Oregon Coast Highway Road Trip: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary
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We just got back from THE MOST BEAUTIFUL mini road trip we took from Washington state to the Oregon coast and back. The Kitsap Peninsula was our starting point, which is also a great place to start if you’re coming from Seattle. You can hop on the Bremerton ferry from downtown Seattle, then drive from Bremerton to Highway 101 (the Oregon Coast Highway) that goes down the Oregon coast. If you’re starting in Tacoma, you can just head down I-5 and use the map below to go from there.
The Ultimate 3-Day Oregon Coast Road Trip Itinerary
I recently shared our Pacific Coast Highway road trip, but that itinerary didn’t include the northern Oregon coast. Since we moved to Washington, I’ve been trying to plan different mini road trips around Washington and its surrounding states every month (or anytime we can fit them in). This was the trip we planned for my birthday to finally see the northern part of Oregon (and we LOVED it).
Also, take note as you drive through Washington and down the Oregon coast highway that you’ll be passing through the ancestral homelands of the Chinook, Clatsop, Nehalem, and Tillamook tribes. You’ll see these names often on your route and passing through different small towns. Definitely take some time on this trip to learn about their history.
Alrighty then, let’s go to the Oregon coast!
Day 1: Bremerton, Washington to Cannon Beach and Rockaway Beach, Oregon
Our goal for day 1 was to get to our Airbnb in Rockaway Beach by sundown. Since Bremerton is only about 4 hours and 30 minutes away, we had plenty of time to get there in 1 day while stopping at different spots along the way.
Hitting the Road to The Oregon Coast Highway from The Kitsap Peninsula (With Our Cat)
Leaving Bremerton on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington, we took highway WA-3 South to WA-108 West and US-101 South, which follows along the Oregon coast down to Rockaway Beach. Our plans were to stop at Cannon Beach and any other cool beaches or parks on the way.
We also decided to bring our cat, Mew, along, so we got his little station set up in the back seat with his bed, laying blanket, toys, litter box, water, and pads.
Ecola State Park
Our first stop was Ecola State Park, which does require a daily parking permit. Parking permits cost $12 for non-residents and $10 for residents per day, per vehicle. I definitely recommend stopping here before you go to Cannon Beach because it comes with a gnarly view of the entire coast there at Cannon Beach,
The park’s network of trails include an 8 mile segment of the Oregon Coast Trail, and a 2 1/2 mile historical interpretive route called the Clatsop Loop Trail. Part of the Clatsop Loop Trail and the trail over Tillamook Head follow in the footsteps of the Corps of Discovery. Captain William Clark and 12 members of the Corps of Discovery traveled through what is now the park in 1806 in search of a beached whale near present-day Cannon Beach. After scaling the north slope of Tillamook Head and reaching one of its viewpoints, Clarke described the vista as “… the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed…”
Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock
Cannon Beach was a little overwhelming since we got there on a Saturday. Be warned: it was the busiest spot we stopped at on our road trip and there is limited parking, so you’ll have to be creative and patient finding a spot to hit the beach.
Once you’re situated in a legal parking spot, head to the beach to walk to Haystack Rock and view the starfish that gather at the base of the rocks during low tide. There are also tons of species of birds to view at the rock, but be careful not to go past the barrier signs and be respectful to the wildlife.
Settling in at Rockaway Beach Airbnb
Since August is such a busy time on the Oregon coast, it was hard finding pet-friendly places to stay within our budget. Rockaway beach ended up being the cheapest for pet-friendly options on Airbnb and the one we found was also only 1 block away from the beach. Plus, Rockaway Beach has a much more laid back and chill feel to it than other beach towns around there.
Why did we choose an Airbnb instead of a hotel that might’ve been a little cheaper? Well, that’s because I hate dealing with hotels that market themselves as pet-friendly, but end up being the opposite once you get there. I like the privacy an Airbnb gives us. This specific one was so cute, and Mew also seemed to love it.
Dinner at Sand Dollar Restaurant
The Sand Dollar was RIGHT BEHIND our Airbnb. Like, I opened the window and BAM, there’s the Sand Dollar with its seafood calling my name. Obviously that’s where we walked to for Dinner.
I got the cioppino and my wife got the fish sandwich. Both were amazing and if you’re a cioppino lover, theirs tastes exactly how it should be. The bread that came with it was also amazing and you can sit outside to eat right on the beach. Everything on their menu ranges from $10 to $42.
Day 2: Rockaway Beach, Tillamook, The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, and the Big Cedar
We stayed both nights at the Airbnb in Rockaway Beach so we could easily drive to other places we wanted to stop in north and south of the town. It’s such an easy home base for a trip around northern Oregon.
Breakfast at Wanda’s Cafe
We started our morning with breakfast at Wanda’s in Nehalem, which was only 17 minutes away from our Airbnb in Rockaway Beach. There aren’t that many breakfast options in Rockaway Beach and I was super hungry. It’s definitely a busy place and we had to wait an hour for our table, which really wasn’t a big deal because we got tea and pastries to eat while we waited. We basically tried all of their marionberry pastries and they were all to die for.
The food was totally worth the hour wait, by the way. I got the 2 eggs breakfast and my wife got the French toast (the potatoes were amazing). The prices here were also pretty reasonable and ranged from $4 to $16 for breakfast. Definitely go earlier than 9 a.m. if you want to eat here though because waiting for an hour can mess up any other plans you have for the day.
Morning Walk on Rockaway Beach
After breakfast we decided to head back to Rockaway Beach to walk the beach. We did maybe 3 miles and really worked our legs and butt in that sand. We took pictures of the Twin Rocks, got in the water a little bit (at least as far as we could tolerate the cold water) and really just took this time to take everything in. It’s a very relaxed beach with not that many people, so it was a nice walk.
Tillamook Creamery
Tillamook Creamery was definitely on our list because even though we’re both lactose intolerant, we love ice cream and cheese. We can prepared with our meds incase anything unfortunate were to happen after we ate here.
At Tillamook Creamery, you can see the factory and how everything is made, with different exhibits mixed in. You can also get free cheese samples and order lunch or ice cream. I got rocky road (straight from the source!) and it was way better than anything in the stores.
Old Growth Big Cedar Trail
The Big Cedar Trail is located in the Old Growth Cedar Preserve in Rockaway Beach and is the home of Oregon’s largest western red cedar tree. The trail is a 1.1 mile loop on a wooden boardwalk over a bog that leads you through a beautiful old-growth cedar grove. If you fork left, it’ll lead you to the observation deck. If you go right, it’ll loop around the big cedar. There is also a dirt trail that shoots off this trail into the a wider trail network, including the Hidden Creek Trail and Middle Creek Loop
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad offers train rides down the Tillamook coast, starting at $27 per ticket and the option to rent out the caboose for $410 or take steam locomotive cab rides with the engineer for $159. The station was right at the entrance of Rockaway Beach and only 1 block from our Airbnb. So, naturally, we had to try it.
The train goes to Garibaldi and is 30 minutes each way, with a 30 minute layover. You also have the option to book your return for a later time and go back then.
Day 3: Manzanita, Astoria, Cape Disappointment, and Heading Home
This was our last day and the day I realized we should’ve added an extra day or 2 so we could drive further south down the coast. But next time, that’s exactly what we’ll do.
We started our day at Grumpy’s Cafe, which wasn’t as good as Wanda’s but still good food and the people were so nice. They also had a bulletin board at the front with meal tickets that have already been paid for by other people for anyone who doesn’t have enough money but needs to eat. I thought that was so cool. We then got ready to check out of our Airbnb, get Mew situated for a day of driving, and drove to Nehalem for pastries from Wanda’s for the road (my favorite was all of the marionberry pastries I tried…which was all of them).
Breakfast at Grumpy’s
Since we had to check out of our Airbnb by 11 a.m. and were catching up on some sleep from the last 2 days, we didn’t have much time for breakfast. There was a breakfast place down the street from us called Grumpy’s Cafe, and even though it didn’t look the most glamorous, the food was pretty decent. I got the waffle with eggs and my wife got a cheese omelette. The prices were also reasonable. Our entire bill came out to $30 with 2 teas and 2 entrees.
What I really thought was cool about this place was that they have a bulletin board right when you walk in that has food order tickets that have already been paid for posted up for anyone to take and use (in case they need a meal but don’t have the money).
Manzanita and Nehalem State Park
Manzanita is an adorable town just a little ways up 101 North from Rockaway Beach. We hadn’t stopped there yet, so we had to check it out. We went to Manzanita Beach and Nehalem State Park, which is on a 4-mile sand spit with a forested 1.8 mile bike path and a campground. A day-use parking permit is required, which costs $12 for non-residents and $10 for residents.
We also saw elk grazing right on the side of the road and a variety of different birds. Other popular activities we saw around here but didn’t get to do (yet) were crabbing and clamming. Those will definitely be added to the itinerary on a future trip!
Crossing Astoria’s Most Frightening Bridge
Since I was the one driving back the first half of the day, I had the pleasure of driving on what I think is the most frightening bridge I’ve ever merged onto. From Astoria, the Astoria-Megler Bridge that goes across the Columbia River starts off really high and has a pretty steep decent.
I was not expecting it, and all of a sudden I couldn’t look anywhere but straight ahead or my entire body would start tingling. It was like the largest rollercoaster I’d ever been on, but my wife would say I’m exaggerating. Anyway, if you’re spooked by heights, maybe have someone else drive this portion. Regardless, it’s definitely a sight to see!
Cape Disappointment
The very last stop I wanted to make sure we could squeeze in before coming home was Cape Disappointment. Cape Disappointment is anything BUT disappointing. The way this beautiful landscape got its name was thanks to British fur trader, John Meares, who failed to find the mouth of the Columbia River there in 1788 because of the fog and rough seas. Little did he know, it was there the whole time.
Cape Disappointment State Park is a total of 2,023 acres on the Long Beach Peninsula, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The park has 2 lighthouses: the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse (built in 1856) and the North Head Lighthouse. It also has a Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center that comes with great views.
We took the Cape Disappointment trail, which is a 2 mile hike up to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. The park actually has over 12 miles of trails, all of which we wished we could’ve explored if we had more time!
After we were done at the park, we headed home.
Tips for Your Own Oregon Coast Road Trip
When planning your own road trip to the Oregon Coast, be sure to plan earlier than I did. I planned about 1 month out from our travel dates, which wasn’t the smartest but also it was kind a of a spontaneous trip. Which even though it’s fun that way to plan, it can be more expensive. August is also a busy time for travelers along the pacific coast in general, so if you want to go during this time, plan your activities on week days or earlier in the day. Evening is also another less-crowded time to do things.
Once you get back to Washington (if that’s going to be a part of your plans), add an extra leg to your trip for a Bainbridge Island day trip, do some hiking at Mount Baker, or add on an Olympic National Park road trip!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for an Oregon Coast road trip?
3 days is enough to cover the northern Oregon coast at a relaxed pace, like this itinerary from Washington’s pacific coast to Rockaway Beach, Tillamook, Cannon Beach, and everything outside and in between. But 3 days will definitely leave you wanting to explore further down the coast and extend it to 5 or 7 days.
What’s the best route for an Oregon coast road trip from Washington?
If you’re starting from Seattle, hop on the Bremerton ferry from downtown, then drive from Bremerton down to Highway 101, which follows the coast the whole way down. If you’re starting from Tacoma, just head south on I-5 and cut over to the coast from there. Either way, Highway 101 (the Oregon Coast Highway) is your main route once you’re on the coast itself.
Is Cannon Beach or Rockaway Beach better to stay?
It depends on the vibe you’re after. Cannon Beach is more popular and can get crowded and hard to park in, especially on weekends. But it’s home to the iconic Haystack Rock, so it’s at least a stop to check out, but you don’t have to stay there. Rockaway Beach has a much more laid-back, chill feel, tends to be more budget-friendly (especially for food and pet-friendly accommodations), and puts you within easy driving distance of Tillamook, Manzanita, and the Big Cedar Trail, which makes it a great home base for the whole trip.
Do you have any more Bainbridge recommendations we missed? Drop them in the comments! Also, tell us if you’ve made this trip using any of our recs and how it went!
Find more road trip ideas:
- Southwest Road Trip 4-Day Itinerary: Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Sedona
- Vancouver Island Road Trip 8-Day Itinerary: Seattle to Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim
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Dani is an entrepreneur and one of the creators of hikingandroadtrips.com. She is obsessed with everything outdoors, especially hiking, traveling and will take any opportunity to #getoutside for adventure or to just vibe with the earth.