Facility Overview

The Washington Park Sherwood Parking Lot is an open-air surface parking facility situated at 1998 SW Sherwood Blvd in the heart of Portland's celebrated Washington Park (Southwest Hills / Arlington Heights neighborhood). Nestled amidst the mature conifer canopy of the 410-acre park, the lot provides immediate ground-level parking adjacent to popular family recreation hubs, picnic lawns, and scenic forest trails. Because it is a surface lot without multi-tier decks or low ceilings, it offers open-sky clearance that comfortably accommodates standard passenger cars, minivans, SUVs, and standard full-size pickup trucks. Furthermore, under Washington Park's vehicle guidelines, SW Sherwood Boulevard is specifically designated as one of the few zones where oversized vehicles, camper vans, and utility trucks are permitted to park (provided drivers pay for each standard parking space occupied and do not overhang into active travel lanes).

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located in the mid-eastern section of Washington Park, this lot serves as a premier launching point for visiting Portland's most cherished cultural attractions and outdoor spaces:

• Rose Garden Children's Park & Elephant House Shelter: Located directly beside the lot, this expansive wooden playground and covered pavilion is an iconic gathering spot for families and children's parties.
• Sherwood Open Field & Archery Range: Just steps away, offering large open greens for frisbee, soccer, picnics, and target archery.
• International Rose Test Garden & Portland Japanese Garden: A scenic 7- to 10-minute walk (approx. 0.3 to 0.4 miles uphill via trails or paved sidewalks) or a swift hop on the complimentary park shuttle connects visitors with over 10,000 rose bushes and world-renowned Japanese landscaping.
• Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center, and Portland Children’s Museum Grounds: Located just over 1 mile southwest, accessible via a 5-minute trip on the park shuttle or via forested trail connections like the MAC Trail and Wildwood Trail.
• Providence Park: Major league soccer stadium (home to the Portland Timbers and Thorns) located just 1.2 miles down the hill in the vibrant Goose Hollow / Nob Hill neighborhood.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via SW Sherwood Boulevard, accessible from SW Kingston Avenue or SW Sacajawea Boulevard. Drivers traveling from Downtown Portland or the west suburbs can easily reach the park via US-26 (Sunset Highway), using Exit 72 (Zoo / Forestry Center) or accessing the park via SW Park Place and West Burnside Street. While navigation within the park's winding hillside roads is smooth, post-event peak hours on sunny summer weekends can create slowdowns at arterial exits.

For park-wide navigation, visitors benefit from the Washington Park Free Shuttle Loop, which stops near the playground and runs year-round connecting all major attractions, trailheads, and the Washington Park MAX Light Rail Station (served by the TriMet Blue and Red lines, offering direct 10-minute transit to downtown Portland and Beaverton). TriMet Bus Line 63 also provides seasonal connection through the park.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Surface Parking Format: Uncovered, ground-level paved parking bays surrounded by shade trees and forest scenery.
• Accessible Parking: Designated ADA-compliant accessible spaces located close to paved trails and playground access ramps.
• Convenient Digital & Kiosk Payments: Powered by the City of Portland's official Parking Kitty mobile app (Zone 405 / Upper Sherwood) and on-site pay-by-plate solar meters accepting credit and debit cards.
• Direct Shuttle & Trail Access: Conveniently positioned near Washington Park Free Shuttle stops and trailheads linking into the 30-mile Wildwood Trail network.
• Restroom & Pavilion Proximity: Modern public restrooms and drinking fountains are located adjacent to the playground and Elephant House picnic shelter.

Ideal For

• Families with Children: Direct, step-free access to the Washington Park Playground, sandboxes, and picnic facilities.
• Trail Runners & Day Hikers: Convenient trailhead parking for exploring the Wildwood Trail, MAC Trail, and Hoyt Arboretum paths.
• Garden & Cultural Tourists: Strategic starting point for visiting the International Rose Test Garden and Portland Japanese Garden without competing for crowded upper garden bays.
• Picnickers & Recreational Sports Enthusiasts: Direct adjacency to the sprawling Sherwood Open Field for group gatherings, lawn games, and archery.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Washington Park is one of the Pacific Northwest's most heavily visited parks, drawing over 3 million visitors annually. Parking is paid and enforced daily between 9:30 AM and 8:00 PM, with hourly rates of $2.52 up to a daily maximum of $15.12. Drivers are strongly advised to download the Parking Kitty app in advance to extend parking sessions remotely without returning to the vehicle. On warm, sunny summer weekends, spaces in the Sherwood lot often fill by late morning; arriving before 10:00 AM or after 3:30 PM significantly improves your odds of securing a stall. Lastly, as with all city park lots, practice strict vehicle hygiene: car prowls can occur, so always lock doors, close windows completely, and take all bags, charging cables, and personal valuables with you.