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  • Attractions
    • women dances with large fans outside on a city street surrounded by people in colorful dragon costumesView All Attractions
    • Museums
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • people dining at picnic tables in front of a food cartView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • aerial view of downtown area with buildings and roadways, bridges crossing a river to a smaller set of buildings that expand into the distanceView All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • RegionView All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
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  • Events
  • Search
the exterior of a large urban shopping mall with vehicles and a light rail train out front
i
There are a variety of parking garages and lots within walking distance of downtown’s Pioneer Place mall.
Plan / Transportation

Parking in Portland

In a lot, in a garage or on the street? You make the call.

Updated Oct. 3, 2023 4 min read

From city-run parking garages to private lots to an app for on-street parking, Portland offers reliable options for parking during your visit.

Parking Garages and Lots Downtown

The city owns SmartPark garages in the central city with roughly 4,000 public spaces across five convenient locations. Each lot displays the number of available spots above the entrance in real time. More than 375 businesses downtown will provide a validation voucher for SmartPark parking with qualifying purchases.

Additional privately owned parking lots with varying daily, hourly, evening and weekend rates can be found throughout the central city.

Transportation

Portland transportation options include efficient public transit, miles of bike lanes, ride-share services and pedestrian-friendly city streets. Getting around the City of Roses is easier than you think.

Read More

On-Street Parking

In Portland’s central city, there are over 20,000 metered parking spaces. Parking hours and costs vary by neighborhood and time of day; parking is even free during some off-peak hours. Plan your parking in the downtown area or Portland’s residential neighborhoods in advance by checking the city’s public parking guide.

Portland offers two ways to pay for parking on the street: via a mobile app or at a pay station. The latter option uses a pay-by-plate system, meaning no more running back to your car with a paper receipt. Simply enter your license plate number and select the amount of time you wish to purchase; pay stations accept major credit cards and cash. The other option is paying via “Parking Kitty.”

Portland Apps

Turn your smartphone into a local tour guide with apps that help you track train schedules, map food carts, explore public art and more.

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The Parking Kitty App

Simplify your public parking experience by using Parking Kitty. This free-to-download, city-owned smartphone app allows you to pay for parking using just your phone — no more digging for coins for the parking meter. To use Parking Kitty, download the app from the App Store or Google Play (or use the web version), then create an account within the app and set up your payment information.

The next time you’re parking, open Parking Kitty, select the zone number for the area where you’re parked, select the amount of time you’ll be parked there, and pay directly through the app. While you’re out and about, you can use the app to check how much time you have left.

Parking enforcement officers will be able to see your mobile payment with their own handheld devices, so there’s no need to worry about those parking meters. (Note that there’s a small fee for each use of Parking Kitty — 40 cents per session as of 2023.)

Car-Free Transportation

Ditch your wheels and explore the city via public transportation, bicycle, e-scooter and more.

More Transportation
A light rail train passes in front of a modern, glass-encased retail store

MAX Light Rail

Portland's efficient light rail system connects the metro area and downtown core. Learn how to ride and where to go on MAX.

A streetcar passes by a large, red sculpture in front of a building with a neon sign reading, \"Go By Streetcar.\"

Portland Streetcar

The City of Roses built the nation’s first modern-day streetcar in 2001: the sleek and modern Portland Streetcar.

People entering and exiting a TriMet bus downtown

Bus Service

The TriMet bus system, which covers the city and its suburbs, offers low fares, friendly drivers and full wheelchair accessibility.

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Biking

One of the best ways to explore the Rose City is on two wheels.

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Biketown Bike-Share in Portland

Introduced in 2016, Portland’s bike-share program brings 1,000 smart bicycles to the central city.

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Bicycle Maps & Where to Ride

With bike lanes and paths throughout the city, Portland has great places to ride for cyclists of all abilities.

person on e-scooter passes mural reading Long Live the Wildcards, Misfits & Dabblers

Electric Scooters (E-Scooters) in Portland

E-scooter sharing lets users rent vehicles via an app for one-way trips. Before boarding, check out our dos and don’ts for riding e-scooters in Portland.

Portland Chinatown Museum

Car- and Ride-Sharing

Car- and ride-sharing services in Portland make it easier than ever to get around the city without bringing your own vehicle.

Parking Near Popular Attractions

Read on for parking options near some of Portland’s must-see attractions. (Don’t forget that there are other great ways to travel in the City of Roses — from MAX Light Rail to Portland Streetcar, from bus to bicycle.) In each case below, the following applies:

  • Parking in a public SmartPark garage costs $1.80/hour as of 2023 (or pay the $14–$18 “all day” rate).
  • Street parking costs $2/hour as of 2023.
  • Finding a spot on the street can be challenging during peak hours.

Powell’s City of Books

  • Neighborhood: The Pearl District
  • Nearest SmartPark Garage: 730 SW 10th Avenue
  • Walking Distance From Garage: 5 Blocks (5-Minute Walk)
  • Street parking near Powell’s is an option, but it can be difficult to find a spot in the heart of the central city during peak hours.

Portland Art Museum

  • Neighborhood: Downtown
  • Nearest SmartPark Garage: 730 SW 10th Avenue
  • Walking Distance From Garage: 5 Blocks (6-Minute Walk)
  • The museum’s downtown location means finding parking on the street can take a little work, though spots are available.

More Sites and Attractions

There's far more fun to be had — and iconic sites to see — in Portland's Central City.

More Central City Activities
sunrise through trees with grassy field on waterfront park

Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Hugging the Willamette River in downtown Portland, this once bustling highway now offers a strollable, bikeable and dog-walkable public park with historical and cultural monuments, and kid-friendly fun.

people sitting, walking in brick plaza with white columns

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Located in the heart of downtown Portland, the city’s “living room” is close to shopping, restaurants, and hotels, and hosts hundreds of events each year.

Director Park

Director Park

Downtown Portland’s Director Park is a European-style, granite-paved plaza with outdoor seating and a fountain; a perfect respite from the bustle of the city.

People attending an outdoor market, Portland Saturday Market

Portland Saturday Market

Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.

street view of museum entrance with city reflections on the windows

The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education

In times of social upheaval and political uncertainty, museums like OJMCHE are more relevant than ever. Explore the rich history and ongoing resiliency of Oregon’s diverse Jewish community with interactive exhibits and experiences for all ages.

external corner of Pioneer Place on a sunny day

Pioneer Place

Downtown Portland's home for big-brand shopping houses the major brands that fashionistas crave, along with an expansive food court and a movie theater.

display of boots next to a storefront window

Union Way Shopping Arcade

Evoking Paris’ intimate passageways and Scandinavian architecture, this shop-filled alley connects downtown Portland’s West End with the Pearl District.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

  • Neighborhood: Old Town Chinatown
  • Nearest SmartPark Garage: 33 NW Davis Street
  • Walking Distance From Garage: 4 Blocks (4-Minute Walk)
  • The garden is located in the heart of Old Town Chinatown, a bustling central city neighborhood; street parking is an option, but it might take some hunting.

Voodoo Doughnut

  • Neighborhood: Old Town Chinatown
  • Nearest SmartPark Garage: 33 NW Davis Street —or— 621 SW 3rd Avenue
  • Walking Distance From Garage: Both = 5 Blocks (6-Minute Walk)
  • Another Old Town Chinatown location means the same caveats apply when hunting for street parking near Voodoo Doughnut: spots are out there, but finding one may take some effort.

Washington Park

  • Washington Park is a large complex of attractions, including the International Rose Test Garden, the Oregon Zoo, the Portland Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum and more. Parking is available in lots — the specific lot you’ll want to target will vary depending on your plans, so reference the Washington Park map to come up with a plan.
  • Parking in a lot at Washington Park is $2 per hour as of 2023 (or $8 for a full day).
  • Please note that parking at Washington Park is extremely limited; it’s much easier to park elsewhere and travel to the park via public transportation.
Plan, Transportation
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Portland Hotels

Looking for a Portland hotel for your upcoming visit to Portland, Oregon? Portland has more than 100 hotels, and Travel Portland has the complete guide to choosing a hotel in Portland.

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In the city that likes to “keep it weird,” choose from interesting options, from gorgeous garden cabins to historic rock ‘n’ roll hotels.

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