Road Trip Through The Oregon Coast: Astoria, Cannon Beach, Newport, + more!
We had originally planned a trip to Hood River, Oregon, but due to fires we had to change our itinerary + ended up spending 3 days on the Oregon Coast! I always imagined doing the Oregon Coast as a month long road trip in a camper van… + I’d still love to do that, but even seeing the Oregon Coast for a short trip was so special!
We stayed in Astoria for 2 nights + did Astoria-Newport in 1 day… so we didn’t have time for that many adventures. BUT, don’t worry — I made a massive bucket list of things we did + what I *hope* to do one day. Incredible hiking, bonfires on the beach, small seaside towns, fish + chips everywhere. What’s not to love?!
Astoria
- Stay: Bowline Hotel
- Best Organic Cafe: Blue Scorcher Bakery + Cafe:
- Fish + Chips: Bowpicker Fish + Chips
- Date Night Restaurant: Bridgewater Bistro
- Fun Brewery: Fort George Brewery
- Must Hike: 1.6 mile Astoria Column + Cathedral Tree Trail
- Must Walk or Bike: Astoria Riverwalk
- Full Wellness Guide To Astoria
Cannon Beach
- Stay: Camp! Or do Cannon Beach as a day trip from Astoria.
- Get Your Coffee Fix: Sea Level Bakery + Coffee *If it’s not open, go to Insomnia Coffee Co. or Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters
- Best Eat On The Beach: Acai Bowl from Island Grinds
- Must Hike: Ecola State Park 2.8 mile Clatsop Loop Trail
- Need To See: Haystack Rock
- Beach: Arcadia Beach + Hug Point
- Best Surf Spot: 15 minutes from Cannon Beach is Short Sand Beach. Even if you don’t surf, you should visit! There’s a lot of hiking nearby too in Oswald West State Park
Pacific City + Lincoln City
- Stay: Headlands Coastal Lodge + Spa
- Best Coffee: Cold Water + Coffee
- Date Night Restaurant: The Riverhouse Nestucca
- Must Hike: 4 mile Lower Cascade Head Trail + 3 mile Drift Creek Suspension Bridge + Waterfall
- Beach: Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area + Roads End state Recreation Site
- Ice Cream Tour: Tillamook Creamery
- Garden Walk: Connie Hansen Garden Conservancy
- Brewery On The Beach: Pelican Brewing
Newport
- Stay: Camp at Beverly Beach State Park (they have yurts, too!)
- Best Coffee: White Rabbit Espresso — it was our fav of the Oregon Coast!
- Best Eat On The Beach: Ultralife Cafe at Nye Beach
- Beach: Agate Beach State Recreation Site
- Must Hike: 9 mile Devil’s Punchbowl
- Date Night Restaurant: Local Ocean Seafoods
- Must See: Sea Lions on the docs!
- Check out: Oregon’s tallest lighthouse at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
- Indoor Activity: Oregon Coast Aquarium
Chances are you’ll fly out of Portland or Bend (or both!), so make sure to explore both of those amazing spots, too! I’ll update this post once we do the southern half of the coast. For reference, Astoria-Newport is only a 3 hour drive…. + Newport-Brookings is 4 hours. You could easily make the Oregon Coast a road trip for 2–4 weeks + really take your time with all the outdoor adventures. I will for sure be renting a camper van next time we are here 🥰
Let me know your favorite spots on the Oregon Coast!
Love,
Elisabeth