This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for more information.
The Pacific coast of the U.S. is home to some of the most beautiful towns and cities in the country, from San Francisco to Seattle. And Oregon’s coastline has plenty to offer! There are so many coastal towns that it can be tough picking just one for your next trip. Each town offers something different – from surfing spots to whale watching excursions – but no matter which you choose, you’re sure to have a great time! Here are the best coastal towns in Oregon!
HI THERE! DON’T FORGET TO PIN THIS FOR LATER!
What is the best beach town in Oregon?
Our favorite beach town in Oregon is Depoe Bay. Located between Lincoln City and Newport, Depoe Bay is best known for whale watching tours. It’s a great tourist town with plenty to do!
Now, from north to south along the Pacific Ocean, here are the best coastal towns in Oregon for your next road trip (get ready for all the outdoor activities)!
Seaside
Seaside has several attractions that families will love.
The Seaside Aquarium is a must see attraction. This aquarium features many different marine animals native to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, as well as sea creatures from around the world. There are plenty of fascinating exhibits. As far as aquariums go, admission is fairly affordable.
Seaside Beach, as with most beaches along the Oregon Coast, is long, wide, and has soft sand. Enjoy the view!
The Lewis and Clark Salt Cairn Historic Monument commemorates where men on the Lewis & Clark expedition built a salt cairn to extract salt from ocean water. This bit of American history is preserved in the coastal town of Seaside, Oregon.
Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach is a small coastal community, best known for iconic Haystack Rock, one of the most popular sea stacks in the United States. The best way to explore this area is by just walking along the beach. The best time of year to visit is in the fall or winter when there aren’t as many people around (and it’s also less rainy!).
Just north of Cannon Beach is Ecola State Park, which occupies 9 miles of coastline. It’s one of the best places on the Oregon coast to see all sorts of natural wonders and scenic views.
There are so many amazing state parks in Oregon, but Ecola State Park ranks pretty high. From forests, to grassy bluffs, to sandy beaches, to tide pools, this state park just about has it all.
From Ecola, the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse can be seen offshore. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1957 and is now privately owned.
Rockaway Beach
When visiting Rockaway Beach, make sure to check out the following local sites:
- Manhattan Beach State Recreation Site
- Rockaway Beach (like, the actual beach!)
- Cedar Wetlands Preserve (an easy 1.2-mile lollipop loop hike is here)
Rockaway Beach isn’t far from Tillamook (say cheese!).
Cape Meares
Slightly northwest of Tillamook is Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge. From the parking lot, a quarter mile path leads down to the Cape Meares Lighthouse. It is literally downhill, so your return trip will be uphill. The cute lighthouse and the natural beauty are the payoff.
Also from the parking lot, a different short path will take you past the park bathrooms and further on to the “octopus tree.” This so-called octopus tree is a Sitka spruce with multiple upward reaching arms, which is how it got its name.
Nearer the park entrance, a different trailhead winds through an old-growth spruce forest to the tallest Sitka spruce tree in Oregon.
Again, inland from Cape Meares is the town of Tillamook. Possibly best known for the Tillamook Creamery, there’s a lot more to do than eat cheese and ice cream (even if that does sound pretty good)!
Pacific City
The main draw to Pacific City is Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.
Ever wanted to climb sand dunes? Cape Kiwanda is the place. Besides the giant sand dune and stunning stretch of coastline, Cape Kiwanda is great for flying kites and watching the hundreds of fishing vessels come and go.
Neskowin
Have you ever heard of a ghost forest? The term makes me think of something scary at Halloween. The ghost forest in Neskowin, however, is found in the ocean.
The Neskowin Ghost Forest is the petrified remains of an ancient Sitka spruce forest that peeks up out of the water at low tide.
Proposal Rock is a sea stack that is accessible only to the most adventurous. I’d recommend just viewing it from afar!
Lincoln City
Lincoln City is a larger town with lots of services available. It also offers some great outdoor recreation opportunities.
Regatta Park is a favorite spot. Built on a steep slope, the park features a fantastic playground that kids love! The playground overlooks Devil’s Lake (sorry, I didn’t name it!).
The lake has a small swimming area and provides the most fantastic backdrop for a picnic lunch and playground time. There are also some unique musical instruments that everyone can have fun with.
While there are a few picnic tables at Regatta Park, only a couple are shaded. Just beyond the two shaded picnic tables, you will find a 1/2-mile nature trail through old-growth forest, including a Sitka spruce tree over 200 feet tall.
The Connie Hansen Garden Conservancy is tucked away in town and is a nice place to take a stroll through a lovely garden. There is no admission charged, but donations are welcomed.
If you’re looking for a place to swim that doesn’t involve salt water and a wet suit, check out the Lincoln City Community Center. You can enjoy multiple pools and a waterslide for a nominal fee.
Another of the beautiful places in Lincoln City is the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge. There is a lovely 1/2-mile nature trail loop (Alder Island Nature Trail), as well as a non-motorized boat launch for easy access to kayak (or canoe or paddleboard) around the bay and tidal sloughs. The parking lot is teeny tiny, so make sure to arrive early.
Depoe Bay
Yes, it is spelled correctly. Depoe Bay is one of the best coastal towns in Oregon. If you’re going to be exploring the best Oregon Coast towns, but you want to bunk in one place, I recommend staying in Depoe Bay.
Depoe Bay’s location is not exactly halfway from north to south, but it’s a great place to settle into the coastal vibe. It’s a small town with larger towns near-ish by (Lincoln City to the north & Newport to the south) in case you need more services (larger grocery stores, etc.).
Depoe Bay’s cute downtown area has multiple attractions (plus ice cream, caramel corn, and salt water taffy!). The Depoe Bay Bridge (which is an attraction itself) separates two places you’ll want to visit.
On the east side of the bridge, you’ll find the “world’s smallest harbor.” From this harbor, you can set out on a whale watching tour. From the bridge, you can also see fishmongers cleaning fish and crabs.
The Depoe Bay Bridge has a pedestrian underpass to get from the harbor side to the ocean side and back. If you take the underpass (or cross the street above), you’ll come to the OPRD Whale Watching Center. The center is full of information about marine life, but even if the center is closed, you can still enjoy the outdoor viewing deck. It’s actually a great place for spotting whales without having to pay for a boat tour. Hopefully, you’ll spot a whale or two!
Just north of Depoe Bay proper are the Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area, Fogarty Creek Beach, and Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint. You will find picnic areas; a spruce, hemlock, pine, and alder forest; a creek flowing into the Pacific Ocean; and tidepools.
Park at the Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint, and take the short path to the viewing deck of the Whale Cove Habitat Refuge.
Otter Rock
Sitting between Depoe Bay and Newport, Oregon, is an unincorporated area called Otter Rock.
The Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint is a little different than some of the other scenic viewpoints in the area. This one has a Lookout Observatory and Gift Shop. The view from Otter Crest is from a slightly higher altitude, as well, but is still a great spot for whale watching.
A little further south down the coast brings you to Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area. You will find a beach with tide pools and various trails. The focal point, however, is Devil’s Punchbowl Arch, a unique rock formation seen just below the parking area.
Newport
Newport is home to several great spots, including Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Nye Beach, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and more! Visitors can even take whale watching tours to see gray whales migrating into Oregon.
Beginning on the northern end of Newport, start your visit at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. You may want to set aside a bit of time to spend here, as the area is large, and there is a lot to do and see.
Some of the major attractions are: Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Colony Rock, Salal Hill, Yaquina Head Marine Garden, and Quarry Cove.
Let the kids run off some steam at the Coast Park playground, which features a pirate ship and super long tube slide.
Further south (and not to be confused with Yaquina Head), you will find Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site. Here, too, is a lighthouse, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, as well as many other recreational opportunities.
Cross the Yaquina Bay Bridge, a steel arch bridge dating from the 1930s, to the south. The Oregon Coast Aquarium, and Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center, provide opportunities to learn more about marine life.
Stop for lunch or dinner at South Beach Fish Market. All kinds of seafood is available, but the fish & chips has a higher fish to batter ratio than I’ve ever seen. They do not short you on the fish!
Newport is definitely a bigger city than many of the other coastal towns, but it also provides lots of services that might come in handy, like larger grocery stores.
Cape Perpetua
Cape Perpetua is not a town, in and of itself. It does house several fantastic natural formations, though, that make it worth checking out. Check out the names of these places:
- Devil’s Churn (an area of the ocean with crashing waves and churning action)
- Thor’s Well (low rock formation in the ocean that looks like the water just drains away)
- Spouting Horn (rock formation that spouts water into the air)
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Officially in the town of Reedsport, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area has an unbelievable 40 miles of wind-swept sand dunes. It’s not exactly right on the coast, but it is located on the Umpqua River, just a little inland.
Best Coastal Towns in Oregon
Oregon is known for its breathtaking beaches and rich culture. The state offers a variety of landscapes to explore, from the coastlines to the mountains. With over 300 miles of coastline, it’s no surprise that there are many coastal towns in Oregon to visit!
Take a road trip from north to south, or south to north, and cover the entire distance. Or, pick a spot in the middle as your home base (such as our favorite, Depoe Bay), and go for the day trip option to various places beyond. No matter what you choose, there’s plenty to see and do on the Oregon coast!
ENJOYED THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER!
What’s your favorite coastal town in Oregon? Please share in the comments below!
STARTS WITH
A GREAT BUDGET!
ALL GREAT SEMI-BUDGET TRAVEL
It's easy! I will show you how with a FREE trip planning tool.
