Oregon coast and Oregon’s Coastal Highway is one tremendous road trip to experience, from the rugged scenery to tidal pools and crashing waves with blow holes, to the cute coastal towns! There are many wonderful stretches of beaches and scenic views along the way. It is a captivating journey, whether you take a solo trip, a mother-daughter trip, or a guys or gal weekend (or bring the whole family). But it is a road trip since there is no public transportation. It has something to offer from some great hotels to glamping or just camping, we saw them all in cozy to eclectic towns.
Oregon’s coast is 356 miles long and it’s wonderfully “free to the public”. Years ago, Oregon determined that the beach and shore should be open to all. Thus, we took a mother-daughter trip in the fancy 2024 Mazda CX-50 #MazdaUSA to enjoy the greatOregon coast and Oregons’s coastal villages. We started in the northern corner at Astoria and went down to the Newport area before returning to inland Oregon. Here are some places to add to your Oregon Coast Road Trip itinerary.
Read more: 21 Places You Need To Visit For Your Oregon Coast Road TripDisclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase or booking, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.Travels of Sarah Fay is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. I lent a 2024 Mazda CX-50 to check out the capabilities on my road trip. All opinions are my honest own opinions.
Top Oregon Coast Towns You Need To Visit And Places To Explore On The Oregon Coast
1) Astoria, Oregon, the Northern Corner of the State
Astoria is an eclectic coastal town and you may have seen this in movies like The Goonies, Free Willy, Kindergarten Cop, or Short Circuit. The city of Astoria is situated on the northwest corner of Oregon at the mouth of the Columbia Riverwhere it meets the Pacific Ocean, across from the state of Washington. They say Astoria is the oldest city west of the Rocky Mountains, formed in 1810. It’s also close to the Lewis & Clark Trail. The Astor family started their West Coast beaver and fur trade business here and Bumble Bee (now a Museum) had a massive fish canning plant here, the building still stands and houses many local businesses and a great coffee shop. We stayed here for 2 nights, but see my entire blog post on Astoria, Oregon.
2) Astoria Column www.astoriacolumn.org
The Astoria Column is a tall column/tower located high above the city where you can get great views of the city, water, mountains, etc. There is a fee of $5 a car to park there and you can see the tower erected in 1926 by the Great Northern Railroad. It is dedicated to those brave folks who settled in this part of the country. At the top, there are seats to relax and take in the picturesque view and there is a small gift shop. Notably, it is free to walk up the hill to the area, but if you park there or bring a car it is $5.
3) The Goonies House
Goonies Never Die! In 1985, the Goonies was released and is a kids’ classic. Even if you don’t stay in Astoria long, you may want to see the Goonies house. I know we watched it and many fans flock to see the house at 368 38th Street in Astoria. It is a dead-end street, with limited parking. Be mindful of the neighbors and it’s good to pay attention to the street signs that show where you can and can’t park. I know it came out when my mother was young and we sat and watched it while traveling Oregon’s coast. It’s cool to see some of the spots from the movie.
4) Columbia River Maritime Museum www.crm.org
The Columbia River Maritime Museum and the Lightship Columbia is a unique museum where you can learn about maritime history on the Columbia River Bar known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. While there, visit the last floating lighthouse called Columbia and learn more about the maritime and the US Coast Guard. The point where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean can have some intense waves and violent winter weather for sea vessels.
The museum goes into some detail about past shipwrecks and Coast Guard history. Notably, the Columbia River gets many freighters that“park” on the river, but they must have a Pilot Boat direct them to the docks. This is a higher level than a pure tug boat since the Columbia Bar can be difficult to navigate. Even if you’re not a “museum person” this was quite interesting and rather new facilities with a shop, etc. and it looks like it will be expanding in 2026.
5) Lewis and Clark National Historical Park www.nps.com
This was a great moment in history. At this national park, you can see a replica of the stockade and trails that the “Corps of Discovery”, i.e. Lewis & Clark expedition spent a winter before heading back east. It’s a great place to spend at least an hour or more seeing the fort, walking some trails, etc. It was pretty walkable for those who have mobility issues. We enjoyed seeing this national park before heading to see more heading on Route 101 in coastal Oregon. Depending on your time, they also have a place where you can launch a canoe or kayak. The standard pass is $10, while if you hold an American the Beautiful Annual Pass it is free.
6) The Peter Iredale Shipwreck in Fort Stevens State Park, Warrenton, OR
At DeLaura Beach, the famous shipwreck Peter Iredale is still on the beach and appears to glow in the sun. Many come here to click a pic of the skeleton of the ship. Remember though that the beach sand can be very soft. There may be some 4x4s around driving on the beach, but driving with a car is not advisable since the sand can be an issue. This beach is between Seaside and Astoria, so it’s a short drive if you are in the area.
7) Seaside, OR, and Lewis & Clark Monument
Driving south down the Oregon Coastal Highway you come next to Seaside, Oregon about 18 miles from Astoria. It’s a cute town with beaches, surf shops, bookstores, coffee shops and beaches. Many of the teens enjoy it. We stopped by and had a latte at Seaside Coffee Roasters www.seaside-coffee.edan.io they were open from 6-7 am to 2 pm. They offer great coffee and teas and have breakfast items. The walls were decorated with artwork and had a cozy feel and friendly staff.
We then crossed the street to look at Beach Books, which had a good selection of books, including some signed by the authors that you can buy. Last, we stopped at the “Turnaround” at the seaside to see the End of The Trail Lewis and Clark Statue. This monument is designated as the official turning point of Lewis & Clark’s journey before returning to the east coast. You may also want to enjoy the 1.5-mile promenade near the statue to enjoy the waterfront.
8) Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach is a resort-type small seaside town where you can see the great Haystack Rock, and enjoy one of the great beaches with tidal pools. Some wonderful volunteers help you understand the wonderful tidal pools near Haystack Rock. The town has great restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and phenomenal local parks. There were some great sights to see, so read my complete blog post on Cannon Beach here. My blog has recommendations on the beachfront Surfsand Resort, Wayfarer Restaurant, and more.
9) Ecola State Park
Ecola State Park is an awesome place to see more of the beaches and the wonderful tree-covered forest plus the wonderful rugged waterfront. Some famous movies were also filmed here. See my Cannon Beach blog to learn more.
10) Hug Point
Hug Point is a public beach with a beach, cliff caves, and a waterfall. And, it offers free parking. From the parking area,you can walk down onto the beach and over to the cliff. Visitors will “hug” the cliff depending on the tide to walk around to the other side. We visited while there was a bit of rain, so we didn’t sit on the beach, but I walked around the cliff head and went to explore the nearby waterfall.
11) Oswald West State Park on Arch Cape
If you like hikes, then you may enjoy Oswald West State Park. It has 13 miles of coastline and miles of hiking trails in its 2,484-acre park. Over 1.5 million visitors each year and it is one of the most popular state parks, only 15 minutes from Cannon Beach.
12) Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad – Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi
The towns of Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi had a different feel, Rockaway is much more about the beach location, while Garibaldi is more involved with its marine and coastal fishing, etc. The interesting part is if you stop at either town, you can take the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad www.oregoncoastscenic.org. You can stop and stay in the town or return on the same train. The normal 90-minute trip is a reasonable price of approximately $30. What a unique way to experience the trains that service the Tillamook coastline back in the railroad’s heyday.
13) Shifting Tides – Seaweed and Shellfish Foraging Tour
If you want to try a truly unique tour, and love learning new things and healthy options for eating, this tour/class is for you. Alanna Kieffer the owner and guide is a Marine Science and Sustainable Seafood Educator. She will take you on a journey to understand tides, the types of seaweed or shellfish you may be able to forage, and ways to cook it. My tour was on the Garibaldi coast (you may even see the scenic railroad run by). The tour went in the morning when the tide was low so we could get in the tidal pools. Maybe bring some waterproof boots, if you have them. I learned quite a bit and truly enjoyed this experience and meeting more local folks along the way. www.getyourguide.com
14) Tillamook Creamery www.tillamook.com
For you cheese and ice cream lovers heading down the Oregon coast, you may want to stop in Tillamook and see their famous Creamery. There is a free self-guided tour, samples of the cheese, a restaurant, and a gift shop. The cheese and ice cream are so good. After leaving the creamery, we stopped across the street for a cup of coffee at Five Rivers Coffee Roasters www.fiveriverscoffee.com It was a well-appointed cafe, you could see the roasting area and the staff was so nice. They also serve food if you are hungry.
A unique accommodation on Oregon’s Coast near the Tillamook Creamery area is the Sheltered Nook www.booking.com. The Sheltered Nook is a wonderful tiny home community where you can stay in one of six 385 sf uniquely-themed tiny homes off Tillamook Bay. Each house is very nice with a living area, well-equipped kitchen, showers, TV with access to Netflix, etc. My tiny home had a vaulted ceiling, a separate bedroom, a loft sleeping area, and a large cozy couch. Outside each unit had a porch, a nice garden, a seating area, and a place to barbecue. It was a relaxing environment and Mark the host was very nice.
Not far from Tillamook Creamery and Tillamook you can find Munson Creek Falls for a short walk and scenic drive amongst old growth forests.
15) Cape Meares Lighthouse
Just 10 miles south of Tillamook Bay is the Cape Meares Lighthouse in the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint. This state park had wonderful views of the steep coastal cliffs. Walking down towards the lighthouse you walk along a great path with Sitka spruce trees lining the way. It was so great to walk down to the lighthouse on this path. You can also see an octopus-shaped spruce tree in the park. I understand bird watchers and whale lovers love this spot depending on the season.
While Cape Meares is the shortest lighthouse and inactive, the lighthouse features a kerosene-powered lens and dates back to January 1, 1890. It must have been impressive to see the lighthouse’s Fresnel red and white lens lit back in the day. The park is open from 7 am to dusk and there is no day-use fee for this state park.
16) Oceanside, Oregon and Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Oceanside is right on the ocean located where Rt 131 ends from a connection off the coastal highway. The town has steepcliffs with the houses all facing out to the Pacific Ocean. When you arrive at the beach there are some coffee shops, etc. but you walk along the beach toward the cliff and there is an old tunnel that you can walk through, which goes to the other side of the cliff to see the rocks.
17) Pacific City and Cape Kiwanda
It was wonderful visiting the Cape of Kiwanda and Pacific City for a relaxing time, seeing Kiwanda Haystack Rock, the Great Dune (the nearby 240ft sand dune), and having some great food. We stayed at the boutique Inn at Cape Kiwanda www.innatcapekiwanda.com across from the beach with all rooms having a balcony overlooking the ocean, beach, dune, etc. Another awesome part of the stay was my beach horseback ride with Green Acres Beach & Trail Rides www.beach-rides.com.
After checking in, we ate at Pelican Brewing www.pelicanbrewing.com. It’s across from the hotel and located on the beach with a great view of the haystack rock, the great dune, and the ocean, as well as the wonderful sunset.PelicanBrewing had both wonderful inside and outside dining and it made it a very memorable sunset. The next morning I picked up a wonderful latte at Stimulus Coffee and Bakery www.stimuluscoffee.com to see the sunrise (it is in the same building as the inn). Later we ate a tasty breakfast at the Grateful Bread Bakery www.gratefulbreadbakery.com Makesure you go early on the weekend. It’s a foodie favorite and they have a large fan base for their loaves of bread and scones (everything).
Before leaving town, you may want to grab some candy from Pacific Coast Candy www.pacificcoastcandy.com Butbefore we left town we had another latte from nearby Cold Water & Coffee www.coldwater-coffee.com located in the Village Shops of Pacific City.
18) Depoe Bay, Oregon
If you want to see a unique little seaside town, then stop at the wonderful Depoe Bay! It’s Oregon’s “capital of whale watching”, and home to the World’s Smallest Harbor. The #1 thing to do in town is to go on a whale-watching excursion, but fishing is another popular activity. We loved going on our whale watch trip with Tradewinds Charter. Getting a view of the coast from the boat on a bright sunny day was amazing. To learn more about Depoe Bay and this cute seaside town, see my blog post on the world’s smallest harbor and things to do in Depoe Bay.
19) Otter Rock – The Devil’s Punch Bowl State Natural Area www.stateparks.oregon.gov
Otter Rock is a tiny town and Devil’s Punch Bowl is a great natural blow hole carved naturally into the cliff headland. Depending on the time you go and the tide, you may see the waves blow through the large natural hole. It is a day-use area, there are 2-3 small shops located there, and from part of the view we saw surfers at the nearby beach. Otter Rock is also popular for whale watching too. Notably, Otter Rock is between Depoe Bay and Newport, OR.
20) Yaquina Head Lighthouse – www.blm.gov
If you are a lighthouse fan, you may want to visit Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport, OR. We visited the park and lighthouse area, but the lighthouse was not open when we went. From the parking area though you can see the massive unique bridge. Notably, there is a charge to go visit the lighthouse, but it does honor the America the Beautiful Park Pass and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. We also went to the town of Newport and found a nice cafe called White Rabbit Espresso www.whiterabbitespresson.com It was a great way to end the day on the coast.
21) Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Siuslaw National Forest
If you are a fan of dunes, Oregon has the largest coast of dunes in the USA. Major dunes can be seen here in the National Forest in Reedsport, OR. Since we already saw the Great Dune at Cape Kiwanda, we didn’t go to the area although it is said to be impressive.
Enjoy the Oregon Coast
In the end, I didn’t want to leave! Exploring the Oregon Coast and the Oregon Coastal Highway was wonderful. From the rugged coastline to windswept trees and blowholes, we loved driving the Oregon Coastal Highway and its wonderful mix of seaside coastal towns, it’s a “must-see”. In Oregon, there are so many wonderful areas with free beaches, cute villages, and awesome food along the way. You can hike on beaches, in forests, along cliffs or on mountains. There is a great mixture of places to explore on Oregon’s magical coast for all you explorers. Enjoy the journey!
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June 29, 2024