About this Location

Facility Overview

OHSU Parking Lot 50 is an open-air surface parking facility situated on the upper Marquam Hill campus of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Southwest Portland, Oregon. Designed primarily to serve university staff, researchers, students, and authorized campus visitors, this dedicated surface lot offers straightforward drive-up parking without the vertical confinement of multi-tier decks. Because it is an uncovered surface lot, it provides open vertical clearance, making it an excellent option for higher-clearance vehicles such as work vans, utility trucks with roof racks, full-size pickup trucks, and large SUVs that might otherwise struggle with clearance restrictions in subterranean or low-ceiling garages across the medical campus.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Perched amidst the wooded backdrop of Marquam Hill, Lot 50 offers direct proximity to core OHSU medical, research, and educational complexes. Within a 5-to-10-minute walk, visitors and staff can reach:

OHSU Hospital & Doernbecher Children\'s Hospital: Located just minutes away along SW Sam Jackson Park Road and Campus Drive, providing access to patient pavilions, clinics, and pediatric care.
Mackenzie Hall & Medical Research Laboratories: Key academic and laboratory facilities within short walking distance.
Portland Aerial Tram (Upper Terminal): Situated roughly a 10-minute walk across campus, providing a swift, scenic 3-minute link down to the South Waterfront district, Knight Cancer Research Building, and the Center for Health & Healing.
Marquam Nature Park & Trails: Outdoor enthusiasts and walking commuters enjoy direct trail access connecting Marquam Hill to the 4T Trail and Forest Park network.
Downtown Portland: Located roughly 2 miles to the north, reachable in 8 to 12 minutes by car or direct TriMet bus service.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Navigating to Lot 50 involves ascending Marquam Hill via SW Terwilliger Boulevard or SW Sam Jackson Park Road. Drivers access the lot via the internal campus roadway network (SW Campus Drive / SW Veterans Hospital Road). While the winding hill roads require cautious driving, especially during morning and late afternoon commute hours, egress toward Interstate 5 and US-26 (via Barbur Blvd or SW Sixth Ave) is relatively direct once off the hill. Transit connections are robust, with TriMet Bus Lines 8, 39, and 61 stopping throughout the Marquam Hill campus, as well as multiple OHSU shuttle routes shuttling personnel between campus facilities and the lower South Waterfront district.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous headroom accommodating taller passenger vehicles and light utility trucks without overhead height barriers.
Campus Security & Monitoring: Monitored under OHSU Public Safety patrols, complemented by standard campus exterior lighting.
Permit & Payment Integration: Utilizes OHSU Transportation & Parking daily/hourly payment platforms (including mobile apps such as PayByPhone or designated OHSU web portals during standard enforcement windows).
Designated Accessible Spaces: ADA-compliant parking stalls marked with level routes linking to campus pedestrian walkways and shuttle stops.
Pedestrian Pathway Access: Paved sidewalks connecting directly to Marquam Hill sky bridges, elevators, and transit stops.

Ideal For

OHSU Faculty, Staff & Researchers: Convenient daily parking tailored for campus personnel assigned to Marquam Hill departments.
University Students & Fellows: Reliable staging point for classes, laboratory rotations, and clinical shifts.
Vendors & Campus Contractors: Suitable for commercial and service vehicles requiring open-air clearances while conducting business on Marquam Hill.
Visitors Connecting to the Aerial Tram: Handy campus jumping-off point to explore both upper Marquam Hill and the lower South Waterfront.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Parking regulations on Marquam Hill are strictly enforced by OHSU Transportation & Parking, typically between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. If you do not hold an assigned annual or monthly parking permit, ensure you activate parking via the designated mobile application (PayByPhone) immediately upon arrival to avoid citations. Note that campus traffic can bottleneck on SW Sam Jackson Park Road during peak shift changes (around 7:00 AM–8:30 AM and 3:30 PM–5:00 PM), so budget an extra 10–15 minutes when traveling during shift change windows. In the winter months, watch for icy patches along the shaded, winding hill curves.