Facility Overview

Conveniently located at 420 SW Clay Street in the southern core of Downtown Portland, the 4th and Clay Rooftop Parking facility (Lot L98) offers a distinct and highly accessible parking option for urban travelers. Positioned directly atop the 5th Avenue commercial structure between SW 4th Avenue and SW 5th Avenue, this elevated open-air rooftop deck delivers prime open-sky parking above street traffic. Vehicles access the elevated lot via a dedicated, gently sloped driveway ramp leading straight from SW Clay Street. Because the facility is an uncovered surface deck on a rooftop structure, it provides wide-open overhead headroom that eliminates the claustrophobic low-clearance constraints common to multi-level subterranean concrete garages. It is fully suited for compact cars, mid-size sedans, crossovers, full-size SUVs, and standard light-duty pickup trucks—even those equipped with ski racks, bicycle carriers, or cargo roof boxes. While ideal for standard passenger and personal vehicles, extremely long commercial haulers, limousines, or oversized RVs should consider dedicated ground-level oversized staging due to the turning radius of the entrance ramp.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

The lot boasts one of the most advantageous locations in Downtown Portland, positioned at the convergence of the cultural, civic, and waterfront districts. Theatergoers and arts enthusiasts will find themselves just one short block from the historic Keller Auditorium, making this lot one of the easiest, shortest walks for Broadway across America productions, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Portland Opera performances. Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Salmon Street Springs are merely three to four blocks to the east along the scenic Willamette River, providing easy foot access for the Portland Rose Festival, waterfront marathons, and seasonal food festivals. The property is also surrounded by prominent civic and corporate landmarks, including Portland City Hall, the iconic Portland Building, KOIN Tower, the Wells Fargo Center, PacWest Center, 200 Market Building, and Crown Plaza. Visitors staying at nearby premier hotels—such as The Porter Portland (Curio Collection by Hilton), The Hotel Zags, and the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront—frequently utilize this deck as a cost-effective self-parking alternative. Furthermore, the northern border of the Portland State University (PSU) campus and the Urban Center Plaza are a convenient 5-minute walk southward.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Navigation to and from the lot is exceptionally smooth thanks to Portland's organized street grid. SW Clay Street is an arterial westbound one-way thoroughfare, allowing drivers to turn seamlessly into the facility ramp between SW 4th and SW 5th Avenues. Departing drivers enjoy immediate connectivity to regional freeway arteries: following SW Clay westward leads directly toward the ramps for Interstate 405, Highway 26 (Sunset Highway to Beaverton), and south-bound connectors to Interstate 5. Alternatively, heading east connects within moments to SW Naito Parkway and the Hawthorne Bridge for swift access across the river to Portland's Central Eastside. For commuters combining personal driving with public transit, the lot is located adjacent to the TriMet transit corridor. MAX Light Rail platforms at SW 5th & Market and SW 6th & Montgomery (serving the Green, Orange, and Yellow Lines) are only one to two blocks away, while multiple high-frequency TriMet bus lines run along 4th and 5th Avenues, making regional transit transfers virtually effortless.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

The facility provides dependable urban parking backed by intuitive modern services:

• Open 24/7 with round-the-clock accessibility every day of the week
• Elevated open-air rooftop deck offering clear sightlines and city architectural views
• Dedicated ingress and egress driveway ramp situated directly on SW Clay Street
• Unobstructed overhead headroom accommodating taller personal vehicles with roof racks
• Designated ADA accessible parking stalls conveniently marked for motorists with disability placards
• Mobile payment integration and contact-free digital check-in via Parking NW and ParkChirp
• Perimeter safety guardrails and nighttime area lighting for added visibility
• Centralized location within minutes of major corporate offices, hotels, and stage venues

Ideal For

This central parking facility is well-suited for a broad range of motorists, including:

• Patrons and concertgoers attending evening performances, musicals, and symphonies at Keller Auditorium
• Daily corporate commuters working in the KOIN Tower, 200 Market, PacWest Center, or Wells Fargo Tower
• Visitors conducting municipal business at Portland City Hall or the Multnomah County courthouses
• Leisure travelers, walkers, and runners visiting Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Willamette riverfront loop
• Overnight hotel guests seeking a more economical self-park solution than downtown hotel valet rates
• Students, faculty, and administrative staff traveling to Portland State University's northern campus quadrant

Visitor & Driver Tips

To optimize your parking experience at 4th and Clay Rooftop Parking, keep these practical recommendations in mind. Because SW Clay Street runs one-way westbound, approach the facility from SW 4th Avenue (running northbound) or straight from SW Naito Parkway to avoid looping around city blocks. When heading to a high-profile evening show or sold-out musical at Keller Auditorium, aim to arrive 30 to 45 minutes prior to curtain time to ensure seamless stall selection and an unhurried walk to the box office. Exiting this rooftop lot onto SW Clay Street is substantially faster following an auditorium event than navigating packed multi-floor underground garages, as traffic empties directly onto an open westbound street. Make sure to complete your mobile session payment immediately upon parking using the displayed QR code signs to ensure your license plate is properly registered with lot monitoring systems. Finally, remember that your vehicle will be parked in an open-air rooftop setting; take appropriate weather precautions during rainy Pacific Northwest winters or sunny summer afternoons.