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Portland Aerial Tram

3303 SW Bond Ave · Portland, OR

Why you should go…

This aerial tram carries riders 3,300 feet up from the South Waterfront district to Oregon Health & Science University's Marquam Hill campus in about four minutes. On a clear day the ride frames downtown Portland, the Willamette River, and Mount Hood in the distance.

  • #gondola
  • #views
  • #south waterfront
  • #short ride

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Portland Aerial Tram, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Date Night

    Portland Spirit

    $25–$50

    Willamette River sightseeing and dining cruises departing downtown Portland year round.

    1.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

    Under $25

    A hands-on science museum on the Willamette riverbank with a planetarium and a retired submarine.

    1.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Oregon Historical Society

    Under $25

    A downtown Portland museum with three floors of exhibits and more than 85,000 artifacts spanning Oregon history.

    1.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Hopscotch Portland

    Under $25

    A 23,000 square foot immersive art gallery with 14 interactive installations in a former hardware store.

    1.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Local Gem

    Swan Island Dahlias

    Free

    A nearly 50-acre dahlia farm near Portland with hundreds of varieties and a late-summer flower festival.

    15 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Bonneville Lock and Dam

    Free

    Free Columbia River dam site with visitor centers, fish ladders and underwater salmon viewing near Cascade Locks.

    40 mi awayMore like this