The Ultimate Oregon Coast Bucket List!

I recently returned from a trip to the Oregon coast.  With temperatures in Bend topping 106 degrees, I thought: what better time to visit the beach?!  And last week, practically the entire state of Oregon was plagued with temps over 100 degrees.  Only when I reached Mapleton, just outside of Florence, did it finally plummet to a breezy 75 degrees.  Because that’s the thing about the Oregon coast: you can always count on cooler temperatures there!  To help you make the most of your Oregon road trip, here’s a printable “Ultimate Oregon Coast Bucket List?!” 

After 10+ years of living in Oregon, I finally made it to Natural Bridges, by Brookings. WORTH IT!!

What’s the Main Difference Between the California & Oregon Coastline?  As one fellow I met said: “In Oregon, there are a LOT less rules!”  You can drive on the beach, take your dog off-leash….& parking is FREE almost everywhere, vs. not so much in California. 

 

And lodging along the Oregon coast is a lot more affordable, like the oceanfront room I got at Deane’s Oceanfront Lodge for $120/night ~ which would be hard to find in California!

Map of Great Oregon Coast Stops…

The Ultimate Oregon Coast Road Trip

The Oregon coast is filled with jaw-dropping viewpoints….it’s hard to narrow down!  This is a beautiful, underrated coastline.  Below are some of the highlights.

Heceta Head is the prettiest lighthouse on the Oregon coast…in my humble opinion. Straight out of “Murder She Wrote!”

• On the SOUTHERN OREGON COAST:  1) Natural Bridges Viewpoint (11 miles north of Brookings), 2) Secret Beach (12 miles north of Brookings, right by Natural Bridges ~ requires a very steep descent to reach), 3) Arch Rock State Park (14 miles north of Brookings, & much more accessible than Natural Bridges or Secret Beach). 4) Bandon (cute town with beautiful beaches & varied lodging, including famous golf resort: Bandon Dunes); & 5) Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint (come here at sunset)!!
• On the MID-OREGON COAST: 6) Florence (one of the largest towns on the coast with a great downtown & lots of good restaurants); 7) Heceta Head Lighthouse (13 miles north of Florence, the prettiest lighthouse on the coast); 8) Sea Lion Caves (great for kids); 9) Cape Perpetua Scenic Area (perhaps the prettiest stretch of Oregon coastline: with Thor’s Well, Neptune State Park, hiking trails, Spouting Horn, & Devil’s Churn); & 10) Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area (gaping bowl on a rocky headland).
• On the NORTHERN OREGON COAST: 11) Cannon Beach (the “Carmel by-the-Sea” of the Oregon coast, close to gorgeous Oswald West State Park ~ with fancy hotels & a darling downtown), & 12) Astoria (the northern-most town on the coast, famous for its association with “The Goonies” movie.)

Printable Oregon Coast Bucket List

Photos of Southern Oregon Coast

A girl & her dog at Natural Bridges.

Another view of Natural Bridges…

There’s an upper viewpoint at Natural Bridges that anyone can access (it’s about 20 feet from the parking lot).  But to get lower & closer to the ocean, you’ll need to go down a VERY STEEP hill ~ that my hotel warned me many people had died on!  Be very careful if you decide to take that path…as there’s no hand rail or rope to hold onto. 

Secret Beach is famous for its large rocks that sit in front of a crescent-shaped bay. But it requires a very steep ascent to reach…

Secret Beach also requires a very steep hill to access the beach; you can see NOTHING from the top parking lot.  Which makes this stop not work for everyone.

The “Arched Rock” at Arch Rock State Park Viewpoint.

The beach at Arch Rock is stunning…

Arch Rock State Park comes right after Natural Bridges & Secret Beach.  But the good news is: ANYONE can access these views!  There’s a nice big parking lot, & a very good (short) trail that follows the cliff’s edge, allowing for great photos.  And there are bathrooms here.

Large rocks jut out of the ocean at Bandon Beach, including their famous “Face Rock.”

Pretty Coquille River Lighthouse, in Bandon.

Bandon is a great place to stay the night, as their town has more dining & lodging options than nearby Gold Beach or Port Orford.  Bandon Inn & Bandon Marina Inn are two great options if you don’t want to spend the big bucks at Bandon Dunes Resort.

Photos of Mid to Northern Oregon Coast

Oregon’s sand dunes stretch for miles & miles south of Florence. Photo: Eugene Weekly.

Try to hit Heceta Head Lighthouse at sunset! I took this shot about 20 minutes before the actual sunset time.

My dog Charlie at wonderful Neptune State Park, in the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area.

Thor’s Well is also located in the Cape Perpetua area. Many scenic stops around here…

For great pet-friendly lodging by Cape Perpetua, try Deane’s Oceanfront Lodge (now Tilicum Beach Motel). Their rooms are cottage-quaint with everything you need: plus they’re located right above one of the widest, best beaches for dogs….you can walk for miles in each direction & have the beach nearly to yourself.

Haystack Rock might be the most famous image of the entire Oregon coast.

Building a fire in Cannon Beach…

I’ve stayed in almost every hotel in Cannon Beach: my two favorites are The Ocean Lodge & its sister property, The Inn at Cannon Beach (which is less expensive with pretty gardens).

Hwy 101 takes you over the Astoria Bridge, which takes you right into Washington state…

Views in Astoria.

The Ultimate Oregon Coastal Bucket List

I hope that my love for the Oregon coast has been transmitted here.  Compared to the California coast: it’s a much more peaceful place, with less people….& many opportunities for relaxation & inspiration.

xoxo Noelia

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