Sadly, with our drizzly Northwest weather, swimming outdoors isn’t a great activity for Portland families. Good thing Portland has a long list of great indoor pools where you can still splash and swim, even on a grey Portland day. Pull your suits out from the back of the closet and visit one of these favorite indoor pools in Portland with your family!
East Portland Community Center Pool
Located at the East Portland Community Center, families with kids of all ages love this indoor pool. And really, calling it just a pool is a disservice because besides the heated lap-style swimming pools, they also feature a leisure pool with waterslides (including one for little daredevils), a “lazy river,” and a fun vortex pool that kids think is a blast! This pool is perfect for the littlest swimmers – there are places where they can walk straight into the shallow-end, just as if you were at the beach.
740 SE 106th Avenue, Portland
503-823-3450
Cost: $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for ages 13-17, $3.25 for ages 3-12, free for ages 2 and under
Matt Dishman Community Center Pool
Another one of Portland’s fantastic indoor public pools is the pool at the Matt Dishman Community Center. Amenities here include a small slide for the little kiddos and a nice shallow end that starts at two-feet deep. Parents say that this pool can feel a little on the chilly side, so be sure to bring extra cozy towels for when the kids and you get out!
77 NE Knott Street, Portland
503-823-3673
Cost: $4.00 for adults, $3.50 for ages 14-17, $2.50 for ages 3-13, free for ages 2 and under
Mt. Scott Community Center Pool
There’s no doubt that the Mt. Scott Community Center Pool is a Portland family favorite – parents love that toddlers can walk right into the pool themselves and can hang out in the super shallow end with you while older children venture deeper into the kiddie pool. Plus, the entire family can have fun in the whirlpool or on the waterslides. Psst! We hear the swim instructors at Mt. Scott Pool are amazing too!
5530 SE 72nd Avenue, Portland
503-823-3183
Cost: $4.50 for adults, $3.75 for ages 13-17, $3.25 for ages 3-12, free for ages 2 and under
North Clackamas Aquatic Park
Want to have some FUN? Plan an afternoon at the North Clackamas Aquatic Park! This is a very well-designed indoor pool that is sure to become one of your family’s favorite activities in Portland – there are three slides (each with different high limits), plus special slides for ages six and under, a great kiddie pool, the super cool wave pool that will remind you of being at the beach and so much more. Other things we love about North Clackamas Aquatic Center – the great snack bar for those hungry swimming tummies and the super nice changing rooms.
7300 SE Harmony Road, Milwaukie
503-557-7873
Cost: $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for ages 9-17, $4.00 for ages 4-8, free for ages three and under, family rates are also available – visit their rate’s page for detailed information
Southwest Community Center Pool
If you have little swimmers in Portland who are into splashing more than swimming, you’ll love the pool at Southwest Community Center. This indoor pool has a huge, shallow play pool with cool water features that shoot water, dump water down into the pool from buckets overhead and all at the level of your kiddos. Plus, they heat this pool a little bit warmer, so you’ll stay warm, even on the coldest Portland days!
6820 SW 45th Avenue, Portland
503-823-2840
Cost: $6.50 for adults, $4.75 for ages 13-17, $3.25 for ages 3-12, free for ages two and under
Families who live near Tualatin, check out these awesome indoor pools close to home!
Some tips for visiting Portland’s indoor pools --
- Plan on bringing your own pool toys to any of the public pools.
- Many of these pools have life jackets that you can use for free – just ask!
- Keep an eye out for Family Swim on the schedules, rather than Free Swim – there will be fewer teenagers doing cannonballs at Family Swim.
- If you like the pool and plan on visiting frequently, ask about a punch card.
- Leave the sunscreen at home!
-- Katie Kavulla
