About this Location

Facility Overview

The Multnomah County Building Garage is a secure, multi-level covered parking structure situated at 508 SE Hawthorne Boulevard in Portland's bustling Central Eastside Industrial District and Buckman neighborhood. Positioned directly across from the Multnomah County Headquarters Building (501 SE Hawthorne Blvd) at the eastern foot of the Hawthorne Bridge, this 325-space garage provides critical off-street vehicle capacity in an area renowned for high daytime commerce and civic operations. The facility features designated visitor parking on lower levels and dedicated employee stalls on upper decks.

Drivers should take note of the garage's posted vertical clearance limit of 6 feet 6 inches (6'6"), which accommodates standard compact cars, sedans, crossovers, minivans, and most stock passenger SUVs and standard light pickup trucks. However, full-size lifted trucks, high-roof cargo vans, camper conversions, and vehicles carrying rooftop cargo boxes or bike racks that exceed the clearance threshold cannot enter and should use nearby open-air surface lots or metered street stalls.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located in the heart of Portland's inner Eastside, the garage is ideally situated for civic visitors, daytime business commuters, and waterfront explorers. Key destinations within walking distance or a brief transit connection include:

Multnomah County Administrative Building: Directly across the street, housing county commissioners, marriage licensing, tax assessment, records, and departmental offices.
Eastbank Esplanade & Willamette Riverfront: Roughly 3 to 4 blocks west (a 5- to 7-minute walk), providing scenic paved multi-use trails, river vistas, and pedestrian access across the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI): Located approximately 0.6 miles south along the riverside, reachable on foot in 12 to 15 minutes or via a quick hop on the streetcar.
Central Eastside Dining, Coffee & Microbreweries: Surrounded by acclaimed coffee roasters, craft taprooms, distilleries, and restaurants within a 5-minute stroll along Grand Avenue, SE Main Street, and SE Hawthorne Boulevard.
Downtown Portland: Just a 10-minute walk or 3-minute transit ride across the Hawthorne Bridge, placing Tom McCall Waterfront Park and downtown legal/financial complexes within effortless reach.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress to the garage is located along the south side of SE Hawthorne Boulevard between SE Grand Avenue and SE 6th Avenue. Because Hawthorne Boulevard is a one-way eastbound arterial coming immediately off the Hawthorne Bridge, drivers approaching from Downtown Portland or I-5 can merge smoothly into the right lane right after crossing the bridge to enter the driveway ramp. Exiting traffic discharges back onto local Eastside connectors, making it simple to navigate north onto Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Hwy 99E northbound) or south onto Grand Avenue (Hwy 99E southbound).

Public transit connectivity is exceptional. TriMet bus lines 2, 10, and 14 stop directly outside on SE Hawthorne and adjacent SE Madison Street. The Portland Streetcar B Loop stops on Grand Avenue right beside the block, offering seamless light rail connection north toward the Oregon Convention Center and Lloyd Center or south toward the South Waterfront via Tilikum Crossing.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Covered, Multi-Level Parking: Protects vehicles from Oregon rain and inclement weather year-round.
Designated Visitor Parking: Approximately 50 stalls reserved specifically for county visitors and daytime public parking.
Automated Payment Stations: Walk-up and exit pay machines accepting major credit cards and debit cards for quick, cashierless payment.
ADA Accessible Stalls: Clearly marked disabled parking spaces conveniently situated adjacent to elevator and pedestrian egress routes.
Facility Lighting & Security: Monitored layout managed by Denison Parking with active county facility surveillance.
Direct Bridge & Highway Proximity: Unmatched convenience for drivers jumping onto Interstate 5, I-84, or Pacific Highway 99E.

Ideal For

County & Civic Visitors: Citizens visiting county offices for licensing, vital records, property tax consultations, or board hearings.
Central Eastside Business Commuters: Professionals working in nearby creative agencies, design studios, and corporate offices during weekday business hours.
Waterfront & Esplanade Recreationists: Walkers, joggers, and cyclists taking advantage of direct proximity to the Eastbank Esplanade and Willamette river trails.
Downtown Portland Eventgoers & Day Commuters: Drivers looking to bypass congested downtown garages by parking just across the Hawthorne Bridge at economical weekday rates.

Visitor & Driver Tips

The garage operates on strict weekday hours, opening at 7:00 AM and closing promptly at 6:00 PM Monday through Friday. It is closed on weekends and observed county holidays. Drivers must adhere strictly to the 6:00 PM closing cutoff; vehicles remaining inside after 6:00 PM cannot be retrieved until the following business morning and will incur a mandatory overnight closure penalty fee. If you plan to dine out, attend evening concerts, or stay out late on the Eastside, opt for surrounding metered street parking or 24/7 public surface lots instead.