Oregon Coast Road Trip: 7-Day Itinerary, Astoria to Brookings
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.
The Astoria Column
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
Great vantage of the iconic bridge spanning the Columbia River into Washington.
US-101, Astoria
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
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
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Browse places to stay
Cannon Beach · $$
Booking happens on the partner's site.
- Book Cannon Beach lodging ahead in summer — it's a popular weekend destination
- Ecola State Park has a small day-use fee, pay at the entrance station
- Parking near Haystack Rock fills fast midday — arrive early
- Oswald West State Park+9 mi
Old-growth forest walk to a hidden cove beach, short and scenic
- Fort Stevens State Park+12 mi
Historic military site plus a shipwreck visible on the beach
Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint
Lighthouse and cliffside views over the ocean, plus the famous 'Octopus Tree' sitka spruce nearby.
💡 A short detour off 101 near Tillamook, easy walk to the lighthouse.
3500 Cape Meares Loop, Tillamook
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area
Massive sand dune and dramatic sandstone cliffs above the surf, one of the coast's most photogenic spots.
💡 Climb the dune for wide ocean views — no technical skill needed, just soft sand.
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, Pacific City
Devils Lake
A calm freshwater lake right in town, good for an easy waterside stroll before settling in.
Devils Lake
Overnight in Lincoln City
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Lincoln City · $$
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
Depoe Bay Memorial Wall
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
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
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
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
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
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
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Visitor Center
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
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
A picturesque lighthouse above a lake and dune landscape, quieter than the bigger coastal stops.
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, Reedsport
Shore Acres State Park
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
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
Cape Blanco State Park
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
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
Rogue River Gorge Viewpoint
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
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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
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
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
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
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