Are you looking for a unique place to stay in Portland, Oregon? We found it! While searching for accommodations for a recent trip to Oregon we came across the coolest tiny house hotel in Portland just minutes from downtown. It’s called Tiny Digs and it’s tucked away in the lovely, leafy neighborhood of Kerns.
We usually stay downtown when we visit Portland, but now that we have discovered Kerns it may very likely be our first choice in the future. Kerns has most of the things Portland is known and loved for including quirky bars and eateries, food trucks, craft beer and even a Voodoo Donuts.
It’s quieter and greener in Kerns than in downtown and there’s plenty of free parking all just across the bridge. You can park your car and take a 15-minute ride on public transit into downtown.
Pro tip: If the lineups are too long at the Old Town Voodoo Donuts location, just cross the bridge into the Kerns neighborhood and head to the NE Davis St location. We went twice while we were there and didn’t have to wait to buy our Bacon Maple Bar and Old Dirty Bastard.
What is Tiny Digs?
Tiny Digs is a family-run hotel, comprised of 12 adorably themed individual tiny houses on a quiet street lined with charming heritage homes and shady trees. The tiny house hotel is the inspired creation of the Westra family who relocated from Michigan.
Following the sale of their wellness business, Pam and Bruce set out to travel the country in their RV but eventually settled in Portland to be near their kids. Soon after, the adventurous couple teamed up with son, Kevin, to bring to life their vision of a tiny house hotel. Tiny Digs Portland was born.
Tiny Digs Accommodations
The 12 tiny houses vary in size ranging from 128 to 280 sq ft. But don’t let the size fool you, the houses are expertly designed to maximize the use of every inch and are outfitted with all the comforts of a hotel room. The bed configurations also vary. The smallest houses sleep up to two guests and the largest sleeps up to five.
The Westras designed and built all but one of the houses. The one exception is the smallest house (Zen) which was designed by tiny house aficionado, Bryce Langston of the popular Living Big in a Tiny House YouTube channel.
Each tiny house has its own unique themed style that shows the incredible creativity and attention to detail of the Westra family. The largest of the houses is the 280 sq ft Finlandia which has two levels and three beds sleeping up to five people. As the name suggests, this house displays a Scandinavian style with clean lines, neutral colors and lots of natural materials.
We stayed in Arthur which is an adorable bright yellow train car named after Pam’s grandfather who had a love for all things trains. Arthur has a sleeping loft with a queen-sized bed and a convertible double sofa bed on the main floor. The curved ceiling adds to the spacious feel and the theme is enhanced with lots of railroad memorabilia and model trains.
The other nine tiny houses are named Boho Wagon, Beach, Cabin, Merlot, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Barn, Modern, Bamboo and Cottage. Each house has been creatively and meticulously decorated to reflect the theme name and to provide comfort and convenience for guests. Next time we visit Tiny Digs I’d like to stay in the super fun and flirty Boho Wagon which has a colorful and eclectic décor that just makes you smile.
Whichever theme you go with you’ll be impressed with the use of space, the comfortable beds and the beautiful details of the décor. Plus, each of the Tiny Digs houses have hot and cold running water, heat, AC, a bathroom with shower and a kitchenette or small cooking area.
Tiny Digs Amenities
The tiny houses are circled around a well-laid-out common courtyard with amenities galore! There are numerous seating areas and tables to enjoy an al fresco meal or play a board game. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the yard games set out and the hammocks are a great place to read a book or take a nap.
When the sun sets, Tiny Digs becomes even more magical with twinkle lights all around and two firepits for an evening nightcap or a cozy conversation before retiring to your relaxing Beach Tiny House, fun Rock ‘n’ Roll tiny house or any of the other amazing options.
Within an easy walk are numerous cafes, restaurants, bars and food trucks where you can go for dinner or take food back to enjoy at Tiny Digs.
Final Thoughts
As lovers of glamping and unique accommodations, we were excited to find Tiny Digs Hotel in the heart of Portland, Oregon. But despite going through the website in detail we were still not prepared for the magic that awaited us.
As a couple, we enjoyed Arthur’s cozy space and the evenings by the fire. However, we could see that this would also be a perfect spot for families and groups. Tiny Digs would also be a great place for a group retreat or business team-building getaway as you could rent out all the tiny houses and have the place to yourselves!
Note: The creative Westra family has built another tiny house hotel in Michigan called Tiny Digs Lakeshore. If you make it there before we do please do share your experience with us!
Born in England, Sarah developed her wanderlust at a young age as she traveled around Europe with her parents. As a young adult she spent every penny she could on experiences as opposed to possessions. Eventually she found a way to earn a living doing what she loved: traveling, writing and capturing images of the wondrous world we live in. When not on the go Sarah enjoys time in her “sometimes home” of Vancouver.