Washington Park

Washington Park is the most comprehensive family destination in the Portland metro area — a 410-acre hilltop park complex that contains the Oregon Zoo, Portland Japanese Garden, International Rose Test Garden, arboretum, hiking trails, and multiple playgrounds all in one connected space. On a good day, you can see wolves and elephants, walk through 10,000 rose varieties in bloom, let kids loose on a dedicated playground, and hike through old Douglas fir forest — all without moving the car.

For families, the key tactical knowledge is that Washington Park has two distinct layers: the paid attractions (Oregon Zoo, Japanese Garden) and the free portions (Rose Garden, arboretum, playgrounds, trails). The free sections are genuinely excellent and can fill 2-3 hours on their own. Don't feel like every visit requires buying zoo tickets — the park itself rewards regular visits without added expense.

The Rose Garden Children's Park (a separate listing in this directory) is the dedicated playground within Washington Park — a well-equipped multi-age structure near the Rose Garden. It's specifically worth seeking out if you have kids ages 2-12.

Parking is $2/hour with a $10/day cap. The more budget-friendly option is the Washington Park MAX station, which connects via the MAX light rail and gives you free walking access to the park — parking cost avoided entirely.

Open 5AM-10PM daily, Washington Park rewards early morning visits when the forest trails are quiet and weekday afternoons when the zoo lines are short.