Facility Overview
The TriMet E 122nd/Menlo Park Park & Ride, situated at 12328 SE Ash Street in Portland's vibrant Hazelwood neighborhood in East Portland, serves as a crucial multimodal transportation hub for regional commuters, event attendees, and visitors. Designed as an accessible open-air surface parking lot, this facility provides straightforward ground-level stalls directly interfacing with the East 122nd Avenue light rail corridor. Because the lot has an open-air surface configuration without overhead structural decks, there are no vertical clearance limits or low ceiling hazards, making it fully accommodating for standard passenger sedans, crossover utility vehicles, large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, and high-roof passenger vans. Heavy commercial haulers, trailers, and recreational camping vehicles are restricted under regional transit district parking ordinances.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Positioned immediately adjacent to the intersection of SE 122nd Avenue and East Burnside Street, the facility offers immediate access to local retail amenities as well as effortless transit routes across the greater Portland metropolitan area. Locally, drivers are within walking distance of the Menlo Park Plaza and neighborhood shopping centers along 122nd Avenue, featuring a diverse array of multicultural dining, groceries, and services. The sprawling fairways and nature trails of Glendoveer Golf Course and Fitness Trail are located just 1.2 miles to the north, while Adventist Health Portland Medical Center and Mall 205 sit roughly 1.5 miles to the west.
The greatest strategic advantage of this location is its rapid direct light rail transit to Portland's marquee urban attractions. Without navigating traffic congestion or paying downtown parking rates, passengers boarding the MAX Blue Line at the adjoining station can ride straight to the Rose Quarter transit hub for concerts and Portland Trail Blazers games at the Moda Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum (approx. 25 minutes), major trade shows and conferences at the Oregon Convention Center (approx. 27 minutes), shopping at Pioneer Courthouse Square, and Portland Timbers or Thorns soccer matches at Providence Park.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Street ingress and egress are exceptionally smooth, with direct driveway access from SE Ash Street and fast connections onto SE 122nd Avenue and East Burnside Street. The lot's wide perimeter aisles and logical flow allow for minimal congestion during morning rush hours and smooth clearing after regional events. For regional highway drivers, Interstate 205 (I-205) is accessible within five minutes via SE Stark Street or NE Glisan Street, and Interstate 84 (I-84) can be reached promptly via 122nd Avenue to the north.
Public transit connectivity is built right into the perimeter of the lot. Commuters can step directly onto the TriMet MAX Blue Line at the E 122nd Ave Station for frequent, bi-directional train service between Gresham, Central Eastside, Downtown Portland, Beaverton, and Hillsboro. In addition, the lot connects directly with TriMet Bus Line 73 along 122nd Avenue and Line 20 on Burnside, providing continuous north-south and east-west suburban links, as well as a quick two-stop MAX trip west to Gateway Transit Center for transfers to the MAX Red Line directly into Portland International Airport (PDX).
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Convenient ground-level surface parking with unobstructed open-sky clearance for tall personal vehicles and SUVs.
- Dedicated American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible parking spaces positioned closest to station boarding ramps.
- Zero-cost parking for transit riders for up to 24 consecutive hours.
- TriMet bike parking options, including reserved secure bike lockers and on-site staple racks for cyclists.
- Step-free, paved pedestrian pathway directly linking parked vehicles to the MAX train platforms.
- Station platform amenities including ticket vending machines and contactless Hop Fastpass electronic fare card readers.
- Overhead street and perimeter lighting illuminating driving aisles and pedestrian walkways during early morning and late evening hours.
Ideal For
- Daily business and university commuters heading into Downtown Portland, Lloyd District, or Central Eastside who want to avoid bridge traffic and expensive city parking fees.
- Sports fans and entertainment attendees visiting the Moda Center, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, or Providence Park for hassle-free round-trip transit.
- Event and conference delegates attending multi-day exhibitions at the Oregon Convention Center.
- Leisure travelers and weekend explorers using the MAX system to discover Portland's downtown waterfront and cultural districts.
- Regional transit riders connecting via Gateway Transit Center to Portland International Airport (PDX) for overnight journeys within 24 hours.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Parking in the E 122nd/Menlo Park Park & Ride is free of charge for TriMet patrons, but regional transit regulations enforce a strict 24-hour maximum stay limit; vehicles left longer than 24 hours without authorization may be subject to ticketing or towing. When planning travel for sellout events at the Moda Center or Providence Park, aim to arrive 45 to 60 minutes ahead of scheduled start times to secure a space and catch an uncrowded westbound MAX train. Fares for the MAX Light Rail must be purchased or tapped via Hop Fastpass (virtual wallet, contactless credit card, or Hop card) prior to boarding the train. Finally, as with any urban commuter facility, practice standard vehicle safety: always roll up windows, lock all doors, and keep all charging cables, backpacks, and personal valuables completely out of sight.