Travel Information

Conference Location

Oregon Convention Center
777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd,
Portland, OR 97232

Getting Around Portland

The Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) Light Rail runs about every 15 minutes daily. There are stations located at Portland International Airport, the Oregon Convention Center, and two blocks from both the Hilton Portland and the Quality Inn. The adult fare is $2.50 for 2-hours, or $5 for a one-day pass. Ticket machines are located at each MAX station.

Free passes good for use September 25-29 are available to ION GNSS+ attendees, and can be picked up at the ION GNSS+ registration desk when you pick up your conference badge.

• Each attendee will be issued only one MAX pass. Please carry your transit pass with you at all times; we suggest you keep your pass in your badge holder.
• The pass will be valid upon receipt and will not require validation, stamping, ticket exchange or any additional step before riding the MAX light rail, streetcars or busses in the city of Portland.
• You should purchase a ticket to ride until you are able to pick up the pass at the conference registration desk.
• If you lose your pass, the adult fare is $2.50 for 2-hours or $5 for a one-day pass.
• If you do not have a valid pass, the fine is $175.

For information on routes, schedules, how to ride MAX light rail or instructions in other languages, visit the MAX website.

Taxi

• Estimated Taxi Fare From Portland International Airport to Hilton: $35
• Estimated Taxi Fare From Portland International Airport to Quality Inn: $35

Several Rental Car companies operate out of Portland International Airport. For more information, or to reserve a car, visit the airport's rental car page.

The Portland Streetcar offers convenient and affordable transportation throughout greater Portland, including the Pearl District, Old Town, Chinatown, the Lloyd District, Downtown, and South Portland. Fare is $2.50 per 2.5 hour ticket or $5.00 for a one-day unlimited ride card (this fare includes use of the MAX). The Streetcar operates 5:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. on weekends. A full map of the service area can be viewed here

Walking. A personable downtown with half-size city blocks and plentiful public spaces makes Portland ideal for exploring on foot. Walking maps are available at the Travel Portland Visitor Information Center; learn about walking tours at travelportland.com/walk.

Parking

The Oregon Convention Center's underground garage provides onsite parking. Combined, the two levels offer 800 spaces. Enter the garage through either the Northeast First Avenue (P1) or Lloyd Boulevard (P2) entrance. Clearance on the P1 level is 7 feet; clearance on the P2 level is 9 feet. The maximum daily rate to park is $10. Overnight parking is prohibited.

International Participants

Visa Waiver Countries

Visa waiver travelers from ALL 27 Visa Waiver Program countries must present either a machine-readable passport or a U.S. Visa. To learn more about the Visa Waiver Program & Machine Readable Passports see http://travel.state.gov/visa.

Non-Visa Waiver Countries

We recommend that you apply for your Visa at least three months in advance. Currently there is a mandatory security check period of 30 days for people whose passports are issued from several countries. U.S. consular offices now interview most applicants as part of the application process. Please ensure you arrive at the embassy with all required documentation at the time of your interview. Note that the ION does not intervene in U.S. State Department’s issuance of Visas.

Conference attendees requesting a visa letter to attend a conference must:

1. Submit the visa letter request form using the button below.
2. Register and pay all conference registration fees BEFORE a letter of invitation will be sent.

Exemptions to this policy apply only to those authors whose papers have been accepted for presentation, company personnel working in the exhibit area or trade associated press.

If the attendee is unable to secure a Visa, he/she will need to apply for a refund according to the printed refund rules of the event. Visa letter requests will only be reviewed AFTER you have submitted the Visa letter request form for your desired conference.

Request a Letter of Invitation

About Portland, Oregon

In Portland, it’s easy to find limitless recreation, fabulous food and drink and flourishing culture. See for yourself, and come early or stay late to enjoy all that Portland has to offer. With no sales tax, Portland is a haven for shoppers. You’ll find retailers large and small, international and indie within easy reach of downtown hotels. The nearby Pearl District is home to galleries, boutiques, chic restaurants and the legendary Powell’s City of Books. An award-winning airport, efficient light rail system and pedestrian-friendly city blocks in the central city make getting around town a real pleasure.

Climate

Portland sees an average autumn high of 55 F (12 C).

To Do

• Portland Visitor Guide: English
• Portland Visitor Guide: Japanese
• Portland Visitor Guide: Chinese
• Portland Visitor Guide: German
• Portland Visitor Guide: Spanish