In such a green and beautiful city there are plenty of great spots to eat al-fresco often accompanied with some seriously beautiful views.
From parks on top of history such as extinct volcanoes and torn down amusement parks to ones with playgrounds and splash pads nearby, here are our 15 best picnic spots in or nearby Portland, Oregon…
1. Mt. Tabor Park – a large forested park with a popular covered picnic area
Go on a picnic at Mt. Tabor Park. Located in the Mt. Tabor District of Portland, the forest area throughout the park covers an extinct volcano. The park offers ADA-accessible picnic sites, including a covered picnic area, restrooms and a play areas
When you are done with your picnic, you can play a game of tennis at the tennis courts. If you have children, you can watch them play on the playground as you take a quick rest on the bench nearby.
If you have a dog, take him or her to one of the designated off-leash areas for some quality bonding and playtime.
Address: SE 60th Ave &, SE Salmon St, Portland, OR 97215
2. George Rogers Park – one of the best picnic spots in Oregon
The George Rogers Parks measures 26 acres of spacious land with wonderful amenities, making it one of the best picnic spots nearby Portland.
Known as Lake Oswego’s first community park, you will be sitting at a piece of history when you go for your picnic.
Once you have finished eating your picnic, have a small game of baseball or soccer at one of their on-site fields. Browse the memorial garden or take your children to the playground nearby.
Walk one of the trails or visit one of the natural areas for a taste of nature at its finest.
Address: 611 S State St, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Distance from Portland — 20 minutes
3. Laurelhurst Park – a great family-friendly picnic spot
Laurelhurst Park is located in the Sunnyside District of Portland. Set up a delicious picnic at this park to get views of the nearby pond and the ducks that live there.
If you want to do a large outdoor event at one of their picnic areas such as a wedding or a family reunion, you must make a reservation with the Laurelhurst Park customer service.
Public art is nearby for your viewing pleasure once you have finished eating. Play sports at the park such as basketball, tennis, soccer, and volleyball at their on-site courts. Be sure to check out the horseshoe pit before you leave.
Address: SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd & Stark St, Portland, OR 97214
4. Westmoreland Park – perfect for a picnic with the kids
Westmoreland Park is home to an interesting nature play area where children can go under wooden canopies, play in the sand, and climb the small boulders stationed throughout the play area.
Located in the Sellwood-Moreland District, there are picnic tables, a baseball field, softball field, soccer field, basketball court, and a separated playground different from the nature play area.
On a nice spring or summer day, you can enjoy a picnic nearby Crystal Springs Creek which is inside the park.
Address: 7530 SE 22nd Ave, Portland, OR 97202
5. Council Crest – the perfect spot for a romantic picnic for two
What makes Council Crest one of the best picnic spots in Portland is that you are eating on a piece of Portland history because it used to be home to the Council Crest amusement park in the early 1900s.
The amusement park operated from 1907 to 1929. It shut down for business and was later torn down in 1941 for it to become the Council Crest Park everyone knows today.
Walk the paths throughout the park for a transcendentalist experience of nature viewing. On your way, you may see a mother and child statue built by Frederick Littman in 1956. He was an associate professor who worked at Portland State College.
Address: 1120 SW Council Crest Dr, Portland, OR 97239
6. Wilshire Park – offers a designated picnic shelter
Wilshire Park is located in the Alameda District of Portland. This is one of Portland’s smaller parks measuring only 14 acres.
However, you get access to many amenities in this area including a designated picnic shelter, nature patch, playground, dog off-leash area, and on-site courts for volleyball, softball, and soccer.
Be surrounded by the sweet sounds of nature as you eat your picnic and go on a nature exploration to see the local wildlife after your lunch at the nature patch.
Address: 4116 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97212
7. Skidmore Bluffs – perfect for an evening picnic and watching the sunset
Formally known as Skidmore Bluffs, the locals call this place Mocks Crest.
Set up your picnic here as you enjoy the views of the Willamette River nearby. Don’t forget to taste one of the apples on a tree nearby that one Yelp reviewer mentioned.
Because of the Willamette River’s location, this is a great place to have an evening picnic to be able to look at the sunset at the same time during your meal.
Address: 2206 N Skidmore Ct, Portland, OR 97217
8. Clackamette Park – for riverside views
Oregon City’s Clackamette Park is near the Willamette River and Clackamas River.
Measuring 25 acres, you have access to not only a picnic area but an RV park, skatepark, beach access nearby the two rivers, horseshoe pits, and even a boat ramp.
If you plan a picnic at Clackamette Park, you can turn your day adventure into a camp stay if you own an RV.
A fun fact about this park is that it was a reserved location to film Grimm, an American drama series.
Address: 1955 Clackamette Dr, Oregon City, OR 97045
Distance from Portland — 24 minutes
9. Peninsula Park Rose Garden – perfect for a park bench picnic with beautiful flowers
Peninsula Park Rose Garden is in the Piedmont District and is known as Portland’s oldest public rose garden.
Since Portland is known as the City of Roses, visiting Peninsula Park Rose Garden will round out your trip if you are a tourist.
Besides picnic areas stationed near the rose garden so that you can view it while you are eating, there are other amenities such as a free splash pad, playground, and even a wedding site that’s available for reservation.
Address: 700 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR 97217
10. Cully Park – a great choice for a dog-friendly picnic
Cully Park measures 25 acres and has a wonderful background story for its origination. Cully Park is part of the Let Us Build Cully Park! project in Portland that turned a former landfill into a fun and diverse park in the neighborhood that was deprived of a local park venue.
If you need Wi-Fi connectivity during your picnic, you can access the free public Wi-Fi service right from the picnic pavilion. Play soccer at the on-site field or take Fido for a fun time at the dog off-leash area.
Their playground includes musical instruments, a sand and water table, a slide, a transfer station, a teeter-totter, and more.
Address: 5810 NE 72nd Ave, Portland, OR 97220
11. Tanner Springs Park – for an urban picnic spot
Tanner Springs Park is located in the Pearl District of Portland. Get a view of the scenery of the wetland as you sit on a nearby bench to eat your picnic lunch. You can set up a blanket on one of the grass steps to enjoy your picnic, too.
The wetlands portion of Tanner Springs Park has become a refuge for the local wildlife to thrive and as a haven for people as well.
GreenWorks in Portland and Atelier Dreiseitl of Germany worked in a collaborative relationship to design the unique look of Tanner Springs Park.
Address: NW 10th Ave & Marshall Street, Portland, OR 97209
12. Overlook Park – offers picnic benches with lovely surroundings
Overlook Park is stationed in Northern Portland and is almost 11 acres. Set up a picnic at one of the tables nearby for views of the lush greenery including fields and trees.
The nature patch at this park is under renovation with it almost being ready to receive seeds in its soil to grow beautiful plants as part of Portland’s Nature Conservancy projects.
After your picnic, be sure to visit the Overlook House that the Raven couple built back in 1955. They were owners of Raven’s Creamery back then.
Address: 1599 N Fremont St, Portland, OR 97227
13. Pittock Mansion – perfect for a romantic and luxurious picnic
Not only will you get a great piece of Portland history visiting Pittock Mansion, but you will also be able to enjoy an awesome picnic venue. It’s known as Portland’s finest historic museum.
Henry and Georgiana Pittock were the owners of Pittock Mansion in the early 1900s. He was a typesetter at The Oregonian and was eventually given ownership in exchange for back wages.
Located in the West Hills District, you can set up a picnic near the rose garden outside of Pittock Mansion for a lovely lunch experience.
Address: 3229 NW Pittock Dr, Portland, OR 97210
14. Rocky Butte Natural Area – for amazing views with your picnic spot
The Rocky Butte Natural Area has its home inside the Boring Lava Field throughout Oregon and Washington State. The Boring Lava Field is made up of various lava flows as well as volcanic vents.
While there are no picnic tables in this area, you can get a more rustic picnic experience when you set up for your meal nearby to get a view of the Rocky Butte itself.
When you’re done, visit Joseph Wood Hill Park within the natural area to view public art.
Address: Between Oregon and Washington State in the Boring Lava Field
15. Sellwood Riverfront Park – a great spot for an intimate picnic
The Sellwood Riverfront Park is located in the Sellwood District of Portland and is 8 acres, which makes it the smallest park on this list.
Enjoy a picnic near the Willamette River when you visit Sellwood Riverfront Park. Take in the scenery of the river and the nature paths as you eat.
When it’s summertime, you and your family can swim in the river. Go walking on some of the paved or unpaved nature trails. Go kayaking or floating on the river in a raft.
Address: 1221 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202
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Beth was born under a wandering star, with drama in her veins and ink in her pen. After stints studying theatre in Dublin and Utrecht she used her creative streak to see as much of the world as she could on as little money. She toured Italian Schools with a children’s theatre troop, lived as an au-pair in both Rome and Washington DC, explored the British countryside, worked her way through much of Europe, Salsa danced in Cuba and road tripped down America’s west coast where she discovered her spiritual home; Portland, Oregon. In between adventures she resides peacefully with her family, cats and ukulele.