The best places to visit on the Oregon Coast stretch across 362 miles of rugged shoreline, featuring dramatic rock formations, charming coastal towns, and pristine beaches. Cannon Beach, Newport, Lincoln City, and Bandon offer distinct experiences from iconic haystack rocks to world-class golf courses.
Keep reading as we explore the Oregon Coast's most captivating destinations that will transform your Pacific Northwest adventure into an unforgettable journey.
List of Contents
- 1. Cannon Beach: Where Giants Meet the Sea
- 2. Newport: Where Science Meets the Sea
- 3. Lincoln City: Glass Beach Treasures
- 4. Bandon: Golf and Rugged Beauty
- 5. Florence: Where Rivers Meet Dunes
- 6. Astoria: Where History Flows to Sea
- 7. Brookings: California Dreaming in Oregon
- 8. Yachats: The Gem of the Oregon Coast
- 9. Depoe Bay: Whale Watching Capital
- 10. Seaside: Classic Beach Town Charm
- 11. Manzanita: Seven Miles of Solitude
- 12. Tillamook: Dairy Country Meets the Coast
- Your Oregon Coast Adventure Awaits
1. Cannon Beach: Where Giants Meet the Sea
Haystack Rock rises 235 feet from the sand like a sleeping giant. This monolithic sentinel has watched over Cannon Beach for millions of years, creating tide pools that become miniature aquariums during low tide.
The town itself feels like a carefully curated art gallery. Local galleries line Hemlock Street, showcasing everything from driftwood sculptures to maritime paintings.
Early morning walks along the four-mile beach reveal a different world. The crowds vanish, leaving only you, the waves, and the occasional sandpiper darting between foam lines.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: June-September
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 80 miles west of Portland
- Entrance Fees: Free beach access, parking from $5
- Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
- Key Spots: Haystack Rock, Ecola State Park, downtown galleries
2. Newport: Where Science Meets the Sea
Newport balances working waterfront grit with tourist charm. The bayfront still smells of salt and diesel, where fishing boats unload their daily catch next to restaurants serving the same fish hours later.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium houses everything from playful sea otters to mesmerizing jellyfish. But the real magic happens at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, where gray whales pass so close you can hear their breathing.
Local tip: Visit Mo's Restaurant on the bayfront for clam chowder that locals have been arguing about for decades. Some love it, others think it's overrated—but everyone has an opinion.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: May-October
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 58 miles west of Corvallis
- Entrance Fees: Aquarium from $25, lighthouse from $5
- Suggested Stay: 2-4 days
- Key Spots: Oregon Coast Aquarium, Yaquina Head, Historic Bayfront
3. Lincoln City: Glass Beach Treasures
Lincoln City stretches across seven miles of sandy beach, but it's the glass floats that make people return. Local artists hide handmade glass spheres in the sand between October and May—a modern treasure hunt that turns every beach walk into an adventure.
The D River claims fame as the world's shortest river at just 120 feet. It connects Devil's Lake to the Pacific, creating a unique ecosystem where freshwater and saltwater species coexist.
Kite flying here isn't just recreation—it's religion. The steady Pacific winds and wide beaches create perfect conditions for everything from simple box kites to elaborate stunt models.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: June-September
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 90 miles southwest of Portland
- Entrance Fees: Free beach access, parking varies
- Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
- Key Spots: Glass float beaches, D River, Devil's Lake
4. Bandon: Golf and Rugged Beauty
Bandon sits where the Coquille River meets the Pacific, creating a landscape that golf course designers dream about. The wind here shapes both the dunes and the game—approach shots become chess moves against nature.
Beyond golf, Bandon's beach reveals sea stacks and rock formations that change character with each tide. Face Rock, shaped like a sleeping woman's profile, anchors the southern end of town beach.
The cranberry bogs east of town flood each fall, creating temporary lakes that reflect autumn skies. Local workers wade through knee-deep water, harvesting berries that will appear in holiday meals across America.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: May-October
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 85 miles south of Coos Bay
- Entrance Fees: Beach access free, golf courses from $200
- Suggested Stay: 3-5 days
- Key Spots: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Face Rock, cranberry bogs
5. Florence: Where Rivers Meet Dunes
Florence guards the entrance to Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, where 40 square miles of sand create an inland desert beside the sea. The contrast feels surreal—one moment you're in coastal forest, the next you're surrounded by Sahara-like dunes.
The Siuslaw River flows through town, creating a working waterfront where recreational boats share space with commercial fishing vessels. Old Town Florence maintains its maritime character with weathered buildings housing antique shops and cafes.
Heceta Head Lighthouse, just north of town, perches 205 feet above the waves. The lighthouse keeper's house now serves as a bed-and-breakfast, where guests fall asleep to foghorn calls and wake to whale spouts.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: June-September
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 61 miles west of Eugene
- Entrance Fees: Dunes access from $5, lighthouse tours from $5
- Suggested Stay: 2-4 days
- Key Spots: Oregon Dunes, Heceta Head Lighthouse, Old Town
6. Astoria: Where History Flows to Sea
Astoria occupies the exact spot where Lewis and Clark ended their journey to the Pacific. The Columbia River meets the ocean here in a collision of currents that has challenged sailors for centuries.
The Astoria Column rises 125 feet above town, wrapped in a spiral frieze depicting regional history. Climbing the 164 steps to the top reveals panoramas that stretch from the Columbia River Bar to the Coast Range.
Victorian homes cascade down hillsides like architectural waterfalls. Many were built by Finnish fishermen and Norwegian loggers who found this river mouth reminded them of home—if home had better salmon runs.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: May-September
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 96 miles northwest of Portland
- Entrance Fees: Column access from $1, most attractions under $15
- Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
- Key Spots: Astoria Column, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Flavel House
7. Brookings: California Dreaming in Oregon
Brookings enjoys a climate so mild that palm trees grow in people's yards. This microclimate, created by offshore currents and coastal mountains, produces some of Oregon's warmest weather and earliest wildflowers.
Chetco River cuts through old-growth forests before emptying into the Pacific. The water runs so clear you can spot salmon from bridges, and so clean that locals drink it straight from the source.
Gold Beach, just north of town, earned its name honestly—black sand beaches still yield tiny flakes to patient panners. The real treasure, though, might be the solitude these southern beaches provide.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: April-October
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 350 miles south of Portland
- Entrance Fees: Beach access free, state park day-use from $5
- Suggested Stay: 2-4 days
- Key Spots: Chetco River, Harris Beach State Park, Gold Beach
8. Yachats: The Gem of the Oregon Coast
Yachats calls itself “The Gem of the Oregon Coast,” and the rocky shoreline explains why. Tide pools here rival any natural aquarium, filled with sea anemones, hermit crabs, and starfish in impossible colors.
The Ya'Xaik Trail follows the shoreline for miles, connecting pocket beaches and viewpoints. Each winter, storm waves reshape the route, making every visit a slightly different journey.
Cape Perpetua looms just south of town—at 800 feet above sea level, it's the highest point on the Oregon Coast. On clear days, the view stretches 150 miles in each direction.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: May-October
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 138 miles southwest of Portland
- Entrance Fees: Trail access free, Cape Perpetua from $5
- Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
- Key Spots: Ya'Xaik Trail, Cape Perpetua, tide pools
9. Depoe Bay: Whale Watching Capital
Depoe Bay claims the world's smallest navigable harbor—its rocky entrance measures just 50 feet wide. Local boats squeeze through this gap daily, heading out to some of the coast's best whale watching waters.
Gray whales pass here twice yearly during their 12,000-mile migration. But resident whales stay year-round, making Depoe Bay one of the few places where whale watching happens 365 days a year.
The seawall along Highway 101 creates natural viewing bleachers. During winter storms, waves crash over the road, temporarily closing the highway and creating spectacular photography opportunities.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: March-May, September-November for whales
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 75 miles southwest of Portland
- Entrance Fees: Free whale watching from shore, boat tours from $40
- Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
- Key Spots: Whale watching center, harbor seawall, Rocky Creek Bridge
10. Seaside: Classic Beach Town Charm
Seaside built Oregon's first beach resort in the 1870s, and it still feels like a place designed for simple pleasures. The two-mile promenade runs parallel to the beach, lined with saltwater taffy shops and arcade games that haven't changed in decades.
The Turnaround marks the western end of the Lewis and Clark Trail. A simple monument commemorates the spot where the expedition first saw the Pacific—though they were probably too tired and hungry to fully appreciate the moment.
Haystack Rock's smaller cousin sits offshore here, creating tide pools and surf breaks that local kids have claimed as their private playground for generations.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: June-September
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 79 miles northwest of Portland
- Entrance Fees: Free beach access, parking from $2
- Suggested Stay: 1-3 days
- Key Spots: The Promenade, Turnaround, Seaside Aquarium
11. Manzanita: Seven Miles of Solitude
Manzanita stretches along seven miles of uninterrupted beach, where the main activities are walking, reading, and watching sunsets. The town itself occupies just a few blocks, creating a sense of intimacy rare along the coast.
Nehalem Bay cuts behind the beach, forming a protected waterway perfect for kayaking and crabbing. The bay's calm waters contrast sharply with the ocean's power, offering two completely different aquatic experiences within walking distance.
Local tip: The beach access at the end of Laneda Avenue leads to the widest section of sand, where you can walk for miles without seeing another footprint.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: June-September
- How to Get There: Highway 101, 85 miles west of Portland
- Entrance Fees: Free beach and bay access
- Suggested Stay: 2-4 days
- Key Spots: Seven-mile beach, Nehalem Bay, downtown village
12. Tillamook: Dairy Country Meets the Coast
Tillamook sits inland from the immediate coast, but its influence on Oregon's coastal culture runs deep. The dairy farms here produce cheese that appears on menus throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The Tillamook Creamery offers behind-the-scenes looks at cheese production, but the real attraction might be the ice cream counter—local flavors like marionberry and Oregon strawberry taste like liquid summer.
Three Capes Scenic Loop connects Tillamook to the coast through some of Oregon's most dramatic scenery. The 40-mile drive includes Cape Lookout, where a moderate hike leads to views that stretch from Lincoln City to Manzanita.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: May-October
- How to Get There: Highway 6 west from Portland, then Highway 101
- Entrance Fees: Creamery tours free, state park day-use from $5
- Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
- Key Spots: Tillamook Creamery, Three Capes Loop, Cape Lookout
Your Oregon Coast Adventure Awaits
The best places to visit on the Oregon Coast offer more than scenic beauty—they provide moments that reset your internal compass. Whether you're searching for glass floats in Lincoln City sand or watching whales breach off Depoe Bay, each destination creates memories that pull you back long after you've returned home.
Pack layers for unpredictable weather. Bring a camera for sunsets that paint the sky in impossible colors. Most importantly, leave room in your schedule for spontaneous discoveries.
The Oregon Coast doesn't just offer places to visit—it offers chances to remember what wonder feels like.
