Facility Overview
City Center Parking Lot 117, located at 838 SW 3rd Avenue, offers premier, open-air surface parking in the heart of Downtown Portland, Oregon. Positioned right along the central commercial and retail corridor between SW Taylor and SW Yamhill Streets, this well-maintained lot provides convenient, drive-in ground-level spaces. Because it is an open surface lot without low-hanging ceilings or overhead deck barriers, it presents virtually unlimited vertical clearance. This makes Lot 117 an exceptional parking choice not only for standard sedans, compacts, and crossovers, but also for lifted pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, delivery vans, and vehicles carrying rooftop gear or bike racks that cannot navigate standard downtown multi-level garages.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Lot 117 puts drivers within steps of Portland\'s most prominent shopping, civic, and cultural landmarks. Pioneer Place, the premier downtown shopping center featuring upscale boutiques and dining, is located just one block away. Portland’s living room, Pioneer Courthouse Square, is a brief three-minute walk (approx. 2 blocks west), serving as a central hub for community gatherings, food carts, and live events. Nature lovers and runners can reach Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Willamette River esplanade in less than five minutes (3 blocks east). Additionally, cultural and performance venues such as the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Antoinette Hatfield Hall, and Keller Auditorium are easily walkable within 8 to 12 minutes, making this facility a versatile base for business trips, shopping excursions, and evening theater outings.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Access to Lot 117 is straightforward via SW 3rd Avenue, a major one-way northbound downtown thoroughfare. Exiting drivers can easily connect to cross streets heading east toward the Morrison Bridge and Hawthorne Bridge, providing rapid ingress and egress to Interstate 5 (I-5), Interstate 84 (I-84), and Highway 99W. For multimodal commuters, the transit convenience is unmatched: the MAX Light Rail lines (Blue, Red, Green, and Orange) run along adjacent SW Yamhill and SW Morrison Streets, with stops less than two blocks from the lot. Multiple TriMet bus routes also crisscross 3rd, 4th, and 5th Avenues, ensuring quick transfers throughout the Portland metropolitan area.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Spacious, open-air surface lot layout allowing easy turnaround and parking for oversized vehicles.
- No vertical clearance limitations, welcoming tall commercial vans, work trucks, and roof-racked vehicles.
- Quick and frictionless mobile payments via ParkMobile and digital pay stations.
- Well-illuminated parking grounds with perimeter fencing and clear directional signage.
- Designated ADA accessible parking stalls conveniently situated near pedestrian exits.
- 24/7 access suitable for overnight parking, early-morning commuting, and late-night downtown dining.
Ideal For
- Daily office commuters working in the central Downtown Portland business district.
- Shoppers visiting Pioneer Place and the surrounding retail corridors.
- Theater and concert attendees heading to Portland\'5 Centers for the Arts venues.
- Festivalgoers and weekend strollers attending events at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
- Drivers operating lifted trucks, commercial cargo vans, or vehicles with rooftop attachments seeking open-sky parking.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Given the one-way street system in downtown Portland, ensure you approach the entrance on SW 3rd Avenue heading north. Downtown traffic can peak during weekday morning and evening rush hours, as well as during sunny weekend waterfront festivals, so arriving slightly ahead of time is recommended. When parking, remember to note your license plate number, as automated payment machines and mobile parking apps require your vehicle registration to validate your stay. To avoid vehicle prowls typical of urban centers, always practice standard city safety by locking your doors and taking all personal valuables with you.
