The Oregon Coast is one of the most beautiful places in the country. It is absolutely my all-time favorite road trip destination after being on the road fulltime for a year. This fact actually surprises a lot of people, but it is so unique and so accessible that it is by far my favorite coastal area. The key to enjoying the Oregon Coast is to take your time. For the full experience, plan on driving down (or up) the US 101 and enjoy the sights as your heart desires.
What I love about the Oregon Coast is that each area is so unique and breathtaking. Because of this I really do think you need to visit a few different areas, not only one, before calling it good. We started south in Florence and worked our way up to Astoria and then into Washington State. Next time I think we will start even further south and enjoy even more of the west coast.
I love that each city and region had its own set of unique natural wonders and fun things to do and see. So if you are planning a road trip to the Oregon Coast with your family here is our list of 25 things to do and see on the Oregon Coast. This list starts South and works its way North but you could easily reverse it.
25 Things to do on the Oregon Coast
Cape Arago Lighthouse
Cape Arago is a beautiful lighthouse on the southern coast of Oregon along the Cape Arago Highway. It is unique in the fact that you can’t walk up to it due to the fact that it is on an island just offshore. There are plenty of spots along the Cape Arago Beach Loop to get a great view and snap a photo though. Lighthouse Beach is one of the best viewpoints of the lighthouse and it is accessible with a short hike.
Though images of The Cape Arago Lighthouse are posted everywhere, the lighthouse itself remains a mystery to many. It is no longer in operation nor is it open to the public. And yet, it still has a commanding presence and simple beauty making it the star of photographs and journals from travelers from around the world! The lighthouse stands on Chief’s Island at Point Gregory but visitors are no longer allowed on the island and is now private property.
Oregon Sand Dunes National Recreation Area
Florence is famous for its massive and long stretching sand dunes. Here you will find miles and miles of dunes lining the beach. It’s a popular ATV and four-wheeling destination but it’s also great for families who want to try sandboarding or dune sledding.
Sea Lion Caves
Just down south of Heceta Head State Park is Sea Lion Caves where you can catch a glimpse of a bunch of Sea Lions in the world’s largest sea caves. An elevator takes you down to ocean level where you have a great viewpoint of the wildlife.
Heceta Head Beach and Lighthouse
We absolutely loved this fun little beach area with a short hike up to the lighthouse. The half-mile trail passes the lighthouse keepers house that is now a beautiful bed and breakfast. The views here are like nothing else. We spent a whole day here doing little hikes behind the lighthouse as well as playing on the beach and exploring the tide pools.
Haceta Head Aerial Video
Devils Churn
This was actually one of our all-time favorite spots. We headed here on a whim one evening when we just wanted to get out of the RV but ended up staying for hours. Devils Churn is an inlet on the Pacific Ocean in between two steep cliffs that when the high tide comes in the waves crash and put on a show!
There is a beautiful walkway down to the churn on one side and another path to a nice beach. The paths are well taken care of, have handrails, and are lined with vegetation and flowers. It’s a great spot for tide pooling or climbing on rocks or just admiring the sunset.
Thors Well
Again located near Devil’s Churn and Cape Perpetua is this natural wonder that amazes almost everyone who sees it. Thors Well is a sinkhole that seems to have endless water streaming through it. It’s best seen in high tide so make sure to check out the tide schedules if you want to see it in its full glory. It’s important to note that this can be a little dangerous, especially in high tide so please use caution.
Cape Perpetua
We would not have found this gem had we not spoken to some locals at one of the shops in Yachats. It’s just a little south of Devil’s Churn but follow the signs up the mountain a short distance to one of the most breathtaking lookouts on the coast. The trail isn’t bad, but the edges are really high and steep so make sure you have firm grasps on little hands. My palms were sweating quite a bit but it was worth it for the view. Follow signs for the rock shelter for a quarter mile roundtrip walk that will be 100 percent worth it. Stunning views in a beautiful little rock shelter built in 1933.
Oregon is the Magic Mural
If you are looking for a great Instagram shot then check this beauty. The Oregon is Magic mural is in the small coastal town of Yachats between 3rd and 4th streets on the east side of Highway 101. It’ll be a great place to stop for a quick photo opportunity for your family.
Waldport Bridge
We loved driving over this bridge and seeing the sea lions resting on the beach and admiring the views of the Newport area. All the bridges in Oregon are interesting and unique but this is one of our favorites.
Hatsfield Marine Science Center
This is a must for anyone visiting the area, especially if you have kids interested in Marine Science. It’s perfect for a quick afternoon trip or for a rainy day. Admission is free but they have a suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per family. Really you can give whatever you have or feel like. There are touch aquariums, hands-on activities that demonstrate Tsunami impacts, and other fun little Science experiments.
Newport Historic Bayfront and Marina
If you are going to Newport then you need to spend an afternoon wandering around the piers and shops on the water. My girls could have watched the resident sea lions fighting and splashing for hours. We loved perusing the local art shops and watching the fishing boats in action.
Devils Punchbowl
This is an interesting state park where you can watch the surfers in action, explore tide pools, and see cool rock formations. The Devils Punchbowl is famous for winter storms slamming into the hollow rock formations that make it look like a giant punch bowl and gives off an amazing show. It’s a beautiful location for a picnic and to do some exploring.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse and Tide Pools
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is another state park is brimming with beautiful things to see and do. There is a visitors center with educational opportunities and fish tanks, but the real show is at Cobble Beach which has some of the best tide pools we found in the whole state.
Here you can see sea urchins, starfish, fish, and anemones with plenty of rangers around to answer questions and keep you safe from sneaker waves. This is also a popular spot to see seals just offshore as well. Please note that Cobble Beach is only accessible by stairs.
Just up from Cobble Beach, you can take tours of the beautiful Yaquina Head Lighthouse. This lighthouse is among the oldest in the state.
Nye Beach
If you are looking for a good beach to take in some time relaxing with your family, this is a good spot. It’s easily accessible to haul stuff in and close proximity to shops and parking. Don’t forget to pack your kite!
Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site
Everyone loves a good waterfall and this one is no exception. Munson Creek Falls is located about twenty minutes south of Tillamook. It has a short hike to the falls (perfect to work off some of that cheese and ice cream from the Tillamook Creamery). The trail follows the creek and during the winter season, you can also see salmon. It’s the biggest waterfall on the coast trail and actually the only one on this list, so it’s worth a visit.
Tillamook Creamery
I really believe that no visit to the Oregon Coast can be complete without visiting the Tillamook Creamery. If you like cheese or ice cream than you need to plan to stop here. We all loved watching the process of how cheese is made, stored, aged, and packaged before it heads to the store. Of course, getting to sample many different types of cheese topped everybody’s list.
The Tillamook Creamery recently went under a massive renovation in 2018 so if you have been before you will want to come back. The facilities are beautiful and it’s really a great spot to spend a few hours and do some tasting and shopping.
Cape Meares Lighthouse
If you love lighthouses like we do and can’t get enough of them then a short fifteen-minute drive away from Tillamook you will find Cape Meares. This is a smaller, inactive lighthouse but there is a short accessible trail that you can walk on to the lighthouse and catch some beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a quick visit but we were glad we went.
*Just a little tip here. If you have extra time when heading north to Newport I would suggest ignoring the GPS and following the 101 instead of shaving 15 minutes by cutting inland. We had a lot of fun seeing the sites and caught up with the Oregon Coast Scenic train a few times much to the delight of my three-year-old son.
Hug Point State Recreation Point
This is a pet and people friendly beach with more scenic views of the beautiful coast. It has plenty of parking and restrooms and is a great spot to walk the beach. It is a beach with more rocks than sand, so water shoes or flipflops will do better than bare feet.
Cannon Beach
Do you need to stop in Cannon Beach? YES, you do. The small town has lots of beautiful shops and restaurants but this is by far one of the most beloved beaches in all of Oregon. It is famous for its beautiful views and of course, it’s seaside rock formations including the most notable Haystack Rock.
Ecola State Park
If you want a beautiful panoramic view of Cannon Beach, lush hiking trails and lighthouse views than this is a great place to come. You do need to purchase a day use pass for this park ($5). It is a famous archeological site known for finding treasures from the Tillamook people. It’s also a great place for viewing native tree species including Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, Red Alder, and many others. Lots of people come to see Tillamook Rock Lighthouse which can be seen at Ecola Point.
Seaside Beach
The town of Seaside is a unique destination. If you are looking for a beach town with the perfect summer vibe and carnival-like feel, then Seaside is perfect. The beach is best known for playing in the waves, flying kites and enjoying time with friends. It’s also widely known for it’s clamming and kids 12 and under can clam for free. Anyone older than that needs a license which is fairly easy to receive.
Fort Stevens State Park
One of my favorite spots in the area, we could have spent a whole day here (we almost did). Fort Stevens is a unique state park that has many different things to see. It’s famous for having the remains of the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale which was abandoned in 1906. I was surprised but it is not protected so kids can wander around and play on it. The beach itself is gorgeous and fun to spend time splashing and playing in. FYI the sandy walk to the beach is a special kind of hot, so make sure you have flip flops or beach shoes.
Fort Stevens State Park is also known for its views of the Columbia River mouth. There are many hiking trails along the river you can wander and find secluded areas on the coastal line with views of Astoria and Washington. We spotted four bald eagles and two elk nibbling on flowers, so it’s also great for finding wildlife.
Astoria and the Goonies Attractions
Thousands of Goonies fans flock to Astoria each year to retrace the steps from the cult movie. My husband has now done this twice. The town welcomes Goonies fans with open arms. You can stop by the Lower Columbia Bowl- bowling alley for a map of all the Goonies spots and sign the guestbook, head over to the Oregon Film Museum which is the old jail in the movie to see memorabilia, but please note you are no longer able or welcome to visit the Goonies house as it is a private residence. We’ve written a post about places from The Goonies that you can still see today. Check it out.
Lewis and Clark National Historic Park
Fort Clatsop is a great place to stop with your family for a history lesson with costume led tours of the fort and activities. The National Park is also a beautiful wildlife viewing spot and a great place to kayak and hike.
Astoria Bridge
By far our favorite bridge in Oregon is the Astoria Bridge. This bridge connects Astoria to Megler Washington and spans the wide Columbia River. It’s fun to drive across as you leave one state and enter another, but also the views of the Columbia, all the big ships and wildlife alone make this a must-see.
Bonus – A Few Places to Eat on the Oregon Coast:
There are some amazing locally owned and sourced restaurants all along the coast and each city has its own unique take on seafood favorites. They are all fresh and delicious so we always encourage to find the local favorites. That being said we also believe that no trip to the Oregon coast is not complete without trying these two restaurants that are chains (family-owned) but specific to the Oregon coastal front.
Pig ‘N Pancake
This restaurant became a favorite for my kids to spot on our drives through different cities. It’s a family restaurant with a wide variety of items on their menu. Our favorites were the coconut pancakes.
Mo’s Clam Chowder
Known for their delicious and creamy clam chowder, Mo’s is a favorite spot to enjoy seafood and scenery. We loved Mo’s on Cannon Beach with ocean views or the one in Florence on the river. Newport has a great location right on the historic bayfront.
If you’re looking to hit the Oregon Coast, make sure to check these spots out. Let us know where else you stop!
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