Planning guide
Multnomah Falls permit and parking guide
When you need a Multnomah Falls timed-use permit, how to book it on Recreation.gov, the $2 fee, free permits, exemptions and parking options.
Do you need a permit for Multnomah Falls?
Only in one case. You need it when you drive a private vehicle to the I-84 Exit 31 lot during permit season and permit hours. That's the big lot between the freeway lanes. Visiting the falls is free, and the lot has no parking fee. The permit simply limits how many cars arrive each hour.
| Situation (2026 rules) | Permit needed? |
|---|---|
| Driving to the I-84 Exit 31 lot, May 22 to Sept 7, 9am to 6pm | Yes |
| Driving to the Exit 31 lot before 9am or after 6pm | No |
| Driving to the Exit 31 lot outside May 22 to Sept 7 | No |
| Arriving by Columbia Gorge Express, a shuttle or another transit service | No |
| Arriving by bike | No |
| Visiting Wahkeena or other Forest Service falls on the Historic Highway | No |
| Parking at Latourell Falls (a state park trailhead) | No timed permit, but an Oregon State Parks day-use parking permit since March 30, 2026 |
The rules come from the Recreation.gov permit page and the Oregon Department of Transportation's permit page.
Permit dates and hours
In 2026 the permit season ran from May 22 to September 7. Permits were required from 9am to 6pm every day. The 2026 season has ended, and ODOT's page says to check back for 2027 dates.
How the permit system has changed
We pieced this timeline together from ODOT, Recreation.gov and news reports. It shows why older articles often get the rules wrong.
| Year | What was required | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | One-summer pilot: a timed permit for the whole Historic Highway waterfall corridor (about Exits 28 to 35), plus Multnomah Falls. It ended on September 6, 2022. | KPTV, 2022 |
| 2023 | ODOT dropped the corridor permit for lack of funding. Only the Multnomah Falls Exit 31 lot kept a timed permit. | WTA, 2023 |
| 2024 | Multnomah Falls Exit 31 permit, May 24 to September 2 (dates still shown on the Recreation.gov page). | Recreation.gov |
| 2026 | Multnomah Falls Exit 31 permit only, May 22 to September 7, 9am to 6pm. No Historic Highway permit. | Recreation.gov, KOIN |
Our read: in 2023, 2024 and 2026, the permit covered one lot for one summer stretch, from around Memorial Day to around Labor Day. ODOT sets new dates each year, so confirm them before you plan.
How to book a Multnomah Falls permit
- Go to Recreation.gov (or the Recreation.gov app) and search for "Multnomah Falls (I-84) Timed Use Permit". Paid permits are sold online only. None are sold at the falls.
- Pick your date and a one-hour arrival window. Each permit is for one private vehicle and everyone in it.
- Book at the right time. Permits are released in two batches: 14 days before your visit at 7am Pacific, then a second batch 2 days before your visit at 7am Pacific.
- Pay the $2 transaction fee. You can hold up to 2 permits per day, and you can make changes until midnight on your arrival day.
- Arrive within your window. If you leave the lot and want to come back, you need a new permit.
A permit doesn't guarantee a space; the lot can still fill.
Free permits in person
A limited number of free permits are available in person. You can pick them up at the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center in Troutdale and the Cascade Locks Historical Museum, according to KOIN's coverage of the 2026 season. Supplies are small, so treat them as a backup rather than a plan.
Skip the permit: transit, shuttles and bikes
The simplest way to avoid both the permit and the parking scramble is not to drive. The Columbia Gorge Express bus runs from Gateway Transit Center in Portland to Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks and Hood River. Several private gorge shuttles and tours also stop at the falls. Visitors who arrive by bike are exempt too. Check the Columbia Gorge Express site for current schedules and fares.
Which way to arrive? A quick comparison
| How you arrive | Permit (in season) | Cost to you | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car to I-84 Exit 31 lot, 9am to 6pm | Yes, timed | $2 online (or a free in-person permit) | Families with a fixed plan |
| Car to Exit 31 before 9am or after 6pm | No | Free | Early risers and photographers |
| Columbia Gorge Express or a shuttle | No | Bus or shuttle fare | Visitors staying in Portland |
| Bike | No | Free | Cyclists on the Historic Highway |
| Car to Wahkeena Falls, then walk | No | No fee listed | Hikers doing the Wahkeena loop |
Our pick: if your dates are flexible, arrive before 9am. You skip the permit, the crowds are thinner, and morning light suits the falls. If you're staying in Portland without a car, the bus removes the parking question entirely.
Other parking options
- The Historic Highway lot. A small, privately run lot sits in front of Multnomah Falls Lodge on the Historic Columbia River Highway (US-30), with a couple of accessible spaces. The Forest Service notes that it charges a fee and is not part of the Recreation.gov permit system.
- No shoulder parking. ODOT does not allow parking on the Historic Highway shoulder, and illegally parked cars can be ticketed or towed.
- Start at Wahkeena Falls. Wahkeena Falls, about half a mile west on the Historic Highway, has a small free lot and no timed permit. Trails link it to Multnomah Falls. The Forest Service lists the Wahkeena site as open on a page updated May 1, 2026, but the lot is small, so have a backup plan.
- Go early or late. Outside 9am to 6pm, no permit is needed for the Exit 31 lot, so early-morning and evening visits avoid the system entirely.
Tips for a smooth visit
- Book the 14-day release if you know your date, and set a 7am Pacific alarm.
- Check TripCheck, ODOT's traveler site, for how full the Exit 31 lot is. It also lists I-84 lane closures; a bridge project at McCord Creek means delays through fall 2026.
- Plan restrooms: the lodge's public restrooms are closed for renovation through November 2026, and portable toilets are on site.
- Visit in the shoulder season. Officials quoted by KOIN suggest coming before Memorial Day or after Labor Day for smaller crowds. Spring usually has the biggest flow.
For trail lengths, history and the hike to the top, see our Multnomah Falls guide. For other falls nearby, see waterfalls in Oregon. To see how Multnomah compares with the giants, read our guide to the tallest waterfalls in the US.
FAQ
How much does the Multnomah Falls permit cost?
The permit is booked on Recreation.gov with a $2 transaction fee per vehicle. A few free permits are available in person in Troutdale and Cascade Locks.
Can I visit Multnomah Falls without a permit?
Yes. You don't need one outside the permit season or outside 9am to 6pm, or if you arrive by transit, shuttle or bike.
Do I need a permit for the Historic Columbia River Highway?
No timed permit was required in 2026. A corridor-wide permit was tried in summer 2022 and then dropped. State park lots such as Latourell Falls do need an Oregon State Parks day-use parking permit.
When do 2027 Multnomah Falls permits go on sale?
ODOT hasn't announced 2027 dates yet. Based on recent seasons, expect the permit to start around late May, with each day's permits released 14 days ahead and 2 days ahead at 7am Pacific.
Sources
- Recreation.gov: Multnomah Falls (I-84) Timed Use Permit
- ODOT: Waterfall Corridor permits
- KOIN: Multnomah Falls timed parking permit, 2026 season
- USDA Forest Service: Multnomah Falls
- USDA Forest Service: Wahkeena Falls
- Oregon Parks and Recreation: More state parks will require day-use parking permits (Feb 20, 2026)
- ODOT: I-84 Columbia River Gorge 2026 projects (PDF)
- KPTV: Permits no longer required to visit Multnomah Falls (2022)
- WTA: Waterfall Corridor permit system ends (2023)