Portland is one of the few major West Coast cities where you can have a legitimately great family day without spending much. The parks are excellent, the free options are genuinely worth visiting, and the paid indoor venues are reasonably priced. Here's exactly what things cost and where to go when budget matters.
Completely Free: $0 to Enter
Start here. These are legit destinations, not filler.
Oro the Friendly Forest Giant — 4.9 stars. A massive wood-carved whimsical giant in Butternut Creek Park in Hillsboro. Kids can walk up to it, around it, and touch it. Free public art installation, 30 minutes to an hour, no parking fee.
St Johns Swapnplay — 4.9 stars. Portland's best-kept free indoor play secret. Nonprofit community play space in the St. Johns neighborhood — free or donation-based. Bring items to swap if you're participating in the clothing/toy exchange component. This is the only fully free indoor play option that's actually worth the trip.
Washington Park — 4.7 stars. The park itself is free. You can spend 3 hours in the Rose Garden, arboretum, and free hiking trails without paying anything. Note: Oregon Zoo admission inside the park runs ~$60–70 for a family of 4, and Japanese Garden is ~$45–50. Skip those if you're on a tight budget. Parking is $2/hour — take the MAX to the Washington Park station instead.
Rose Garden Children's Park — 4.7 stars. Free playground inside Washington Park. $10–15 for parking if you drive; $0 via MAX.
Washington Park Playground — 4.7 stars. The dedicated children's playground inside Washington Park. Same deal: free entry, parking is $2/hour or free if you take transit.
Gabriel Park — 4.7 stars. Sprawling 90-acre SW Portland park with playground, sports courts, open fields, and a dog off-leash area. Free parking. Budget 1–3 hours.
Gabriel Park Playground — 4.8 stars. The playground within Gabriel Park specifically. Well-equipped, good for multiple age groups.
Hidden Creek Park West — 4.8 stars. Open green space with solid climbing structures. Bring your own snacks and water. Free, no frills.
Faubion Playground — 4.8 stars. Well-loved NE Portland neighborhood playground. Free. 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Harper's Playground — 4.6 stars. One of Portland's most beloved all-abilities playgrounds in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood. Every kid can play here regardless of ability. Free.
Pirate Park — 4.6 stars. Bethany-area playground in NW Portland with pirate ship-themed equipment. Free. Kids 7–11 especially love it.
Westmoreland Park — 4.6 stars. Free entry, free street parking. The duck pond is the draw — bring stale bread and your kids will stay there for an hour.
Altamont Park — 4.6 stars. Free playground structure, free parking. Good for 1–2 hours.
Spring Garden Park — 4.7 stars. Friendly neighborhood park in SW Portland. Free.
Spring Garden Playground — 4.7 stars. Community playground in SW Portland. Peaceful, uncrowded. Free.
Cook Family Park — 4.7 stars. Community park in Tigard with playground and open space. Free.
Luuwit View Park — 4.7 stars. NE Portland park with views of Mt. St. Helens on clear days. Free.
Gateway Discovery Playground — 4.5 stars. Free public playground in the Gateway neighborhood. Street parking available.
Couch Park — 4.1 stars. Free neighborhood park in the Pearl District. Good as an add-on when you're already in the area.
Under $50 for a Family of 4
These are the best-value paid options in Portland.
City Play for Kids — $25–$40. ~$8–12 per child, adults typically free. The 5.0 rating with 287 reviews is the highest-credibility score in the metro. Weekend hours end at 1PM — morning arrival is mandatory. Near Fisher's Landing East.
Play and Ponder — $25–$40. ~$10–12 per child, adults typically free. 4.9 rating in Bethany. Book early for Saturdays — sessions fill up.
The Wiggle Room — $25–$40. ~$8–12 per child. Northeast Portland, scheduled sessions. Check the website calendar before going.
Happy Play — $30–$45. ~$8–12 per child. 4.8 rating in North Plains. Less crowded than Portland venues, open 7 days a week. Good option if you're in Hillsboro or Banks.
DiG PDX — $35–$50. Oregon's largest indoor sandbox — ~$8–12 per child, adults often free. Book online. This sells out on rainy weekends.
Ocean Plays Indoor Playground — $30–$45. ~$8–12 per child. Ocean/nautical theme in Hillsboro. Saturday hours 1–4PM only — plan accordingly.
Animal Rides Happy Rides — $15–$30. Coin-operated animal rides at Lloyd Center. $1–3 per ride. Good 30–60 minute stop for toddlers.
Funtastic Arcade — $30–$60 depending on spending. Credit-based arcade at Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets in Troutdale. Set a budget per kid and stick to it.
Under $75 for a Family of 4
SoGrow House — $50–$80. The Pearl District's 5.0-rated multi-use kids' venue. Premium pricing for a premium experience. Check membership options if you're visiting Portland regularly.
Kids Empire Gresham — $50–$70 for admission, plus $15–20 for food. 4.8 stars. This is the full-service option — multiple play areas, food onsite, 2–3 hours easily.
LEKA Playland — $45–$65. ~$10–15 per child. 4.7 stars in Tigard. Look for family package pricing on the website.
How to Do Portland for Under $50 Total
Morning: Washington Park — Take the MAX (free), spend 2 hours at the free Rose Garden, arboretum, and Rose Garden Children's Park. $0.
Packed lunch: $0.
Afternoon: St Johns Swapnplay — free or small donation. 1–2 hours of indoor play.
Total: $0–$10. That's a full family day in Portland.
If you want to add one paid activity, City Play for Kids at $25–40 brings your total day to $25–50 — still under budget with a full morning outdoors and an indoor session in the afternoon.
The key is front-loading the free stuff and using the paid venues strategically rather than defaulting to admission-based activities all day.