Do I need a car to explore Portland?

If you're visiting Portland wondering, should you rent a car? Well, it depends... are you looking to stay in the city? Go outside the city? Let me explain.

Because of Portland's size and grid like structure, Portland is a very walkable city. You can easily go from NW Portland to SW Portland, cross one of the 12 bridges Portland has to the other side and explore the east side.

Portland also has a great public transportation system. There's the MAX (tram) and buses, which you can take the tram from the airport to the city and vice versa. From the airport to downtown Portland is 38-45 minutes on the MAX (by car is 25 minutes). While buses are available around the city, the tram is best used on the west side and parts of the east side and north Portland.

Though, I do want to share that there are people that say they can feel uneasy on the busses and trams. Which, I have to agree with them and suggest you ride with caution. Especially, riding late at night. But otherwise, the trams and buses are reliable to get around the city. Uber and Lyft are great options for if you want to get from point A to point B in the city in a vehicle. But overall, within the city, you can easily explore the city without having to rent a car.

While there is a lot to do and see within the city. What makes the city idyllic is its short commutes to the waterfalls, mountains, beaches, and rivers. If you're looking to do a day trip outside of the city or spend an afternoon at the waterfalls along the historic highway, just a 45 minute drive away. You can use car rentals such as Turo or Sixt.

But if you want to go explore outside the city without a car, CAT Bus is a great option to check out the gorge, Hood River, and other hiking spots from the city.

Need more help and guidance on how to get around, what to do and want to talk more about it, I'm happy to jump on a video call with you to answer all your questions or even make a personalized itinerary for you to make sure you don't miss a thing while you're in Portland, Oregon!

Check out my Vegan Guide to Portland, Oregon mapVegan Guide to Portland, Oregon map with dozens of things to do, eat, and see!