17 Best Oregon Coast Towns to Visit (and What to Do in Each)

Ask ten Oregonians what makes a great Oregon coast town and you’ll get ten different answers. Lighthouses. Sea stacks. Tide pools. A steaming bowl of chowder after a cold beach walk.

Honestly? It’s all of the above! From the Victorian hills of Astoria to the redwoods outside Brookings, every town along Highway 101 has its own personality.

I grew up going to these towns, and I’ve road tripped the coast more times than I can count. So here are our 17 favorite Oregon coast towns, north to south, plus the best things to do in each and where to stay.

Map of the Best Oregon Coast Towns

The Oregon coast is about 363 miles long, and every inch of beach is public. These towns are spread from the Columbia River all the way down to the California border, so use the map to plan your route.

1. Astoria

Astoria sits right where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, and it’s the oldest city in Oregon. Think colorful Victorian houses stacked on steep hills, giant cargo ships gliding past, and yep, the house from The Goonies.

It’s got more history than any other town on the coast, plus old forts, a famous shipwreck, and waterfalls just outside town.

Best things to do in Astoria:

• Climb the Astoria Column: 164 spiral steps to the top, with views of the river, the ocean, and the Astoria-Megler Bridge.
• Walk the Riverwalk: A flat, paved path along the Columbia through downtown. Watch for sea lions and passing ships.
• Grab coffee at Coffee Girl: It’s tucked inside an old cannery at the end of Pier 39, with river views from the window seats.
• Explore Fort Stevens State Park: About 20 minutes west. Wander the old military fort, bike the trails, and see the rusty wreck of the Peter Iredale on the beach. State park permit required.
• Chase Youngs River Falls: A short walk to a pretty waterfall, about 20 minutes from town.
• Hop across the bridge: Cape Disappointment in Washington has two lighthouses and great forest trails.

2. Seaside

Seaside is Oregon’s classic beach town: wide sand, a 1.5-mile oceanfront promenade, arcades, and saltwater taffy. It’s a little touristy, and honestly, that’s part of the fun.

Step off the main drag, though, and you’ll find quiet rivers to paddle and some of the best hikes on the north coast.

Best things to do in Seaside:

• Walk the Prom: The paved oceanfront promenade runs 1.5 miles past beach cottages, with sand access the whole way.
• Paddle the Necanicum River: The river runs right through town. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and float to the estuary.
• Hike Tillamook Head: This forested trail between Seaside and Cannon Beach has views of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse sitting offshore.
• Tackle Saddle Mountain: About 30 minutes inland. It’s a steep 2.7 miles each way, but on a clear day you can see from the ocean to the Cascades.
• Drive onto the sand: Just north in Gearhart, Del Rey Beach is one of the few spots where you can drive right onto the beach. 4WD helps, and no overnight camping.

3. Cannon Beach

If you only visit one Oregon coast town, it’ll probably be Cannon Beach. Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack, rises straight out of the surf, and the town is all art galleries, coffee shops, and cedar-shingled cottages.

It’s busy in summer, but it’s busy for a reason.

Best things to do in Cannon Beach:

• Tide pool at Haystack Rock: Go at low tide to see sea stars and anemones around the base. In spring and summer, look for tufted puffins nesting on the rock!
• Explore Ecola State Park: Cliffside viewpoints, Indian Beach (a favorite with surfers), and forest trails. State park permit required.
• Visit Hug Point: A waterfall pours right onto the sand, next to sea caves and an old stagecoach road carved into the cliff. Go on a falling tide.
• Hike Neahkahnie Mountain: About 20 minutes south. It’s around 3 miles round trip from the south trailhead, with huge views down the coast.
• Wander downtown: Galleries, bakeries, and a few good spots for chowder.

4. Manzanita

Manzanita is the quieter, cozier cousin of Cannon Beach. There’s a long, wide beach, a walkable little main street, and way fewer crowds.

It’s also tucked between two of the best parks on the north coast, so you get small-town calm with big adventure on both sides.

Best things to do in Manzanita:

• Stroll Laneda Avenue: The main street is full of local shops, cafes, and a great bookstore vibe.
• Hit the Friday farmers market: Friday evenings from mid-May through September, with local farms, food, and live music.
• Explore Nehalem Bay State Park: Walk the sand spit, kayak the calm bay, or camp. State park permit required.
• Surf or chill at Short Sand Beach: A short walk through old-growth forest drops you into a protected cove in Oswald West State Park. State park permit required.
• Hike the Cape Falcon Trail: Under 5 miles round trip through mossy forest to a viewpoint at the tip of the cape.

5. Tillamook

Yes, it’s the cheese town. But Tillamook is also your jumping-off point for the Three Capes Scenic Route, a huge state forest, and some of the prettiest headlands on the coast.

Best things to do in Tillamook:

• Visit the Tillamook Creamery: Watch the cheese get made, try some samples, and don’t leave without an ice cream cone.
• Drive the Three Capes Scenic Route: This roughly 40-mile loop links Cape Meares, Cape Lookout, and Cape Kiwanda, with beaches and viewpoints the whole way.
• See Cape Meares: Home to Oregon’s shortest lighthouse and the Octopus Tree, a giant Sitka spruce with candelabra-like branches. State park permit required.
• Hike to the tip of Cape Lookout: About 5 miles round trip through the forest to a cliff that juts way out to sea. Great whale watching spot. State park permit required.
• Hike in Tillamook State Forest: Rivers, waterfalls, and miles of trails just inland.

6. Pacific City

Pacific City has one of the best beach setups on the coast: a giant sand dune to climb, its own Haystack Rock offshore, and dory boats launching right off the sand.

It’s laid-back, surfy, and a local favorite for weekend trips.

Best things to do in Pacific City:

• Climb the dune at Cape Kiwanda: It’s a sweaty slog up, but the views are worth it. Stay behind the fences. The sandstone cliffs have sheer drops. The main lot needs a Tillamook County day-use pass.
• Go surfing: The cape blocks a lot of the wind, so it’s one of the better surf spots in Oregon.
• Paddle the Nestucca River: Rent a kayak or paddleboard in town and float the calm river behind the dunes.
• Grab a beer on the beach: Pelican Brewing sits right on the sand, facing Haystack Rock.
• Drive on the beach: A couple of stretches north and south of town allow street-legal cars on the sand. Follow the signs, and 4WD is a must.

7. Neskowin

Tiny, quiet, and a little spooky in the best way. Neskowin is where you go when you want the beach without the crowds.

There’s not much in town beyond a store, a golf course, and some beach houses. And that’s exactly the appeal.

Best things to do in Neskowin:

• See the Ghost Forest: Hundreds of ancient Sitka spruce stumps poke out of the sand, likely left behind by a massive earthquake centuries ago. They show best at low tide in winter, when the sand washes away.
• Explore Proposal Rock: This forested sea stack sits right off the beach. Walk around it at low tide.
• Visit Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Short trails with bay and ocean views, plus lots of birds.
• Stay for sunset: With the rock and the stumps in the foreground, it’s one of the moodiest sunsets on the coast.

8. Lincoln City

Lincoln City is basically seven miles of beach with a town attached. It’s an easy drive from Portland and Salem, which makes it a classic day trip from Portland or weekend getaway.

Beach bum or adrenaline junkie? You can be both here.

Best things to do in Lincoln City:

• Hunt for glass floats: Through the Finders Keepers program, volunteers hide 3,000+ hand-blown glass floats on the beach year-round. Find one, keep it (one per household).
• Ride a fat bike on the beach: Safari Town Surf Shop rents fat tire bikes. Stick to the hard-packed sand near the water.
• Hike God’s Thumb: About 4 miles round trip to a grassy ridge with jaw-dropping views of the coast.
• Paddle Devils Lake: A calm lake right in town for kayaking and paddleboarding.
• Watch the sunset at Siletz Bay: The south end of town has driftwood, sea stacks, and resident harbor seals.

9. Depoe Bay

Depoe Bay has what it calls the world’s smallest navigable harbor, and it’s known as the whale watching capital of the Oregon coast.

A group of gray whales hangs around here from spring through fall, so your odds of spotting a spout are really good.

Best things to do in Depoe Bay:

• Go whale watching: Watch from the seawall downtown, or hop on a boat tour from the harbor.
• See the spouting horns: When the swell is up, waves blast through holes in the rocks along the seawall.
• Head to Otter Crest: This viewpoint sits about 500 feet above the sea on Cape Foulweather, just south of town.
• Tide pool at Fogarty Creek: A sheltered cove with a creek, footbridges, and tide pools. State park permit required.
• Spend a day at Beverly Beach: Good surf, a big campground, and a long sandy beach. State park permit required.

10. Newport

Newport is the biggest town on the central coast, with a working bayfront full of fishing boats, barking sea lions, and not one but two lighthouses.

It’s a great base for families, with the aquarium, tide pools, and tons of seafood spots.

Best things to do in Newport:

• Visit Yaquina Head: Oregon’s tallest lighthouse sits on a basalt headland with tide pools below at Cobble Beach. There’s a BLM entrance fee (the America the Beautiful pass works). More in our Newport lighthouses guide.
• Hang out on the Bayfront: Watch the sea lions lounging on the docks, then grab fish and chips.
• Go crabbing: Newport calls itself the Dungeness crab capital of the world. Toss a pot off the public pier.
• See the Oregon Coast Aquarium: Right across the Yaquina Bay Bridge, with walk-through shark tunnels.
• Check out Devils Punchbowl: About 15 minutes north, a collapsed sea cave that churns like a cauldron at high tide. State park permit required.

11. Yachats

Yachats (say YAH-hots) is a tiny village between Newport and Florence, and it punches way above its weight.

You’ve got rocky shoreline right in town, a few great places to eat, and some of the most dramatic coastline in Oregon just down the road.

Best things to do in Yachats:

• Explore Cape Perpetua: Drive up to the highest viewpoint you can reach by car on the Oregon coast, then hike, tide pool, or watch for whales. You’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass, an America the Beautiful pass, or a day pass.
• Watch Thor’s Well: This hole in the rocks seems to drain the ocean. Go about an hour before high tide, and watch from a safe distance. Sneaker waves are no joke here.
• Walk the 804 Trail: An easy oceanfront path from town north to a long sandy beach.
• Visit the Little Log Church: A cute historic chapel turned small museum.
• Sip cider: WildCraft Cider Works pours wild-fermented ciders right in town.

12. Florence

Florence sits where the Siuslaw River meets the sea, right at the north end of the Oregon Dunes. Old Town is charming, and the adventure options are wild.

Best things to do in Florence:

• Take a dune buggy tour: Sandland Adventures runs fast sandrail rides and slower giant buggy tours through the dunes.
• Paddle the Siltcoos River: A calm canoe trail winds through forest and dunes all the way to the beach.
• Visit Heceta Head: One of the most photographed lighthouses in Oregon, plus the Hobbit Trail down to a hidden beach. State park permit required.
• See the Sea Lion Caves: An elevator drops you into America’s largest sea cave, where Steller sea lions hang out (especially in winter).
• Hike to Kentucky Falls: About 4.4 miles round trip to three waterfalls deep in the Siuslaw National Forest. The drive in is long and winding, so check road conditions first.

13. Coos Bay

Coos Bay (and its twin, North Bend) is the biggest city on the Oregon coast. That makes it a handy home base for the south coast, with tons of places to stay and eat.

And just outside town, you’ve got some of the best state parks in Oregon.

Best things to do in Coos Bay:

• Drive the Cape Arago Highway: Three parks in a row: Sunset Bay, the clifftop gardens of Shore Acres, and Cape Arago, where you’ll hear the sea lions before you see them. State park permit required at Sunset Bay and Shore Acres.
• Play in the dunes: The Oregon Dunes stretch north from here. Hike them, sandboard them, or tear around on an OHV.
• Chase Golden and Silver Falls: About 24 miles inland, with two huge waterfalls on short trails. The last few miles are a narrow gravel road.
• Explore downtown: Walk the boardwalk, peek into the Egyptian Theatre, and grab treats at the Cranberry Sweets factory store.

14. Bandon

Bandon might have the most dramatic beach in Oregon. Huge sea stacks are scattered all over the sand, with names like Wizard’s Hat and Face Rock.

Add a cute Old Town on the harbor and it’s easy to see why people fall for this place.

Best things to do in Bandon:

• Walk Bandon Beach at low tide: Wander between the rock formations and peek into the tide pools.
• Stop at Face Rock Viewpoint: Legend says the rock is a princess frozen in stone, still staring at the sky. State park permit required.
• Explore Bullards Beach State Park: Miles of beach, bike trails, and the Coquille River Lighthouse. State park permit required.
• Wander Old Town: Grab seafood on the harbor and cranberry candy at the original Cranberry Sweets shop.
• Time it with the Cranberry Festival: Every September, Bandon celebrates its cranberry harvest with a parade, a market, and lots of cranberry treats.

15. Port Orford

Port Orford is one of the most underrated towns on the coast. It’s small, artsy, and surrounded by mountains that drop right into the sea.

Fun fact: there’s no sheltered harbor here, so fishing boats get lifted in and out of the water by crane.

Best things to do in Port Orford:

• Explore Cape Blanco: The westernmost point in Oregon, with a historic lighthouse and windswept trails. State park permit required.
• Hike Humbug Mountain: A forested climb to the top of one of the tallest mountains rising straight from the Oregon coast.
• Walk Battle Rock Beach: Right in town, with a short trail over the rock and great whale watching.
• Visit Floras Lake: A lake just behind the beach that’s a favorite for kiteboarding and windsurfing.
• Find Sisters Rock: Sea stacks, a sea cave, and hardly anyone around.

16. Gold Beach

Gold Beach sits at the mouth of the Rogue River, one of the most famous rivers in the West. The weather’s a bit warmer down here, and the scenery gets even wilder.

Best things to do in Gold Beach:

• Jet boat the Rogue River: Jerry’s Rogue Jets runs trips from May through October, including the historic mail boat route upriver.
• Hunt for glass floats: Every April, the town hides hundreds of glass floats along the beaches and trails.
• Hike Cape Sebastian: Just south of town, with huge views from the top and a trail down to a quiet beach.
• Explore the Pistol River: Big sea stacks, dunes, and a river mouth that’s great for wandering.
• Drive Samuel H. Boardman: Just south, with natural bridges, Secret Beach, and some of the best views in Oregon.
• Go fishing: The Rogue is legendary for salmon and steelhead, and there are plenty of local guides.

17. Brookings

Last stop before California! Brookings is known as Oregon’s banana belt, with warmer and sunnier weather than most of the coast.

It’s far from Portland, so a lot of Oregonians have never been. Their loss.

Best things to do in Brookings:

• Explore Harris Beach State Park: Huge sea stacks, tide pools, and sunsets. State park permit required.
• Walk Chetco Point Park: A short, easy trail to an oceanfront point with picnic spots.
• See the redwoods in Oregon: Yep, Oregon has redwoods! A few short, easy trails just outside town wind through the giants.
• Beachcomb at Lone Ranch Beach: Driftwood, tide pools, and coastal trails.
• Pop into California: Crescent City is about 30 minutes south, and the Redwood National and State Parks are right past it.

Oregon Coast Parking Passes

Parking is free in most of these towns, but a lot of the parks around them charge. Here’s what you’ll run into:

• Oregon State Parks: Many coast parks need a day-use parking permit, including Ecola, Fort Stevens, Nehalem Bay, Oswald West, Cape Lookout, Devils Punchbowl, Beverly Beach, Heceta Head, Sunset Bay, Shore Acres, Bullards Beach, and Harris Beach. A one-day permit is $10 for Oregon residents and $12 for out-of-state visitors, and it’s good at every state park that day. Buy it at the park or online. Staying a while? The 12-month permit pays for itself fast.
• Forest Service sites: Cape Perpetua and many Oregon Dunes trailheads take a Northwest Forest Pass, an America the Beautiful pass, or a day pass.
• Yaquina Head: Run by the BLM, with its own entrance fee. The America the Beautiful pass works here.
• Cape Kiwanda: The main lot in Pacific City uses a Tillamook County day-use pass.

Tips for Visiting Oregon Coast Towns

• Give yourself more time than you think: Highway 101 is slow and curvy, and you’ll want to stop every 10 minutes.
• Pack layers: Even in summer, the coast can be foggy, windy, and chilly. Bring a real jacket.
• Respect the ocean: Never turn your back on the waves, stay off logs on the sand, and check the tides before exploring caves or headlands.
• Book summer stays early: Popular towns like Cannon Beach and Newport fill up fast on summer weekends.
• Don’t sleep on the off-season: Fall, winter, and spring mean fewer crowds, storm watching, and migrating whales.

Where to Stay on the Oregon Coast

Can’t pick just one town? Split your trip into north, central, and south, and grab a base in each.

Final Thoughts

You really can’t go wrong on the Oregon coast. Every town has its own thing, from Astoria’s history to Bandon’s sea stacks to the redwoods outside Brookings.

If you’re short on time, hit Cannon Beach, Newport, and Bandon. If you’ve got a week, drive the whole thing. Our Oregon Coast road trip guide has itineraries to make it easy.

We hope this helps you find your favorite Oregon coast town!

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