Oregon Trail Without the Snake Bites

Set out on the Oregon Trail of your childhood videogame dreams, but without the fear of snake bites and dysentery. Travel Oregon and Lyft Portland joined forces for the ultimate nostalgia experience come to life. For a limited time, travelers hit the open dirt road, just like in the Oregon Trail, along Rose City.

For those in and around the Portland area Aug. 28–31, 10 a.m.– 2 p.m., enjoy a covered wagon ride through downtown Portland. Simply tap the covered wagon icon in the Lyft app and enjoy a free ride, up to $10 value, along the Oregon Trail Experience. Enter the promo code OREGONTRAIL175 in your Lyft app and meet your ride at the Oregon Historical Society building on South West Park Avenue.

In addition to the one-of-a kind ride experience, Oregon Trail riders enjoy free entry to the Oregon Historical Society museum on the day of their ride.

Each ride lasts 15 minutes, traveling along a pre-determined route —unlike the seemingly impossible six-month journey portrayed by the videogame, filled with unexpected axel breaks and spoiled food.

The ride is PG and safe for all ages, but most millennials and above will appreciate the modern interpretation of a beloved childhood game — all while inspired by the grueling and deadly journey West. In the spirit of the American pioneer’s rough journey and dark rugged wilderness of our nation’s history, your teens will appreciate the irony.

Pay it forward along your free ride by bringing two or more cans of nonperishable food to donate to Sunshine Division. You can even play along with Travel Oregon: The Game if you can’t make it to the trail for a fun ride.

For those not in the Portland area, no worries, you can play along from home. Enter OREGONTRAIL in your own Lyft app and enjoy your normal car icons, now transformed into covered wagons.

Enjoy the fun part of history — seeing how far we’ve come — with a classic pioneer model wagon, operated by Wagon Train Excursions of Pendleton, Oregon. The famed Pendleton Round-Up Wagon Train tour is another must-experience with the kids — live mules and all!

The entire project is a fun collaboration between city tourism, local business and corporate offices, perfect for a fun and unique family tour.