VERDICT: We gave 4 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!

This guide forms part of our complete USA Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the United States.

This article is part of our 🚗 5-Day Pacific Northwest USA Road Trip series, exploring Washington and Oregon. Beginning at the Sumas border crossing in British Columbia, our 1,397-kilometre adventure takes us through historic coastal towns, spectacular beaches, iconic cities and one of America’s most famous volcanoes.. Read the complete itinerary here.

Day 1: Historic Bridges, Sea Lions & Astoria’s Waterfront ✅
Day 2: Haystack Rock, Puffins & Oregon’s Most Beautiful Beach ✅
Day 3: Shipwrecks, Cheese & Portland’s Weird Side ✅
Day 4: Volcanoes, Forests & The Mountain That Changed America ✅
Day 5: Small-Town Charm, Ferries & The Journey Home

A tiny Portland attraction that sparked a world record—and an international rivalry

The world’s smallest park title has a fun back-and-forth story.

For over 50 years, Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon held the Guinness World Record. It’s a 2-foot-wide circle in a median strip on SW Naito Parkway, with a total area of just 452 sq in, about 0.292 m². We were walking along & suddenly there it was, between two crosswalks, in the middle of the street.

We’ve heard this whole thing started in 1948 when Oregon Journal columnist Dick Fagan spotted an empty hole meant for a light pole, planted flowers in it, and named it after his “Mill Ends” column. He also declared it “the only leprechaun colony west of Ireland,” and the city officially dedicated it in 1976. It’s literally one tree with tiny foliage, but people(including us!) still stop to take a photo next to the plaque.

Unfortunately, the new record holder is Nagaizumi, Japan.
In February 2025, Guinness certified Sekai-ichi Chiisana Kōen in Nagaizumi, Shizuoka, Japan as the new smallest park at 0.24 m², about 370 sq in. That’s roughly the size of four sheets of printer paper.

Built in 1988 as a brick-enclosed square with a small bench, grass, and a decorative stone, it was inspired by Mill Ends Park after a town staff member visited Oregon. The town officially designated it a park in December 2024 and applied for the record.

So right now, Japan holds the record, but Portland’s Mill Ends is still the park that started the whole “smallest park” legend.

Top 3 Smallest Parks in the World

1. Sekai-ichi Chiisana Kōen — Nagaizumi, Japan 🇯🇵

Current Guinness World Record Holder

Officially recognised by Guinness World Records in 2025, this tiny park measures just 0.24 m² (about 370 square inches). Despite its size, it features a miniature bench, grass, decorative stone and brick border, proving that even the smallest parks can have plenty of character.

2. Mill Ends Park — Portland, Oregon, USA 🇺🇸

The Original Record Holder

For more than 50 years, Mill Ends Park proudly held the Guinness World Record. Measuring 0.292 m² (452 square inches), it became world famous thanks to columnist Dick Fagan’s imagination and remains one of Portland’s most photographed attractions.

3. Myeongjang Park — Busan, South Korea 🇰🇷

Although not officially recognised by Guinness, this miniature neighbourhood park is often mentioned among the world’s tiniest public parks. While considerably larger than the top two, it has become a point of interest for travellers fascinated by unusual world records.

Continue Exploring Portland and Oregon

Nearby Attractions

Checklist For Things to See in Portland

Powell’s City of Books The world’s largest independent bookstore covering an entire city block with over four million books spread across nine colour-coded rooms.
Voodoo Doughnut One of Portland’s most famous attractions, known worldwide for its quirky doughnuts, unusual flavours and long queues.
Mill Ends Park Officially recognized as the world’s smallest park, measuring just 61 cm (24 inches) across. It’s tiny, but surprisingly famous.
Washington Park Home to the International Rose Test Garden, Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum and spectacular views across Portland and Mount Hood on clear days.
Portland Saturday Market (Weekends) The largest continuously operating outdoor arts and crafts market in the United States, featuring local artists, food vendors and live entertainment along the Willamette River.

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USA 5-Day Road Trip (Pacific Northwest)

USA Road Trip| Day 3: Mill Ends Park⎮The World’s Smallest Park… Or Is It? ⎮Next to the Willamette River, Portland