10 Can't Miss Stops on the Oregon Coast

Post Topic: Things to do on the Oregon Coast

There’s just something special and rugged about the Oregon coast. Along the coast you will find a mixture of steep rock cliffs, impressive rock formations, and sandy beaches with tide pools that are home to different types of sea life. Hop on the 101 and there’s so much to see!

As you drive up the coast of Oregon there’s something new to see every few miles. As a native of Texas, a state where you must drive hours and hours between cities and locations, the proximity of different sights was breath of fresh air.

The Oregon coast strongly resembles its southern neighbor, Big Sur. However, the Oregon coast is a lot less talked about than the famous California coast. And that may be to its advantage, the Oregon coast remains mostly untouched and rugged.

I took this Oregon coast road trip with my mom & sister. The Oregon coast was the perfect place for a girls trip. However, it would also be perfect for a romantic getaway or a family vacay! There’s really something for everyone.

Is your trip to the Oregon Coast a part of a larger trip? You may also like these articles:

Crater Lake: A Bucket List National Park

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Best Stops on Highway 1: California Road Trip Itinerary

When to Go

Anytime of year, really. If you’re wanting to go when the weather is ideal, then definitely go July-September. However, if you’re drawn to moody and foggy landscapes then winter would be a great time to experience the Oregon coast. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

What to Know Before You Go

Entrance Fees to Parks

Many of the parks on this list require entrance/parking fees. A few of them are maintained by the National Forest Service (so bring your National Park Inter-agency Annual Pass for free entry to those parks).

Other parks are maintained by the State of Oregon. These parks require a $5 day use fee but can be used at other state parks on that same date.

Foggy Weather

Every morning that we spent on the Oregon coast was extremely foggy. The fog cleared by about noon each day. These weather conditions are something to keep in mind when planning out your daily activities, especially if you intend to take pictures of different sights.

What to Pack

Here’s what I found most useful on my trip to Oregon:

Osprey Pack – I don’t travel anywhere without this pack and I definitely don’t hike without it.
Merrell Waterproof Hiking Boots – Trails in Oregon can be wet and rocky. Make sure you bring good hiking shoes. I’ve been wearing Merrell hiking boots for years now and love them!
Columbia Rain Jacket – Been wearing this jacket for years and it’s great! Expect rainy and foggy mornings in Oregon and come prepared with a reliable rain jacket.
Plant-Based Bug Spray – Don’t overlook bringing bug spray. I prefer this plant-based bug spray that smells more like lemons and less like deet.
Refillable Water Bottle – A must for day-hiking!
Sunscreen – I got burned more than once in Oregon. The sun is deceptively strong in the Northwest. This Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen is definitely a favorite of mine.
Nikon d3500 – The views on the Oregon Coast are incredible. Don’t forget your camera! I use the Nikon d3500 and love how it’s compact and easy to pack and takes great pictures.

10 Can’t Miss Stops

This Oregon coast road trip starts in Florence, Oregon and heads north to Astoria, Oregon. Although this itinerary only covers the northern half of the Oregon Coast, there is still SO much to see. You can do these stops south to north like we did or flip it and do north to south. Up to you!

Map of Oregon Coast Stops

Make sure you catch these 10 can’t miss stops on the Oregon coast:

#1 – Heceta Head Lighthouse

The first stop on this road trip is the Haceta Head Lighthouse and we started things off strong! The views of this lighthouse from the highway are some of the most picturesque lighthouse views I’ve ever seen.

Stop at the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint to park and hike the 1/2-mile trail up to the lighthouse. You can also spend some time walking along the sandy beach below the lighthouse. This area is absolutely beautiful!

The Park is operated by the State of Oregon and requires a $5 parking fee. For most recent up-dates on facility closures, check out the state park’s website, here.

#2 – Cape Perpetua

One of my favorite stops on our drive, Cape Perpetua is gorgeous!

While you’re here, check out the Cape Perpetua Headland which is the highest viewpoint accessible by car on the Oregon Coast. There are also many trails in this area of the coast to check out. We spent our time here exploring the coast and tide-pools.

Cape Perpetua is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, so bring your annual pass for free parking!

#3 – Thor’s Well

Don’t miss this natural wonder! Thor’s Well (also called Devil’s Churn) is a blowhole on the coast near Cape Perpetua.

The best time of day to visit Thor’s Well is 1-hour before high tide. As the tide is coming in, you’ll see the most activity and swell out of the blowhole. You can check local tide charts, here.

Make sure that you bring good footwear as you will have to walk across sharp rocks to get an up-close view of the blowhole. Use caution as the water can quickly rise as the tide comes in. Don’t want to get smacked by an unexpected wave.

#4 – Yachats

Our first night on the Oregon coast was spent in the picturesque town of Yachats (YAH-hots). Yachats is a small town with great food and boutique shopping options.

We grabbed dinner at Luna Sea Fish House and coffee at Green Salmon Coffee Company. Both were delicious and served up food made with the freshest of ingredients. I found that the prices at both of these places were very reasonable.

We stayed the night at the Fireside Motel which I highly recommend. The hotel is situated right on the coast with beach access and had very comfortable and clean rooms.

But the beach access was to die for. In the evening, we were able to catch a fantastic sunset over the pacific ocean. And in the morning, the tide had receded and left behind the most impressive tide pools and wildlife. I had never seen so many starfish, clams, and crabs in my life.

Don’t miss the charming town of Yachats on your Oregon road trip. It’s probably my favorite town along the coast of Oregon.

#5 – Yaquina Head Lighthouse

The second lighthouse on this list is the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. We visited in mid-morning and the surrounding fog was still very dense but we were able to get a small glimpse of the lighthouse. Perhaps if we had visited in the afternoon we would have gotten a clearer view.

There were a couple of hiking trails in this park but we passed on those due to the dense fog. There wouldn’t be much to see.

This area is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management and requires an entrance fee, but again, if you have the annual National Park Inter-agency Pass you’ll be granted free entry.

#6 – Devil’s Punch Bowl State Park

This park was definitely the busiest place that we visited. Not quite sure why there were so many people here and not at the other incredible sites that we visited. Don’t get me wrong, Devil’s Punch Bowl is worth the visit, but so is everywhere else on this list.

Devil’s Punch Bowl is a large naturally carved bowl in the rock headland that is partially open to the ocean. When the tide comes in, the waves enter the bowl, churn, and foam.

We visited at high-tide, however, I would have liked to visit at low tide when visitors can hike down into the punch bowl. I think that would have been so cool. Unfortunately, low tide was at 6 am and that just didn’t work with our schedule.

#7 – Tillamook Creamery

Unfortunately, the famous Tillamook Creamery was only open with reservations and I waited too long to try to get one.

Visiting the Tillamook Creamery for a dairy tour is a very popular thing to do on the Oregon coast. You can make your reservations here. Don’t wait too long like I did!

Although we were not able to visit the official creamery, we did pick up some Tillamook ice cream and yogurt at the grocery store to enjoy at our Airbnb. It was delicious! However, I still think Bluebell is better. Sorry, Oregon.

#8 – Hug Point State Recreation Area

Hug Point is high on my list of favorite Oregon coast stops. This is an area that surprised me and exceeded all expectations. This sandy beach had so many interesting rock formations that jetted out randomly from the shore.

You can even find a waterfall at Hug Point that cascades off of a rock cliff and runs down to the ocean. Such a neat thing to see.

If you’re looking for a spot to take a leisurely walk down the beach, this is it! Don’t miss Hug Point on your Oregon coast road trip.

#9 – Cannon Beach

Just a couple miles up the road from Hug Point, you’ll find Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach is frequently rated as one of the top beaches in the United States.

From the shores of Cannon Beach, you will see Haystack Rock, an iconic & imposing rock structure that emerges very high out of the water.

Regretfully, we did not stop at Cannon Beach as we had just spent a lot of time at Hug Point only a couple of miles south. And because of the popularity of Cannon Beach, it can become rather crowded during the summer months.

#10 – Ecola State Park

Ecola State Park was closed last year due to a landslide that damaged a lot of the park’s trails and compromised the integrity of many cliff edges. Three days before we visited, the state park announced that it was opening portions of the park.

There are lots of hiking options in Ecola Park. Also, check out Indian Beach a beautiful beach which seemed to be a popular spot with surfers.

Ecola is maintained by the State of Oregon and requires a $5 day pass to visit.

From Ecola State Park, you can head north to Astoria, Oregon where you can see the Columbia River meet the Pacific Ocean.

I thoroughly enjoyed the coast of Oregon in all of its wonder and ruggedness. I truly feel that this part of the country doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s really incredible. If you haven’t been, don’t miss out, make time to see this beautiful coastline.

More Oregon Adventures

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10 Can’t Miss Stops on the Oregon Coast

When to Go