As you may have heard, national travel guides often list Cannon Beach, Oregon as one of the best beaches in the United States and Lonely Planet recently included it in their list of the World’s Best Beaches. But did you know there are also 350+ more miles of “best beaches” in Oregon worthy of a visit?
Starting near Astoria, we’ve listed more than 20 of the best beaches to visit in the Northern Oregon Coast region. These beautiful beaches are all reachable within 2 hours by car from Portland. There are so many beaches, it’s hard to say which is best, so we’ll leave that up to you to decide.
For this list, we included popular beaches along with some you may not have heard of. There are surely more than what’s included here, but all of these beaches are reasonably accessible to the public (some require a short walk). The list is in order from north to south, ending just north of Lincoln City.
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Why the Oregon Coast is The People's Coast
In 1967, the Oregon Beach Bill declared free public beach access to everyone. Unlike California and Washington, the public has “free and uninterrupted use of the beaches,” in Oregon and all beach areas from the waves to the vegetation line are publicly owned.
Northern Oregon Coast Beaches
Beaches Near Astoria
Fort Stevens State Park covers 4,300 acres and includes a large campground, beach access, a freshwater lake, boat ramp, paved, flat bike trails, hiking and walking trails, wildlife, a shipwreck on the beach, a disc golf course and a museum all situated around old military concrete structures you can walk through and explore. This beach is great for families with kids of all ages as it offers such a variety of activities for everyone. More about Fort Stevens State Park
👉 Find more fun things to do and places to eat and stay near Astoria, Oregon.
Beaches Near Seaside
Seaside Beach is a busy, popular beach with restaurants and amusements nearby and is often bustling with families, kids and tourists. The Seaside promenade oceanfront walkway was originally built in the 1920s. “The prom” is the spot for long walks, bike rides, beachfront vacation homes and people-watching. The beach is wide and sandy here and you’ll see views of Tillamook Head to the south.
👉 More fun things to do and places to stay near Seaside.
Stop at Painted Rock Beach to read the colorful messages painted on rocks. Some messages are left in memory of loved ones, to mark a special date, or just because. Feel free to leave one behind before you go. | Map
Seaside Cove is also a popular beach with local surfers. We recommend just watching unless you are very experienced. | Map
Beach Bonfires on the Oregon Coast
Beach bonfires are an old pastime on the Oregon Coast, and 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 set up a blanket further away from the water. Remember to pack out any garbage and be careful not to leave garbage out where it can (and will) easily blow away.
Beaches Near Cannon Beach
Ecola State Park is one of the most scenic parks on the coast and features cliffside viewpoints, secluded coves, coastal forests and views of an abandoned lighthouse on clear days. Indian Beach in Ecola State Park is a sandy, secluded beach with scenic rock formations and tide pools. More about Ecola State Park
Cannon Beach is the most famous beach in Oregon featuring the iconic 235-ft tall Haystack Rock. The pools around Haystack Rock at low tide are some of the best tide pools on the Oregon Coast. Tufted Puffins also nest on the rock in spring and summer. The scenic sandy beach is dotted with other sea stacks known as “The Needles” and stretches for miles to Tolovana Park and Silver Point in the south.
👉 More things to do and places to stay and eat near Cannon Beach
Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site is a sandy accessible beach between Humbug Point and Hug Point with rock formations to explore. | Map
Hug Point State Recreation Site features Hug Point beach and waterfall, plus beach coves, sea caves, rockhounding and tidepools during low tide. Be sure to check the tide tables before you go and time your visit with the low tide or you won’t be able to access the waterfall side of the beach. More about Hug Point Beach and Waterfall
Beaches Near Manzanita
Short Sand Beach is reachable by an easy, half-mile walk through coastal forest in Oswald West State Park, one of the most scenic parks on the Oregon Coast. The park spans more than 2,000 acres and includes a day-use area and miles of hiking trails. Short Sand Beach (“Shorty’s”) is a popular surfing spot and beautiful secluded beach surrounded by coastal cliffs with some good tide pools. Blumenthal Falls is a small waterfall at the north end of the beach. More about Oswald West State Park
Manzanita Beach is the main beach in Manzanita at the end of Laneda Avenue. This wide, sandy stretch of beach is 7-miles long and good for dog walks, jogging and after-dinner sunset strolls.
👉 More things to do near the town of Manzanita
Just south of Manzanita, Nehalem Bay State Park is situated on a narrow sand spit at the mouth of the Nehalem River with the Pacific Ocean on one side and Nehalem Bay on the other. Outdoor activities include overnight camping, horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, fishing, crabbing, bird watching, biking and plenty of beach access. More about Nehalem Bay State Park
Beaches Near Rockaway Beach
Manhattan Beach State Recreation Site is a wide-open, uncrowded stretch of sand great for long walks and kite flying just 5 minutes north of the town of Rockaway Beach. The day-use area has picnic tables sheltered from the wind, restrooms and easy beach access. | Map
Rockaway Beach City Center & Park is a great spot to enjoy the beach or take a ride on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.
You can’t miss the iconic Twin Rocks Arch, two ancient rock formations rising 88 feet up from the Pacific Ocean forming a 35-foot-wide arch. The closest view for a good snapshot is from the beach at the end of Minnehaha Street in Rockaway Beach.
👉 More fun things to do and places to stay in Rockaway Beach
Beaches Near Oceanside
Bayocean Peninsula Park is on a long, flat sand spit between the ocean and Tillamook Bay with a flat trail perfect for a walk along the shoreline. Backcountry camping is also permitted on the peninsula. This is the fascinating historical site of the lost resort town of Bayocean, an ill-fated beach community that washed into the sea. | Map
Cape Meares Beach and Short Beach are worthy beach stops if you’re heading to Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint to see the lighthouse and Octopus tree.
Tunnel Beach in Oceanside can be accessed at Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site, the main beach access park in town. Scenic Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife refuge is visible just offshore. Here you can enter a dark tunnel that goes through the rock to a beach on the other side.
👉 More about Tunnel Beach, Cape Meares and things to do near Oceanside
Cape Lookout State Park is best known for the 5-mile round-trip hike that winds through old, moss-covered trees, along a steep cliffside high above the ocean, all the way to the tip of the cape for stunning views of the Pacific. There are several beach access points in the park and campground.
🌲 Read more about Cape Lookout and other beach campgrounds in our guide to State Parks on the Oregon Coast.
Essential Beach Safety for the Oregon Coast
The ocean waves in Oregon are very powerful and unpredictable. Please enjoy the beaches safely and follow these guidelines.
- Know the tide schedule before visiting the beach so you don’t get trapped by incoming tides. Visit about 1 hour before low tide, as the water is still receding.
- Bring a flashlight for exploring tunnels or sea caves.
- Wear sturdy footwear. Rocks are often slippery at the beach.
- Watch out for sneaker waves on the Oregon Coast. These waves appear out of nowhere and are dangerously fast and powerful. Don’t turn your back to the ocean.
- Rip currents are strong undertows that can sweep you off your feet and pull you out to sea. Admire the ocean from a safe distance or stay in shallow, calm water when wading.
Stay back from cliff edges as erosion can cause the ground to become unstable. Beware of falling rocks, stay behind safety fences, heed warning signs and stay off jetties.
Beaches Near Pacific City
Sitka Sedge State Natural Area is a great place for a nature walk with views of tidal flats, saltwater marshes, wildflowers, coastal forest wetlands, marsh wildlife and sandy beaches. You may hear some ATVs from the nearby Sand Lake Recreation Area. | Map
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area is an interesting part of the Oregon coastline made of sandstone, a softer rock that erodes into strange shapes, holes and crevices in the coastline with each pounding wave.
North of Cape Kiwanda is McPhillips Beach, a less crowded alternative to the busier Pacific City beaches on the southern side of the cape.
Pacific City Beach is a popular day-use area shared by surfers, fishing boats, beachcombers and vehicles (driving on the sand is allowed in this area). A steep, strenuous scramble up a sand dune will reward you with impressive views of the ocean, including the massive 340-foot-tall Haystack Rock (a.k.a. Chief Kiawanda Rock, not to be confused with the other Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach). Pelican Brewery is located right at the beachfront and this spot can get crowded in nice weather.
👉 More things to do and places to stay near Cape Kiwanda and Pacific City
Bob Straub State Park south of Pacific City provides beach access for exploring the Nestucca sand spit and trails for horseback riding. | Map
Neskowin Beach State Recreation Site is where you’ll find the ancient tree stumps known as the Neskowin Ghost Forest. These weird, spooky remnants of Sitka spruce trees stick up right out of the beach and are thought to be roughly 2,000 years old. Tree-covered Proposal Rock is also on this beach. Visit at low tide for the best views of the tree stumps. More about Neskowin
Find a Beachfront Hotel or Rental on the Oregon Coast
After a busy day of beachcombing, relax in your beachfront hotel room just steps from the sand.
🛌 From Cannon Beach resorts to budget motels in Rockaway Beach, see our picks for the best places to stay on the Oregon Coast from north to south. For current room rates and availability, search for your travel dates.
Map of Beaches on the Northern Oregon Coast
Just click the map of Oregon beaches on the northern coast to get directions from your location.
You may also be interested in browsing our entire list of Activities, which includes even more ideas for fun things to do at the Oregon Coast.
Interested in a specific town or region? Get detailed guides on Oregon Coast towns from north to south including things to do and the best places to stay and eat in each town.
If you’re in the Portland area, we also have a list of day trips from Portland to the coast.
👉 Heading south? Explore Central Oregon Coast Beaches.
👇 Heading further south? Visit these Southern Oregon Coast Beaches.
