Things to Do in The Oregon Coast
Sea stacks, tide pools, lighthouses and chowder along Highway 101.
See top-rated activities »Things to Do in Oregon Coast Towns, North to South
Highway 101 follows the entire Oregon Coast, and much of the shore is state park land, so the road keeps coming back to viewpoints, trails and wide beaches. The surf is cold and strong, and sneaker waves can catch people off guard, so this is a coast for walking, tide pooling and watching storms more than swimming. The list of things to do in Oregon coast towns changes with the seasons: summer is mild and busy, winter is wild and quiet.
In the far north, Astoria sits at the mouth of the Columbia River, with Victorian houses on the hillsides, the Columbia River Maritime Museum on the waterfront and the Astoria Column on the hilltop. Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1805 to 1806 at Fort Clatsop nearby, now reconstructed in Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. Cannon Beach, a half hour south, is a village of galleries and inns facing Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack with tide pools and nesting puffins in spring and summer, and Ecola State Park just north has some of the best coastal views anywhere.
Farther south, the Tillamook Creamery welcomes visitors to watch cheese being made, and the Three Capes Scenic Route loops past Cape Meares, Cape Lookout and the dune at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City, where dories launch straight from the beach. Depoe Bay, with one of the smallest harbors in the world, is a center for whale watching; gray whales pass in winter and spring and some stay through summer. Newport has the Oregon Coast Aquarium, a working bayfront and the Yaquina Head lighthouse, and beyond it lie Cape Perpetua, the Heceta Head lighthouse and the Oregon Dunes near Florence. These are the classic things to do in Oregon coast country, and each town makes an easy base.
Don’t Miss
A 235-foot basalt sea stack with tide pools at low tide and puffins in nesting season.
Forested headlands, Indian Beach and trails with views of Haystack Rock and the Tillamook Rock lighthouse.
Exhibits on the dangerous Columbia River bar, with a lightship you can board.
A replica of Fort Clatsop, where the expedition spent the winter of 1805 to 1806.
A self-guided look at cheese making, with ice cream and cheese tastings.
Sea otters, seabirds and walk-through tunnels of Pacific sharks and rays.
Oregon's tallest lighthouse, an interpretive center and accessible tide pools.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Oregon Coast
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 28, 2026. Best of Oregon may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Plan your time in Oregon Coast
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Get free trip quotes »Oregon Coast — FAQ
Where is the best place to stay on the Oregon Coast?
Cannon Beach and Seaside are closest to Portland and good for a first visit. Astoria suits history fans, Pacific City and Lincoln City are central, and Newport and Yachats make good bases for the central coast.
When can you see whales on the Oregon Coast?
Gray whales migrate south in December and January and north from about March to May, and a few hundred stay through summer and fall. Depoe Bay has a whale watching center and boat tours.
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