Plan ahead and take TriMet! The Int’l Rose Test Garden and Portland Japanese Garden will be open during Reservoir construction, but you should expect detours, potential delays, and extremely limited parking in September and October. Skip the hassle of driving, and follow our tips for a stress-free arrival.
GETTING TO THE GARDENS
TriMet bus #63 provides direct service between the International Rose Test Garden/Portland Japanese Garden in Washington Park and Pioneer Courthouse Square daily. Line 63 will leave the Park’s gardens on the hour, every hour between 10am and 6pm.
For those who don’t mind a walk, the frequent-service buses #15-NW 23rd and #20-Burnside both stop at NW 23rd & Burnside, which is about a one-mile walk up through Washington Park.
Or you can take TriMet’s Red or Blue MAX Light Rail lines to Washington Park station, and then hop on the Washington Park Free Shuttle to the International Rose Test Garden and Portland Japanese Garden.
GETTING TO THE ZOO
TriMet’s Red and Blue MAX Light Rail lines serve Washington Park station, located just steps away from the World Forestry Center and Oregon Zoo entrances. MAX trains arrive every nine minutes.
If you’re coming from the westside, you can hop on MAX at the Sunset Transit Center Park & Ride just two exits west of the Oregon Zoo, where there are 600+ free parking spaces available.
If you plan to drive, keep in mind there is limited onsite parking available, and spaces fill early. On busy days, you can find free parking at a nearby overflow lot with convenient shuttle service to and from the Oregon Zoo on a first come, first serve basis.
GETTING TO THE ARBORETUM
Take TriMet’s Red or Blue MAX Light Rail lines to Washington Park station, and then hop on the Washington Park Free Shuttle to Hoyt Arboretum’s Visitor Center.
If you’d rather walk from the MAX station, it’s only a ½-mile walk along the Overlook Trail to reach the Visitor Center. You can also walk to the Arboretum from Portland Japanese Garden and the International Rose Test Garden via the Garden Connector Trail and the Wildwood Trail.
For visitors using Lyft or Uber, a rideshare pick-up/drop-off zone is located directly across the street from the Visitor Center in the small pay-to-park lot on SW Fairview Blvd.