Anyone who has visited the Pacific Northwest will probably agree that the Oregon Coast is one of the most beautiful places in North America. Stretching 363 miles from the mouth of the Columbia River to the California state line, this rugged coastline is home to many hidden gems and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.
I did an Oregon Coast road trip in 2021, and I was blown away by all the amazing hidden coves, scenic overlooks, deserted beaches, and unique stops along the way.
From the popular (but beautiful!) Cannon Beach to the lush forested trails at Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, I loved every second of our trip.
In this post, I share a perfect 7-day Oregon Coast road trip itinerary that hits all the best stops and sights along the coastline.
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Oregon Coast Road Trip at a Glance
The Oregon Coast is almost 400 miles long, and there is a ton to see and do within that distance. Since I’m mainly interested in hiking and outdoor activities, this itinerary focuses primarily on getting out in nature and enjoying the beaches, trails, and tidepools.
Here’s an overview of what you’ll see and do on this 7-day Oregon Coast road trip itinerary:
What you will see & do
- DAY 1: Portland & Astoria
- DAY 2: Ecola State Park & Cannon Beach
- DAY 3: Hug Point & Oswald West State Parks
- DAY 4: Cape Kiwanda & Newport
- DAY 5: Yachats, Sea Lion Caves & Oregon Dunes
- DAY 6: Bullard Beach
- DAY 7: Return to Portland
Read next: Looking for a list of places to stop? Check out our post on the best things to do on the Oregon Coast.
Day 1: Portland to Astoria
Day 1 Overview
Portland
I recommend starting your Oregon Coast road trip in Portland, especially if you’ll be flying in. Portland has a large international airport and there are plenty of options for car rentals or camper van rentals.
If you have an extra day or two, Portland is also a fun city to explore. Below are a few ideas on how to make the most of your time there.
Things to do in Portland
Astoria
Once you’re ready to hit the road and embark on your Oregon Coast road trip, set your GPS to Astoria – your first stop. Astoria is about a two-hour drive from Portland and much of it is along the Columbia River.
If you want to stretch your legs, you can hike to Beaver Falls, which is about halfway between Portland and Astoria. (Note: the trail is a short drive off the highway, so you’ll need to get directions to the trailhead). The 0.6-mile trail ends at a pretty waterfall cascading into a pool of water.
In Astoria, you have lots of options for exploring! It’s a charming port city nestled at the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. Astoria is recognized as the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, founded in 1811 as a fur trading post. If you want to learn more about the history, head to the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
I also recommend walking down Astoria’s picturesque main street, which is lined with beautifully preserved Victorian homes and buildings, including the iconic Flavel House Museum. For great views, drive up to the Astoria Column where you’ll also find lots of hiking trails.
If you’re into movies, Astoria is also home to the Oregon Film Museum, where you can learn about the making of The Goonies!
Things to do in Astoria
Short on Time?
If you don’t have a full 7-days, I recommend skipping Astoria (unless you’re a MAJOR Goonies Fan) and going straight to Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach via US-26 West. You’ll shave off a bit of driving time and the first day and a half of this itinerary. For a 3-day itinerary option, read to the end of this post.
Day 2: Astoria to Cannon Beach
Day 2 Overview
Fort Steven State Park
If you didn’t camp here last night, it’s worth driving out to Fort Steven State Park in the morning to explore the beach and Peter Iredale shipwreck that sits right offshore. You can also drive all the way out onto the jetty to see the confluence of the Pacific Ocean and Columbia River.
Lewis and Clark National Historic Park
After checking out the shipwreck, start heading south toward Cannon Beach. On the way, you’ll pass close to Lewis and Clark National Historic Park. If you’re into history, this is a cool place to check out for an hour or two.
The park features a replica of Fort Clatsop, the encampment of the explorers at the mouth of the Columbia River. There are also interactive displays where you can learn about the Corp of Discovery and Lewis and Clark’s 8,000-mile journey.
Ecola State Park
Ecola State Park is a beautiful park with lots of hiking trails and stunning viewpoints. Park at the Ecola Point Viewpoint and hike to Indian Beach for amazing views and great tidepooling.
Note: This trail can be very muddy, so be sure to wear good hiking boots and consider using trekking poles.
You can also walk for miles along Crescent Beach which is shown in the photo below.
Cannon Beach
Your final destination for today is the beautiful Cannon Beach! This stunning beach and quaint beach town are among the most popular on the Oregon Coast, but for good reason. Cannon Beach features the towering Haystack Rock, which juts up out of the water not too far offshore.
Spend some time strolling the sandy beach before heading into town to grab dinner at Pelican Brewing. Also, Cannon Beach is very dog-friendly. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach as long as they are under voice control.
Tip: There isn’t a lot of great camping around here, so this might be a place to splurge on a Cannon beach hotel.
Day 3: Cannon Beach to Camp Lookout State Park
Day 3 Overview
Hug Point State Park
Hug Point is a small state park located right just south of Cannon Beach. It features a beautiful beach with a small waterfall that you can hike out to at low tide (it’s not accessible at high tide, so time your visit if you want to see it). You can keep walking along the beach past the waterfall, but just be mindful of the tide!
You won’t find a ton of tourists at Hug Point, which makes it one of my favorite stops to enjoy the beauty and ruggedness of the Oregon Coast.
Oswald West State Park
Continuing south from Hug Point, head to Oswad West State Park. Once you arrive at Oswald West State Park, there are more hiking trails, so pack a picnic lunch and lace up your boots.
I recommend hiking the Cape Falcon Trail, which leads out to Cape Falcon Lookout. The trail is 4.5 miles roundtrip with about 580 feet of elevation gain.
Camp Lookout State Park
Your destination for today is Camp Lookout State Park, which has a really nice campground as well as yurts and cabins tucked back into the woods. On your way, pull over at Neahkahnie Viewpoint for a quick photo op that’s right next to the highway.
Depending on what time you arrive at the campground, you can simply set up camp and enjoy the peace and quiet of the park or head out on one of the many hiking trails.
Day 4: Camp Lookout State Park to Newport
Day 4 Overview
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area
Get an early start today so you can spend a good amount of time at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. This beautiful area is just a short drive from Camp Lookout State Park and it’s one of my favorite places on the Oregon Coast. You can stroll the beach, explore tidepools, fly a kite, or simply relax and watch the waves crash on the shore.
Devil’s Punchbowl
A quick pitstop, Devil’s Punchbowl is a collapsed sea cave where the waves slam up through a large hole. At high tide, you can see the action from the viewpoint which is right next to the parking lot. And if you are there during whale season, you might get lucky seeing some whales spouting offshore.
At low tide, you can walk down into the punchbowl from the beach. The hike is quick – 0.8 miles round trip.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
As you continue south toward Newport, Yaquina Head Lighthouse is another great stop on your Oregon Coast road trip. This lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Pacific Coast and also the tallest lighthouse in Oregon, standing at 93 feet.
If you have time, there are a few short trails at Yaquina Head Lighthouse as well as a small interpretive center if you want to learn more about its history.
Newport
Newport is a charming coastal town that has a lot to see and do. Depending on what time you arrive, you can stroll around downtown or check out some of the sights.
Newport is home to the Oregon Coast Aquarium where you can learn about the local marine life and see some creatures up close.
Just south of Newport is the South Beach State Campground which offers nice clean campsites within ear shot of the ocean.
Day 5: Newport to Coos Bay
Day 5 Overview
Yachats, Cape Perpetua, & Thor’s Well
Heading south from Newport, your first stop today is Yachats. One of my favorite small towns on the Oregon Coast, Yachats is everything you’d hope a small Oregon Coast town to be: it’s laid back, set in a beautiful location, and has a ton of local charm. If you’re looking for breakfast or a mid-morning snack, stop at Green Salmon for delicious coffee and baked goods.
After checking out Yachats, continue a bit farther down Route 101 to Cape Perpetua, Devil’s Churn Lookout, and Thor’s Well. All of these stops are very close to each other, and you can get out to stretch your legs on some of the hiking trails.
I also recommend stopping in at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center, which has great views out over the coastline and interesting displays to learn more about the area.
Heceta Head Lighthouse
The Heceta Head Lighthouse is a nice, quick stop as you continue your drive. It’s a scenic lighthouse and worth snapping a photo of.
If you want to explore this area further, you can hike from Heceta Head Lighthouse down to Hobbit Beach. It’s 3.9 miles round trip with 1,000 feet of elevation gain and takes you through a beautiful forest before spitting you out on the beach.
Sea Lion Caves
Full disclosure – we did not do this, but it’s a super popular stop, so I wanted to mention it. Just south of Heceta Head Lighthouse are the Sea Lion Caves. This area is privately owned and you’ll need to buy a ticket to go into the cave (the largest sea cave in the US!). There’s a good chance you’ll get to see Stellar sea lions lounging on rocks and diving into the water.
This isn’t a zoo, though, and the sea lions come and go as they want, so seeing them isn’t guaranteed. If you want to view them for free, there is a parking area just north of the Sea Lion Caves where you may be able to see them from the vantage point.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Your drive will take you through Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, one of the largest stretches of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world. Here, you can stop and play on the dunes or even rent a dune buggy.
If you want to spend more time exploring the dunes, there are lots of camping options but know that this area is very popular with ATVers, so it will probably be loud and busy, especially on weekends.
We unfortunately didn’t get great weather here. It was so foggy, you couldn’t even see the ocean. Also important to note is that from May 15-September 15, dogs are not allowed on many of the beaches in the Oregon Dunes Recreation area during the snowy plover nesting season.
Note: You’ll pass back through the Oregon Dunes area if you head back to Portland at the end of your trip. You can spend more time exploring the dunes then.
Sunset Bay State Park
Whether you’re camping here or not, it’s worth driving out to Sunset Bay State Park for the sunset! Grab a picnic dinner in Coos and sit on Sunset Beach for an unforgettable evening.
Day 6: Coos Bay to Bandon
Day 5 Overview
South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Start your day with a nice walk at the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. The South Slough trail is a 3-mile loop through this beautiful area. Part of the trail is on boardwalk and it’s a great place to look for wildlife and explore the local plants.
Seven Devil’s State Recreation Site
For a secluded beach, head out to Devil’s State Recreation Site. It’s a bit off the beaten path, so you’ll most likely have it to yourself. Pack a picnic and spend a few hours enjoying the solitude on this beautiful beach.
Bullard Beach State Park
Your final destination on your Oregon Coast road trip! Bullard Beach is the perfect place to end your trip. The 4.5-mile beach is great for walking, playing on sand dunes, flying kites, and enjoying one last beautiful sunset.
Day 7: Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor Day Trip
Day 7 Overview
On your final day, you get to explore the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. Located about an hour south of Bandon, this area is incredibly beautiful with a lot of great hikes. We visited this area with my parents, and it was one of my favorite areas along the whole Oregon Coast. It’s just as pretty, and there are way fewer people than the rest of the coast due to the fact that it’s further from Portland.
Since you’ll have to retrace your route as you make your way back north to Portland, the easiest thing would be to stay at the same campsite (or hotel) in Bullard as the night before and make a day trip out of this.
Alternatively, if you have to make it back to Portland on day 7, you can drive down Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor stopping at a beach or two in the morning, and then spend the afternoon making the 5-hour drive back to Portland.
To get to Portland, you’ll retrace your steps a little bit back through Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. From there, you’ll turn inland to follow the Umpqua River before getting on I-5 North to Portland.
Ophir Beach
If you have pups, you’re going to want to stop here. This is one of the few beaches on your trip that is off-leash friendly. The beach is massive, there are very few people, and your dogs can run for miles.
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
The Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is a 12- mile section of highway that hugs the cliffs along the Southern Oregon coast with several places to get out and stretch your legs. Some popular trails include the Indian Sands Trail and the Secret Beach Trail.
Personally, we stopped at Lone Ranch Beach which has ample parking, nooks and crannies to poke around in, and trails on both ends of the beach.
3-Day Oregon Coast Road trip itinerary
Short on time? If you don’t have a full seven days to road trip the Oregon Coast, here is a shortened itinerary that you can cover on a long weekend.
Day 1: Portland to Cannon Beach
- Start your journey in Portland and head out towards the coastline.
- Take Highway 26 straight to Ecola State Park. Check out the viewpoint and hike down to Indian or Crescent Beach
- Visit Cannon Beach, grab some food, and watch the sunset at Haystack Rock
- Stay at a hotel in Cannon Beach
Day 2: Cannon Beach to Newport
- Drive down the coast and stop at Hug Point State Recreation Area and Cape Kiwanda.
- Make your way into Newport, walk the waterfront, and grab a bite to eat.
- Camp at South Beach Campground and head to the beach for sunset
Day 3: Newport to Coos Bay
- Driving down the coast, stop at Green Salmon coffee in Yachats for breakfast
- Stop at Thor’s Well and continue onto Heceta Head Lighthouse. Hike to Hobbit Beach.
- Explore the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area via the John Dellenback Dunes Trailhead
- Drive back to Portland
Best Time to Visit the Oregon Coast
One of the best parts about the Oregon Coast is that it’s great during any time of year since the coastline rarely sees snow. Although it does get chilly in winter!
I’ve visited in both July and in October. Both times I had amazing weather, but it was much easier to find campsites in October. If you have flexibility, I recommend planning your trip in the fall from September to early November. During these months, you’ll see fewer crowds but you’ll still get to enjoy that magical and moody-coastal feeling that Oregon has.
Spring on the Oregon coast can also be nice, but there is a greater risk of rain and fog.
Tips for Your Oregon Coast Road Trip
Below are a few tips for your Oregon Coast road trip to help ensure that your adventure goes smoothly.
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Is an Oregon Coast road trip on your bucket list? What questions do you still have about planning one? If you’ve already been there, what are your favorite stops, hikes, and things to do? Leave a comment below!
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