A Family Day in Portland: Where to Take Kids

At a glance

• Where: Mostly Washington Park and the West Hills, plus Forest Park, Southeast Portland and the Central Eastside
• Best base for a first day: Washington Park: the Oregon Zoo, International Rose Test Garden, Hoyt Arboretum and Portland Japanese Garden sit within a short walk or drive of one another
• Cost: Free (Forest Park, Laurelhurst Park, Mt. Tabor Park, Hoyt Arboretum, Rose Test Garden) to paid (Oregon Zoo, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Pittock Mansion); check each official site
• Hours: Ticketed places typically open 9 to 10 am and close 3:30 to 4:30 pm in fall and winter; city parks open from 5 am; check each official site

The best things to do in Portland with kids are the Oregon Zoo, the International Rose Test Garden, Hoyt Arboretum and Forest Park for open space, plus OMSI and Lan Su Chinese Garden for rainy hours. All twelve picks below are inside Portland, Oregon, open year-round or seasonally as noted, and checked against their own official sites. A one-day route through Washington Park comes first, because that is where most families should start.

This is a plan, not a catalogue. Each pick says which ages it suits, where to park and when to leave.

What is the best one-day plan for kids in Portland?

The best one-day plan is Washington Park in the West Hills: the Oregon Zoo in the morning, a picnic lunch, the International Rose Test Garden after, and a short walk at Hoyt Arboretum before the afternoon slump. The pieces sit close together, so one parking spot or one MAX ride covers most of the day.

Save this: the Washington Park day

• 8:00 am, breakfast: Pine State Biscuits, 1100 SE Division St #100, Portland. It typically serves daily from 8 am to 2 pm; call (503) 236-3346 if you need a high chair. It is in the Division-Clinton corridor, about a 15-minute drive to the zoo.
• 9:30 am, Oregon Zoo: be at the gate when it opens. Plan for about three hours and take the carousel and train, which open at 10:30 am.
• 12:30 pm, picnic lunch: eat on the grass in Washington Park rather than queuing at a snack counter. Pack it the night before.
• 1:15 pm, International Rose Test Garden: 45 minutes is plenty for under-fives; older kids can run the terraces.
• 2:15 pm, Hoyt Arboretum or Portland Japanese Garden: Hoyt for kids under 8, the Japanese Garden for ages 8 and up who can walk slowly.
• 3:30 pm, leave. The zoo's last entry in fall and winter is typically mid-afternoon, and the light goes early. Heading home at 3:30 pm beats the Highway 26 rush and the late-day meltdown.

Where do you park in Washington Park, and is there a better way?

Parking in Washington Park is limited and paid, so the easiest approach is to ride MAX light rail to the Washington Park station, which has elevators, or use the zoo's free Park & Ride at Sunset Transit Center (MAX fare required). TriMet runs the MAX line; check trimet.org for current fares and the free-ride age for children.

If you drive, the Oregon Zoo at 4001 SW Canyon Road uses pay stations or the Parking Kitty app. Hoyt Arboretum at 4000 SW Fairview Blvd charges by the hour or day and enforces its meters from 9:30 am to 8 pm; check hoytarboretum.org. The Rose Test Garden at 400 SW Kingston Avenue also uses Parking Kitty. Park once and walk if toddlers allow.

The 12 picks, by age

Best for toddlers and preschoolers

1. Oregon Zoo (Washington Park). The Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road, is the anchor of a family day. Children aged 2 to 11 pay $21.00 when tickets are bought in advance online, and under-2s are free but must be on the reservation. The carousel is $3.50 and the train $5.00 for children. Hours typically run 9:30 am to 3:30 pm in late fall, with the zoo closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. See oregonzoo.org.

2. International Rose Test Garden (Washington Park). The International Rose Test Garden, 400 SW Kingston Avenue, is open 5 am to 10 pm daily and lists no entry fee. The terraced rows give toddlers room to walk, and an accessible route runs from the lot through the main promenade to the top of the amphitheater. The official page does not mention strollers, so expect to carry a small child on the steepest parts. Peak bloom is usually in the warm months; the garden is still a fine picnic spot out of season. Details at portland.gov.

3. Laurelhurst Park (Laurelhurst). Laurelhurst Park, at SE César E. Chávez Blvd and SE Stark St, is a neighborhood park with a spring-fed pond and an accessible playground with a mulch surface, sensory play elements and an adapted high-back swing. It is open about 5 am to 10:30 pm. This is the pick when the day has to be cheap, flat and close to home; see the Laurelhurst area page. Official page: portland.gov.

4. Mt. Tabor Park (Mt. Tabor). Mt. Tabor Park, entrance at SE 60th Ave and Salmon St, sits on an extinct volcanic cinder cone and has a playground and an accessible play area. Vehicle access is typically 5 am to 10 pm, and no motor vehicles are allowed all day Wednesday, which makes that day the calmest for small bikers. Check the Mt. Tabor park page for any closures before you go. Read more on the Mt. Tabor area page.

Best for ages 5 to 9

5. OMSI (Central Eastside). The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), 1945 SE Water Ave, is the rainy-day answer. Individual labs close at times for work, and timed admission is sold at tickets.omsi.edu. Check omsi.edu for the day's hours, parking cost and any ice-rink season, which has an age minimum of 5. More on the Central Eastside.

6. Hoyt Arboretum (Washington Park). Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, has free admission, grounds open 5 am to 10 pm and a visitor center typically open 10 am to 4 pm. Its programs include Tree Time! preschool walks and Family Forest Days. With strollers, start from the Hoyt Arboretum visitor center, which links to the paved paths.

7. Oaks Amusement Park (Sellwood). Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, is at the east end of the Sellwood Bridge. Rides are closed in winter and typically reopen in March; the roller rink is open year-round. Skating tickets are best bought online, and parking is up to $5. See oakspark.com and the Sellwood area page.

8. Lan Su Chinese Garden (Old Town). Lan Su Chinese Garden, 239 NW Everett St, is open daily, typically 10 am to 4:30 pm with last entry at 4 pm. Ages 5 and under are free, youth 6 to 18 pay $15 and adults $18. It suits kids who can handle a quiet hour, and the garden's teahouse, which serves tea and Chinese treats, makes a good reward stop. A free first-come lot sits at 424 NW Third Ave, with metered street parking and paid garages nearby. See lansugarden.org and the Old Town page.

Best for ages 8 and up

9. Portland Japanese Garden (Washington Park). The Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Avenue, opens at 10 am for general visitors, with closing times that vary by day and season, and adult admission is typically $22.50. Child prices are shown at booking, so check japanesegarden.org before you go. It is the slowest stop of the day. Go with kids who like to look closely and bring a plan to leave when patience runs out.

10. Pittock Mansion (West Hills). Pittock Mansion, 3229 NW Pittock Drive, is a historic house with a city view. Fall and winter hours are typically 9 am to 4 pm, opening at noon on Tuesdays. Youth 6 to 18 pay $14, under 6 are free and adults pay $17. The main lot has paid parking at certain times, and the mansion closes for several holidays and January maintenance days. See pittockmansion.org.

11. Forest Park (Northwest Portland). Forest Park in Northwest Portland covers about 5,200 acres inside the city, with more than 80 miles of trails and no admission. Park hours are 5 am to 10 pm. Lower Macleay, near 2960 NW Upshur St, is the family start: TriMet lines 26, 15 and 77 serve it, and children under 7 ride free. Parking lots are small and free. E-bikes are not allowed and dogs must be on leashes. Official page: portland.gov/parks/forest-park.

12. Tryon Creek State Natural Area (Southwest Portland). Tryon Creek State Natural Area, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd, has a Portland address on the city's southwest edge, where Portland meets Lake Oswego, so parts of it sit just outside the city limits. Park hours are typically 7 am to 6 pm November through February, with longer hours in other months. The Nature Center is open daily 9 am to 4 pm and a day-use parking permit is required. See stateparks.oregon.gov and call 503-636-9886 for current trail conditions.

What is the smallest stop worth making?

Mill Ends Park, a two-foot circle holding one tree in the median of SW Naito Parkway in downtown Portland, covers 452 square inches and was first recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's smallest park in 1971. Kids like it as a two-minute stop, and it is a good reason to walk the waterfront. See portland.gov.

Where do you eat with kids in Portland?

The simplest answer is to eat early and eat near the park. Breakfast at Pine State Biscuits is an easy start, and picnic lunches in Washington Park avoid the zoo's lines. For a sit-down, Mother's Bistro & Bar, 121 SW 3rd Ave in Downtown Portland, typically serves breakfast on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm; call 503-464-1122 to confirm current hours. See the food and dining listings.

What else is worth a stop?

Two quieter extras round out a second day. Leach Botanical Garden in outer Southeast Portland, entrance and parking at 12323 SE Claybourne St, is typically open Thursday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, with kids 5 and under free and ages 6 to 18 at $5. Peninsula Park in North Portland pairs its Rose Garden with a splash pad and playgrounds for toddlers and older kids.

When should you leave?

Leave by mid-afternoon, around 3:30 pm. Fall and winter daylight ends early, the zoo is already near closing, and Highway 26 fills up toward evening. Check the Portland weather page the night before; a wet day is the moment to swap the garden for OMSI.

How we chose

Every pick is inside Portland, Oregon, and was checked on its own official site or the City of Portland's page for open status, address and a family-relevant detail. We left out places whose official sites could not be read, including Powell's City of Books and the Audubon Society of Portland Wildlife Sanctuary, and we left out Salmon Street Springs because the city page showed no season. Prices, hours and closures change, so check each official site before you go.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Portland with kids?

The Oregon Zoo, the International Rose Test Garden, Hoyt Arboretum and Forest Park are the most useful starting points, with OMSI and Lan Su Chinese Garden for wet weather. The first three are close together in Washington Park, so they combine into one day.

Is the International Rose Test Garden free?

The City of Portland's page for the International Rose Test Garden lists no entry fee, and the garden is open 5 am to 10 pm daily. Paid parking uses the Parking Kitty app, and guided tours carry a nominal fee.

How much does the Oregon Zoo cost for kids?

Children ages 2 to 11 pay $21.00 when tickets are bought in advance online, and children under 2 are free but must be on the reservation. The carousel is $3.50 and the train is $5.00 for children; check oregonzoo.org for current prices.

Can you ride public transit to Washington Park with kids?

Yes. The Washington Park MAX station has elevators, and the Oregon Zoo runs a free Park & Ride at Sunset Transit Center, though MAX fare is required. Check trimet.org for current fares and child rules.

What can kids do in Portland when it rains?

OMSI in the Central Eastside, the roller rink at Oaks Amusement Park in Sellwood and Lan Su Chinese Garden in Old Town are open on wet days. Check each site for hours first.