Area Guide No. 11
Clackamas, Oregon
Clackamas County · 97015 · About 10 miles southeast of downtown Portland
Clackamas sits at the junction of I-205, OR-212, OR-213, and OR-224 in Clackamas County, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Portland. Buyers and renters choose it for the Clackamas Town Center and its restaurant row, the North Clackamas School District, Clackamas Community College, and some of the best freeway access in the metro, with the Clackamas River and the Cascade foothills close by.
Clackamas · Clackamas County · 97015 · Oregon
Clackamas, Oregon · Clackamas County · 97015
Family-friendly neighborhoods sit minutes from the retail core
01 · Area Highlights
Why buyers choose Clackamas
Clackamas is the commercial and retail heart of Clackamas County. Its anchor is the Clackamas Town Center, a regional mall that opened in 1981 and now spans about 1.4 million square feet with roughly 170 stores and a 20-screen theater. It sits at the rare convergence of I-205, OR-212, OR-213, and OR-224, making it one of the most connected corners of the metro, with the MAX Green Line light rail linking the mall to downtown Portland.
Beyond retail, the area is home to Clackamas Community College, Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, and a deep base of healthcare, dining, and light-industrial jobs, all a short drive from the Clackamas River and the Cascade foothills. It is a practical, well-connected place where daily errands, commuting, and weekend recreation all sit close together.
- Clackamas Town Center
- I-205 access
- North Clackamas schools
- Clackamas Community College
- Near the Clackamas River
01b · Navigable Map
Explore Clackamas on the map
Pan, zoom, and drag around this live map to get your bearings before you even call us: pin the Clackamas Town Center, Clackamas Community College, the I-205 corridor, the schools, and the neighborhoods this guide covers.
Clackamas, Oregon · Clackamas County · 97015
02 · Community Detail
A well-connected commercial hub with a suburban heart
Clackamas is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Portland. Its population was about 7,000 at the 2010 census, while the broader Clackamas area is home to roughly 23,000 residents. It is served by the North Clackamas School District, one of the region's largest, and is home to Clackamas Community College.
The neighborhoods run the gamut. Sunnyside and Creekside are family-oriented areas with green space and newer homes. Oatfield, near Milwaukie, offers mid-century and custom homes on larger lots. Howard Estates rounds out the mix. Camp Withycombe, an Oregon Army National Guard installation, sits nearby, and the MAX Green Line serves Clackamas Town Center, connecting the area to downtown Portland.
Most of Clackamas sits in the North Clackamas School District (12J), with a network of highly regarded elementary, middle, and high schools. Boundaries vary by exact address, so we always verify the feeder school for a specific property before you commit.
The Clackamas Town Center anchors the community's retail core
Healthcare and light industry anchor Clackamas's local economy
03 · Major Employers
The employers behind the town
Clackamas is a genuine employment center, not just a bedroom community, with healthcare, retail, and manufacturing anchors that keep thousands of jobs close to home. Here are the anchors:
Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center
The area's largest hospital and healthcare employer, part of the Kaiser Permanente network, anchoring a broad healthcare cluster just off Sunnyside Road. It is one of the biggest single employers in the Clackamas area and a major draw for medical professionals.
Clackamas Town Center
The regional mall that anchors the community, with roughly 170 stores, a 20-screen theater, and one of Oregon's largest collections of restaurants, plus the thousands of retail and service jobs that come with it.
Precision Castparts Corp.
A Berkshire Hathaway aerospace manufacturer with a plant at 13309 SE 84th Ave in Clackamas, part of the county's deep metals and machinery manufacturing base.
North Clackamas School District
One of the region's largest school districts, serving about 16,800 students and employing a sizable local workforce of teachers, staff, and administrators.
Clackamas County government
The county is one of the area's largest employers, with offices, services, and public works spread across the community and the county.
Consolidated Metco (ConMet)
A manufacturer of wheel-end and structural components for the commercial vehicle industry, part of the light-industrial base that keeps manufacturing jobs close to home.
Around Clackamas
Clackamas is a hub of retail, healthcare, and light industry, and the region's biggest employers are a short drive away: Intel in Washington County, Nike in Beaverton, and the distribution and technology campuses of the surrounding metro.
04 · Restaurant Guide
Where Clackamas eats
Clackamas has one of Oregon's largest concentrations of restaurants, clustered around the Clackamas Town Center and along SE Sunnyside Road. Some of our picks, by cuisine:
Steakhouse and American
Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar
VisitA full-service steakhouse known for generous portions and a long bar, a dependable pick for celebrations and game days.
9085 SE Sunnyside Rd
Stanford's Restaurant & Bar
VisitA well-liked American grill and bar with a broad menu and a comfortable room, popular for after-work dinners.
8416 SE Sunnyside Rd
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews
VisitThe burger chain's Clackamas location, a family-friendly stop for gourmet burgers and brews.
12560 SE 93rd Ave
Italian and family
Mexican
Fajitas Mexican Restaurant
VisitA long-running local favorite for fajitas and Mexican classics on SE 82nd Dr.
14931 SE 82nd Dr
Casa Del Sol Mexican Restaurant & Bar
A neighborhood spot for Mexican plates and margaritas, a friendly local room.
15229 SE 82nd Dr
Sushi and global
Akira Sushi
VisitA well-reviewed sushi house on SE 82nd Dr, a dependable pick for rolls, sashimi, and Japanese favorites.
16150 SE 82nd Dr
Worth planning around: the Clackamas Town Center's restaurant row and the MAX Green Line make it easy to grab dinner and head into downtown Portland, and Oregon City's dining scene and the Willamette Valley wineries are just minutes away.
From steakhouses to sushi, Clackamas's restaurant row has it all
The Clackamas River at Riverside Park, minutes from the retail core
05 · Activities
Things to do in and around Clackamas
Clackamas pairs a big retail and dining core with easy access to parks, the Clackamas River, and the Cascade foothills. Here is how locals spend their weekends:
Clackamas Town Center
The regional mall at the heart of Clackamas, with roughly 170 stores, a 20-screen theater, and one of Oregon's largest collections of restaurants. The MAX Green Line stops right at the mall, making it a transit hub as well as a shopping one.
Riverside Park
A park along the Clackamas River with open space, trails, and river access, a quick escape from the retail bustle.
North Clackamas Aquatic Park
Learn moreA family-friendly indoor pool complex with slides, a lazy river, and swim lessons, run by North Clackamas Parks & Recreation.
Happy Valley Park
Learn moreA large community park in nearby Happy Valley with sports fields, playgrounds, and walking trails.
Pioneer Park
Learn moreA North Clackamas Parks & Recreation park with sports fields and play areas, close to the Clackamas Community College campus.
Sieben Park
Learn moreA neighborhood park in Clackamas with open lawns and play space, one of several local parks run by North Clackamas Parks & Recreation.
Ready to make Clackamas home?
We know this area block by block, from the Clackamas Town Center to the family-friendly neighborhoods off Sunnyside Road. Tell us what you are looking for and we will show you the Clackamas that fits, from the school feeder to the commute.
Reader Comments
Share Your Favorite Part of Clackamas, Oregon
Tell us what you love most about living in or visiting this area. Your comments help make this guide even more useful for families considering a move here.
Reader Favorites
Reader Favorites
Comments are moderated and appear after approval. Thank you for sharing what you love about this area.
Approved comments will appear here soon.