Best Beaches in Oregon
Searching for the best beaches in Oregon to visit on your next day trip or vacation? Well, you are in the right place! From family-friendly beaches to romantic escapes, Oregon’s coastline honestly offers something for everyone.
This is exactly why I decided to share my favorite coastal spots in Oregon so that you can use my guide as an inspiration to plan your own vacation. Here are the beaches I recommend from our recent ten day road trip, that I think you’ll enjoy them too.
- Cannon Beach - 1.5 hours west of Portland, OR
- Cape Perpetua Scenic Area - 40 minutes south of Newport, OR
- Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park - 20 minutes south of Yachats
- Clatsop Spit - 30 minutes from Astoria
- Cobble Beach - just north of Newport, OR
- Harris Beach State Park - Just north of Brookings, OR
- Lincoln City Beach
- Nye Beach in Newport
- Oceanside
- Oregon Dunes
- Seaside Beach
- Conclusion & Travel Tips
Cannon Beach - 1.5 hours west of Portland, OR
While I love Portland as a home base, heading out to this beach is is pure coastal magic! We started our road trip here (Google Maps pin). It really is one of the best places in Oregon to explore.
Once you get here, you can admire the iconic sea stacks. I thought that Cannon Beach is one of the best beaches in Oregon. Why? There are heaps of tide pools teeming with life. The rugged shoreline that feels wild. My favorite part was walking on the sandy beach at low tide. I'm always amazed to find this unique place so close to Portland.
We stayed at 2-star Hi-Tide Oceanfront Inn just steps from the ocean. There are solid vacation rentals in the area too. Downtown Cannon Beach had a relaxed vibe. We shared a warm bowl of clam chowder, creamy and comforting.
In the morning, we went on a 3-hour tour lead by a local guide which let us cover a lot in a short time. I recommend joining a tour if you are new to the area.
If you make the trip here, you actually get two fantastic destinations in one. What do I mean? Ecola State Park is just 11 minutes from Cannon Beach.
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area - 40 minutes south of Newport, OR
Chris and I both absolutely love Cape Perpetua and have been many times. The road trip from Cannon Beach to Cape Perpetua Scenic Area takes 3 hours and the scenery is totally worth it. Plan on stopping a few times or you might regret rushing.
Once here, you can experience what it is like to walk through a dense Sitka spruce forest on your way to Cape Perpetua Overlook. After the scenic drive, we stayed at Tillicum Beach Motel for two days. At just $89/night it was affordable.
Down at the shoreline next morning, I was wowed by the famous Thor’s Well and the Devil’s Churn. I also recommend visiting tidepools at Cook’s Chasm with sea stars, anemones, and crabs too.
What I loved best:
The Giant Spruce Trail led me to a 500-year-old, 185-foot giant of a tree, my favorite highlight.
Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park - 20 minutes south of Yachats
Just 15 minutes from our last road trip stop in Cape Perpetua was Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park. Honestly, it's an easy stop on any Oregon Coast road trip. First thing you'll notice are heaps and heaps of dunes along the blue ocean.
True, this state didn’t have the same drama as Haystack Rock or Cape Perpetua’s crashing waves, but instead offered a quieter kind of magic. We absolutely adored the long sandy beaches and mossy trails under towering spruce.
Just north of Florence where we were based for a week in an Airbnb, the wide, uncrowded beach stretched for miles. If you give it time, you'll see the occasional gray whale offshore.
What I loved best:
In the morning, we hiked to Heceta Head Lighthouse which was truly Insta-worthy.
Clatsop Spit - 30 minutes from Astoria
I instantly thought our journey was worth it when we reached this hidden gem with a Lewis & Clark's history that makes it even more fascinating.
We drove about 25 minutes south from Astoria to Clatsop Spit, a 5-mile-long sand peninsula. You'll find it at the mouth of the Columbia River.
What I loved best:
This area is steeped in history: Fort Stevens State Park (4,300 acres, $5 parking) guarded the river from the Civil War through World War II. Plus, its gun batteries are still open to explore.
Cobble Beach - just north of Newport, OR
This beach completely won me over and I think it's one of the best beaches in Oregon! Why? When I visited this month, what I loved most was how alive with wildlife it was. You'll discover for your self that instead of sand, Cobble Beach is made up of heaps and heaps of smooth black basalt cobblestones. I loved listening to the clattering sound when a new wave came in.
What I loved best:
We drove just 10 minutes north from Newport to Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area ($7 per vehicle, covers 3 days).
Harris Beach State Park - Just north of Brookings, OR
We started our weekend getaway driving down the southern Oregon coast, and Harris Beach State Park near Brookings instantly felt like one of the best hidden gems we’ve ever found. It costs just $10 for Oregon residents and $12 for out-of-state visitors. In fact, you can buy it online to save time.
The first thing we did was pull over at the main viewpoint, and honestly the experience was pure magic. You can see sea stacks rising out of the ocean in the most spectacular way.
Walking down to the beach felt like discovering a secret place, even though it’s right off Highway 101 near the Northern California border. After that we explored the trails above the beach.
What I loved best:
Later we noticed seals lounging on the rocks, an amazing underrated wildlife moment and why this is one of my favorite Oregon beaches.
Chris, our son and I ended up spending two full days exploring from our comfy base at 3-star Beachfront Inn.
Lincoln City Beach
This beach is one of my favorites on the Oregon coast. Heads up, every visit we've made from Portland (2 hours away) feels like stepping into a slower pace of life.
You should take your time exploring tide pools and be on a lookout for the famous glass floats. It turned our walk into a playful little treasure hunt.
Later, we wandered into town. We shared a hot bowl of clam chowder, rich and comforting, the kind of meal that tastes even better after a long beach walk.
Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon
As I slipped down the wooden stairs to the beach, I thought Nye Beach was one of my favorite beaches on the Oregon coast!
Beyond the beach, historic Newport, Oregon felt like stepping back in time. We stopped for cappuccinos at White Rabbit Espresso, a stylish space.
After we walked around a bit, we had lunch at The Coffee House right on Yaquina Bay. I had Steamer Clams, sautéed with garlic butter, scallions, tomatoes, white wine, and garlic bread.
Oceanside
Heads up, this is one of the best Oregon beaches for powerful scenery with the Three Arch Rocks rising out of the ocean! From our last stop in Newport, OR, we drove a little over an hour north and stayed for two relaxing days at Three Arch Inn (from $162/night).
Oceanside is a hidden gem near Tillamook.
First thing we did was park near the beach and walk straight onto the sand.
I kept thinking that this beach is seriously underrated. Seeing it in person was one of those moments you wish you could freeze forever, especially during golden hour which was my favorite part.
What I loved best:
I ventured to nearby viewpoints along the Cape Meares Scenic Loop. Standing at Cape Meares Lighthouse I looked out across the endless Pacific while waves crashed far below, my personal highlight.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is perhaps the most obvious stop to make in Oregon, especially if you want to take some surreal photos. Heaps and heaps of towering dunes made it feel like stepping into another world. This is one of my favorite Oregon beaches for an affordable day trip.
Walking onto the sand felt unreal, the dunes looked massive and unusual, honestly one of the best experiences. We spent time climbing the soft hills, laughing a lot, and it felt like a joyful dream escape.
Seaside Beach, Oregon
We ended our road trip close to where we began, in Seaside Beach, just 17 minutes from Cannon Beach. The first thing we did was park near the Promenade, which is such a cool boardwalk that runs right along the sand.
Walking along the Promenade was an amazing experience, with the ocean on one side and cute shops and cafes on the other.
After that, we kicked off our shoes and walked straight onto the wide sandy beach. The sand here is flat and easy to walk on.
One of the most interesting parts was seeing Tillamook Head in the distance. Oh, and when you get hungry, you can grab affordable lunch nearby. Before leaving, we stayed for sunset, and wow, it was beautiful.
What I loved best:
For me, this is one of the best beaches in Oregon because it's scenic and almost magic!
Whether I was strolling barefoot along the shoreline or people-watching from the boardwalk, Seaside delivered.
Conclusion & Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit
I’ve always found that late spring through early fall (May–September) is the best time to explore Oregon’s beaches because the weather is mild. Yes, I've visited during the colder months. The sunset were still amazing but the wind can be very sharp!
How to Get There
- If you are traveling by car: Take U.S. Highway 101 which hugs the coastline!
- By Plane: We usually land at Portland International Airport (PDX) and then rent a car. We found Eugene Airport (EUG) also convenient if you plan to explore southern Oregon beaches.
- By Bus: The NorthWest POINT bus line runs daily between Portland and Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Astoria. I think it's convenient on solo trips because you can sit back and enjoy the views.
Congratulations for reading through all my Best Beaches in Oregon on a Road Trip. I hope that our experiences inspire you to go on your own vacation to one (or more!) of my favorite OR beaches!
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, we've found that buying the America the Beautiful Pass is cost effective.
