Updated: April 3, 2024
If you like to travel off the beaten path, drive U.S. Highway 101 along the west coast of Oregon until you reach “Oregon’s Adventure Coast.” This less-traveled southern region of the coastline offers an abundance of outdoor recreation including hiking, wildlife watching, sand dunes and gorgeous, uncrowded beaches.
The city of Coos Bay, Oregon, is surrounded by several amazing coastal parks including some of the best storm-watching spots on the Oregon Coast. Read on for more fun things to do in Coos Bay while you explore the southern Oregon Coast.
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Where is Coos Bay, Oregon?
The city of Coos Bay is located in the southern coast region in Coos County. It is situated at the mouth of the Coos River, where it meets the bay off of the Pacific Ocean.
Driving from Portland, it takes a little under 4 hours to reach Coos Bay via I-5 south to Highway 38 west, or about 2 hours if you’re departing from Eugene, Oregon. Traveling up from California, it takes about 2 hours, 45 minutes to get from Crescent City to Coos Bay.
Transportation to Coos Bay
Driving is the most common and convenient way to get to Coos Bay, Oregon, and explore the southern Oregon Coast at your own pace. For air, bus, train, car and camper rental information, see Transportation to the Oregon Coast.
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About Coos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay was originally inhabited by members of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw and Coquille tribes. The town was settled in 1874 and today, Coos Bay is the most populated city on the Oregon Coast with a population of about 16,000 people.
To the north is the city of North Bend (not to be confused with the city of Bend in central Oregon) and to the south is the unincorporated community of Charleston. The area is often referred to as Coos Bay-North Bend, Oregon’s Adventure Coast or Oregon’s Bay Area.
Coos Bay is usually pronounced like “Goose Bay,” but you’ll also sometimes hear it pronounced like “Ooze.”
Top Things to Do in Coos Bay, Oregon
Explore the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
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. Some dunes rise up to 500 feet above sea level. This area is one of the biggest attractions near Coos Bay, drawing curious outdoor enthusiasts eager to explore the unique landscape.
This unusual environment is a byproduct of millions of years of erosion along the coastline, creating a mix of open sand dunes, wetlands, lakes, forests, tree islands and beaches. It was the inspiration for Frank Herbert’s novel and the movie Dune.
The Oregon Dunes near Coos Bay offer ample outdoor activities for families, particularly for off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, but also for hiking, fishing, paddling, swimming, horseback riding, biking, wildlife viewing, birding, picnicking and camping.
🚩 Dune buggy rentals and tours offer an adventurous way to experience the Oregon Dunes on a thrilling 4-wheel ride through the sandy hills and coastal forests.
👉 For details, see our complete guide to the Oregon Dunes.
Sunset Bay State Park and Southern Oregon Beaches
Follow highway 540, the Cape Arago Highway, out of Coos Bay towards the ocean for one of the most scenic drives on the Oregon Coast. This route passes through a string of beautiful beaches and parks including Bastendorff Beach, Yoakam Point, Gregory Point and Cape Arago Lighthouse (not open to public), Sunset Bay State Park and Shore Acres State Park before the road ends at Cape Arago State Park.
These parks are all within a few minutes of each other so it’s easy to visit them all. Hike one of the many trails, check out the tide pools and quiet beaches, go winter storm watching and see the huge waves at Shore Acres or choose a picturesque viewpoint to watch the sunset.
👉 Interested in more lighthouses? See the best lighthouses on the Oregon Coast.
Explore the City of Coos Bay, Oregon
Take a self-guided walking tour of the city of Coos Bay and see the historic buildings built at the turn of the century.
Stop in at the Coos Bay Boardwalk pier with Fisherman’s Seafood Market serving fish n’ chips and clam chowder. Pavilions along the pier feature interpretive historical displays and there are a few picnic tables where you can sit and eat and enjoy views of the bay and boats. The Coos Bay Visitor Center is across the street if you want to pick up some free information.
For a rainy-day activity, explore the history of Coos Bay through exhibits, artifacts, interactive displays and more than 250,000 historic photographs at Coos History Museum and Maritime Collection.
Ride the Rails with Oregon Coast Railriders
Near Coos Bay in Coquille, Oregon, there’s a unique way to sightsee like you’ve never experienced before. Pedal your own four-seater railroad quadricycle along the historic railroad with Oregon Coast Railriders.
You’ll pedal past idyllic farms, a mill and log pond and see birds and wildlife up close. It’s a fun activity for families and groups to get some exercise together and experience the beautiful Oregon scenery.
🚲 If you prefer two-wheeled adventures, the 30-mile Whiskey Run Mountain Biking Trail is located about 15 minutes south of Coos Bay. Enjoy a fun ride on a professionally built trail system through lush coastal forest.
You can also go fat tire biking in the dunes if you’re up for the challenge.
For more attractions and things to do at the Oregon Coast, you can browse by activity.
Nearby: You may also be interested in exploring things to do in Florence, Oregon or the charming coastal town of Bandon, Oregon while you’re in the southern coast region.
Camping and RV Parks Near Coos Bay, Oregon
🤩 More glamping than camping, Bay Point Landing rents luxury Scandinavian-style cabins, Airstreams and RV campsites. Guests love the modern clubhouse with an indoor heated saltwater pool.
The Mill Casino RV Park offers back-in and pull-through RV campsites with full hookups.
Bastendorff Beach County Park and Sunset Bay State Park both offer overnight tent and RV camping and are about 20 minutes from downtown Coos Bay.
🌲 See our guide to coastal Oregon State Park campgrounds for more information about overnight camping on the southern Oregon Coast.
🚐 There are 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!
Restaurants and Dining in Coos Bay, Oregon
There’s a great variety of restaurants in Coos Bay with several dining options along the water with bay views.
7 Devils Waterfront Alehouse is the spot in Coos Bay for microbrews and local-focused pub fare with live music and outdoor seating on the bayfront.
Front Street Provisioners serves wood-fired pizza in an artsy open space on Coos Bay.
The Blue Heron Bistro in central Coos Bay offers hearty German fare and fresh seafood in a Bavarian-styled space adorned with trinkets and artwork from the old country. Their desserts, dark German sourdough rye and German bratwurst are all made in-house.
The Pancake Mill Restaurant and Pie Shoppe in North Bend is a local favorite breakfast spot with a giant menu and portions.
For fine dining in Coos Bay, Hilltop House Restaurant and Lounge offers old-school steak-and-seafood from high atop a hill overlooking the bay and dunes.
The Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail connects visitors to the local cuisine of the Southern Oregon Coast. There are 39 stops to explore at your own pace, including bakeries, restaurants, farms, markets, breweries, distilleries and seafood stands.
🍴 For more restaurants on the Oregon Coast, see our complete dining guide.
🍺 Find more local Oregon Coast breweries.
Weather in Coos Bay, Oregon
The weather in Coos Bay is generally cool (50-60 F) and damp with frequent rain throughout the year, with the exception of July and August. Temperatures rarely get too hot in summer with highs in the 60s-70s. Lows dip down into the 30s in winter but snow is rare. Spring and Autumn are a mix of sunny and rainy days.
When is the best time to visit the Oregon Coast? The southern coast doesn’t get as crowded as some beaches up north. Learn more about Oregon Coast weather and decide what season works best for you.
Like most of the Oregon Coast, the beaches can be breezy and cool in Coos Bay. It’s a good idea to wear layers and bring rain gear. See What to Wear to the Oregon Coast by Season for a packing list and more details.
Tide Charts for Coos Bay and the Oregon Coast
There are two low tides and two high tides every day on Oregon’s coast. Low tide is the time for beachcombing, clamming, tide pools and cave exploration.
For your safety, be aware of the tide schedule before boating or heading out to beaches and always keep an eye on the water level. Use extreme caution in rocky areas near the water, where sneaker waves can (and do) strike.
🌊 Check tide tables or ask at state park offices, local visitor information centers and many stores and hotels for a free tide table booklet.
🦀 Find the best tide pools on the Oregon Coast near Coos Bay.
Annual Events and Festivals in Coos Bay, Oregon
Looking for more fun things to do in Coos Bay? Here’s a list of major events to help you plan your trip.
February – Charleston, Oregon Crab Feed
March – Oregon South Coast Clambake Music Festival
April – High Tide Tattoo & Arts Festival, Coos Bay-North Bend
May – BBQ, Blues & Brews, Coos Bay-North Bend
July – Oregon Coast Music Festival Coos Bay-Charleston, Oregon
August – Blackberry Arts Festival, Annual Food Truck Off, Coos Bay Oregon
September – Southern Oregon Coast Bay Area Fun Festival, Cruz the Coos, Annual Prefontaine Memorial Run
December – Shore Acres Holiday Lights Coos Bay, Oregon
For a complete list of events and a great resource for tourism information in the Coos Bay-North Bend-Charleston area, visit Oregon’s Adventure Coast.
👉 See our calendar for more annual events on the Oregon Coast.
Taking a road trip? From Coos Bay, drive 1 hour north to Florence or 30 minutes south to Bandon to continue exploring towns in coastal Oregon.
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