Skip the parking lot—get to ZooLights faster on TriMet.

Bonus: The ride is free.

This year, your ZooLights ticket is your TriMet fare. Valid for 2 hours before ZooLights starts and 2 hours after it ends for rides on TriMet buses, MAX, LIFT and Portland Streetcar on your admission date. Full details below.

How to Ride TriMet MAX Light Rail to Washington Park for ZooLights

This year, your ZooLights ticket is your TriMet fare. Valid for 2 hours before ZooLights starts and 2 hours after it ends for rides on TriMet buses, MAX, LIFT and Portland Streetcar on your admission date.

  • Use the TriMet Trip Planner to find the best route from your neighborhood to Washington Park.

    • Enter your starting address and choose either Washington Park (ID 10121) or Oregon Zoo (ID 10299) as your destination. 

    • Edit the Travel Options section if necessary. This section defaults to buses and trains, but if you don’t live near a bus or train stop, you can edit it to include biking, e-scootering, or driving to nearby Park & Ride locations.

    • MAX Blue and Red Lines stop at Washington Park, just outside the Oregon Zoo and World Forestry Center entrances. A MAX train arrives at Washington Park about every 8 minutes.

    Once you’ve found the best route, you can track your MAX train arrival using TriMet’s TransitTracker.

  • Washington Park and Metro have partnered with TriMet to provide transportation to ZooLights!

    • Your ZooLights ticket is valid for rides on TriMet buses, MAX, LIFT and Portland Streetcar on your admission date.

    • Valid for 2 hours before ZooLights starts and 2 hours after it ends.

    • Show your ticket to the train operator or Customer Safety Supervisor when you board.

  • The MAX Blue Line and Red Line stop at Washington Park Station, located near the Oregon Zoo and World Forestry Center entrances.

    • Exit at Washington Park (the only underground stop in the region!).

    • Take the elevator up to street level, where you’ll be steps away from the Oregon Zoo entrance.

    • MAX trains and stations are well-lit, secure, and stroller-friendly.

    • When you see Washington Park/Oregon Zoo on the display and the doors open automatically, you can exit the train. You’ll be in an underground station—the Washington Park transit station is the deepest in North America!

    • Find the elevators and press the button for street level. Your ears may pop as you ride to the top!

    • When you exit the elevator, look for signs directing you to the Oregon Zoo or World Forestry Center. If you’re visiting another attraction, you can get on the Washington Park Free Shuttle at the TriMet plaza, just outside of the elevator doors. The Free Shuttle loops through the Park and stops at every major attraction.

Transit Tip

Consider starting at the Sunset Transit Center Park & Ride. It’s just one stop from the zoo and has 630 free parking spaces. From there, hop on the MAX with other zoo-goers for a fun, 5-minute journey through the Robertson Tunnel to the deepest transit station in North America—Washington Park Station, located 260 feet below ground. Kids love this! Some even consider it part of the zoo experience.

How to Get to ZooLights by Rideshare

Parking is extremely limited. Using a ride-share service means no parking stress, quick drop-offs and pick-ups, and more time to enjoy the lights.

  • Open your Uber or Lyft app and set your destination as Oregon Zoo.

    • Your driver will follow signs to Rideshare Drop-off when you arrive.

    • Your driver will pull into the designated area just outside the Zoo Education Center.

    • When you’re ready to head home, request your ride from the same location.

  • Once you’re dropped off, you’re just steps away from the ZooLights entrance—no waiting, no parking, no hassle.

Transit Tip

Designated drop-off and pick-up zones are located in front of the Zoo Education Center.

Get Directions to Drop-Off Zone

"My kid considers the MAX ride to be part of the zoo experience. Once we actually parked at the zoo, and my kiddo was so bummed."

TikTok comment • 11/13/24

ZooLights Parking Info

Parking is extremely limited. Spots fill early and paid parking is not included with ZooLights admission.

  • On busy nights, consider parking at a free, nearby lot on Westgate Dr.From there, our free bus service will take you to ZooLights and safely back to your car.

    1. Follow Signs for Parking. The Offsite Parking lot opens when the lots at the zoo are nearly full. Offsite Parking is located at 5319 SW Westgate Dr., one exit west of the Highway 26 Exit 72 entrance to Washington Park. As you enter the Park, look for signs about parking availability.

    2. Park & Ride for Free. If the main zoo lots are full and the Offsite Parking lot is open, you can park for free and ride a free bus to and from the zoo. Allow a few extra minutes for travel time, and be prepared to wait outdoors for buses.

    3. Try the Sunset Transit Center if lots are full. If the Offsite Parking lot is full, staff will direct you to TriMet’s Sunset Transit Center, which has 630 free parking spaces. From there, it’s just one quick MAX stop to Washington Park Station—right at the zoo entrance. Learn more about getting to ZooLights by TriMet.

  • We get it—sometimes you need to drive. But parking at the zoo during busy ZooLights nights can be especially challenging. We highly encourage public transit or rideshare use for the best experience.

    If you do drive, note that special ZooLights parking rates apply after 4 PM:

    • At pay stations or with the Parking Kitty app: $3.80/hour or $11.40 max

    Get driving directions to the Zoo.

How to use Washington Park's free offsite parking lots. View Transcript

Know Before You Go

A limited number of parking spaces are available at the Oregon Zoo, but they fill early during ZooLights. All vehicles must pay to park, and bus and RV parking is extremely limited.

Oversized vehicles may park in designated areas along SW Kingston Dr, SW Sherwood Blvd, or in Lot A near the zoo when space allows.

It may be necessary to use our Offsite Parking lot throughout the busy holiday season. Offsite Parking spaces are also subject to availability. If the Offsite Parking lot is full, staff will direct you to TriMet’s Sunset Transit Center, which has 630 free parking spaces. From there, it’s just one quick MAX stop to Washington Park Station—right at the zoo entrance.

  • "I genuinely don't understand why people don't use the MAX to get to the zoo more. It's so easy, cheap, and less stressful!"

    —Dee Dee on TikTok • 11/19/24

  • “Love the zoo and the TriMet MAX train is great public transportation to get there.”

    —Todd Monroe on Google • 4/25/25

  • "My kid considers the one stop ride from Sunset [Transit Center] to the zoo to be part of the zoo experience at this point. Once we actually parked at the zoo and my kiddo was so bummed."

    —Rough Rapids Ahead on TikTok • 11/13/24

  • "Love ZooLights!! 🦒🦏 And what a great idea to ride TriMet in!"

    —Stephanie Choi on Instagram • December 6, 2024

 

Common Questions about Getting to ZooLights

  • You can use the TriMet Trip Planner to find your closest MAX station and plan your full route. Just enter your starting address and choose either Washington Park (ID 10121) or Oregon Zoo (ID 10299) as your destination. Make sure to edit the Travel Options section to see your best options, including nearby Park & Ride lots.

  • The trip from downtown Portland to Washington Park Station takes about 10 minutes.

    If you’re coming from Beaverton, it’s roughly 15 minutes from the Beaverton Transit Center. And from the east side, about 20–25 minutes from the Hollywood Transit Center.

    Trip tip for new riders: Consider starting at the Sunset Transit Center Park & Ride. It’s just one stop from the zoo and has 630 free parking spaces. From there, hop on the MAX with other zoo-goers for a fun, 5-minute journey through the Robertson Tunnel to the deepest transit station in North America—Washington Park Station, located 260 feet below ground. Kids love this! Some even consider it part of the zoo experience.

    You can plan your route and check schedules with the TriMet Trip Planner.

  • Yes! MAX trains are well-lit, regularly patrolled, and equipped with security cameras. During ZooLights season, you’ll also be riding alongside families, friends, and fellow animal-lovers all headed to the same destination. For added peace of mind, you can check real-time updates and track your train’s arrival with the Transit Tracker.

  • If you have a ZooLights ticket, it costs nothing! This season, your ZooLights ticket serves as your TriMet ticket to ride to and from the event on the day of your reservation.

  • We totally get it—but sometimes securing a parking spot can take as long as the train ride itself. On the busiest nights, when all lots are full, you may even be directed from the parking lots to the Sunset Transit Center and asked to take MAX back to the zoo, car-free.

    A great middle ground is to start at a TriMet Park & Ride and hop on the MAX from there. Every train has space for strollers, and the station elevators make it easy to roll right off and into the zoo.

    Use the TriMet Trip Planner to find your closest Park & Ride and get to ZooLights stress-free.

  • Offsite Parking opens when the parking lots at the zoo are nearly full, or at the first ticket time on the busiest ZooLights nights. Signage will indicate that Offsite Parking is available.

  • First Student school buses transport guests to the zoo from the Offsite Parking lot. Buses drop off at the Washington Park MAX station (TriMet Plaza) in the pull-out nearest the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum. If this area becomes unavailable for drop-off, the loading zone will be moved to the Oregon Zoo Education Center at the Washington Park South Entry, just below the Oregon Zoo entrance.

  • Buses run as frequently as needed—they’ll go from the Offsite Parking lot to the zoo and back as long as there are guests ready to board.

  • There will always be at least one bus running that has a wheelchair lift.

  • Yes. We want to keep you safe, so please be aware of the following:

    • Pets are not allowed—service animals only.

    • Drivers will make stops at designated loading zones only.

    • Smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited.

    • Strollers and wagons must be folded up and stored in the front rows of the buses. 

    • Trash must be disposed of in trash receptacles. Please do not leave trash in the parking lots.

    • Parking in areas marked with “tenants only” or other “no offsite parking” signage is prohibited. Vehicles parked in these locations may be subject to towing by property management of the lots.

  • The last bus back to the Offsite Parking lot will depart ½-hour after the Oregon Zoo closes. The last bus time will be posted at the loading zone.