) is 131 miles
or Seatac to Mission BC, (just east of Vancouver) is 140 miles
or Seatac to Clearbrook BC (just south east of Van) is 132 miles

Once you get to Vancouver, there are 19 Public NGV stations in and around Vancouver, B.C.

The Mission and Clearbrook NGV stations are just North of the Sumas (or Huntingdon) Border Crossing. This crossing will have WAY less traffic.

From any of the Vancouver NGV stations it is just 80 miles to Whistler (160 miles round trip). There are NO Natural Gas stations in Whistler, so watch your mileage.

All mileage estimates were obtained from maps.google.com

I used www.cngprices.com to get current NGV Stations.

ROAD TRIP !

Stu Man

Stu, dude, your math is wrong. From the Medford station to the Hillsboro station is 278 miles. I have no idea how you got 222 miles. I too would like to make that trip. I've made it before in a 2004 GX with an extra tank. Now, although I'm very happy with my 2000 Camry, the range is only 250 miles, about 10 miles short of Hillsboro. The best thing about the trip is the price of the gas in Medford, it's $1.40 a gge. I almost took a picture of it, the price was so low.

[Stu Man]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Stu, dude, your math is wrong. From the Medford station to the Hillsboro station is 278 miles. I have no idea how you got 222 miles. I too would like to make that trip. I've made it before in a 2004 GX with an extra tank. Now, although I'm very happy with my 2000 Camry, the range is only 250 miles, about 10 miles short of Hillsboro. The best thing about the trip is the price of the gas in Medford, it's $1.40 a gge. I almost took a picture of it, the price was so low.

Hi Gringostar :

I think I originally posted those mileage estimates way back in February of 2008, when I first joined this Forum. "I" don't even know where I got the 222 mile estimate from. I was probably up real late, and typing with one eye shut.

As you know, I had posted incorrect mileage between Medford and Hillsboro Oregon. Actually, according to Linda, it is 281 miles from pump to pump, so I'm just glad my incorrect mileage estimate didn't leave anyone stranded

Linda was also mentioning that the Oregon DOT has a service Center in both Eugene and Salem. Gringostar, have you ever used the CNG at either Eugene or Salem DOT ?

Actually, if anyone has re-fueled at either Eugene or Salem DOT, please provide details. ie; Were the DOT people open and receptive to public re-fueling? Interested minds would like to know.

Also, Gringostar, did you actually venture all the way up to Vancouver, B.C. with your 2004 GX, on that trip ?

Stu Man

[cngdealer]

Re: California to Whistler, BC Canada

Thanks for the invite Stu. I used www.CNGPRICES.com as well as www.altfuelprices.com to locate the CNG stations on my way to Arizona.