Summer has just barely begun, and already Portland has seen record-breaking temperatures. With the rest of the season predicted to be warmer than average, the risk of overheating is high. 

While this time of year gives Oregonians an anticipated break from nearly constant overcast skies, it also can come with some very hot days. Staying cool is fun — and good for you. We’re here to give you options that make it cheap or free.

Before we dive into the fun stuff, it’s important to know the signs of heat-related illness. 

Muscle cramping is often the first heads-up that you’re getting too hot. If left unaddressed, it can progress to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. 

People with heat exhaustion can feel faint or dizzy. They may sweat heavily, experience a fast, weak pulse, nausea or vomiting. Their skin may become cold, pale and clammy. The Oregon Health Authority advises people experiencing these symptoms to move to a cool location, lie down and loosen clothing. Sip some water and apply a cool, wet cloth to your body. If you vomit more than once, seek medical attention immediately. 

Heat stroke is even more serious. People experiencing it may have a body temperature of over 103°F, with red, hot, dry, or damp skin, a fast and strong pulse, a headache and nausea or vomiting. They may lose consciousness. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to call 911 immediately. Do not drink or give fluids. Move to a cool environment and reduce the body’s temperature with cold cloths or a cold bath until help arrives. 

Whew! That’s out of the way. Here’s some ideas on how Portlanders can avoid overheating this summer. 

Swim! In pools! 

City-run pools across Portland are offering free open play swim sessions from June 18 to Aug. 23. The Peninsula Park Pool will offer these free sessions until Sept. 7. 

City pools offer at least one free open swim session, Monday through Thursday:

  • Creston Pool: Mondays, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 4454 SE Powell Blvd. 
  • Peninsula Pool: Tuesdays, 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. 700 N Rosa Parks Way 
  • Montavilla Pool: Tuesdays, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 8219 NE Glisan St.
  • Grant Pool: Wednesdays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 2300 NE 33rd Ave.
  • Sellwood Pool: Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 7951 SE 7th Ave.
  • Pier Pool: Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. N Seneca Street and St. Johns Avenue

Even on days that don’t offer free swim sessions, Portland residents who are in need of financial assistance can apply online for discounted access on community center and pool admission, classes, camps, swim lessons, and more from anywhere between 25% to 90% off. Check out the city of Portland’s Access Discount Program for more information. 

For days when free swim sessions aren’t offered, these are the standard drop-in admission costs:

  • Ages 2 and under: Free
  • Youth, ages 3–12: $4
  • Teens, ages 13–17: $5 
  • Adults, ages 18–59: $6
  • Seniors, ages 60 and older: $5 

If you don’t feel like going for a swim, Portland has water features sprawled out across the city that are free and accessible to anyone. 

Bask! In fountains!

Ever seen a fountain on a day where the sun is beating down and imagined just jumping in? Well lucky for you, Portland has fountains designed to let you do exactly that. 

Here’s a list of interactive fountains across the city:

Southwest  

  • Bill Naito Legacy Fountain at Waterfront Park on SW Ankeny near the Burnside Bridge operates 24 hours a day. 
  • Teachers Fountain at Director Park on 815 SW Park Avenue operates from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
  • Salmon Springs Fountain at Waterfront Park next to Naito Parkway on SW Salmon Street operates 24 hours a day.

Northeast 

  • Holladay Park on NE 11th Avenue and Holladay Street operates from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Jamison Square on 810 NW 11th Avenue operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

North 

  • McCoy Park on N Trenton Street and Newman Avenue operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Frolic! With splash pads!

Splash pads are another great way to cool yourself off and keep the entire family entertained. These interactive water features are flat-surfaced, non-slip areas with various types of spraying water nozzles that provide kids of all ages with a safe and fun water play experience. 

Nearly two dozen across Portland are open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until September 7: 

Southwest 

  • Elizabeth Caruthers Park, 3508 SW Moody Ave.
  • Spring Garden Park, 3332 SW Spring Garden St.

Southeast 

  • Colonel Summers Park, SE 17th Avenue and Taylor Street
  • Earl Boyles Park, SE 107th Avenue and Francis Street
  • Errol Heights Park, SE 45th Avenue and Tenino Drive
  • Essex Park, SE 79th Avenue and Center Street  
  • Mill Park, SE 119th Avenue and SE Lincoln Street
  • Parklane Park, SE 155th Avenue and SE Main Street
  • Raymond Park, SE 118th Avenue and Raymond Street
  • Verdell Burdine Rutherford Park, SE 165th Avenue and Market Street

Northeast 

  • Fernhill Park, NE 37th Avenue and Ainsworth Street
  • Gateway Discovery Park, 10520 NE Halsey Street
  • Irving Park, NE 7th Avenue and Fremont Street
  • Khunamokwst Park, 5200 NE Alberta Street 
  • Woodlawn Park, NE 13th Avenue and Dekum Street 

North 

  • Columbia Park and Annex, N Lombard Street and Woolsey Avenue
  • Dawson Park, N Stanton Street and Williams Avenue
  • Farragut Park, N Kerby Avenue and Farragut Street
  • Kenton Park, 8417 N Brandon Avenue
  • Northgate Park, N Geneva Avenue and Fessenden Street
  • Peninsula Park, 700 N Rosa Parks Way 
  • Pier Park, N Lombard Street and Bruce Avenue

While dipping your toes into the water can be one good way to deal with the heat, it isn’t the only one. Here are some indoor options that offer a cool environment.  

Relax! In libraries! 

Libraries are a great option if you’re looking for a way to stay cool indoors. Not only are these public buildings equipped with air conditioning, but they provide plenty of other great resources such as free access to the internet, computers, printers and, of course, plenty of books. 

In the event of extreme heat, most libraries in Multnomah County will serve as cooling day centers, with some extending hours until 8 p.m. Normal operating hours for Multnomah County libraries are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Southwest 

  • Capitol Hill Library, 10723 SW Capitol Hwy
  • Central Library, 801 SW 10th Ave

Southeast 

  • Holgate Library, 7905 SE Holgate Blvd.
  • Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Ave

Northwest 

  • Northwest Library, 2030 NW Pettygrove St.

Northeast 

  • Hollywood Library, 4040 NE Tillamook St.

North 

  • Kenton Library, 8226 N Denver Ave

Gresham 

  • Gresham Library, 385 NW Miller Ave

Chill! In cooling centers! 

Multnomah County occasionally opens cooling centers when the National Weather Service’s heat risk index forecasts that the county will be under “extreme risk” for people who are sensitive to the heat or don’t have access to AC. In the case of “high risk” weather, the threshold below extreme risk, county leaders may consider opening cooling centers if high temperatures are expected for a string of days with little overnight relief or if unusually high temperatures are forecasted earlier than normal for the season. Locations are announced the day extreme risk is declared. 

On days when cooling centers are open, TriMet doesn’t turn away anyone on their way to a cooling center who can’t pay their fare. 

If you need help finding a cool space in Portland or need transportation assistance to a cooling location, dial 211 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.

For a visualization of all available cooling sites in Portland, check out the city’s website for an interactive map.

Other essential resources

Organizations around the city offer free water, cooling towels or a cold shower to help Portlanders manage the heat. 

Free air conditioning or fan

Have the Oregon Health Plan? You might be eligible for a free AC or fan under the health-related social needs benefit. Reach out to your insurance provider to find out if you qualify. 

Outreach centers

For those who are unable to find adequate shelter from the summer heat, outreach centers are working hard this summer to provide people with essential resources such as water, clean clothes and other heat relief items. Below are some locations that are offering free supplies. However, it is important to note that these supplies may be limited due to high demand. 

  • Blanchet House is offering heat relief items such as cold drinks, single-use and reusable water bottles, care kits, and clean clothes. These relief items are available during Blanchet House’s daily meal services, Monday through Saturday. Their meal service hours are: breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 7:25 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:25 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 5:55 p.m., 310 NW Glisan Street. 
  • Transition Projects will distribute resources such as water, snacks and sunscreen from their resource center on hot days. The resource center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 650 NW Irving Street.
  • St. Johns Food Share has a limited number of cold water bottles and, on occasion, other heat relief resources alongside their standard food distribution on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 8100 N. Lombard Street.

Showers

These organizations are making sure you can get a cold shower in on hot days. 

Union Gospel Mission

  • Mondays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Imago Dei Church, 1302 SE Ankeny Street.
  • Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Union Gospel Mission, 15 NW Third Ave.
  • Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Portland Central Church of the Nazarene, 9715 SE Powell Blvd.

Cultivate Initiatives’ mobile showers open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. 

  • Mondays, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 4244 SE 91st Ave.
  • Tuesdays, Family of Grace, 12414 E Burnside St and PDX Saints Love Day Center, 247 SE 82nd Ave.
  • Wednesdays, Eastside Imago Dei Community, 3130 SE 148th Ave and WeShine Village, 12505 NE Halsey St.
  • Thursdays, Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Ave, PDX Saints Love Day Center, 247 SE 82nd Ave, and Freedom Foursquare Church, 660 SE 160th Ave.
  • Saturdays, All Saints Episcopal Church, 4033 SE Woodstock Blvd.

Cultivate Initiatives’ Hygiene Hub has both stationary showers and laundry on 14625 SE Stark Street and is open Monday and Friday 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oasis Day Center is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily with showers, misters and other amenities. NW 6th Ave & NW Glisan.  

This article appears in July 1, 2026.