Living in my RV to experience a new city... Portland, OR

There is a RV park in Fairview, on Sandy BLVD, that I spend a couple of months there in January 2008. It is a nice park, and they offer monthly rates. Electric was reasonable, with $0.10 per KW back then.

So for heat, I could have spent 22 KW at $2.20 or buy a gallon of propane for the furnace, locally for about $2.20 - $3.20 depending on location of the propane supplier. One on Division and 182nd was lowest that I saw locally for refilling portable tanks.

Sandy is a nice street, and fairly quiet, except the trains that go by the lower section of the park. I live within a mile of there, and closer to the train tracks.

I ran 3 electric heaters, one plugged into a #12 gauge extension cord to my bedroom through the basement to the sewer compartment and out to the power post 20 amp plug. My 30 amp RV will only support 2 electric heaters running on high if I shut everything else off. . . .

One small heater was near my fresh water tank, keeping my basement warm, and that is under my bedroom, keeping it warmer too. I set that one for about 55 - 60F. I refilled my fresh water tank on days above 40F, draining the other tanks too, and then putting away all the hoses. Local county ordinances require the use of a 'slinky' type sewer hose support if you plan on leaving it set up all the time, so that water will not 'stand' in the hose and start to grow bacteria. . .

Even if you only rent the RV park on weekends, this is a good one to consider each weekend, to dump your tanks, do laundry, then go park someplace else during the week while you are working.

There are several nice industrial areas where you might find a good place to park overnight. Google maps will find many in the NE 180th street area, north of Airport Way, or near it. South of Sandy, it becomes more residential streets, and not many people want a RV parking in their front yards. .

Fred.

You'll probably find a place good for couple days then re-charge, laundry etc




http://www.freeguidetonwcamping.com/oregon_washington_main/Oregon/Portland_Area/Portland_Oregon_Section_2.jpg

You could look on good Sam's, they have a couple different locations and you could park on monthly basis.

This has seemed to work fine when I go up there on weekends, but I'm guessing it would get old after a few months.

I also never park on the street, too much noise. I usually find a parking lot of a closed business or big box store.

As my brain tumbles, that's a sometimes rough part of town. Maybe not a place I would want to park on the street.
I know in Seattle there is a push to get the "parkless" RVs off the local streets.

My experience is not Portland-specific, but west coast liberal cities in general tend to be very, very anti people living in Rvs, campers, etc. in public places. I think because they get so many people trying.

What you probably COULD do, though, is find a driveway to rent for $100 a month or so. Or see if your work will let you park in their lot!

The job is in an industrial area in NE Portland, I wouldn't use the MAX at all.

A lot really depends on where your job is, down-town, ya, take the Max.
Actually Max could be your ticket for a lot

If you job is "out" someplace, they probably have a large enough parking lot to accommodate the MH

That being said, I'm racking my brain to think of a campground near a Max station...

Portland area is about 1.5 million now, so NO you cant park on the street, and spaces are usually at a premium. Winters are wet and can sometimes get down to the 20s usually with east winds. Getting around town is not too bad. There is light rail, and bus service. Light rail (max) is actually the best way to get into town. 68 years living in Portland area was enough for me.