Facility Overview

Parking NW - SW 3rd & Oak (Lot 317) is an open-air surface parking lot situated in the heart of Downtown Portland at 331 SW Oak Street. Located at the intersection of SW 3rd Avenue and SW Oak Street, this centrally positioned facility provides straightforward, grade-level vehicle access on flat asphalt. Because this is an uncovered surface lot with no low-clearance overhead beams, it offers virtually unlimited vertical clearance. This makes Lot 317 an ideal parking choice not only for standard passenger sedans and compact crossovers but also for lifted pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, delivery vans, and high-roof conversion vehicles that cannot safely enter standard subterranean or multi-story parking structures.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Lot 317 provides a strategic gateway to both Downtown Portland and the historic Old Town Chinatown district. Visitors parking here enjoy immediate walking access to some of the city\'s most beloved destinations, historic landmarks, and dining districts:

• Tom McCall Waterfront Park: Just three blocks east (a 4-minute walk), offering miles of scenic Willamette River pathways, cherry blossoms in spring, and prominent community festivals such as the Portland Rose Festival and Waterfront Blues Festival.
• Portland Saturday Market: Located roughly 5 minutes north at Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza, presenting hundreds of local arts, crafts, and food artisans every weekend.
• Voodoo Doughnut & Ankeny Alley: Situated two blocks north (a 3-minute walk), surrounded by lively pubs, microbreweries, and Portland\'s famed quirky culinary culture.
• Pioneer Courthouse Square & Downtown Retail: A short 6-block stroll west (about 8 minutes) puts visitors right at Portland\'s \'Living Room,\' surrounded by premier shopping centers, including Pioneer Place mall, luxury department stores, and major corporate towers.
• Roseland Theater & McMenamins Crystal Ballroom: Conveniently accessible for evening concertgoers and entertainment seekers looking for dependable parking within walking distance of central music venues.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Entering and exiting Lot 317 is convenient via SW Oak Street and SW 3rd Avenue, both of which are prominent one-way arterials facilitating organized downtown traffic flow. Exiting drivers can quickly connect to SW Naito Parkway to link directly to Interstate 5, Highway 26, or cross the river via the nearby Morrison and Burnside bridges. For those combining driving with public transit, Lot 317 is extraordinarily well connected: TriMet MAX Light Rail lines (Blue, Red, and Green lines) run within two blocks at the SW Oak & 1st or SW Yamhill stations, and multiple high-frequency TriMet bus corridors run directly along 3rd and 4th Avenues.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-Air Headroom: Zero height restrictions, accommodating high-profile SUVs, vans, and commercial pickup trucks.
• Touch-Free & App Payments: Compatible with leading mobile parking payment apps (such as ParkMobile or on-site pay-by-plate signage), allowing drivers to easily pay and extend parking time remotely.
• Automated Self-Park: Well-marked surface stalls for rapid turnaround, touch-and-go parking without long elevator waits or congested garage ramps.
• Central Downtown Lighting: Positioned in a fully developed urban area with surrounding city streetlights for visibility during evening visits.
• Designated Accessible Parking: Features marked ADA-accessible parking spaces with level access out to the sidewalk grid.

Ideal For

• Weekend Shoppers & Sightseers: Families and tourists heading to the Portland Saturday Market, riverfront strolls, or downtown retail stores.
• Weekday Office Commuters: Professionals working in nearby downtown financial, legal, and creative offices seeking hassle-free surface parking.
• Event & Festival Guests: Waterfront Park festival attendees and patrons visiting nearby music venues, comedy clubs, and nightlife along 2nd and 3rd avenues.
• Oversized Vehicle Operators: Tradespeople and travelers driving tall vehicles that exceed standard municipal garage clearance maximums.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Because SW 3rd Avenue and SW Oak Street are one-way streets, drivers should plan their approach carefully using GPS navigation. During major summer events at Waterfront Park—such as the Rose Festival, 4th of July celebrations, or beer and blues festivals—this lot fills up very early, so arriving well before start times is strongly advised. Make sure to note your license plate number before walking away, as on-site payment machines and mobile apps operate on a Pay-by-Plate system. Finally, as with any central urban parking lot, always practice good city parking etiquette: lock your doors, roll up windows completely, and remove or hide all valuables out of sight before heading out.