A book lover's day out in Milwaukie, Oregon

Milwaukie sits right on the Willamette just south of Portland — close enough for an easy trip, calm enough to feel like a real escape. If your idea of a good day involves a stack of used books and not much of a schedule, here’s how to spend it.

Start with the shelves

Begin at To Be Read (the longtime Clackamas Book Exchange) at 7931 SE King Rd, Ste 1. We’ve been the neighborhood’s used bookstore for over 45 years — thousands of titles across fiction, classics, romantasy, mystery, kids’ books and more. Bring a box of books you’re done with and trade them for store credit while you browse.

Walk it off by the river

A few minutes away, Milwaukie Bay Park and the Trolley Trailgive you an easy, flat walk along the water — a perfect place to crack open whatever you just found. The trail runs for miles if you’re feeling ambitious.

Time it with the Sunday market

If you come on a Sunday in season, the Milwaukie Farmers Market fills the downtown blocks with produce, flowers, and food — an easy pairing with a morning of book browsing.

Getting here (no car needed)

The MAX Orange Lineconnects downtown Portland to downtown Milwaukie, so you can make the whole trip car-free. Driving? There’s free parking at the shop.

Plan your visit

Check our hours and directions, see why readers cross the river to shop here, or let the Matchmaker line up your next read before you come.