Are you looking for the best activities to do along the Oregon Coast. After a family road trip on the Oregon coast, we decided to share with you some of our favorite activities and places.

The Best Things to Do on the Oregon Coast

A good Oregon coast itinerary starts and ends with an oceanfront view. There’s plenty to see and do in Oregon, including the coastline and beaches, but we have highlighted the must-see vistas as well as unique activities. We’ve also included tips on what to do when it rains or if the weather is bad.

The road trip began in Portland and continued along the coast, starting in Astoria in northern Oregon, then moving south to the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Highway, near the California border.

Where to Stay

We enjoy road trips, but not the tired road trip motel. We look for clean, stylish, and affordable accommodations wherever we go.

Oregon has a lot of options for accommodation, but clean, stylish, and affordable motels can be hard to come by, especially near popular tourist destinations like the Oregon Coast. We were eager to check out the newly renovated Motel 6 properties when they asked us. The renovated properties feature flat-screen TVs, stylish bathrooms and wood-style floors.

Where to Eat

Oregon is home to a wide variety of delicious food, but its coast is known for its fresh seafood, and more recently, the booming craft beer industry. Road trips are also synonymous with diner food, and there’s a lot of it. This was a budget-friendly trip so we used our Motel 6 refrigerator to prepare food.

What to see and do on your Oregon Coast Road Trip

What to do in Oregon?

Oregon’s coast in the Pacific Northwest is home to rocky cliffs and secret coves. It also has seemingly endless beaches as well as amazing marine life.

From Astoria, in the north, to the California border, in the south, our route along US Highway 101 will take you past historic lighthouses and charming seaside villages, giant sand dune, and beautiful state and national parks. Start at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park in the south near Astoria, and then weave your way inland to the Crater lake National Park near California’s border.

PORTLAND

Portland, Oregon’s biggest city, is known for its hip and cool vibe. Portland is a nice city to land, but we spent most of our time exploring the coast areas in Oregon. (Portland’s beaches are over an hour away.) Portland is a great city to visit. Check out its many parks, coffeehouses, and microbreweries, as well as the Washington Park.

ASTORIA

Astoria, Oregon is my favorite place to visit on the Oregon coast. This little city has a gritty, historical vibe that I love.

Astoria is a place that you’ll recognize instantly, having been the location for many TV shows and films, including Kindergarten Cop, The Goonies, and more.

There are many cool micro-brew pubs in the area.

Astoria is located at the mouth the Columbia River. The old harbor now houses some fancy hotels and cool restaurants. Check out the beautiful Fort Stevens State Park and Military Museum. The museum has gun batteries that are buried in sand. Near the Peter Iredale shipwreck, there’s hiking, biking, camping, and a beautiful beach.

The Columbia River Maritime Museum and Astoria Riverfront trolleys will also entertain you.

The Astoria-Megler Bridge is a must see with its striking steel frame architecture, and stunning views. You can also visit the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park in Seattle, which is about two hours from Portland. Take the #5 highway to Astoria from Portland. It’s just an hour away. We only stayed for one night and wish we had more time to explore the area. 

CANNON BEACH

Cannon Beach, one of Oregon’s most photographed attractions, is a must-see stop on any Oregon coast road trip. Cannon Beach is a popular destination on the Oregon Coast, so it may not be unique, but it is a must-see.

The town is a bustling one with good food. (Stop by Bruce’s Candy Kitchen, for sure). There’s also the whimsical DragonFire Gallery and the cute but touristy Wine Shack.

Haystack Rock is a landmark that protrudes out 235 feet from the Pacific. It’s worth a trip. On the day we went, it poured rain but we were able to catch a glimpse of Haystack Rock amongst a dark sea, moody clouds, and a dark sky. It’s still stunning, even on a bad weather day.

Take a walk on Cannon Beach, where you can see some beautiful tidal pool and Haystack Rock.

ROCKAWAY BEACH

Rockaway Beach has a beautiful beach and is a seaside village with just over 1,000 residents. Stop by the Beach Bakeshop to get some delicious home-baked treats. The scones were delicious, but there are many other treats to choose from.

Rockaway Beach Wayside is a charming little beachfront stop that offers public parking. The playground has restrooms and the view is stunning. I love that there is a friendly squirrel family living here.

Here you can ride the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad or below in Garibaldi.

GARIBALDI

Check out the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad if you like trains, or just enjoy a relaxing trip with beautiful scenery. The historic 1925 steam engine offers a leisurely ride that includes many stops. The train runs between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach.

The Garibaldi Boat Basin is a great place to stroll around and see the boats and docks in action.

TILLAMOOK CREAMERY

We stopped at the Tillamook Creamery because we wanted a respite from the rain.

It turns out that it is a major tourist attraction with a full parking lot and a newly renovated interior. The wait is worth it because there is a free cheese tasting. The new building has a large gift shop and the tasting area upstairs.

LINCOLN CITY

We spent quite a bit of time in Lincoln City. It is one of the most popular towns on the Oregon Coast.

The area is a mix of beautiful scenery, trendy shops, delicious food and lots of fun activities. There are miles of beaches that stretch along the coast. The beaches are perfect for beachcombing, playing in tide pools, or taking long, leisurely strolls. We enjoyed the beach in town, which we reached by walking from Chinook Winds Casino.

Siletz Bay Beach is long, packed with driftwood, and has a lot of people camping out along the water. The mudflats are dotted with harbor seals, and there are many people crabbing and clamming.

Stop by Eleanor’s Undertow, at the public beach in Siletz Bay to enjoy some delicious ice-cream.

We spent some time in Lincoln City to ride out the stormy weather and find fun things to do indoors. Prehistoric was our favorite. There is a decent movie theatre and a small outlet mall. This dinosaur themed small shop is specialized in both authentic and man-made fossils. It also has an interesting selection of gemstones. The kids also loved the cheesy, but fun, animatronic T-Rex that was out front.

The Pig n’ Pancake serves American breakfast fare, including a delicious waffle. We bought some take-out meals from the local IGA and Safeway grocery stores, and heated them in our motel’s microwave.

We stayed at the newly renovated motel 6 in Lincoln Beach. This was an affordable, clean and stylish motel with rooms that looked out over the Oregon Bay. The motel was part of Motel 6’s newly renovated properties. Even the furniture had a modern, clean and comfortable style.

We have been long-time fans of the Motel 6. renovated hotels. On our annual road trip, we stay in Swift Current, Saskatchewan almost every year. We love that it’s so affordable and the simple and clean lines are great!

DEPOE BAY

Depoe Bay is located just south of Lincoln City, and it’s one of the best spots in Oregon for whale watching. The majority of people visit to watch the nearly 20,000 grey whales migrate between mid-December and mid-January, either on their way to Baja Mexico, or to return north in March.

You can choose from a variety of tour companies to take you on the water. But the Whale Watching Center would be a good place to begin. From the windows, you can catch a glimpse at orcas, humpbacks whales, dolphins and the occasional blue whale.

Ainslee’s Salt Water Taffy will satisfy your sweet tooth and Tidal Rave offers stunning views if you are looking for a seafood dinner.

DEVILS PUNCHBOWL

Devils Punchbowl State Park is located just south of Depoe bay, on the way to Newport. It is safe to walk up to Devils Punchbowl only at low tide. However, the walk is wide and easy. The walk to the Devils Punchbowl is safe only at low tide, but it’s an easy stroll with a small waterfall and many tide pools. It’s dangerous to hike up to the Punchbowl at high tide.

Love wine? Oregon’s wine region Willamette Valley is home to more than 550 wineries, and it is just an hour away from the interior. Willamette Valley stretches south of Portland, through Salem, and on to Eugene.

NYE BEACH NEWPORT

Nye Beach makes a great place to spend the night. This is a picturesque beach town, with lovely bakeries. Nye Beach’s Chowder Bowl is a local favorite. It serves, as you might guess, chowder.

Newport, a nearby town with plenty of food and activities to offer, is a great alternative if you get tired of the small-town vibe. You should also check out the two historic lighthouses in Newport. The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is one and the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is another.

While you’re in Newport, it might be worth stopping by the Local Ocean Seafoods to try some delicious seafood. Stop by The Chocolate Frog on your way to Cape Perpetua for some homemade candy, taffy, or ice-cream.

Your pocket book is a bit light? To keep costs down, you can cook your own seafood and go on your clam or crab dig. You can find out where to crab around Newport by visiting the page.

CAPE PERPETUA

Cape Perpetua provides a breathtaking view of the local coastline.

The coastline is dramatic, and there are many scenic attractions, such as Devil’s Churn or Thor’s Well. Both are worth a trip. You can also visit the Little Log Church if you want something a little less dramatic. You can find local craft beer at Yachats Brewing and Farmstore.

FLORENCE

Sea lion Caves are a network of caverns and caves located about 11 miles south from Florence. The sanctuary is privately owned, and there’s an entrance fee. This is a wild area, home to the Steller Sea Lion and the largest sea cave in the USA.

Enjoy a short walk along the Hobbit Trail, a beautiful tree-covered trail that leads to the beach.

HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

Heceta Head Lighthouse, built in 1890, is just as charming and historical as its date would suggest. You can still visit the lighthouse at night and see it in action.

OREGON DUNES NATIONAL RECREATIONAL AREA

The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area has the longest stretch of coastal dunes in North America.

The sand dunes can reach 500 feet high above the sea and are ideal for ATV, hiking, sandboarding, and sightseeing. It is worth visiting the Oregon Dunes Visitor Center in Reedsport, which has a wealth of information on local wildlife and activities.

Charles has fond memories of driving his dune buggy through the Oregon dunes. He got into some trouble at the time. It’s important to obey the rules when riding giant dunes. However, if you like atving, motorbiking, or 4x4ing, this is one of the most beautiful sand areas.

SHORE ACRES STATE PARKS

Shore Acres offers a unique opportunity to experience Oregon’s fauna and flora. Two rose gardens, as well as a Japanese Garden are set amongst sandstone walls. You can also see one of world’s tallest trees here. The 95-foot-tall Monterey Pine has a 208-inch-round trunk.

SAMUEL H. BOARDMAN SCENIC CORRIDOR

The 12 mile stretch of coastline is stunning and almost reaches the California border. The photos taken here are breathtaking, and the stone formations such as Arch Rock and Natural Bridges are worth a visit. We didn’t make it as far as this during our Oregon coast roadtrip this time, but we’ve put this place on our list of must-sees for our next California trip.

We drove down our car from BC, Canada for this trip and had a great time!

Next time, we’d like to spend a few extra weeks on this trip, take our RV that we just bought, and explore all the state parks and national park. There is so much to do!

Have you ever visited the Oregon Coast? What was your favorite thing to do on the Oregon coast? Comment below – we would love to know!