Gresham, Oregon travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Gresham is the fourth largest city within the state of Oregon, with a population of 114,000 in 2020. It's the home of an annual jazz festival. It is a part of the Portland Metropolitan Area and is generally considered a Portland suburb.

The downtown area of Gresham can be easily missed by those driving along W Powell Blvd, but has a handful of restaurants and shops to offer, as well as Main City Park.

1 sights · 1 things to do · 7 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Gresham

Oxbow Park

A great place to have family picnics, barbecues with friends, and swim in the river. There are many activities that take place at Oxbow Park. There are areas within the park that allow people to camp over night. No pets.…

Mt. Hood Theater

Known for cheap prices, good movies and a comforting atmosphere.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Wettest: Dec and Nov. (climate data from nearby Portland)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
PDX Portland International Airport, Portland — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
SLE Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field, Salem — 49 mi away. Directions

Portland International Airport (PDX) is about 13 miles from Gresham. PDX is the largest airport located in the state of Oregon. Rental cars are available, and the MAX light rail connects to Gresham with a single transfer from the airport's Red Line to the eastbound Blue Line trains at Gateway Transit Center.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.

See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.

Sample 1-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Oxbow Park
Lunch The Local Cow
Afternoon Mt. Hood Theater
Dinner Wall Street Pizza
Evening Highland Pub & Brewery

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Restaurants are all over the city, but it is difficult to find restaurants with great food to offer.

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Photos

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Get in

By plane

By transit

The MAX Light Rail's Blue Line serves Gresham, with most of the city reasonably able to access it, since it cuts diagonally across. The Blue Line runs directly from its eastern terminus near downtown Gresham to downtown Portland, and then onward to Beaverton and Hillsboro.

Numerous TriMet bus lines also connect Gresham to Portland and Troutdale.

By car

The best way to get into the city from Portland, and elsewhere to the north, south, or west, probably depends on your final destination. Interstate 84 is at the far north of the city, but US-26 (Powell Blvd.) also provides a route from Interstate 205 if approaching from the South.

Travellers approaching from the east will use Interstate 84, or US-26 if coming from Central Oregon.

See

See Oxbow Park

📍 3010 SE Oxbow Parkway💲 Parking $5 per car☎ +1 503 663-4708

Maps Website

Mt. Hood Jazz Festival

The Mt. Hood Jazz Festival is a jazz festival held each August in Downtown Gresham at 200 NE Hood Avenue. The festival is produced by the Gresham/Mt. Hood Jazz Association (GMHJA) which is a non-profit, public benefit corporation whose goal is to "promote the appreciation of jazz as a unique American art form." The Mt. Hood Jazz Festival is the signature production of the association, which produces other jazz performances and workshops year round.

The first festival was held in 1982. The festival has featured guests such as: Sonny Rollins, Dave Brubeck, Tito Puente and B. B. King.

Do

Do Mt. Hood Theater

Known for cheap prices, good movies and a comforting atmosphere.

📍 401 E. Powell💲 Two movies: adult $4.50, child or senior $3.50☎ +1 503 665-0604⚠ Last checked Jan 2019 — confirm before you go

Maps Website

Buy

Shop Gresham Station

One of the largest shopping areas in town. There are several stores to shop around in. What makes Gresham Station such an easy accessible shopping area is that it is located right next to the MAX light rail line. Gresham Station offers such a wide variety of interest different shoppers.

Maps Website

Eat

Restaurants are all over the city, but it is difficult to find restaurants with great food to offer.

Eat Don Pedros

MexicanBreakfast / Brunch

Must have breakfast burritos! The food tastes great and is inexpensive. The green sauce is delicious!

Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube

Maps

Eat Original Roadhouse Grill

SteakhouseAmerican

Feeling for a juicy steak? Wanna have some peanuts while you wait? Then this is place for you! Booths are in secluded corners for your comfort. The wait staffs are extremely nice here and cater to your needs. When you're stuffed from your meal and ready to go, you'll have to kick your heels a time or two to get all those peanut shells out of your shoes! Always fun!

Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube

Maps

Eat Szechuan Open Kitchen

Chinese

This restaurant is by far the cleanest Chinese restaurant. The lunch menu is excellent with great prices to match. During lunch, which is 7 days a week from 11AM - 3PM, each entree comes with your choice of soup, fresh hot tea, and steamed rice. Dinner menu is just as great as the lunch menu. The entrees are a bit bigger than the lunch entrees, but also more expensive. A must try, 'Sesame Chicken'!

Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube

Maps