An Extraordinary Road Trip down the Beautiful Oregon Coast
Through misty forests and breathtaking coastal landscapes, a road trip on Oregon’s coastal highway is a truly magical experience
Hit the road on historic Highway 101 from the mouth of the Columbia River to California's northern border to experience historic landmarks, geological wonders, rocky beaches teeming with wildlife, ancient forests hidden beneath a morning fog, and an eclectic group of charming seaside towns that can only be found on an epic four-day journey along the Oregon Coast.
"Thanks to the landmark 1967 Beach Bill and a 1969 Oregon Supreme Court decision, the public’s right to access all the state's beaches is absolutely guaranteed. This means that every inch of Oregon's 363 miles of majestic shoreline is open for exploration."
If you're coming in from Portland, you'll want to take Highway 30 into Astoria to experience the gorgeous Columbia River views and picture-perfect scenery along the way. If you're tackling this adventure from the south, the Medford and Grants Pass route via Highway 199 takes you on a brief detour through Northern California's magnificent coastal redwood forests. For the sake of this guide, we'll start our tour of the Oregon Coast in the north.
Day 1: Encounter the Edge of the Old Frontier
Seaside marks the end of the Lewis & Clark Trail, where the intrepid explorers finished their epic expedition to find the western edge of the continent.
Check out of your Portland hotel and hit the road as early as possible—your first day on the coast is filled to the brim with adventure. Take Highway 30 north and follow the mighty Columbia River, which marks the borders of Oregon and Washington. After about a 90-minute drive, you’ll arrive in the picturesque port of Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River, which was the first American settlement west of the Rockies. Find your way to the west side of this historic town for a quick pit stop at Columbia River Coffee Roaster. Order up a tasty white hazelnut brew (or your favorite coffee flavor) and a fresh pastry beneath the green-metal span of the iconic Astoria-Megler Bridge.
While in town, check out the Maritime Museum, where you’ll learn about the dangers shippers faced a century ago (and continue to face) crossing the treacherous Columbia River mouth. Climb up to the famous Astoria Column for terrific views and take a ride on the “Old 300” Riverfront Trolley, commissioned in 1913. Continue on Highway 101 across Youngs Bay and stop by the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center in the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, with its replica wooden stockades, historic relics and forested hiking trails.
Spanning the mouth of the Columbia River, the Astoria–Megler Bridge is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America. It provided the final link in the U.S. highway system between Canada and Mexico at its completion in 1966.
Next, swing north to visit Fort Stevens State Park, home of the nation’s largest public campgrounds and the site of the only Civil War-era earthen fort on the West Coast. Head up to the Clatsop Spit and walk the Columbia River South Jetty to stand at the state’s northern-most point. Or, check if the Jetty Observation Tower is open (weather-permitting) and enjoy the views from up high. Then, take a walk on the western shore to snap a photo of the rusty skeleton of the Peter Iredale—the wreckage of a vessel that ran ashore way back in 1906.
Done exploring? Hop back onto the highway and drive about 20 minutes down to Seaside. Stop by either historic Sunset Beach or Del Rey Beach state recreation sites along the way—together making up one of the coast’s widest sandy stretches, perfect for beachcombing, building sandcastles or wading in the surf. All this time spent exploring the edge of the Old Frontier is sure work up an appetite. Dine on fresh seafood with ocean views just a stone’s throw of the End of the Lewis and Clark Trail historical landmark statue at Mo’s Seaside. Finally, stop by Tuckered Bear Ice Cream just a few steps away for a sweet snack before checking into your hotel.
Pro Tip: Visit Ecola State Park and take a short sunset hike along the Indian Beach Trail for some pretty-as-a-picture views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s just a short, 19-mile round trip from Seaside—perfect for an after-dinner stroll.
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Day 2: Discover Northern Coast Delights
Yaquina Head, one of Newport’s two iconic lighthouses (and the state’s tallest), welcomes travelers from the north to this seaside town at the heart of the Oregon Coast.
Wake up bright and early and hit the road with the windows down to enjoy the crisp coastal air. Get your fill on some of the biggest breakfast omelets on the coast at the adorable Lazy Susan Café in nearby Cannon Beach. Or, take Hemlock Street through town and order up an organic coffee and pastry to-go at the quaint Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters. After your morning nosh, head to the beach and take a pic of Haystack Rock, one of the most-photographed geological formations on the coast.
Hop back onto Highway 101 and take it slow on the next 40 miles—there are a dozen or so beautiful beaches and recreation sites to visit between Cannon Beach and Tillamook, your next stop. You’ll know you’re close when you trade rocky beaches for verdant swaths of dairy land. Make a reservation for a short but unforgettable tour of the legendary Tillamook Creamery. Try not to fill up on yummy cheese samples (or ice cream), because your next stop is for easily the freshest, tastiest burgers on the coast at the unassuming HWY 101 Burger shack in Lincoln City.
Experience the Pacific’s fury as waves churn and foam inside the naturally carved sandstone rock formation of the Devil’s Punchbowl at high tide.
Highway 101 winds its way back to the coastline and into the tiny town of Otter Rock. Stop and stretch your legs in the spectacular Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area. If you’re feeling adventurous, hike down to the dramatic rocky beach to see the area’s namesake collapsed sea cave—just be sure to visit during low tide. Discover an array of colorful sea life in the area’s many tide pools (look, but don’t touch!) and explore the rocky outcroppings that dot the sandy stretch of beach nearby.
From here, you’re only 10 minutes away from the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, which features an interpretive center, several hiking trails with gorgeous views, beaches strewn with agate and driftwood, and the iconic Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Take a ranger-led tour of the historic beacon before stopping for the evening in Newport. Check into your hotel, and then order up a heaping plate of fresh fish ‘n’ chips or tasty clam chowder served in bread bowls at the Chowder Bowl within walking distance of historic Nye Beach. It’s the perfect end to a perfect day on the Oregon Coast.
Pro Tip: Located smack in the middle of the Oregon Coast, the lovely town of Newport deserves an extra night’s stay. There’s plenty to do in and around town, including the Yaquina Bay Recreation Area with its historic lighthouse, the exceptional Oregon Coast Aquarium, rows of quaint little beach shops and plenty of perfect beaches to explore.
Day 3: Stop for Stunning Central Coast Sights
The coast’s largest city sits just outside “dune country,” where the landscape is marked by great swaths of sandy hills fettered by moody, misty coastline.
While there’s only about 100 miles separating you from Newport and your final stop of the day, this stretch of Highway 101 offers an incredible wealth of things to do and sights to see. Kick off your morning at the easygoing Café Stephanie. Try the warm, fluffy crepes with marionberries—you won’t be disappointed! Or, if you’d rather get a head-start on your day, take the highway down to Seal Rock and stop by the teeny-tiny Seal Rock Espresso & Bakery for a hot cup of joe and your favorite sweet morning treat to-go.
Stop by the Governor Patterson Memorial State Recreation Site in Waldport and take a walk down the wide sandy beach until you reach the Big Stump—the ancient remains of a redwood tree (the northern-most specimen known to science) that once towered over the coast here nearly 1,200 years ago! Next, drive through the town of Yachats (pronounced YAH-hots) and zig-zag your way through the coastal cliffsides at the southern edge of town until you reach Devil’s Churn. Snap a photo of the 80-foot-wide chasm carved into the volcanic rock by powerful waves from atop the scenic overlook.
Thor’s Well, also known as the Drainpipe of the Pacific, is a seemingly bottomless sinkhole that swallows the endless waves tumbling over the rocks.
Drive a minute south, or take a half-mile hike on the Captain Cook Trail from the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center, to witness one of the coast’s most remarkable natural wonders—Thor’s Well. It’s an awesome sight from afar and dangerous up-close, so be sure to heed the signs posted in the area and stay on the marked paths. Drive another 15 minutes down Highway 101 and stop by Haceta Head, a beautiful (and still working) 19th-century lighthouse. Next, discover one of rarest sights at the most distinctive wildlife preserves on the West Coast at the Sea Lion Caves. Take the elevator into awesome expanse of the country’s largest sea cave to experience the sights and sounds of the hundreds of sea lions that hang out here.
After about 45 minutes south on Highway 101, you’ll arrive in Reedsport, home of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. At over 31,000-acres, this otherworldly intersection of sand, forest and sea is one of the largest temperate coastal sand dunes in the world. Finally, you’re just a 35-minute drive from Coos Bay—the largest city on the coast and your final stop for the day. Wind down with a locally-sourced grilled cheese sandwich and a craft brew at 7 Devils Brewing Co before turning in for the evening—you’ve earned it!
Pro Tip: Still have energy for another little adventure? Drive down to Sunset Bay, Shore Acres and Cape Arago state parks for awesome hiking trails and arguably the best sunset views on the coast. This little side journey is about 28 miles round trip from Coos Bay.
Day 4: Explore the Southern Coast’s Misty Expanse
You could spend an entire day exploring the miles of trails, sandy beaches, gorgeous rock formations and lush, windswept woods in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.
These final miles on the Oregon Coast are some of the most beautiful. And, since you’ll find fewer popular tourist attractions along the way, the southern coast is famously less crowded. Start your morning in Bandon, just 30 minutes south of Coos Bay. Grab a coffee and freshly baked treat to-go from Bandon Coffee Cafe. Take your morning meal to the Bandon South Jetty Park and enjoy the views of the Coquille River Lighthouse across the water at Bullards Beach. Stop by Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint to witness the dozens of stunning sea stacks rising high out of the deep blue water.
On your way south toward Port Orford, take a detour up to Cape Blanco State Park, featuring the Cape Blanco Lighthouse and the westernmost point in Oregon. Once in Port Orford, you’ll have several stunning spots to explore, including Paradise Point, Agate Beach, Port Orford Heads State Parks, Graveyard Point and more. Take Highway 101 south for about 30 minutes until you reach the town of Gold Beach. Drive over the Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge and you’ve just crossed the mouth of the rugged Rogue River—famous for its salmon fishing and whitewater rafting.
Take a walk through the primeval forests along the Oregon Redwoods Trail, a wonderland thick with ferns and towering old growth trees shrouded in mist.
Continue south until you reach the northern edge of the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. This 12-mile stretch of coast offers a wealth of incredible sights accessible by quick turnoffs and short hikes. Catch a glimpse of Arch Rock, discover the Secret Beach, and witness the grandeur of the Natural Bridges on a short hike near Seal Point. Further south, you can explore the rocky beaches along the Indian Sands Trail, snap a pic of the iconic Whalehead Island from the scenic viewpoint, and experience the rugged beauty of House Rock and Cape Ferrelo. Stop for a late lunch or early dinner at Chetco Brewing Company in Brookings, the coast’s southernmost city. Then, drive just another 30 minutes toward the border of Oregon and California for a short afternoon hike along the Oregon Redwoods Trail. Standing within this ancient, northernmost grove of towering coastal redwoods is a breathtaking experience you won’t soon forget.
To end your Oregon Coast road trip, stop for a quick photo at the "Welcome to Oregon" sign, cross into California and then check into a Crescent City hotel just 20 miles south of the border. Or, hop onto Highway 199 and take this winding, forested stretch of road for about two hours until you reach hotels in the Medford area.
Pro Tip: You’ve made it this far, why not extend your coastal vacation with a road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway? Just book a hotel in Eureka, about two hours south of the Oregon border, to begin the next leg of your grand seaside adventure.
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