Oregon Coast Highway

Oregon's beaches are public land, so this drive is full of free access points, with headlands, sea stacks and lighthouses every few miles. The southern half is quieter and wilder; the north has Cannon Beach and Astoria. It suits slow travellers, campers and anyone who likes stopping every half hour.

The stops

1. Start

   Brookings

2. Viewpoint

   Natural Bridges viewpoint

   Part of Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, with many short pull-outs

3. Viewpoint

   Cape Sebastian

   Short drive up a headland for a long coastline view

4. Viewpoint

   Cape Blanco Lighthouse

   Oregon's oldest standing lighthouse, on the westernmost point

5. Beach

   Face Rock, Bandon

   Sea stacks on a wide beach, best at low tide

6. Park

   Sunset Bay State Park

   Sheltered cove that is safe to swim in on warm days

7. Viewpoint

   Oregon Dunes Overlook

   Boardwalk over one of the largest coastal dune fields in North America

8. Viewpoint

   Heceta Head Lighthouse

   Walk up from the day-use area for the best view

9. Park

   Cape Perpetua

   Tide pools and the Devils Churn

10. Viewpoint

    Yaquina Head

    Lighthouse, tide pools and seabirds

11. Town

    Depoe Bay

    Whale watching from the sea wall, tiny harbour

12. Viewpoint

    Cape Meares

    Lighthouse and the Octopus Tree

13. Beach

    Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach

    Tide pools at low tide, puffins in summer

14. Viewpoint

    Astoria Column

    Climb the column for a view of the Columbia River mouth

15. Finish

    Astoria

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Gold Beach

  Gold Beach motels

• Night 2

  Bandon

  Bullards Beach State Park yurts and campground

• Night 3

  Newport

  Beverly Beach State Park

• Night 4

  Cannon Beach

  Nehalem Bay State Park campground · Cannon Beach motels

When to go

Jun-Sep for dry weather; Oct-Mar for storm watching and whale migration

On the road

Winter storms can close short sections for a few hours. Fuel is cheap in Brookings and Astoria relative to the tiny towns between.