Oregon Coast Road Trip: 7 Days on Highway 101
Sea stacks, lighthouses and dune towns down Highway 101.
A 7-day Oregon coast road trip from Astoria to Brookings — sea stacks, lighthouses and dune towns, paced day by day with drives and stops planned.
Highway 101 down the Oregon coast is one of the few drives where the road itself is the attraction for its entire length. There is no dull stretch between Astoria and Brookings: headlands, sea stacks, dune fields and fishing towns follow each other closely enough that the temptation is to stop every twenty minutes, which is exactly why the days below are paced short.
Drive it north to south if you can. The ocean is then on your right, which means every viewpoint and pull-out is a right turn across no traffic: a small thing that changes the whole day. Fog is normal until midday in summer; the clear light usually arrives in the afternoon and stays until late.
You climb a river-mouth column at dawn and end the day facing down a sea stack at sunset.
Start the trip here before heading south on 101.
The Astoria Column · Astoria
Panoramic viewpoint over the Columbia River mouth and the Coast Range, a great orientation to the trip's start.
💡 Small donation requested for parking; climb the spiral stairs inside for the best view.
1 Coxcomb Dr, Astoria
Astoria-Megler Bridge · Astoria
Great vantage of the iconic bridge spanning the Columbia River into Washington.
US-101, Astoria
The drive down from Astoria opens onto this famous beach.
Haystack Rock
An iconic 235-foot sea stack on Cannon Beach, one of the most photographed spots on the Oregon coast.
💡 Visit at low tide to see tide pools with starfish and anemones around the base.
US-101, Cannon Beach
A few minutes north of Haystack Rock along the coast.
Ecola State Park
Dramatic headland views over the Pacific, forested cliffs, and classic Oregon coastline vistas.
💡 Short walk from the parking area to the main viewpoint.
Cannon Beach
Overnight in Cannon Beach
- View
Browse places to stay
Cannon Beach · $$
Booking happens on the partner's site.
- Book Cannon Beach lodging ahead in summer — it's a popular weekend destination
- Ecola State Park has a small day-use fee, pay at the entrance station
- Parking near Haystack Rock fills fast midday — arrive early
- Oswald West State Park+9 mi
Old-growth forest walk to a hidden cove beach, short and scenic
- Fort Stevens State Park+12 mi
Historic military site plus a shipwreck visible on the beach
You trade a lighthouse cliff for a sand dune the size of a hill, then settle by a quiet lake.
A short detour west off the highway near Tillamook.
Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint · Tillamook
Lighthouse and cliffside views over the ocean, plus the famous 'Octopus Tree' sitka spruce nearby.
💡 A short detour off 101 near Tillamook, easy walk to the lighthouse.
3500 Cape Meares Loop, Tillamook
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area · Pacific City
Massive sand dune and dramatic sandstone cliffs above the surf, one of the coast's most photogenic spots.
💡 Climb the dune for wide ocean views — no technical skill needed, just soft sand.
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, Pacific City
Arriving into Lincoln City, the lake sits just off the highway.
Devils Lake
A calm freshwater lake right in town, good for an easy waterside stroll before settling in.
Devils Lake
Overnight in Lincoln City
- View
Browse places to stay
Lincoln City · $$
Booking happens on the partner's site.
- Tillamook Creamery is a popular roadside stop if you want a break — no reservation needed
- Cape Kiwanda parking lot is small — arrive before midday on weekends
- US-101 through Pacific City can be busy in summer — allow extra time
- Three Capes Scenic Loop+6 mi
Alternate coastal route past Cape Lookout with excellent whale-watching viewpoints
- Munson Creek Falls+11 mi
Tallest waterfall in the Oregon Coast Range, short walk from a small parking area
Spouting rocks give way to a lighthouse headland thick with seabirds, then a bayfront lunch by the water.
Depoe Bay Memorial Wall · Depoe Bay
Watch the famous spouting horns where waves crash through narrow rock channels along the seawall.
💡 Best viewed at high tide with a strong swell.
119 US-101, Depoe Bay
Just north of Newport, a quick detour to the headland.
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Historic lighthouse, tide pools, and seabird colonies on a dramatic basalt headland.
💡 Small entrance fee; check tide tables for the best tide pool viewing at the base.
750 NW Lighthouse Dr, Newport
Local Ocean Seafoods
A well-regarded waterfront spot in Newport's historic bayfront known for fresh local seafood.
💡 Expect a wait at peak lunch hours — no reservations taken.
213 SE Bay Blvd., Newport
A short drive from the bayfront to the bay's mouth.
Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site
A historic lighthouse and views over the bay mouth where the river meets the Pacific.
Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site, Newport
- Newport's historic Bayfront district has limited parking — arrive early or expect to walk a bit
- Yaquina Head charges a small day-use fee, keep receipt for same-day re-entry
- Depoe Bay's seawall can get crowded on weekends — early morning is quieter
- Devil's Punchbowl State Natural Area+5 mi
A collapsed sea cave that churns dramatically at high tide, short walk from the lot
- Oregon Coast Aquarium+2 mi
A well-regarded aquarium if you want an easy indoor nature stop
You watch waves churn through Thor's Well, descend to wild sea lions in a cave, then face a sea of sand dunes.
South of Yachats, the highway climbs right into the scenic area.
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area · Dunes City
Sweeping ocean views from a high headland, plus tide pools and the roaring Thor's Well feature nearby.
💡 Drive-up viewpoint at the overlook; Thor's Well is a short easy walk from a separate lot — check tide times.
Dunes City
A short drive further south along the highway.
Sea Lion Caves
A large natural sea cave accessible by elevator, home to wild sea lions year-round.
💡 Small entrance fee for the elevator down to the cave viewing area.
91560 US-101, Florence
Just south of Florence, the dunes begin along the highway.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Visitor Center · Reedsport
Massive coastal sand dunes stretching for miles, a landscape unlike anywhere else on the coast.
💡 Stop at the Oregon Dunes Overlook for an easy view without needing to hike far into the dunes.
855 Highway Ave, Reedsport
- Cape Perpetua's Thor's Well is dangerous at high surf — view from the marked safe distance
- Sea Lion Caves elevator can have a short queue in summer
- Florence's Old Town has limited street parking — public lots are nearby
- Heceta Head Lighthouse+3 mi
One of the most photographed lighthouses on the coast, easy short walk from the parking area
- Darlingtonia State Natural Site+4 mi
A short boardwalk loop through a bog of rare carnivorous cobra lilies
Cliffside gardens give way to a beach of sea stacks glowing gold as the sun drops behind Face Rock.
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park · Reedsport
A picturesque lighthouse above a lake and dune landscape, quieter than the bigger coastal stops.
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, Reedsport
A short detour from Coos Bay onto the Cape Arago Highway.
Shore Acres State Park · Coos Bay
Former estate grounds turned botanical gardens perched on dramatic ocean cliffs, with a wild rocky shoreline below.
💡 Small day-use fee; the formal gardens are an easy stroll, and the cliff overlook needs no walking.
89526 Cape Arago Hwy, Coos Bay
Arriving into Bandon in time for evening light on the rocks.
Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint
Striking sea stacks rising from the sand, including the legendary Face Rock formation, at sunset light.
💡 Sunset is the best time to view the rock formations with the light behind them.
Near Coos Bay, Viewpoint, Face Rock Viewpoint, Bandon
- Shore Acres State Park charges a small day-use fee, or use the Oregon Coast Passport
- Bandon's Old Town has free public parking lots near the waterfront
- Coos Bay stretch of 101 has few gas stations further south — fill up here
- Cape Arago State Park+3 mi
Further along the same road as Shore Acres, good spot for whale and seal watching
- Bullards Beach State Park+3 mi
Lighthouse and long sandy beach just north of Bandon, easy walk from the parking lot
You stand at Oregon's westernmost point at dawn and watch a wild river spill into the sea by evening.
Cape Blanco State Park · Port Orford
Oregon's westernmost point, with a historic lighthouse and sweeping cliffside ocean views.
💡 Lighthouse tours are seasonal — check ahead if you want to go inside.
91814 Cape Blanco Rd, Port Orford
Humbug Mountain State Park · Port Orford
Coastal viewpoint and forested park at the base of the coast's tallest peak, easy roadside access.
💡 Stick to the day-use area near the road — no need to summit.
Port Orford
Arriving into Gold Beach at the river mouth.
Rogue River Gorge Viewpoint · Prospect
Where the wild Rogue River meets the Pacific Ocean, a striking mix of river, dunes, and sea.
56515 Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, Prospect
Overnight in Gold Beach
- View
Browse places to stay
Gold Beach · $$
Booking happens on the partner's site.
- Cape Blanco's access road is narrow and winding — take it slow
- Gold Beach has limited lodging — book ahead in peak summer season
- Fuel up in Port Orford, options thin out on this stretch
- Prehistoric Gardens+2 mi
Quirky roadside life-size dinosaur park, a fun break if curiosity strikes
- Rogue River Jet Boat Tours+0 mi
Popular guided boat trip up the wild Rogue River from Gold Beach
You drive through Oregon's most dramatic sea-arch corridor and end the trip on a quiet beach outside Brookings.
The highway threads right through this scenic corridor before Brookings.
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
A dramatic stretch of coastline with sea arches, natural bridges, and some of Oregon's finest ocean viewpoints.
💡 Several pullouts along the corridor — Natural Bridges and Arch Rock viewpoints need only a short walk.
U.S. 101, Brookings
Just north of town, a last easy stop before arriving.
Harris Beach State Park
A beautiful sandy beach with sea stacks just outside Brookings, a gentle final coastal stop.
💡 Easy walk down to the beach from the parking area.
101 96577 W Harris Heights Rd, Brookings
In town, a short stroll to end the drive.
Azalea Park
A pleasant town park with native azaleas and old-growth trees, a gentle close to the trip in Brookings itself.
640 Old County Rd, Brookings
- Samuel H. Boardman has no single visitor center — use marked pullouts along 101
- Harris Beach parking lot fills on sunny days — arrive mid-morning
- Brookings is the last sizable town for fuel and supplies before crossing into California
- Natural Bridges Viewpoint+0 mi
Dramatic sea arches visible right from an easy overlook, part of the Boardman corridor
- Whaleshead Beach+1 mi
Secluded beach with a distinctive whale-shaped rock, short walk from the pullout
Make this trip your own
Plan your own road trip →This route was drafted with AI. Please double-check roads, opening hours and local conditions before you go.
Made with Roadanza
What will the fuel cost?
This route covers 505 mi. Put your own car's consumption and local fuel price in and you'll have the number in a few seconds.
Work it out for this route →Questions, answered
- Which direction should I drive the Oregon coast?
- North to south. The ocean-side lane is yours, so viewpoints, beach access and the pull-outs at Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head are all right turns rather than left turns across oncoming traffic.
- When is the best time to drive the Oregon coast?
- September and early October: the summer fog has thinned, the crowds have gone home, and the storms haven't started. July and August are busy and often grey until lunchtime. Winter is dramatic and genuinely worth it if you like weather, but plan shorter days and expect closures after storms.
- How many days do you need for the Oregon coast?
- Five is comfortable, seven is better. The distance is modest: under 600 km end to end, but the stops are dense, and doing it in three means driving past the reason you came.
- Do I need to book accommodation on the Oregon coast?
- In summer and on any weekend, yes: the coastal towns are small and fill early, especially Cannon Beach and Yachats. Midweek in the shoulder season you can usually improvise.
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