Updated: March 28, 2024
What is there to do on the Oregon Coast? Everything from adventure sports to slow walks on the beach. There’s something for every age group and style of traveler, whether you’re interested in history, kayaking or cooking over a campfire.
Most people are drawn to the Oregon Coast just to take in the beautiful scenery. However, the weather in the Pacific Northwest doesn’t always cooperate. Sometimes you need to find things to do indoors on rainy days as well.
Below is a list of activities and attractions on the Oregon Coast you can enjoy rain or shine, indoors or outdoors. Oregon is known for its outstanding natural areas so the list is noticeably heavier in the outdoor section, but there are still plenty of fun things to do indoors, too! We will keep this list updated as we find new ideas.
This page may contain affiliate links where we earn a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our suggestions are based on our own experience and thorough research. Full disclosure.
Outdoor Activities
Campgrounds on the Oregon Coast
There are multiple campgrounds along the Oregon Coast with campsites for RVs, tents, hikers, bikers, horse campers and groups. Many Oregon State Park campgrounds on the coast also have yurts and cabins available for rent.
🌲 See our Oregon Coast Camping Guide for a full list of Oregon State Parks on the coast and find out how to reserve a campsite.
To get prepared for your camping trip, download our free Camping Checklist to make sure you bring everything you need for coastal camping in Oregon.
RV Camping on the Oregon Coast
🚐 We usually stay at State Parks but there are also several privately owned RV parks and campgrounds along the Oregon Coast off Highway 101. Services and facilities can vary widely, so be sure to check reviews on Google Maps or use a trusted trip-planning app like RV Life to read unbiased reviews of campgrounds by other RVers. Try it free.
🌞🍁 When to go: Camping on the Oregon Coast is a popular activity in the summer and early fall months when the weather is dry and warm. It is less crowded in winter and spring but be prepared for some (lots) of rain. See Oregon Coast Weather – When to Visit for more about what kind of weather to expect throughout the year.
Hiking on the Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast offers miles of established hiking trails, many of which offer rewarding views of the Pacific Ocean. Find your next trail with our guide to some of the best Oregon Coast hikes.
Horseback Riding on Oregon's Beaches
Go horseback riding on the beach at sunset or explore a whole network of nature trails on horseback at one of Oregon’s coastal State Parks.
Nehalem Bay State Park on the northern coast is one of the most popular areas for horseback riding on the Oregon Coast and has horse trails and a horse camp with 17 campsites. Cape Blanco State Park on the southern coast also has a horse camp with 12 corrals.
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area near Florence offers miles of scenic landscape to explore on horseback.
Pacific City and Bandon have tour companies in town that offer guided horseback riding on the Oregon Coast.
OHV Riding on the Oregon Coast
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is one of the largest expanses of coastal sand dunes in the world, stretching 40 miles south from Florence to Coos Bay, Oregon.
Exploring the Oregon Dunes is one of the most popular things to do in the central-southern coast, especially in summer when visitors come to enjoy outdoor activities like off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, hiking, fishing, paddling, swimming, horseback riding, biking, wildlife viewing, birding, picnicking and camping. Several Oregon Coast companies offer dune buggy rentals and tours.
The best towns for exploring the Oregon Dunes are:
Also, Sand Lake Recreation Area north of Pacific City has a designated OHV area.
👉 See our complete guide to the Oregon Dunes
Cycling and Bike Riding on the Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast Bike Route is a road route that essentially follows Highway 101 with some detours. Download the Oregon Coast Bike Route map (pdf) from Oregon Department of Transportation.
Oregon State Park campgrounds have miles of paved and well-maintained, designated bike paths without motorized traffic.
The Wild Rivers Coast Scenic Bikeway is one of several Oregon Scenic Bikeways, or designated bike routes curated by experts. Explore 60 miles of the southern Oregon Coast starting in Port Orford and choose from a variety of bike routes.
Fat tire biking is also a fun way to explore the Oregon Coast on two wheels. A fat bike has extra-large tires for riding on the sand. Go fat biking in Pacific City on the Cape Kiwanda Fat Bike Route.
Excellent mountain biking trails can also be found up and down the Oregon Coast. The 30-mile Whiskey Run Mountain Biking Trail is located in Coos Bay on the southern coast along with fat biking in the Oregon Dunes and pedaling on the rails.
Pedal your own four-seater railroad quadricycle along the historic railroad with Oregon Coast Railriders in Coquille (near Coos Bay). Twins Ranch Railriders also leads tours of the Tillamook Coast.
Bird Watching on the Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a birding paradise with hundreds of different bird species to encounter. Find the best spots for bird watching on the Oregon Coast and learn more about Oregon birds.
Fishing, Clamming and Crabbing on the Oregon Coast
The state’s entire coastline provides excellent fishing and shellfish harvesting year-round. Fishing on the Oregon Coast can include salmon, steelhead, tuna, perch, rockfish and lingcod, as well as many types of clams, mussels and Dungeness crab.
Fishing in the state of Oregon is organized by zone and recreation reports are regularly updated for each area. Learn more about fishing in Oregon’s Marine Zone and how to get a license.
Clamming on the Oregon Coast is a fun activity for kids and adults alike. Minus tides and low tides in spring and summer are good times to go, but clamming can be done year-round. Learn more about how to go clamming in Oregon.
For crabbing on the Oregon Coast, you’ll need to have crab pots and other supplies before you head out on your own. Be sure you know where to go and check current regulations to make sure it’s safe to harvest shellfish. Crabbing is generally best between September and December. Learn how and where to go crabbing on the Oregon Coast.
Kayaking on the Oregon Coast
Kayaking, canoeing, rafting and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) opportunities are plentiful on the Oregon Coast with so many waterways flowing into calm coastal bays and protected areas perfect for viewing wildlife.
Many of Oregon’s state parks on the coast have ideal areas for paddling and some parks like Fort Stevens, Devil’s Lake and Honeyman also have freshwater lakes.
Nature preserves like the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge offer protected areas to view geese, ducks, deer and other wildlife while paddling.
The Tillamook Water Trail includes 250 miles and 5 different watersheds to explore and is one of the best areas for kayaking on the Oregon Coast. In Waldport, the Alsea River Water Trail, is a 10-mile route along the Alsea River, Drift Creek and Lint Slough great for paddling, birdwatching and wildlife spotting.
Seaside’s Quatat Park on the Necanicum River is one of the best areas for kids to paddle around and has swan boats, paddle boats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for rent.
The Salmon River Estuary near Lincoln City and Alsea Bay Estuary near Waldport offer calm waters for exploring by kayak.
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is an excellent place for kayaking on the Oregon Coast with access to rivers and freshwater lakes.
Be mindful of the tide schedule— Oregon’s coastal rivers have strong tidal changes so make sure you are going with the tide and not fighting against it. Also, the water level drops to expose mud flats in some areas during low tide.
🛶 Several operators rent kayaks near paddling areas, or you can find a trusted guide who knows the area well.
Surfing on the Oregon Coast
The cold water doesn’t seem to deter surfers in Oregon from catching the biggest waves.
Oswald West State Park is a popular spot for surfing in Oregon, especially at Short Sand beach.
Pacific City draws Oregon surfers to the shores at Cape Kiwanda, in front of Haystack Rock.
Nelscott Reef in Lincoln City, Oregon, has been attracting surfers to its big waves since the 1960s.
Newport, Oregon hosts the Agate Beach Surf Classic in September.
Oregon Beaches
Beaches are the star attraction here and we have plenty to choose from!
👉 Explore the best beaches on the Oregon Coast
Beach Bonfires in Oregon
Beach bonfires are an old pastime on the Oregon Coast, and yes, it is legal to build a fire on the beach unless otherwise posted. Firewood should be purchased locally at parks or grocery stores. It is illegal to bring firewood into the state of Oregon from a state outside of Oregon, Washington or Idaho.
Always check local fire restrictions and practice fire safety to prevent wildfires.
Bring some folding chairs or a blanket and try to find an existing campfire pit near a driftwood log or other wind protection. Remember to pack out any garbage and be careful not to leave garbage out where it can (and will) easily blow away.
Oregon Coast Rockhounding and Agate Hunting
Comb the beaches in search of interesting rocks, shells and agates and start your own collection. Rockhounding in Oregon can be done year-round but on the coast, it’s often best right after a king tide or winter storm.
Learn more about the best beaches for rockhounding and agate hunting on the Oregon Coast.
Tide Pools at Low Tide on the Oregon Coast
Spend the day exploring Oregon’s rocky intertidal zones, or tide pools, full of marine life of all shapes and sizes. Kids and adults alike will enjoy looking at these curious creatures of the sea at low tide. Find the best tide pools on the Oregon Coast.
When to go: Tidal pools can be viewed at low tide any time of year but you’ll probably have the best visibility and be most comfortable when the sun is out and it’s not too windy. The ocean water is cold year-round. Learn more about Oregon Coast Weather.
Whale Watching at the Oregon Coast
Whale watching can be done year-round at the Oregon Coast. In winter, gray whales migrate south to Mexico from mid-December to mid-January. Then in spring, they make their way back north to Alaska accompanied by their new calves. During summer and fall a resident pod of whales comes close to shore to feed.
Whale watching can be an indoor activity as well! For the best whale watching on the Oregon Coast, visit Depoe Bay.
Storm Watching on the Oregon Coast
Winter brings dramatic wave action to Oregon’s rocky shores, especially during storms and king tides. Those brave enough to venture out will likely get soaked, so be sure to bring your best waterproof rain jacket. Some of the best storm-watching spots on the Oregon Coast include:
- Shore Acres State Park near Coos Bay has some epic wave action for storm watching.
- Cape Perpetua, Thor’s Well and pretty much anywhere near Yachats or the Depoe Bay area will see big waves, especially during king tides and storms.
- Fort Stevens/South Jetty near Astoria can provide some good wave watching during stormy weather.
Find out more about where to watch king tides on the Oregon Coast.
Sightseeing at the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast Lighthouses
Oregon’s coastline is dotted with historic lighthouses located on rocky headlands and near the bays and major estuaries. Visit the best lighthouses on the Oregon Coast and learn the history of each one.
Shipwrecks of the Oregon Coast
There are many stories of shipwrecks on the turbulent Oregon Coast and remnants from a few of these vessels can still be seen today. For shipwreck locations, history and photos, see Shipwrecks of the Oregon Coast.
Covered Bridges in Oregon Near the Coast
Take a scenic drive through the forested coast range to see an old covered bridge. Here’s where to find covered bridges in Oregon between I-5 and the coast so you can stop along the way.
Indoor Oregon Coast Activities
Cozy Oregon Coast Hotels with Fireplaces
Warm up next to the fireplace in your cozy room and watch a storm roll in. There are many Oregon Coast hotels with fireplaces in the rooms. Here are a few suggestions:
- Cannery Pier Hotel, Astoria
- Rivertide Suites, Seaside
- Salishan Coastal Lodge, Lincoln City
- Inn at Nye Beach, Newport
- Fireside Motel, Yachats
Restaurants and Dining on the Oregon Coast
Warm up with a bowl of piping hot clam chowder from a local seafood shack or brewpub. The Oregon Coast has no shortage of chowder huts, fish n’ chips spots, seafood restaurants, breweries, taverns, pubs and coffee shops to duck into on a rainy day.
🍴 For a list of top-rated restaurants, see Where to Eat on the Oregon Coast.
🍺 Check out these Oregon Coast craft breweries.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium and Museums
Spend a rainy day at one of many historical museums on the Oregon Coast and learn about early life in the area. Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning about marine life at the renowned Oregon Coast Aquarium. Other attractions include:
- Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria
- Tillamook Air Museum and Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, Tillamook
- Garibaldi Museum, Garibaldi
- Oregon Coast Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport
- Coos History Museum and Maritime Collection, Coos Bay
👉 Continue exploring Oregon Coast towns and find more things to do and places to see in each coastal city.
Historic Homes on the Oregon Coast
If you love history, Victorian architecture and antiques, visit these historic homes on the Oregon Coast. Built in the late 1800s, these old houses are now museums open to the public.
Feel free to bookmark this page or pin it for future reference! We’re always adding new activities and attractions.
