College Visit Guides

Fly-in guide · 2 days, 2 campuses

Portland State and University of Portland in 2 Days: A Portland, Oregon College Trip

A parent-first plan for seeing Portland State University and the University of Portland in two days: how each school's visit works and where to sign up, PSU's pay-by-plate visitor parking and UP's admissions visitor spaces, four hotels from budget to upscale on the schools' own lodging lists, drive times from Portland International Airport, a sibling stop at Cathedral Park under the St. Johns Bridge, and Portland weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 30, 2026.

Tall trees with fresh green leaves and pink blossoms over a lawn and walkway with benches, a flowering rhododendron in the foreground and a glass-and-concrete building at left
The central area of the Portland State University campus in spring (April 2007). Photo: Ulmanor · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

Schools
Portland State University (Portland, OR) · University of Portland (Portland, OR)
Days
2 days: Portland State downtown on day 1 and the University of Portland in North Portland on day 2 (about 19 minutes apart by car).
Fly into
Portland International Airport (PDX), about 20 minutes from the AC Hotel downtown with no traffic.
Best base
AC Hotel by Marriott Portland Downtown, on both schools' lodging lists, about a 13-minute walk from PSU's Welcome Center and 18 minutes by car from UP.
Car or no car
PSU is easiest by transit, and the AC Hotel is walkable to campus. A car helps for UP, which has marked admissions visitor spaces, and for the airport.
Registration
Book each visit on the school's own page: PSU's Campus Tours page and UP's Personalized Daily Visits calendar.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see two Portland, Oregon universities: Portland State, home of the Vikings, and the University of Portland, home of the Pilots.

Portland State is a downtown campus, and UP sits on Willamette Boulevard in North Portland. Check both athletics calendars for home games on your dates. The photo in this guide shows the center of the PSU campus in spring.

Why this order

  • Day 1: fly into PDX, check in downtown and walk to PSU's University Welcome Center for a campus tour.
  • Day 2: drive about 18 minutes to UP's Waldschmidt Hall for an info presentation and student-led tour, then fly home from PDX, about 26 minutes away.
  • With extra time, Cathedral Park sits under the St. Johns Bridge about 10 minutes by car from UP, and UP lists it among Portland places to see.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
  • PSU's campus tour pairs a 30-minute overview of the PSU student experience with a 75-minute walking tour led by a Student Ambassador. Not every tour includes an information session, so check when you book.
  • UP's Personalized Daily Visits pair a 25-minute info presentation with a 90-minute student-led tour. Pick a date on UP's calendar and register early, since sessions can fill.
  • When you register for UP, you can request a one-on-one meeting with an admissions counselor. PSU also lets you set up a meeting with your admissions counselor.
  • UP also offers Saturday sessions, Discover UP! open-house days and school group visits, and PSU offers Honors College, academic and housing tours plus Spanish-language sessions. Check each school's visit page for dates.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Winter is mild but wet: December averages about 47°F highs, 36°F lows and 5.8 inches of rain at the Portland airport, the wettest month.
  • Summer is warm and dry: July and August average about 82°F highs and 59°F lows, with about half an inch of rain.
  • Fall turns rainy: October averages about 64°F highs and 47°F lows with 3.4 inches of rain, and November brings about 5.5 inches.
  • Check the Vikings and Pilots athletics calendars for home games on your dates, since game days bring extra traffic and parking demand.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. PSU times are to the Academic & Student Recreation Center at 1800 SW 6th Ave., where the University Welcome Center is, and UP times are to Waldschmidt Hall.

Arrival: fly into Portland and check in

  1. Portland International Airport (PDX) → AC Hotel by Marriott Portland Downtown

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~20 min, 12.1 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  2. Portland International Airport (PDX) → Holiday Inn Express Portland-Jantzen Beach

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~22 min, 10.0 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  3. Portland International Airport (PDX) → Inn at Northrup Station

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~24 min, 13.1 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  4. Portland International Airport (PDX) → Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~19 min, 12.0 mi
    Driving
    Rental car
  • PSU says the easiest way to reach its campus is public transit: the campus is a hub for buses, MAX light rail and the Portland Streetcar. Use TriMet's trip planner to plan your ride.

Day 1: Portland State University

  1. AC Hotel by Marriott Portland Downtown → PSU Academic & Student Recreation Center (1800 SW 6th Ave.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~4 min, 0.8 mi (about a 13-minute walk)
    Driving
    Walk, transit or drive

  2. Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland → PSU Academic & Student Recreation Center (1800 SW 6th Ave.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~4 min, 0.8 mi (about a 15-minute walk)
    Driving
    Walk, transit or drive

  3. Inn at Northrup Station → PSU Academic & Student Recreation Center (1800 SW 6th Ave.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~7 min, 2.4 mi
    Driving
    Streetcar or drive

  4. Holiday Inn Express Portland-Jantzen Beach → PSU Academic & Student Recreation Center (1800 SW 6th Ave.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~16 min, 8.6 mi
    Driving
    Drive
  • The University Welcome Center is in Suite 101 on the first floor of the Academic & Student Recreation Center. Start your tour there.
  • The walking tour is led by a current student, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.

Day 2: University of Portland, then fly home

  1. AC Hotel by Marriott Portland Downtown → UP Waldschmidt Hall

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~18 min, 6.9 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  2. Holiday Inn Express Portland-Jantzen Beach → UP Waldschmidt Hall

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~16 min, 5.5 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  3. Inn at Northrup Station → UP Waldschmidt Hall

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~18 min, 6.7 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  4. Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland → UP Waldschmidt Hall

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~17 min, 6.6 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  5. UP Waldschmidt Hall → Cathedral Park

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~10 min, 2.6 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  6. UP Waldschmidt Hall → Portland International Airport (PDX)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~26 min, 9.7 mi
    Driving
    Drive
  • UP's visit includes a tour of academic and student life spaces, at least one residence hall and dining location, Clark Library and the Beauchamp Recreation Center.
  • Allow time to return a rental car and check in at PDX after the visit.

3. Campus by campus

Tall trees with fresh green leaves and pink blossoms over a lawn and walkway with benches, a flowering rhododendron in the foreground and a glass-and-concrete building at left
The central area of the Portland State University campus in spring (April 2007). Photo: Ulmanor · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Portland State University (Portland, OR)

Where visits start
  • Check in at the University Welcome Center, Academic & Student Recreation Center, Suite 101, 1800 SW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97201. The Welcome Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m.
  • The visit is a 30-minute overview of the PSU student experience and a 75-minute walking tour led by a Student Ambassador. Info sessions, when offered, cover admissions and financial aid basics, academics and student involvement.
Visitor parking
  • PSU's hourly visitor parking is pay-by-plate, and payment is required at all hours on all days except university holidays. Pay stations don't give change.
  • Accessible parking is in all PSU lots and garages and requires payment plus a valid DMV placard. Street parking around campus is managed by the City of Portland. Questions: Transportation & Parking Services, 1812 SW 6th Ave., (503) 725-3442, parking@pdx.edu.
Getting there
  • PSU recommends transit: buses, MAX light rail and the Portland Streetcar all stop at campus, and there are four BIKETOWN bike-share stations on campus.
What to know
  • For disability accommodations on your visit, email campusvisits@pdx.edu. PSU also runs Honors College, academic and housing tours, Spanish-language sessions and group visits for 10 or more students in grades 9–12.
  • Can't make it in person? PSU offers a virtual tour with English or Spanish narration.
Contact
PSU University Welcome Center: campusvisits@pdx.edu, (503) 725-3511. 1800 SW 6th Ave., Suite 101, Portland, OR 97201.

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: PSU: Visit PSU (all visit types) · PSU: Getting to Campus & Accommodations · PSU: Hourly Visitor Parking · PSU: Virtual Tour · PSU: Admissions Counselors

Campus

University of Portland (Portland, OR)

Where visits start
  • The Office of Admissions is on the second floor of Waldschmidt Hall. Enter the main campus entrance and stay on the main drive as it turns left; Waldschmidt is the large brick building on the left with a roundabout in front.
  • A Personalized Daily Visit is a brief 25-minute info presentation followed by a 90-minute student-led tour. Saturday sessions add a current-student panel and a light complimentary breakfast at check-in.
Visitor parking
  • Park in the marked "Admissions Visitor Only" spaces in front of Waldschmidt Hall, near the roundabout.
Getting there
  • UP is about 18 minutes by car from downtown Portland and about 26 minutes from PDX with no traffic.
What to know
  • UP's "Preparing for Portland" list includes Pittock Mansion, the Japanese Garden, Cathedral Park, Tilikum Crossing, Powell's and the Saturday Market.
  • If you need help registering, UP asks you to email visit@up.edu or call 503.943.7147. UP also offers a virtual tour.
Contact
UP Office of Admissions: admissions@up.edu, 503.943.7147, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203.

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UP: Visit UP (all visit types) · UP: Map & Directions · UP: Lodging · UP: Campus map

4. Where to stay: downtown Portland near PSU, Northwest Portland or North Portland near UP

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

AC Hotel by Marriott Portland Downtown

888 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204

Why here

  • It's on both PSU's and UP's lodging lists, about a 13-minute walk from PSU's Welcome Center and 18 minutes by car from UP with no traffic.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists valet parking for a fee, continental breakfast for a fee, a 24-hour gym, a restaurant, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 18. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
  • PSU and UP both say some hotels on their lists offer discounted rates for visitors, so ask when you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Portland-Jantzen Beach

2300 N Hayden Island Dr., Portland, OR 97217

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • UP's lodging list calls it budget-friendly and close to UP; it's about 16 minutes by car from Waldschmidt Hall with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free breakfast, an indoor pool, a gym, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm parking and other details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Inn at Northrup Station

2025 NW Northrup St., Portland, OR 97209

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's on both schools' lodging lists, in Northwest Portland on the streetcar line about 7 minutes by car from PSU and 18 minutes from UP with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free continental breakfast, free limited uncovered self-parking and a minimum check-in age of 21. Pets aren't allowed (service animals are welcome). Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland

422 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4.5-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's on both schools' lodging lists, downtown about a 15-minute walk from PSU's Welcome Center and 17 minutes by car from UP with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists covered valet parking for a fee, cooked-to-order breakfast for a fee, two restaurants, a 24-hour gym, pets that stay free and a minimum check-in age of 18. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Stay downtown: the AC Hotel and the Kimpton Vintage are on both schools' lodging lists, walkable to PSU and under 20 minutes by car from UP. Ask about PSU or UP visitor rates when you book.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

At the hotels

The Holiday Inn Express and Inn at Northrup Station include breakfast, and the AC Hotel and Kimpton Vintage offer breakfast for a fee.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Cathedral Park

N Edison St. and Pittsburg Ave., Portland, OR 97203

A 21.85-acre city park under the St. Johns Bridge, Portland's only steel suspension bridge, about 10 minutes by car from UP. Park hours are 5 a.m. to midnight; check the park page for parking details.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Getting to campus

  • At PSU, take transit or walk from downtown; if you drive, PSU's visitor parking is pay-by-plate at all hours except university holidays.
  • At UP, follow the main drive to Waldschmidt Hall and use the "Admissions Visitor Only" spaces by the roundabout.

Flying in and out

  • Portland International Airport (PDX) is about 20 minutes from downtown and about 26 minutes from UP with no traffic.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Portland International Airport station)

  • Spring: April averages about 62°F highs and 44°F lows, with about 2.9 inches of rain; May warms to about 69°F/49°F.
  • Summer: July averages about 82°F/59°F, with about half an inch of rain.
  • Fall: October averages about 64°F/47°F, with about 3.4 inches of rain; November averages about 54°F/41°F and 5.5 inches.
  • Winter: January averages about 48°F/36°F, with about 5 inches of rain and under 2 inches of snow.

Parent checklist

  • Book a campus tour on PSU's Campus Tours page.
  • Pick a date on UP's Personalized Daily Visits calendar and request a counselor meeting if you'd like one.
  • Book flights into PDX and plan a rental car for the UP day.
  • Book a hotel from PSU's or UP's lodging list and ask about visitor rates.
  • Bring a card for PSU's pay-by-plate visitor parking if you drive to campus.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

2 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (Portland State University and University of Portland): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: Portland State University
  5. Portland State University Athletics (official site)
  6. Portland State University Athletics: Staff Directory
  7. Portland State University Athletics: schedule of events
  8. NCAA Directory: University of Portland
  9. University of Portland Athletics (official site)
  10. University of Portland Athletics: Staff Directory
  11. University of Portland Athletics: schedule of events

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Sources

All checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. Portland State University: Visit PSU
  2. Portland State University: Campus Tours (official sign-up)
  3. Portland State University: Getting to Campus & Accommodations
  4. Portland State University Transportation & Parking Services: Hourly Visitor Parking
  5. University of Portland Admissions: Visit UP
  6. University of Portland: Personalized Daily Visits (official sign-up)
  7. University of Portland Admissions: Map & Directions
  8. University of Portland: Lodging
  9. Expedia listing: AC Hotel by Marriott Portland Downtown (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Portland-Hotels-AC-Hotel-By-Marriott-Portland-Downtown.h16817074.Hotel-Information)
  10. Expedia listing: Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Portland-Jantzen Beach (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Portland-Hotels-Holiday-Inn-Express-Hotel-Suites-Portland-Jantzen-Beach.h297166.Hotel-Information)
  11. Expedia listing: Inn at Northrup Station (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Portland-Hotels-Inn-At-Northrup-Station.h871784.Hotel-Information)
  12. Expedia listing: Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Portland-Hotels-Kimpton-Hotel-Vintage-Portland.h2993.Hotel-Information)
  13. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  14. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  15. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  16. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Portland Intl AP, OR (USW00024229)
  17. Portland Parks & Recreation: Cathedral Park
  18. Portland State Vikings Athletics: Calendar
  19. Portland Pilots Athletics: Calendar