Oregon Coast Highway
Oregon Coast Highway
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Scenic driving route along Oregon's Pacific coast and through the mountains.
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HeardItBothWays
Easton, PA2,359 contributions
Oct 2019
My husband and I traveled the Oregon Coast Highway 101 as part of a trip down the entire West Coast from Seattle to San Diego. If you're reading this, you've probably heard good things about the Oregon Coast by now but I can definitively say words can't do this magnificent coast justice. The rock formations and the Pacific Ocean along the Oregon Coast Highway are spectacular. We found ourselves stopping constantly, just to take it all in. We started at the Astoria Megler-Bridge, stopping at Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Florence. Make sure to spend some time at Thor's Well too. It's such a unique and thrilling geological feature!
Written September 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoCalOregonian
Murrieta, CA10,363 contributions
May 2021
We drove the Oregon 101 from the state line on the Astoria Megler bridge to the California state line.
We stopped in Seaside, Tillamook, Florence, Coos Bay, a quick inland detour to Coquille, Bandon, and Gold Beach before entering California.
There seems to be a state park every mile or so along the coast. Pick any to stop at and you shant be disappointed.
What sets the Oregon coast apart are the many sea stacks that line the coast and the large almost empty beaches
This is a drive that is to be taken slowly and with no set time schedule so you can stop when you see something that interests you, which is just about around every corner.
We stopped in Seaside, Tillamook, Florence, Coos Bay, a quick inland detour to Coquille, Bandon, and Gold Beach before entering California.
There seems to be a state park every mile or so along the coast. Pick any to stop at and you shant be disappointed.
What sets the Oregon coast apart are the many sea stacks that line the coast and the large almost empty beaches
This is a drive that is to be taken slowly and with no set time schedule so you can stop when you see something that interests you, which is just about around every corner.
Written May 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jasmine38Chichester UK
Chichester, UK1,979 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Beautiful stretch of coastline. There are few roads that hug the coast for so many miles. So much white sand. Lots of beach parks with free parking. Hard to recommend one over the other as most are gorgeous with very few people. Shame water is so cold. Reminiscent of the more famous California coastal drive but far less developed and more rugged as well as cooler!
Written August 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
half-Brit
Oregon Coast49,568 contributions
May 2012 • Couples
I have lived on the Oregon coast for nearly 25 years and my husband and I frequently travel both north and south along Hwy 101. It’s a great drive!
I have included a lot of photos of Highway 101, from south to north, so my review will also be going south to north :-)
After crossing into Oregon from California, you may wish to stop at the “welcome center”. This is a massive building on your left and they can provide you with lots of brochures and maps.
Brookings is a largish town with all services and a lovely marina and beach area, as well as several nice parks. We like to stop here and buy supplies for a picnic.
Leaving the Brookings area, I think the next 50 miles are one of the highlights of Highway 101 – unquestionably one of the three most beautiful stretches along the entire coast! You’ll see many State Parks and areas to pull over, park and take photos.
The next major town is Gold Beach, famous for the Rogue River jet boats. I think the views along here are so nice.
When you reach Port Orford, say goodbye to the ocean for about a half hour until you get to Bandon. Here you will find a pleasant “old town”, marina and lighthouse.
The highway once again turns inland, although the old highway went west out to Charleston, then back to Coos Bay. Coos Bay / North Bend is the largest “metro” area along the Oregon coast with a population of about 25,000. I always enjoy the big Coos Bay bridge! (Official name: Conde McCullough Memorial Bridge.)
Once across the bridge, you’ll see the first of the dunes. This is the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area with the largest coastal dunes in America. They continue for about 50 miles as you drive north, past the towns of Winchester Bay, Reedsport and the river town of Florence.
North of Florence the highway once again goes along the ocean, and a favourite stop here is Heceta Head lighthouse, considered the “most photographed” in the country. The highway winds up the coastal hills and is quite spectacular. There are a number of parks along this lovely stretch of highway, in my opinion the second of the three most beautiful stretches of 101.
The next little town is one of my favourites – Yachats. It’s the classic little seaside village with a population of about 700 and has pleasant scenery everywhere you look!
As you head toward Waldport, a word about the bridges of the Oregon coast…
The dramatic bridges along Highway 101 were designed by Conde McCullough and built in the 1920’s and 1930’s. All are still standing today, although they have had some upgrading and repair work done on them. In the late 1980’s, it was discovered that the Alsea Bay Bridge was rapidly deteriorating and could not be effectively repaired, so it was replaced with a modern bridge. The old bridge was destroyed – regrettably in my opinion, as I think they should have saved a bit of it on the north end for people to walk out on. The “new” (1991) bridge at Waldport is a lovely graceful bridge, but without the charm of the old bridge.
Seal Rock State Park is a few miles farther north, and is a great spot for photos. About eight miles north you will come to the large town of Newport with its’ signature beautiful bridge and NOAA western headquarters to the east as you cross the bay. I like seeing the research ships here.
You’ll see some great ocean vistas as you continue north to Depoe Bay, called the world’s smallest harbor. A few miles farther and the highway once again moves inland with limited views through bustling Lincoln City and north.
Highway 101 then turns inland behind coastal hills and you’ll see rivers and farmland rather than the ocean. The alternative route is called “Three Capes Scenic Drive” which follows the headlands but is slower with rough pavement and I feel disappointingly few ocean vistas.
Tillamook is famous for its’ cheese and creamery, as most visitors to the coast consider this a ‘must’ stop. I prefer to keep going north. Garibaldi and Wheeler are two small towns I think are quite attractive.
Then the highway climbs up Neahkahnie Mountain and clings to the steep slopes. This section is short but with some amazing views! This is the third spectacular section of Highway 101.
The highway bypasses the ‘artsy’ town of Cannon Beach, and heads to busy Seaside. From here north to Astoria, the views are limited to non-existent. In fact, I call this stretch of 101 downright “dull”! Once you sight Youngs Bay and Astoria, though, the scenery is once again delightful.
Continue north on Highway 101 across the impressive Astoria-Megler Bridge into Washington.
A few extraneous notes –-
- The length of Highway 101 in Oregon is about 400 miles. Allow enough time to drive it without hurrying. We seem to average about 50 MPH overall, and the highway goes right through many towns with 25-35 MPH speed limits.
- The best weather is in July, August, September and early October. Of course, those months also have the most traffic! Spring and early summer may be rainy but they are also incredibly green. The highway is subject to severe wind and rain storms in the winter, although it is rarely closed. Snow is common from the central coast northward, but usually just an inch or two falls a few times each winter.
- For the most part, Oregon’s Highway 101 is in good condition. The southern coast is subject to earth movement and as such has rough patches.
- The coastal highway is beautiful no matter which direction you’re traveling, but if you opt to drive southbound, there are two advantages – one, it’s easier to pull out at the many scenic stopping points, and two, the passenger gets great views of the ocean!
We always enjoy our drives along Highway 101 and the beautiful Oregon coast :-)
I have included a lot of photos of Highway 101, from south to north, so my review will also be going south to north :-)
After crossing into Oregon from California, you may wish to stop at the “welcome center”. This is a massive building on your left and they can provide you with lots of brochures and maps.
Brookings is a largish town with all services and a lovely marina and beach area, as well as several nice parks. We like to stop here and buy supplies for a picnic.
Leaving the Brookings area, I think the next 50 miles are one of the highlights of Highway 101 – unquestionably one of the three most beautiful stretches along the entire coast! You’ll see many State Parks and areas to pull over, park and take photos.
The next major town is Gold Beach, famous for the Rogue River jet boats. I think the views along here are so nice.
When you reach Port Orford, say goodbye to the ocean for about a half hour until you get to Bandon. Here you will find a pleasant “old town”, marina and lighthouse.
The highway once again turns inland, although the old highway went west out to Charleston, then back to Coos Bay. Coos Bay / North Bend is the largest “metro” area along the Oregon coast with a population of about 25,000. I always enjoy the big Coos Bay bridge! (Official name: Conde McCullough Memorial Bridge.)
Once across the bridge, you’ll see the first of the dunes. This is the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area with the largest coastal dunes in America. They continue for about 50 miles as you drive north, past the towns of Winchester Bay, Reedsport and the river town of Florence.
North of Florence the highway once again goes along the ocean, and a favourite stop here is Heceta Head lighthouse, considered the “most photographed” in the country. The highway winds up the coastal hills and is quite spectacular. There are a number of parks along this lovely stretch of highway, in my opinion the second of the three most beautiful stretches of 101.
The next little town is one of my favourites – Yachats. It’s the classic little seaside village with a population of about 700 and has pleasant scenery everywhere you look!
As you head toward Waldport, a word about the bridges of the Oregon coast…
The dramatic bridges along Highway 101 were designed by Conde McCullough and built in the 1920’s and 1930’s. All are still standing today, although they have had some upgrading and repair work done on them. In the late 1980’s, it was discovered that the Alsea Bay Bridge was rapidly deteriorating and could not be effectively repaired, so it was replaced with a modern bridge. The old bridge was destroyed – regrettably in my opinion, as I think they should have saved a bit of it on the north end for people to walk out on. The “new” (1991) bridge at Waldport is a lovely graceful bridge, but without the charm of the old bridge.
Seal Rock State Park is a few miles farther north, and is a great spot for photos. About eight miles north you will come to the large town of Newport with its’ signature beautiful bridge and NOAA western headquarters to the east as you cross the bay. I like seeing the research ships here.
You’ll see some great ocean vistas as you continue north to Depoe Bay, called the world’s smallest harbor. A few miles farther and the highway once again moves inland with limited views through bustling Lincoln City and north.
Highway 101 then turns inland behind coastal hills and you’ll see rivers and farmland rather than the ocean. The alternative route is called “Three Capes Scenic Drive” which follows the headlands but is slower with rough pavement and I feel disappointingly few ocean vistas.
Tillamook is famous for its’ cheese and creamery, as most visitors to the coast consider this a ‘must’ stop. I prefer to keep going north. Garibaldi and Wheeler are two small towns I think are quite attractive.
Then the highway climbs up Neahkahnie Mountain and clings to the steep slopes. This section is short but with some amazing views! This is the third spectacular section of Highway 101.
The highway bypasses the ‘artsy’ town of Cannon Beach, and heads to busy Seaside. From here north to Astoria, the views are limited to non-existent. In fact, I call this stretch of 101 downright “dull”! Once you sight Youngs Bay and Astoria, though, the scenery is once again delightful.
Continue north on Highway 101 across the impressive Astoria-Megler Bridge into Washington.
A few extraneous notes –-
- The length of Highway 101 in Oregon is about 400 miles. Allow enough time to drive it without hurrying. We seem to average about 50 MPH overall, and the highway goes right through many towns with 25-35 MPH speed limits.
- The best weather is in July, August, September and early October. Of course, those months also have the most traffic! Spring and early summer may be rainy but they are also incredibly green. The highway is subject to severe wind and rain storms in the winter, although it is rarely closed. Snow is common from the central coast northward, but usually just an inch or two falls a few times each winter.
- For the most part, Oregon’s Highway 101 is in good condition. The southern coast is subject to earth movement and as such has rough patches.
- The coastal highway is beautiful no matter which direction you’re traveling, but if you opt to drive southbound, there are two advantages – one, it’s easier to pull out at the many scenic stopping points, and two, the passenger gets great views of the ocean!
We always enjoy our drives along Highway 101 and the beautiful Oregon coast :-)
Written September 28, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phirl
Oregon8,775 contributions
Hi I retired from the Forest Service 12 years ago. I grew up near Newport and until recently had a daughter living there. We now have a time share at Depoe Bay. We get to the coast regularly.
ASTORIA. Historic place. Go up to Astor Column, walk to top if you want. See Fort Clatsop the Lewis and Clark camp, Ft Stevens where portals look out waiting for the Japanese in '41. Lots of old homes.
SEASIDE. One of Oregon's first beach resorts. Nice beach here. Still a busy place. Broadway has arcades, shops. More for the younger crowd.
CANNON BEACH. Trendy place, nice beach, good shops, nice place to stroll around town. Costs a bit more. Downtown is off busy 101.
N TILLAMOOK CO. Several small towns, most on bays not ocean. Fun to poke around in them, more downscale than Cannon Beach. Rockaway Beach is on ocean
TILLAMOOK. Tillamook cheese is the best there is. Visit the cheese factory
S TILLAMOOK CO. Two options here 101 which is not on ocean. Or Three Capes Co Rd. Go west out of Tillamook toward Netarts, S to Pacific City back to 101 s of there. Road is a little narrow hangs on the cliff in a couple of places, but nice drive, not too busy. Sand Lake along here is dune buggy place.
NESKOWIN. Quiet place, beach is a little hard to access, but good one. Nice motel.
LINCOLN CITY. 10 miles long 1 mile wide. Town is right on beach but 101 is not. New Indian Casino n end of town has increased traffic.
DEPOE BAY. Named for Chief Depoe. Very good stop with rocky shore line. Watch the ocean here. Spouting Horn. Beverly Beach SP CG south is popular
OTTER ROCK. Devils Punch Bowl, a good place to see tide pools to north and walk the beach to south. A bit of a walk to them. This is a favorite spot of mine.
NEWPORT I grew up 7 miles w of here. So may be partial. Yaquina Head Lighthouse n of town is open, tide pools here also. Agate Beach where you turn to LH, once aptly named you could always find agates. You still can at times. The waterfront in Newport is good. Shops, deep sea fishing, lots of boats, big bridge, MO's for chowder. Yaquina Bay SP has access to jetty and beach.
SEAL ROCK. State Park Big rocks in ocean, birds, seals?, tide pools. Another favorite stop
WALDPORT. My wife makes us stop at flea market downtown on 101. Some better buys than other beach towns.
YACHATS. Nice little spot, better for motels. but get ready for the next 20 miles. Some of the best coastline there is. Cape Perpetua, nice visitor center. On top was another WWII observation site. Heceta Head Lighthouse and House, one of most photographed places in country.. House is haunted goes the story but you can visit it anyway. Sea Lion Caves. Costs but you can see the sea lions in their cave home.
FLORENCE. It has a bayfront old town too, but not as good as Newport. Parking is better. Honeyman SP is good camp site. Near Cleawox Lake but a bit of a hike across the dunes to the ocean.
OREGON DUNES. Managed by Forest Service. They start at Florence run 40 miles along coast to Coos Bay. You have to get out of the car to see these. 101 just touches on them. Dunes Overlook is a very good site. Several small CGs
REEDSPORT. Winchester Bay is good site. You can crab here. We caught enough for 20 of us not long ago. Good stop.
NORTH BEND/COOS BAY. The city on the coast. and not really on the ocean, on the bay. Charleston to west is also a crabbing site and Sunset Bay SP good place to camp, golf nearby.
SOUTH. Now we are getting out of what I call my old stomping grounds, so a little less familiar. Though have been along route several times
BANDON Only spot from Coos Bay to Port Orford where 101 is along the ocean. Nice old town area with some good shops. Has a good fresh fish market right near the docks.
PORT ORFORD . From here 60 miles of spectacular rugged coast line and you are right on it much of the time. Cape Arago lighthouse worth a visit
GOLD BEACH. If you have time, the jet boat ride up the Rogue River is great. The shorter ride to Agness worked just fine for us, takes 5 hours or so
BROOKINGS. Has become a popular retirement place. Good weather much of year. Just north of Cal state line.
Phil in Oreg
PS Be sure to check out the many lighthouses along the Oregon Coast. You can make a good tour just visiting them.
ASTORIA. Historic place. Go up to Astor Column, walk to top if you want. See Fort Clatsop the Lewis and Clark camp, Ft Stevens where portals look out waiting for the Japanese in '41. Lots of old homes.
SEASIDE. One of Oregon's first beach resorts. Nice beach here. Still a busy place. Broadway has arcades, shops. More for the younger crowd.
CANNON BEACH. Trendy place, nice beach, good shops, nice place to stroll around town. Costs a bit more. Downtown is off busy 101.
N TILLAMOOK CO. Several small towns, most on bays not ocean. Fun to poke around in them, more downscale than Cannon Beach. Rockaway Beach is on ocean
TILLAMOOK. Tillamook cheese is the best there is. Visit the cheese factory
S TILLAMOOK CO. Two options here 101 which is not on ocean. Or Three Capes Co Rd. Go west out of Tillamook toward Netarts, S to Pacific City back to 101 s of there. Road is a little narrow hangs on the cliff in a couple of places, but nice drive, not too busy. Sand Lake along here is dune buggy place.
NESKOWIN. Quiet place, beach is a little hard to access, but good one. Nice motel.
LINCOLN CITY. 10 miles long 1 mile wide. Town is right on beach but 101 is not. New Indian Casino n end of town has increased traffic.
DEPOE BAY. Named for Chief Depoe. Very good stop with rocky shore line. Watch the ocean here. Spouting Horn. Beverly Beach SP CG south is popular
OTTER ROCK. Devils Punch Bowl, a good place to see tide pools to north and walk the beach to south. A bit of a walk to them. This is a favorite spot of mine.
NEWPORT I grew up 7 miles w of here. So may be partial. Yaquina Head Lighthouse n of town is open, tide pools here also. Agate Beach where you turn to LH, once aptly named you could always find agates. You still can at times. The waterfront in Newport is good. Shops, deep sea fishing, lots of boats, big bridge, MO's for chowder. Yaquina Bay SP has access to jetty and beach.
SEAL ROCK. State Park Big rocks in ocean, birds, seals?, tide pools. Another favorite stop
WALDPORT. My wife makes us stop at flea market downtown on 101. Some better buys than other beach towns.
YACHATS. Nice little spot, better for motels. but get ready for the next 20 miles. Some of the best coastline there is. Cape Perpetua, nice visitor center. On top was another WWII observation site. Heceta Head Lighthouse and House, one of most photographed places in country.. House is haunted goes the story but you can visit it anyway. Sea Lion Caves. Costs but you can see the sea lions in their cave home.
FLORENCE. It has a bayfront old town too, but not as good as Newport. Parking is better. Honeyman SP is good camp site. Near Cleawox Lake but a bit of a hike across the dunes to the ocean.
OREGON DUNES. Managed by Forest Service. They start at Florence run 40 miles along coast to Coos Bay. You have to get out of the car to see these. 101 just touches on them. Dunes Overlook is a very good site. Several small CGs
REEDSPORT. Winchester Bay is good site. You can crab here. We caught enough for 20 of us not long ago. Good stop.
NORTH BEND/COOS BAY. The city on the coast. and not really on the ocean, on the bay. Charleston to west is also a crabbing site and Sunset Bay SP good place to camp, golf nearby.
SOUTH. Now we are getting out of what I call my old stomping grounds, so a little less familiar. Though have been along route several times
BANDON Only spot from Coos Bay to Port Orford where 101 is along the ocean. Nice old town area with some good shops. Has a good fresh fish market right near the docks.
PORT ORFORD . From here 60 miles of spectacular rugged coast line and you are right on it much of the time. Cape Arago lighthouse worth a visit
GOLD BEACH. If you have time, the jet boat ride up the Rogue River is great. The shorter ride to Agness worked just fine for us, takes 5 hours or so
BROOKINGS. Has become a popular retirement place. Good weather much of year. Just north of Cal state line.
Phil in Oreg
PS Be sure to check out the many lighthouses along the Oregon Coast. You can make a good tour just visiting them.
Written June 27, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Chauffeur of Positano
Positano, Italy902 contributions
Oct 2019
We loved this rugged coastline and witnessed the power of the Pacific ocean, but we also loved the diversity of the landscape. Sandy beaches, meadows and forests that wind along the entire route.
Written October 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ordeal_seeker
Indiana303 contributions
Jul 2011 • Couples
My wife and I drove the Oregon Coast in July, 2011. We started at the CA border and drove north. We tent camped at several parks along the way and thoroughly enjoyed the weather and the scenery. We don't always camp, as we get older we like the B&B's more and more, but for this trip we decided to camp - although it was primarily to stay closer to the beach and to save $ on lodging.
We stayed at Harris Beach State Park (near Brookings), Sunset Bay State Park (near Charleston, and Cape Lookout State Park (near Tillamook). All the state parks and campsite were good.
Of the 300+ miles of Highway 101 that follows the coast, only about 20% is actually near the shore line. Much of the drive is away from the coast and away from the scenery. The southern portion is the most scenic. We found several great breakfast, lunch and dinner places along the way and a grocery store is only the next town away.
Some of the highlights:
- the beach at Harris Beach State Park
- the sunset at Sunset Bay State Park is really very nice
- the markets in Newport have great fresh salmon
- the Tillamook Cheese Factory has excellent cheese and ice cream (we went twice for - ice cream
- Cannon Beach is the most charming of all the towns along the Oregon Coast and it has a great beach. When we go back and stay in a B&B, it will be in Cannon Beach.
- Fort Clatsop is a must see
- the Astoria Column is a great view on a clear day
Not as good as advertised:
- the hike to Humburg Mountain is a nice hike, but the view from the top is obscured by trees (definitely not worth the time)
- the light house were rarely opened and difficult to get to at times
Enjoy the trip and take your time. There are great places to stop to watch the ocean and great places to eat.
We stayed at Harris Beach State Park (near Brookings), Sunset Bay State Park (near Charleston, and Cape Lookout State Park (near Tillamook). All the state parks and campsite were good.
Of the 300+ miles of Highway 101 that follows the coast, only about 20% is actually near the shore line. Much of the drive is away from the coast and away from the scenery. The southern portion is the most scenic. We found several great breakfast, lunch and dinner places along the way and a grocery store is only the next town away.
Some of the highlights:
- the beach at Harris Beach State Park
- the sunset at Sunset Bay State Park is really very nice
- the markets in Newport have great fresh salmon
- the Tillamook Cheese Factory has excellent cheese and ice cream (we went twice for - ice cream
- Cannon Beach is the most charming of all the towns along the Oregon Coast and it has a great beach. When we go back and stay in a B&B, it will be in Cannon Beach.
- Fort Clatsop is a must see
- the Astoria Column is a great view on a clear day
Not as good as advertised:
- the hike to Humburg Mountain is a nice hike, but the view from the top is obscured by trees (definitely not worth the time)
- the light house were rarely opened and difficult to get to at times
Enjoy the trip and take your time. There are great places to stop to watch the ocean and great places to eat.
Written February 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
islandgirlthree
Hilton Head, SC61 contributions
Sep 2012 • Solo
My husband and I flew to Seattle, Wa. to visit our son and his wife, rented a car and started
driving South along the coast through Oregon and California, ending in San Diego to visit
our other son in Sept. 2012. The scenery along the way was wonderful and had to stop to
take many pictures. The weather was perfect. Loved every minute of the drive.
driving South along the coast through Oregon and California, ending in San Diego to visit
our other son in Sept. 2012. The scenery along the way was wonderful and had to stop to
take many pictures. The weather was perfect. Loved every minute of the drive.
Written March 14, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skeney57
Sydney, Australia25,003 contributions
Jan 2014 • Couples
I only wish we had the time to start from Astoria to get the full 101 experience but when you fly 14,000 Klm to get somewhere you do what you can do in the time available , right ?? So we started from Tillamook and down South we went. The towns are all on the Rand McNally or AAA maps and are yours to explore or ignore at your leisure but I can safely say as a world traveller that it ranks up there as one of the best drives on this Ol' Planet ! If you doubt that statement go and give 101 a Burl !! That's Aussie for give it a try !!! OK ?? It would be re-miss of me to not mention the best guide to the Oregon Coast which is "The Original Highway 101 Mile-By-Mile Guide " which we followed religiously and it enhanced our whole trip of the OC ! Download a copy and you won't regret it !!
Written April 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrseak
Vivian, LA30 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
My son and I needed to get away after a series of family tragedies. We decided to fly to San Francisco, rent a car and drive the 101 to Seattle. We wanted to experience the rhythm of the sea, the majesty of the mountains, the quiet of the redwoods, and the vibrancy of the cities. We got all that and more on that drive. We reminisced, laughed, cried, and dreamed of our futures. It was such a cathartic experience that it was hard to leave. The Oregon coast was our favorite. Lots of beautiful memories made to carry forward.
Written May 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are driving the Oregon coast in January.what can we expect for weather, and please advise the best route in detail to see the most attractions and beautiful scenery?travrllj v from Vancouver Canada.
Written January 6, 2025
We plan to drive the entire Oregon coast and are primarily interested in the natural scenery and wildlife. How many days should we allow for the drive, for a leisurely pace?
Written April 9, 2021
My RV is a 22' Winnebago Outlook. I have never driving a 40' or a toad. However, I see others doing it all the time. Commercial truckers use 101. Happy trails.
Written July 6, 2019
Kalamariverrat, Thank you so much for your help! That's just what I needed! We are driving a mid sized SUV and are very adventurous! Can you please recommend your must do/sees! Best, Patricia
Written June 7, 2019
1. Portland – visit WWII PT boat museum (open M & Th).
2. US 30 West to Rainier. Interstate Café has great Dungeness crab sandwiches.
(A good side trip is to cross the Columbia River here and go north about 70 miles to visit the Mt St. Helens volcano eruption site).
3. Back on US 30 W, stop at the Berry Patch in Westport for Marionberry pie and ice cream.
4. (If you are REALLY adventurous, take the car ferry here across the Columbia to Cathlament.
It is small, and you really get a sense of how big the River is here. Then continue west on WA 4 to WA 401 to Megler and recross the Columbia via bridge to Astoria. Pick up US 101 here.)
If you’re not THAT adventurous, stay on US 30 at Westport and continue on to Astoria.
5. In the Astoria area, you should visit Ft. Stevens State Park, and the Lewis & Clark Natl Park.
6. If you are hungry, stop at Doogers in Warrenton for seafood.
7. Seaside is kind of tacky, but at the old aquarium at the end of the Turnaround, you can feed the seals.
8. Next stop, Ecola State Park. Great views of the Pacific, sea stacks, etc.
9. Cannon Beach is also worth a stop. See my review from last year for parking tips. Good dog beach.
10. If you have time, the steam train excursion at Garibaldi is cool.
11. Tillamook – the Tillamook Creamery here at the north end of town is really touristy, but the ice cream is the best in the world! They also have dozens of kinds of cheese.
12. Would NOT STOP at the huge blimp hangar that houses the remnants of an aviation museum. Most of the airplanes are gone, and you can see the hangar from US 101.
13. PASS THROUGH Lincoln City rapidly. Full of Portland vacationers.
14. Depoe Bay is cool; you probably will see whales right off shore. It was the location of one of the scenes from the movie “One Flew Over the Cuckoos’ Nest”.
15. Newport has also been ‘touristified’, but the old fisherman’s wharf area is still fun. AVOID the “Original Mo’s” seafood joint. There is a better branch further south.
16. The O.C. Aquarium is good if you are interested in that sort of stuff.
17. Further south is Seal Rock State Park, where you can see seals and sea lions hauled out on the rocks.
DO AVOID the Sea Lion Caves commercial site between Waldport and Florence. Rip-off.
18. This stretch of coast, from Cascade Head to Heceta Head, is studded with vista points and rest areas. You will be on the good side of the road, so you can pull off and on with no problem. You may get bored with the spectacular scenery.
19. Florence would be a good place to stay, but the Best Western here is pricey. The B/W in Reedsport (20 miles further south) is almost as nice and much cheaper.
20. Florence has a nice small miltary museum (open Wed-Sat 12-4), and an authentic fisherman’s wharf area, where you may be able to buy fresh halibut, salmon, or crabs. Also lots of antique shops.
21. Mo’s has a branch on the dock which is better than the Original in Newport.
Bridgewater Fish House and the Harbor Light are also good.
22. Reedsport is tacky, but has a good Best Western.
23. Winchester Bay has a number of good seafood places (Griff’s,), and Sportsmen’s Cannery where you can buy canned or smoked salmon, Dungeness crab, and whatever else is being caught that week. There is also Umpqua Aquaculture Oyster Farm, where you can buy and eat fresh oysters (if that is your thing.)
24. The Coast gets a lot more rugged and a lot less touristy from here south.
25. North Bend/Coos Bay is an area that once was a bustling lumber mill/port area. Struggling to survive.
26. Bandon is scenic and has some nice shops.
27. Port Orford to Brookings, you are right on the edge of the continent. Lots of wild scenery, not many people.
PART B TO BE SENT SOON - FROM HERE SOUTH TO TAHOE.
Written June 9, 2019
Hi, We are driving from Portland to Lake Tahoe and would like to stay on the coast as long as possible and worthwhile. Can you please recommend the best route to take? TY, Patricia
Written June 1, 2019
OK. Do you have kids or dogs?
More to come.
Written June 8, 2019
Hi, I am travelling from Silverton to Crescent City in early June. What should i stop and see along this journey?
Written May 4, 2019
Julie - If you have the time, definitely drive through the Redwoods. They are amazing!
Written May 8, 2019
Where should we start in the North to see all/ most of it and where would we go back to the main highways?
Written February 22, 2019
Honestly, we didn't see all or even most of it and it didn't matter. I would gauge it for however much time you have. I might start at Astoria and go south, you cannot go wrong. We had limited time and because we started at Cannon Beach (which many Oregonians say is their favorite) and going south to go to the Tillamook Creamery, we saw a good amount and had cheese and ice cream as a treat.
Written February 22, 2019
how many miles from hayward california to seaside oregon via oregon coast highway
and how many hours?
Written January 7, 2019
The Irish doctor's answer was very incomplete.
It is a minimum of 730 miles from Hayward to Seaside.
Your best bet is to get on US101 as soon as you leave the Bay Area. Depending on traffic getting through Marin, it will take you a minimum of 8 hours to get to Crescent City.
Plan to spend the night there (I recommend the Best Western + Northwoods Inn) because you don't want to navigate the southern end of the OCH in the dark.
It will take you another MINIMUM 8 hours to get from CC to Seaside, depending on how often you stop to view the scenery, eat clam chowder or Dungeness crab, etc, etc, etc.
You may want stop stop again, halfway, somewhere around Florence or Waldport. It is a long, distracting drive.
Written January 14, 2019
I was there the first week of October 2018 and the weather was great. Warm days, cool nights and very little fog. From what I read the entire month of October and first 2 weeks are the best weather wise.
Written October 26, 2018
We are travelling from Canyonville, OR to Astoria and would like to know the best hiway to take from I5 to PCH. My husband is afraid of heights so one that is not too high up. Thanks
Written September 3, 2018
Cindy make sure what ever road you take that you check wildfire activity in the area. The other poster gave the same route advice I was going to give. Safe travels!
Written September 4, 2018
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