About this Location

Facility Overview

OHSU Parking Garage C is a vital multi-level covered parking structure located on the Marquam Hill campus of Oregon Health & Science University in southwest Portland, Oregon. Situated directly off SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Garage C provides direct parking convenience for patients, visitors, university faculty, and medical staff accessing the heart of OHSU’s primary medical complex. The facility spans multiple structured decks: Level P1 is dedicated 24/7 to patient parking; Levels P2 and P3 provide assigned online permit parking; and Level P4 (the uppermost deck) accommodates visitor parking via on-site pay stations as well as authorized permit spaces.

Vehicle suitability is tailored primarily to standard passenger vehicles, compact cars, standard crossover SUVs, and family minivans. The parking structure features a strict overhead vehicle clearance limit of 6 feet 8 inches (6'8"). Drivers operating lifted 4x4 pickup trucks, full-size cargo vans, rooftop carrier-equipped SUVs, or recreational vehicles will exceed this height restriction. Patients with oversize vehicles are redirected to neighboring Garage B where valet and attendant assistance are available, while staff or students with oversize vehicles must utilize the open-air Lot 10.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Garage C boasts an exceptional location directly adjacent to OHSU’s core medical and research facilities on 'Pill Hill'. Major destinations within immediate walking distance include:

OHSU Hospital & Emergency Department: Located directly across SW Sam Jackson Park Road (a 1- to 2-minute walk).
Sam Jackson Hall & Mackenzie Hall: Academic and administrative facilities situated just steps away from the garage entrance.
Kohler Pavilion & Hatfield Research Center: Accessible within a 3- to 5-minute indoor or outdoor walk via campus walkways and elevated connecting corridors.
OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital: Located within a short 5-minute walk north along SW Campus Drive.
Portland VA Medical Center: Reachable via the Marquam Hill enclosed pedestrian suspension skybridge (approximately a 6- to 8-minute walk).
Portland Aerial Tram (Marquam Hill Terminal): A 5-minute walk across campus, providing a scenic 3-minute aerial ride down to the South Waterfront district, offering access to waterfront restaurants, cafes, and scenic Willamette River greenways.
Marquam Nature Park: Immediately surrounding the campus, offering access to the Marquam Trail and lush forested urban hiking paths connecting to Council Crest Park.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Accessing OHSU Parking Garage C involves navigating the winding hillside thoroughfares of Marquam Hill. Regional access from Interstate 5 (I-5) is simple via Exit 297 (Terwilliger Boulevard) or the SW 6th Avenue/City Center exit, funneling onto SW Terwilliger Boulevard and uphill via SW Campus Drive to SW Sam Jackson Park Road. Drivers traveling from Beaverton and the west via Highway 26 (Sunset Highway) take the 6th Avenue exit after passing through the Vista Ridge Tunnel.

Ingress and egress are clearly signed along SW Sam Jackson Park Road. During weekday shift changes (typically 7:00 AM–8:30 AM and 3:30 PM–5:30 PM), traffic along SW Sam Jackson Park Road and Terwilliger Boulevard can be moderately congested. In addition to private vehicle access, Marquam Hill is served by robust regional public transit. TriMet bus lines 8 (Jackson Park/NE 15th), 43, and 56 stop directly outside along the campus loop, while C-TRAN Express route 190 provides commuter connections to SW Washington. Downhill transit via the Portland Aerial Tram links passengers to the Portland Streetcar NS Line and MAX Light Rail Orange Line at South Waterfront.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Covered Multi-Deck Parking: Offers all-weather overhead protection against Pacific Northwest rain across lower tiers.
Designated Patient Levels: Dedicated parking stalls on Level P1 reserved 24/7 for medical patients and their personal visitors.
ADA Accessible Parking: Prominently located ADA stalls adjacent to elevator lobbies and well-marked ramps.
On-Site Pay Stations: Level P4 features digital pay stations accepting standard credit and debit cards for short-term parking (up to 3 hours).
24/7 Campus Security Patrols: Monitored around the clock by the OHSU Department of Public Safety, supplemented by emergency blue-light call boxes and modern security lighting.
Direct Hospital Skybridge Connections: Seamless pedestrian access to hospital towers and clinics through Sam Jackson Hall and adjacent skybridges.
Valet Availability Nearby: Emergency Department patient valet is operated directly across the street for individuals requiring immediate curb-to-clinic assistance.

Ideal For

Emergency Room & OHSU Hospital Patients: The closest and fastest self-parking garage for emergency department visits and outpatient hospital appointments.
Patient Visitors & Family Members: Visiting loved ones admitted to OHSU Hospital, Hatfield Research Center, or Kohler Pavilion.
Short-Term University Visitors: Those attending campus meetings, admissions consultations, or brief lectures on Marquam Hill.
Authorized Faculty & Medical Staff: Permit holders assigned to P2/P3 employee commuter bays.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Patients and personal visitors of registered OHSU patients park free of charge in patient areas. To ensure parking coverage and avoid citations, patients parking on Level P1 should validate their vehicle license plate at the clinic reception desk, emergency admitting station, or via online patient coverage systems. Non-patients (contractors, academic visitors, vendors, and general public) must pay to park on weekdays between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Pay station parking on Level P4 has an enforced 3-hour maximum time limit.

Keep in mind that on-site pay stations only accept physical credit or debit cards inserted or swiped; contactless smartphone payments (such as Apple Pay or Google Wallet) are not supported at the pay kiosks. If you plan to remain on campus for more than 3 hours without a patient validation, arrange an all-day permit online prior to arrival via OHSU's guest parking portal. During winter months, Marquam Hill roads can occasionally experience icy conditions; drivers are advised to check OHSU road cameras and regional transit alerts before making the climb.