The Perfect 4 Day Oregon Coast Road Trip Itinerary

Last updated on July 2, 2025

Are you planning to drive the Oregon Coast this year and want an easy-to-follow Oregon Coast road trip itinerary? You’ve come to the right place!

Highway 101 winds down the coast of Oregon and is one of the most scenic drives in the country. Exactly 363 miles long, this drive is filled with awe-inspiring views of the rugged coastline, sprinkled with moody beaches, abundant tide pools, and charming fishing villages.

It won’t take you long to wonder why you hadn’t done this road trip sooner!

Planning an Oregon Coast route is intimidating because there is so much to see and do in this area. I know when I was planning our trip to the Oregon Coast I struggled to know where to stop and the top sights to see in our limited time here. Which is precisely why I’ve created this four-day Oregon Coast road trip itinerary.

It’s ideal for those who don’t have a ton of time but still want to appreciate the sights, smells, hikes, and food of the coast. While four days is what this itinerary is designed for, you can easily extend the road trip stopping in more towns or staying longer in some of the places.

From the best places to stop on the Oregon Coast and where to stay, what to eat, and what to do along the way this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary has it all. Now, buckle up and get ready for the road trip of a lifetime!

The Best Time for an Oregon Coast Road Trip

There is no “bad time” to do this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary. The Oregon coastline remains cold and gloomy with sporadic rain showers year round. However, the warmer summer months and longer days make July and August the ideal time to visit.

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🚙💨 If you’re looking for other summer road trip ideas check out this blog post.

We did this road trip in late August and the weather was perfect! The days were in the low to mid-70s °F and evenings in the 50’s °F. We had several super sunny days, although we were glad to have a rain jacket and jeans with us. The fog that frequented the shore in early to mid-August had also subsided giving us stunning views.

Season	Avg. High °F (°C)	Avg. Low °F (°C)	Avg. Rainfall + Climate
Spring	56°F (13.3°C)	41°F (5°C)	4.93″ 💨 and 🌦️
Summer	67°F (19.4°C)	53°F (11.6°C)	1.16″ ☀️ and 🌫️
Fall	61°F (16.1°C)	44°F (6.6°C)	5.61″ 🌥️ and 🌦️
Winter	48°F (8.8°C)	37°F (2.7°C)	9.62″ 🌦️ and ☁️

If you’re coming to see wildlife:
🐧 May to early August is Puffin season.
🦀 Crabbing season is open year round but the best time for crabbing is late September to December.
🐋 Whales are present off the coast year-round. We didn’t see any on our trip, but given the constant migration and abundant feeding grounds here, there’s a good chance you’ll see a whale during your visit.

Where to Start and End Your Oregon Coast Road Trip

The Portland International Airport is around 2 hours drive from your first stop on this Oregon Coast Road Trip itinerary. It’s one of the cheapest airports to fly into in this area and is an awesome city to visit in its own right making it our top recommendation for where to start your trip if you are flying in.

Since we were RVing full-time when we did this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary, we started our trip from the south after visiting family in Northern California. Of course, you can start from the south, too. But for the best views along the drive, we recommend starting in Astoria and ending in Brookings.

If you have the time, we recommend spending a day or two in Portland before heading to the coast. It’s home to fantastic breweries, great food, and cool art. If you’re short on time and want to focus solely on the Oregon Coast though, just pick up your rental car at the airport, and kick off the road trip!

What to bring for your Oregon Coast Trip

Weather along the coast can be unpredictable. Rain can come out of nowhere, and despite it being summer it’s not uncommon to need a jacket, jeans, and closed shoes for your “beach day”. It was certainly warm enough for tank tops some days but I always had a jacket nearby.

We love Merino wool clothing because it’s perfect for traveling and layering. It’s lightweight and can be cooling or warming, plus it doesn’t retain odors. You can shop our favorite products at Unbound Merino here.

👟 I love my Vessi sneakers for cooler beaches like the ones along the Oregon Coast. They keep my feet warm and dry thanks to their waterproofing technology and are super cute. Check them out here.

A rain jacket is a good idea since the strong winds can render an umbrella useless. If you want to scope the shoreline for birds or other wildlife bring a pair of binoculars. You can’t swim on most Oregon beaches because of the cold and rough waters. So, leave your swimsuit at home.

Grab the gear below:

• Rain jacket
• Jeans
• Merino wool layers (both t-shirts and long sleeves)
• Light to mid-weight jacket (even in summer)
• Sneakers or comfortable closed-toe shoes
• Binoculars

Oregon Coast RV Camping

If you’re taking a summer RV road trip along the Oregon Coast make camping reservations in advance. Summer is peak season for RV camping and spots will be booked. We checked regularly for cancelations and managed to secure anywhere from two to four nights at the state parks during our two-week trip.

If you don’t want to have to check for cancelations constantly, you can let Arvie book your spot for you. Arvie is an online RV camping booking tool that allows you to search and book spots at thousands of campgrounds across the country.

If there is no availability, you can create a sold-out search (SOS) with your desired dates, camping preferences, and rig size. If something pops up that meets that criteria Arvie will automatically book it for you!

Starting Your Oregon Coast Road Trip Itinerary

This itinerary has you driving southbound down Highway 101. This vantage point means you’ll be driving along the coast the majority of the time getting the best views along the way. You can drive this exact route from the south starting in Brookings (like we did in our RV).

But for most people, it’s logistically cheaper and easier to start from the north.

Day 1 Itinerary

Day 1 will take you from Portland to Astoria a small fishing village before heading to one of the most iconic beaches along the Oregon Coast, Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock.

🛣️ Total miles: 124 miles / 199 kilometers
🚙 Estimated drive time: 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours
📸 # of stops: 3 – 4

Stop 1: Astoria

Ideally, you’ll depart Portland first thing in the morning arriving in Astoria by mid-morning or mid-day. You can spend as little or as much time as you want in Astoria. Some popular activities for a quick trip are walking the historic streets and boardwalk, checking out the home from the 1980s cult classic, The Goonies, and admiring the river views.

We loved our quick stop here and made sure to grab some beer at Rouge Brewing (one of our favorites). Buoy Beer Company not far away has a glass floor so you can watch seals swim by which is such a cool experience!

🛖 If you’re into history stop at the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park which is about 15 minutes outside of Astoria. It’s a $10 entrance fee (or free entrance if you have the National Parks Pass) and allows you to explore Fort Clatsop where Lewis and Clark compiled loads of information they gathered on their journey into writing.

Where to eat

• Ship Out Fish n Chips is a great stop for low-frills seafood and fish n’ chips.
• Peter Pan Market has sandwiches and yummy desserts.
• Buoy Beer Company also serves food (standard bar food).

If you don’t have the full four days for this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary, skip this stop and head straight for stop 2.

Stop 2: Ecola State Park and Cannon Beach

From Astoria, drive 45 minutes south to Ecola State Park. This State Park has great viewpoints of the coastline, a cool lighthouse, and great hiking trails! A lot of people skip this stop preferring the views of the famous Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach about 5 minutes further south, but I feel it’s a stop worth making.

It’s a great place to stretch your legs and enjoy the fresh air and most hikes in the area can be done in under 2 hours. You can check out some of the best-rated hikes here.

If you aren’t up for hiking or simply don’t have the time, make sure you stop at Cannon Beach. This long stretch of beach is absolutely stunning and the perfect place to watch the sunset. The golden hour glow here is magic!

🌒 You can drive the Oregon Coast at night but you’re missing out on the scenic views. It’s also poorly lit and a very windy road, which is why we recommend you stay overnight near Cannon Beach.

Where to eat

• Pelican Brewing (if you aren’t already sick of beer after Astorias 😆)
• Bistro is probably the best mid-scale restaurant in the area that has a variety of delicious choices.

Where to stay

• RV: Cannon Beach Resort (Full hook-ups, indoor pool and hot tub, in a fantastic location) or Nahelem Bay State Park (20 minutes further south).
• Mid-range Hotel: Surfsand Resort (beautiful views, breakfast included and lovely rooms).
• Upscale Hotel: The Ocean Lodge (considered the nicest lodge on Cannon Beach).

Day 2 Itinerary

Day 2 gets you halfway down the Oregon Coast. It sounds like a lot of ground to cover in one day, but your 3-hour drive will be broken up by scenic overlooks, a short hike or two, and delicious cheddar cheese from Tillamook Creamery. You’ll eventually end day 2 in the charming town of Yachats.

🛣️ Total miles: 134 miles / 215 kilometers
🚙 Estimated drive time: 3 hours to 3 hours and 15 minutes
📸 # of stops: 4 – 5

Stop 1: Nahalem Bay State Park and/or crabbing

Day two starts with a short 20-minute drive to Nehalem Bay State Park. This park is known for its dunes which line the 4-mile spit. Horseback riding, kayaking, crabbing, biking, and walking are popular things to do here. You can walk the 1.8-mile bike path near the shoreline for beautiful views if you aren’t up for one of the more time-intensive activities.

Another option instead of visiting Nehalem Bay State Park is to go on a crabbing trip. You can visit Kelly Brighton Marina for a crabbing adventure. You can have this unique experience year-round, but late September to December is the best time for crabbing. They also offer camping and great seafood at their restaurant.

Crabbing tours are offered on a first come first serve basis and at the time of this writing are $120 per boat. The boat is capped at 6 people, but the more people you have on the boat the cheaper it is per person. The tour lasts 2 hours and includes all the equipment you’d need for a fun day of crabbing!

🦀 You do need an ODF&W fishing license for this which you can buy online or at their store.

Stop 2: Tillamook Creamery

After a relaxing walk on the beach or more adventurous activity like horseback riding or crabbing, you’re probably ready for some food! Drive 40 minutes south to Tillamook Creamery, a famous cheddar cheese maker in this region.

Tillamook Creamery is so much more than a cheese factory. This is their flagship store with an interactive farm area, store, restaurant, and museum. You can do a self-guided tour or a guided tour of the creamery to learn how their cheese is made from start to finish. We did a cheese tour like this in Wisconsin and it was really fun!

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Just don’t leave without grabbing some delicious cheese-focused food from their restaurant.

Stop 3: Cape Meares

You don’t have to drive far for your next stop on this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary. About 20 minutes west of Tillamook, is Cape Meares State Park. This scenic area is home to a beautiful lighthouse, a variety of migratory and nesting bird species, awesome trails, and a famous “Octopus tree”.

Take the 35-mile Three Capes Scenic Loop within the park which takes you to several stunning vista points before spitting you back out on Highway 101. You can continue driving just under 2 and a half hours south until you reach Yachat’s, which is the last stop for day 2.

If you have more time stop in the picturesque towns of Lincoln City or Newport. They’re both very unique and have a lot of history with cute shops, a few restaurants, and lots of pretty views of the ocean.

🐋 Newport Bay is a particularly great place to go whale watching. After getting to touch grey whales in Baja, I’m not sure we’ll ever pay for a whale-watching tour where we are not essentially guaranteed to see them, but it can be a fun activity if seeing whales is high on your bucket list.

Stop 4: Yachats

You’ll likely arrive at Yachats at or near sunset, which is the perfect time to settle into your hotel or RV park for the evening and grab some food. You’re going to spend the morning tomorrow exploring the areas outside of Yachats so don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything!

Where to eat

• Luna Seafish House is an institution in this area. Known for their seafood and clam chowder you can’t go wrong here.
• One of our favorite meals on this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary was Yachat’s Brewing. They have a great restaurant with lots of vegetarian and vegan-focused items using farm-fresh, local ingredients. Plus, their beer was great!

Where to stay

• RV: We stayed at Tillicum Beach Campground which is about a 15-minute drive from Yachat’s city. We loved this spot which was right on the beach in a wooded setting. Another option (for small RVs only) is Cape Perpetua Campground.
• Budget Hotel: Fireside Motel. Many rooms have screened-in balconies overlooking the rugged ocean. The rooms are a bit dated, but the price is great for what you get.
• Mid-range Hotel: Overleaf Lodge and Spa. The rooms have beautiful views with a bit more modern furnishings.

Day 3 Itinerary

Day 3 of our Oregon Coast road trip itinerary starts in Cape Perpetua just outside of Yachats. You’ll want to time your day around the tides so make sure to reference a tide chart (like this) the night before. After exploring Cape Perpetua fully, you’ll drive roughly 2 hours south toward the town of Bandon.

🛣️ Total miles: 100 miles / 160 kilometers
🚙 Estimated drive time: 2 hours
📸 # of stops: 2 – 3

Stop 1: Cape Perpetua and Thor’s Well

Cape Perpetua is one of the best stops on this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary with more than 2,700 miles of rugged coastline and beaches. There are fantastic hiking trails (see the best ones here), beautiful overlooks, tide pools to explore, and unique geological features like Thor’s Well and Spouting Horn blowhole.

We highly encourage you to spend as much time hiking this area and walking along the beaches. But a non-negotiable stop is Thor’s Well.

Thor’s Well is a gaping hole in the center of a rock that during high tide fills and drains the ocean water in the most mesmerizing way. We had never seen anything like it before and it was such a fun thing to watch!

You want to visit Thor’s Well at high tide. Ideally, arrive around 30 minutes to 1 hour before peak high tide. This creates the most dramatic waves in the well and gives it that otherworldly feel as the water escapes and runs down the hole.

Not far from Thor’s Well is Devil’s Churn, a cove that is overtaken by fierce waves at high tide. When the waves hit the shore it splashes high in the air and makes a thunderous noise. Spouting Horn blow hole also puts on quite a show a high tide shooting water several feet into the air.

Once you’re time is done at Cape Perpetua start your two-hour drive south.

🦭 An optional stop along the way is at the Sea Lion Caves. We decided to skip this since we saw plenty of sea lions in the wild, were short on time, and didn’t want to pay the entrance fee ($17 – $18). Another option is to stop for lunch in Florence, a historic “gold rush” town with lots of charm and history.

Stop 2: Coquille Point in Bandon, Oregon

Your final stop on day three of this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary is the town of Bandon. Bandon is close to Bullards Beach State Park, home to beautiful beaches and the amazing Coquille Point. Coquille Point is a beach known for its beautiful rock features, tide pools, wildlife, and sunsets.

It honestly may have been our favorite stop along this entire road trip. We loved it so much we went twice. Once at low tide to explore the tide pools and then again at sunset. Make sure to check the tide charts before coming if your goal is to explore the tide pools (which it should be). You want to arrive about an hour or two before peak low tide.

Where to eat

We didn’t personally eat out in Bandon so we have to rely on reviews here. However, two top-rated places in the city are The Loft Restaurant and Bar and Pablo’s Corner which serves Argentinian food.

Where to stay

• RV: Bullards Beach State Park is where we stayed. The camping is quite a ways from the beach but it does have a stunning beach to enjoy. If you prefer an RV park closer to town you can stay at B-side Motel and RV Park. It was completely renovated and is very cute and “trendy” near town.
• Mid-range hotel: B-side Motel & RV Park is our top pick for hotels in this area.

Day 4 Itinerary

The last day of this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary is finally here. As sad as that may be, you won’t be disappointed with the incredible views and fun activities.

🛣️ Total miles: 100 miles / 160 kilometers
🚙 Estimated drive time: 2 hours
📸 # of stops: 2 – 3

Stop 1: Fish n Chips in Port Orford

It’s not often we start with a food stop first thing on your itinerary but we really enjoyed this restaurant. The Crazy Norwegian Fish and Chips in Port Orford is about 35 to 40 minutes south of Bandon and serves the freshest fish you’ve ever tasted.

If you’re not ready for a big meal just yet, skip this stop and continue driving until you reach Gold Beach.

Stop 2: Gold Beach

Gold Beach is one of the prettiest beaches along the Oregon Coast. It’s lined with beautiful rocks and haystacks in the water has loads of hiking trails nearby, and is where the Rogue River and the Pacific Ocean collide. You’ll certainly want to stop and take in the views from above or below.

Once you hop back on Highway 101 you’ll begin the Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor. This natural area has lots of scenic hikes along the shore like 3.3 mile long Cape Sebastian Trail. As you drive, be prepared to pull off at scenic viewpoints. There are loads scattered just off the highway and each one is uniquely stunning.

The most popular stop on this scenic corridor is Natural Bridges. This natural bridge is formed in a rock over the ocean. There’s a man-made path you can take down to the bridge, but we advise against this. The bridge is fragile and the viewpoint advises against going down to it.

Natural Bridges sign is easily missed with just a small parking area, so make sure you add it to your GPS! You can continue driving to the town of Brookings, which is considered the first or last proper town before the California border.

If you are going to return to Portland from here, you have two choices. You can drive north on Highway 101 until you Florence then head east until you get to Eugene and take Highway 5 up to Portland.

For a different experience as you return to Portland, drive further south to Crescent City in California. From there take a very windy mountain pass to Grants Pass in Oregon and continue up Highway 5 until you reach Portland.

Either way, you’ve finished your Oregon Coast route! Remember, you can extend this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary into 5 or 7 days if desired traveling slower and doing more hikes or other unique activities.

Hopefully, this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary made planning your trip that much easier. If so, let me know in the comments below. Make sure to save or share this post with someone who is visiting soon.