The Oregon Coast is famous for its beaches filled with sea stacks and tidepools, cool coastal towns, and epic views. But if that is all you do, you’ll miss some of the very best things. Between all the amazing scenery, there are a lot of activities you can do to add variety to your trip.
I’m Cheryl, and my husband and I recently spent 8 days driving the Oregon Coast from Astoria to Brookings, trying out every activity we could fit in, and today I want to share with you our most memorable experiences so you can do them too. We enjoyed all of the activities on this list, but we ranked them so you know which ones we enjoyed the most.
This is America’s biggest sea cave, and hundreds of sea lions come here. You ride an elevator down 20 stories and can see the sea lions hanging out on the rocks and swimming. They’re here all year except for September and October during their mating and birthing season.
It’s an entirely natural environment. The sealions come here for protection from the elements. When we visited, there were about 200 of them, and they were really active, barking, wrestling, and playing king of the hill. It was fun to watch.
YUCK! Although we loved the Sea Lion Caves, it smelled terrible! You’ve been warned.
Details: ~$18 per person, takes about an hour, and is near Florence, (Central Coast), sealioncaves.com
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This is a massive WWII blimp hangar. Before we went here, we thought that blimps were only a WWI thing. But there were actually 17 blimp hangars throughout the country. We learned that they worked with lighthouses on the coast to spot Japanese subs.
This is perfect for aviation enthusiasts. Plus, the building itself is really cool. It’s 1,000 feet long, 200 feet high, and 300 feet wide.
Details: ~$14 per person, takes about an hour, and is located in Tillamook (Northern Coast), tillamookair.com/
IMPORTANT: A windstorm recently damaged the roof, and it is uncertain when/if the museum will reopen.
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This is an old-time scenic steam engine ride along Tillamook Bay from Garibaldi to Rockaway Port and back. We love that it is more affordable than most train rides, that the train cars are open top, and that they have a really good live narration. We learned a lot about the area.
Unlike most scenic trains that take you through mountains, this train runs along the coast and you get to see the ocean and lush foliage. It was super nice! When we rode, it was a beautiful sunny day and we loved that we could feel the breeze from the sea.
DON’T MISS THIS: In the town of Rockaway is the original Pronto Pup. They claim to have invented the corn dog as well as having the world’s largest corn dog (on the roof). We tried it out and liked it!
Details: ~$32 per person, 90 minutes, and is located in Tillamook (Northern Coast), oregoncoastscenic.org
When I first told people we were visiting the Oregon Coast, most mentioned the Tillamook Creamery and told me it was a tourist trap. I DISAGREE!
Yes, this is the most crowded place we visited on the Oregon Coast, but we loved it. The displays were absolutely perfect. They were visually appealing, educational, and interesting. It started off with how they care for their cows and then got into the details of how they make cheese.
There were hands-on activities for children, such as a cow milking simulation. Plus, there was a great viewing area from above where visitors could see the entire cheese-making process. Our favorite was the cheese sampling area. YUM!
Of course, the thing to do here is to get an ice cream cone. We waited in line for 15 minutes to get one, but it was worth it. They had local flavors like Oregon Cherry (which I loved) and it was fun to eat it on the grassy area out front.
This is a free activity, but they do offer some special experiences that cost. One of the passengers on the train told us he did the premium ice cream tasting experience. He said it was absolutely worth it. Next time we visit, I’m booking this.
PRO TIP: There are actually four lines to get ice cream, two outside and two inside. Before you hop in line, scope it out. Most people get in the first line they see and it’s usually the longest.
Details: Free, 90 minutes, and is located in Tillamook (Northern Coast), tillamook.com
This is a unique, quirky stop that is just outside of downtown. It’s a 125-foot column that has murals of the town’s history on it. You can climb 164 stairs to the top and you have great views of the town and the Columbia River (if it’s not foggy!) What makes it special is that the gift shop on-site sells small wooden gliders for $1, and you can throw them off the top of the column. It’s really fun to see where they land.
TRY THIS: Sometimes people will just grab a plane off the ground instead of buying one. I tried this and found that the plane I picked up had a woman’s name and phone number with a message asking me to take a pic of the plane and to tell her what time I found it. She was so excited when I texted her. If you are comfortable giving a stranger your cell number, you may want to try this out!
Details: ~$5 to park your car, 15 minutes, and it is located in Astoria (Northern Coast), nps.gov/places/astoria-column.htm
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This museum really has something for everyone. It opened in the 1960s, but everything in here is fresh and colorful. It’s obvious they maintain it well and frequently switch out or improve their exhibits.
The exhibits on the shipwrecks and the Coast Guard are especially awesome. Did you know the Coast Guard rescues over 600 people a year? The museum has a full-size Coast Guard ship, and they teach you all about how these ships work and how they rescue people. It’s really interesting.
The exhibit on the fishing industry is great, too. They had several boats that had been used over the years. They also teach you about how the fish are processed and the types of fish in the waters here.
One especially touching exhibit is the one about the Japanese flags. During WWII, it was common for the friends and family of Japanese soldiers to gift them a Japanese flag that had well-wishes and messages for the soldiers written on it. The soldiers would carry this flag with them. When a Japanese soldier was killed, American soldiers would find these flags and keep them as souvenirs, not knowing the purpose of the flag. In recent years, great efforts have been made to return these flags to the soldiers’ families.
Lastly, the Lightship Columbia is behind the museum in the marina and is available for visitors to explore. It’s actually a moving lighthouse that was in service in the mid-1900s.
Details: ~$18 per person, 2 hours, and is located in Astoria (Northern Coast), Columbia River Maritime Museum
This is the best Aquarium on the coast! We saw jellyfish, sea otters, seals, sea lions, a turkey vulture, and walked through a tunnel where sharks swim around you. There were touch tanks where you could interact with sea stars, urchins, and sea cucumbers. This is all in addition to the usual aquariums filled with colorful and interesting fish.
This is the perfect place for families. It’s stroller-friendly and accessible and we saw dozens of happy children just thrilled to be seeing such cool marine animals up close. Plus, they had a great park and I noticed that the concession prices were really reasonable– $2 for a hot dog!
There are indoor and outdoor exhibits and it is obvious that these animals are well cared for. One of our highlights was the bird exhibit, where we could see puffins, common murres, and black oyster catchers. We had been watching birds all week as we visited the beaches on the coast and it was wonderful to see these birds up close.
DON’T MISS THIS: As you walk around the aquarium, you will see giant sculptures throughout… and they are totally made of trash from the sea. Washed Ashore has a mission to save the sea by helping people be aware of the trash that ends up in the ocean. The sculptures are incredible and it’s a non-preachy reminder to take care of our planet.
Details: ~$27-$40 per person, 2-3 hours, and is located in Newport (Central Coast), Newport Aquarium
Cannon Beach may be the very best beach on the Oregon Coast. It’s beautiful and the amazing Haystack Rock is here. But this beach can be even more fun if you explore it on a bike!
We rented recumbent bikes from Funcycles. These low-to-the-ground trikes were perfect for cruising along the beach and enabled us to see even more sea stacks than Haystack Rock. There was a little bit of a learning curve figuring out how to steer these 3-wheeled bikes, but it didn’t take long, and we thought it was so much fun.
They had other rentals available, too, like regular bikes if you just wanted to ride around town. They also had bike trailers that you could tow your children in.
We didn’t see bike rentals like this at any of the other beaches we visited on the Oregon Coast, so if this sounds like fun, make sure to do it at Cannon Beach!
IMPORTANT: Biking on the actual beach is only possible at low tide. FunCycle adjusts its schedule daily to accommodate the tides. Make sure to look it up before you visit.
Details: ~$35 per bike, 90 minutes, and at Cannon Beach (Northern Coast), FunCycles
DISCOVER: Seaside vs Cannon Beach: Which Oregon Coast Town Should You Visit?
Visiting a few of Oregon’s beaches should be at the top of your priority list. Not only are they incredibly scenic with the driftwood on the beach and the sea stacks jutting out of the water, but tidepooling is unforgettable.
Tidepooling is when the tide goes out, leaving behind little pools of water filled with sea creatures, including sea stars, crabs, and anenomes.
CHECK OUT: 10 BEST Beaches on the Oregon Coast (+ the Ones You Can Skip)
Giant Sand Dunes were blown in from the ocean and are now the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. It’s quite different than the rest of the coast, where you are exploring beaches and walking through rainforests.
Most travelers don’t have a machine to explore these dunes, but the good news is that there are a few rental/tour companies that will take you for a ride. We booked a tour with Sandland Adventures because the price was right- only $20 for an hour-long tour.
Our machine looked like it was made of tinker toys and could fit about 40 people. Our ride was more of a tour than an adventure, but we did have a few moments when the whole group was cheering as we went up and down the dunes. We loved watching the other people on their machines speeding around (up to 60 mph!) and doing wheelies. Next time we go, we will book a more adventurous ride.
We did enjoy the narration, though. We learned that beach grass is taking over the dunes and it’s possible that the dunes will be completely gone in 150 years if they don’t find a way to stop it. He also taught us about “tree islands” where the animals come to drink from little pools of water. It’s common for people to see wildlife on the dunes, including deer, elk, and bears, but we didn’t see any when we visited.
PRO TIP: The dunes are cold and windy. Our guide was wearing a Gore-Tex suit! Don’t be afraid to wear a coat, hat, and gloves- even if it’s July.
Details: ~$20 and up, 1 hour, between Bandon and Newport (Central Coast), Sandland Adventures
Did you know there are lighthouses all along the Oregon Coast? We had never been before, but now we are hooked on visiting any we come across! We were able to see 13 on our last trip.
Most are easy to access from Highway 101, but a few do require some hiking to get to. Tours are offered at some of them and are usually available mid-day between 12-3 pm, but every lighthouse has its own schedule.
ABOUT LIGHTHOUSES: The purpose of a lighthouse is to help ships navigate through dangerous waters and help them know where they are. Each lighthouse light has its own unique colors and flashing sequence so seamen can differentiate them.
We were only able to take a tour of the Umpqua River Lighthouse. It was really neat to get to climb to the top and actually get inside the lens. We were told stories about the life of the lighthouse keeper and what it was like to build and maintain these really cool buildings.
Lighthouses are often shrouded in fog—after all, they were built in places where visibility is poor to help protect ships from crashing. But on a clear, sunny day, a lighthouse almost always offers a spectacular view of the ocean. You can visit outside of tour hours, but you won’t be able to go inside. The good news is that lighthouses make for really nice pictures.
FUN FACT: Modern GPS systems have eliminated the need for lighthouses today, but many remain in operation. Some captains and fishermen still prefer to use them.
North Head Lighthouse– First lighthouse we visited and it was one of the nicest.
Cape Disappointment– In Washington. Cool spot but the lighthouse is a little run down.
Lightship Columbia– This is actually a moving lighthouse that is on a boat and
it’s at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
Tillamook Rock– Known as Terrible Tilly because of the harsh conditions of the island it’s on.
Very cool but can’t visit it since it’s in the ocean.
It has an interesting history and is said to be haunted.
Yaquina Head-is the quintessential lighthouse on the Oregon Coast, and offers
easy access, a robust visitor center, perfect photo ops,
bird sightings, and ocean access.
Heceta Head– Hike to it was very pretty, with views of the bridge by the beach.
Umpqua River– Cool mainly because it was the only one we visited
while they were doing tours. So we learned a lot!
Cape Blanco– Loved the walking path to the lighthouse, the cliffs, and
the grasslands surrounding the lighthouse.
Coquille River– Short but had a different look than the others.
Cape Meares– Shortest lighthouse on the coast.
Cape Arago– It’s on a small island in the ocean and can’t be visited.
It can be seen from a roadside viewpoint at
Shore Acres State Park, which is a great place to visit to
check out the impressive manicured gardens or play at Sunset Beach.
Battery Point Lighthouse– Unique because you have to wait until low tide to visit!
(tide was too high for our visit).
Also, the only one with the light on when we visited.
Details: It varies by lighthouse, but you can expect to pay a ~$10 parking fee and tours usually cost ~$3. Plan on an hour per lighthouse, depending on how far you have to walk to get there. There are several lighthouses along the Oregon Coast.
Whales frequently migrate along the shores of the Oregon Coast, but about 200 grey whales make Depoe Bay their home year-round. Because of this, Depoe Bay is a wonderful spot to go on a whale watching tour. Not only are they affordable (our tour was only $25), but they are also only 1-1 1/2 hours long because the boats don’t have to go far to get to where the whales are.
Although you can sometimes view the whales from the free Whale Watching Center, they can be pretty hard to see. Going on tour gives you a chance to see the whales a little more up close, plus it gets you out on the ocean, which is pretty cool!
We were able to book our tour through Dockside Charters an hour before departure, but you can (and should) make reservations in advance. We loved seeing harbor seals basking on the rocks as we departed the bay.
It was a cold and windy day, and the water was choppy. We loved watching the waves crash into the shore. It wasn’t long before we saw our first whale! We mostly saw the same whale, but it surfaced a dozen times. We saw its face, body, and fluke (tail). Our captain and tour guide told us the whale’s name was Creamsicle and that each of the whales in the bay has a name. Locals can tell them apart by their flukes and barnacles on their faces. What an incredible experience.
PRO TIP: It is REALLY common for people to get seasick on these tours. I was so grateful I wore my motion sickness patch. Also, it’s quite a bit cooler on the ocean than on the shore. Make sure to dress warmly.
Details: ~$25 and up, 1 hour, Depoe Bay (Central Oregon), Dockside Charters
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The Oregon Coast is famous for its seafood, but it’s even cooler if you can catch your own. We noticed that crabbing gear is available to rent in both Bandon and Brighton. We opted for Kelly’s Brighton Marina because they will cook your catch for you! You can choose to rent a boat or crab right from the dock. Since we were short on time, we decided the dock.
Your gear is a basket with a gutted fish tied to it (gross!) and attached to a rope. You throw it into the water like a Frisbee and wait about 15 minutes to pull it up to see if you caught anything. Every time I threw my basket in, I pulled up a crab!
It was exciting and terrifying at the same time! You have to pick your crab up and inspect it because there are laws about what types of crabs you can keep. They have to be male and over a specific size. Fortunately, people on the dock were friendly and taught me how to safely pick up a crab without getting pinched.
I loved crabbing at the dock because it was always exciting when someone pulled up their basket to see what they caught. Our good friends opted to crab from a boat and they loved their experience as well.
I can’t wait to bring my kids here next year. Crabbing may have been my very favorite memory of our trip.
Details: ~$17 for gear rental and $17 for your crabbing license. Your rental is good for the entire day, so you can crab as long as you like. Located in Brighton (Northern Oregon), Kelly’s Brighton Marina
I’ve been on plenty of scenic boat tours, so I was expecting a nice, gentle ride along the river looking for wildlife. What I didn’t expect was going 40 mph, doing 360s, getting drenched, and laughing the whole time! Honestly, after our four-hour ride, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
The Rogue River has beautiful forests and lots of wildlife. On our tour, we saw osprey, bald eagles, turkey vultures eating a sturgeon, harbor seals, and a momma black tail deer and twin fawns swimming across the river. It was magical.
When we weren’t looking at wildlife, we were zipping all over the river. It’s super shallow, less than 3 feet deep in some places, but the jet motors are specially designed to handle this level of water without getting banged up. It might be some of the most fun I have ever had. What was really cool was that there were all ages on our boat. Kids, seniors, and everywhere in between.
Our tour included lunch at the Cougar Lane Lodge. It was a perfect stop and the food was great. Not all tours include lunch. A few tours are offered, ranging from a one-hour tour to a six-hour tour. Our four-hour tour was just right, and this is an activity I will do every time I visit the Oregon Coast in the future.
Details: ~$55 and up, 1-6 hours depending on your tour, near Gold Beach (Southern Coast), Jerry’s Rogue Jets
There are a few other great things that we enjoyed, but are not sure if they would appeal to everyone. Depending on your interests, you may want to check these places out too!
Lewis and Clark left St Louis, traveled across the plains, and finally made it to the ocean in Oregon, but were faced with the tough decision of whether to return home or wait out the winter. They chose to spend the winter here (100 days!) at Fort Clatsop.
This is an NPS Historic Site and is very well done. They have two great movies and interesting displays on how Lewis and Clark and their group survived and studied the area. They also teach a lot about the Clatsop tribe that they frequently traded and interacted with.
Outside of the museum is a re-creation of what their fort would have looked like. It was super cool to explore and the volunteers and rangers had great stories and history to share.
Details: ~$10 entrance fee, 1 hour, near Astoria (Northern Coast), Lewis and Clark National Historic Park
This is located outside of Astoria, about as far northwest as you can go and still be in Oregon. It’s a state park because it protected the Columbia River during the Civil War, WWI, and WWII. Bunkers, batteries, and cannons remain to explore. Besides war history, there are other things to do, including disc golf, kayak tours, and bike rentals. The ranger told us that they also have the biggest campground west of the Mississippi, over 500 campsites, including cabins and yurts.
The actual star of the show is the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale. This is a shipwreck where the boat was pushed up onto the beach and is still there, just rusting away. There are no guardrails, so you are welcome to touch it or even climb on it, though I wouldn’t because it’s super rusty. It’s over 100 years old and some of it is buried in the sand.
Details: ~$12 to park, 1 hour to half a day, depending on what you want to do, near Astoria (Northern Coast), Fort Stevens State Park
There are all sorts of places along the Oregon Coast to grab a sweet treat- but this was my favorite. It is absolutely charming from the delightful walk on Hemlock Street to get there, to the pink and white exterior, to the aisles filled with colorful candy on the interior.
Their taffy wrapping machine was a real highlight- wrapping over 140 pieces of taffy a minute. Plus, every treat I tried in here was spectacular, especially the chili-mango taffy.
Details: Free, but bring spending money for candy, 15 minutes, Cannon Beach (Northern Coast), Bruce’s Candy Kitchen
If hearing about Bruce’s Candy Kitchen got you thinking about food, I’ve got some great places for you to try. The Oregon Coast was interesting because there are a few restaurant chains that are unique to the coastal towns that you won’t find anywhere else. Here are the places we tried and why we loved them. Read more in our article 15 Best Places to Eat on the Oregon Coast (Seafood, Views & More).
| Tony’s Crab Shack (Bandon) | Tiny, casual shack on the dock, fresh off-the-boat seafood. We loved their crab sandwich |
| Thai Port (Newport) | Authentic Thai food right on the coast with views of the water. It was a nice change if you’ve had your fill of seafood |
| Tillamook Creamery (Tillamook) | Awesome cheese and ice cream (they serve regular food too) |
| Pronto Pup (Rockaway Beach) | Huge corn dogs and yummy fries. Home of the world’s largest corn dog (it’s on the roof!) |
| Mo’s Seafood and Chowder (most Oregon Coast Towns) | People love to hate on this place, but there are always great views of the ocean and we thought their clam chowder was great! |
| Sea Star Gelato (Seaside) | Homemade gelato and the best we’ve ever had (and we’ve been to Italy!) We love their unique flavors |
| Bowpicker Fish and Chips (Astoria) | Albacore tuna, secret recipe for the batter, and served out of a retired fishing boat. Fun and delicious. |
| Tom’s Fish and Chips (Cannon Beach) | Inexpensive and had amazing fish tacos |
| Pizza a’fetta (Cannon Beach and Seaside) | Ranked in the top 50 pizza places in the country! Crust is perfect- soft and crunchy at the same time. Buy a whole pie or by the slice. |
The Oregon Coast is filled with great coastal towns, beaches, and activities. We started at Astoria in the north and ended at Brookings in the south. They are all connected by HWY 101, and it takes around 8 hours to drive without stopping.
People rarely just drive HWY 101. They make a trip out of it by staying overnight in a few of the towns, making their way up or down the coast.
The northern part of the trip is more overcast and rainy, with more sunshine in the south. However, it’s super common for it to be overcast along the entire coast.
When is the best time of year to visit? July through September is when you are most likely to get some sunshine and less rain. It’s also the most crowded.
How bad are the crowds? Not too bad at all! We were pleasantly surprised and rarely felt like somewhere we visited was too crowded to have a good time. We traveled in July, which is peak tourist season, too. The most crowded place we visited was the Tillamook Creamery, but we still enjoyed it.
What should I do if it’s rainy? If it doesn’t rain while you are visiting, you are a rare four-leaf clover! Plan on rain by bringing a rain jacket, an umbrella, and a spare pair of shoes. The good news is that the weather changes frequently. The clouds may roll through, or it might rain in one town but not the next.
Will I have cell service? Cell reception is spotty. Count on having it in the towns but not on the roads between them.
How many days does it take to visit the Oregon Coast? We were able to do all the activities listed above, plus check out many towns and beaches in 8 days. You could easily shorten this trip to 3-5 days by only doing portions of the coast or skipping some of the activities. You could also extend it a few more days and explore at a more leisurely pace.
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Click the PNW Bundle to see all the amazing things you can do. If you’re only visiting the Oregon Coast, you can also grab just the Oregon Coast guide.
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One PERFECT DAY at Crater Lake National Park (+ Where to Stay and Eat)
What We Wish We Knew Before Visiting the Oregon Coast
Quick and Easy Guide to Hiking in Mount Rainier
A Perfect 6 Day Itinerary for Olympic (For First Timers)
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