7-Day Oregon Coast Road Trip Itinerary (2025) – Scenic Stops from Astoria to Bandon

Plan the ultimate Oregon Coast road trip with this 7-day itinerary! Explore must-see spots like Cannon Beach, Newport, and the Oregon Dunes. Updated for 2025 with travel tips, top attractions, and scenic stops

Mar 27, 2025 - 14:16 Updated: Jul 4, 2025 - 01:52

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7-Day Oregon Coast Road Trip Itinerary (2025) – Scenic Stops from Astoria to Bandon

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Setting out on an Oregon Coast road trip is the ideal way to experience stunning ocean views, charming small towns, and the beauty of nature all in one journey. The route runs along Highway 101, covering around 363 miles of scenic coastline. In 2024, Oregon saw over 29 million visitors, and the coast remains one of the state’s most visited areas, especially during summer. From historic sites to hidden beaches, this 7-day plan helps you see the best parts of the coast without rushing. Get ready to explore lighthouses, sand dunes, tide pools, and more.

Day 1: Astoria – Begin with History and Views

Astoria is the oldest town in Oregon. It was started in 1811. It sits where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. Many people visit it every year to see its history and beauty.

Columbia River Maritime Museum

This museum teaches about ships, fishing, and the sea. You can see real boats, Coast Guard displays, and stories about shipwrecks. In 2025, they added a new VR boat ride that feels real. About 120,000 people visit this museum every year.

Astoria Column

The Astoria Column is a tall tower on a hill. It is 125 feet high. You can climb 164 steps to the top. From there, you see the whole town, the river, the forest, and the ocean. In 2025, they added new binoculars and easier paths for older people.

Riverwalk and Downtown

Astoria has a long Riverwalk where you can walk beside the river. You will see coffee shops, seafood places, small stores, and art walls. There is also a red trolley that runs from April to October. It takes people along the river while telling stories about the town’s history.

Goonies Film Locations

Astoria is famous because the movie “The Goonies” was filmed here. Many fans visit the Goonies House, the old jail (now a film museum), and Flavel House Museum. In 2025, Astoria held a big Goonies Festival for its 40th anniversary. Over 10,000 fans came to see movie spots, meet actors, and enjoy events.

Day 2: Seaside and Cannon Beach – Classic Coast Vibes

After Astoria, drive 30 minutes south to Seaside. Seaside is a famous beach town. In 2023, over 1 million people visited. It is fun for families and friends.

Seaside Promenade

This is a long, flat walkway by the beach. People like to walk, run, bike, or just watch the ocean waves here. It is about 1.5 miles long and has old-style street lamps and benches to sit on.

Seaside Aquarium

This is a small aquarium near the beach. You can feed the seals and see sea creatures like starfish, crabs, and small sharks. In 2025, they added new tanks for jellyfish to teach kids about ocean life.

Wide Sandy Beach

Seaside has a very big and wide beach. People like to build sandcastles, play volleyball, collect seashells, or fly colourful kites. In summer, the town hosts kite festivals with giant kites filling the sky.

Next, drive 10 miles south to Cannon Beach. This is a quiet and beautiful town.

Haystack Rock

Haystack Rock is a big rock in the ocean, 235 feet tall. At low tide, you can walk close to it and see colourful sea stars, anemones, and small fish in tide pools. Many puffins and seabirds live here in spring and summer.

Art Galleries and Cafes

Cannon Beach has many art galleries, small shops, and cosy cafes. You can buy local paintings or relax with coffee, tea, and fresh pastries while listening to the ocean.

Ecola State Park

This park is just north of Cannon Beach. It has short hiking trails with amazing views of the ocean, cliffs, and forests. In 2024, the park made new paths and viewing areas so it is easier for older people and families with kids to visit safely.

Day 3: Tillamook and Three Capes Scenic Route

Tillamook is famous for its cheese, but there are many other fun things to do here.

Tillamook Creamery

This is the most popular place in Tillamook. Over 1.3 million people visit every year. You can walk through the factory and see how they make cheese. They give free cheese samples to taste. You can also buy fresh ice cream, cheese curds, and milkshakes at their big food hall. In 2025, they added a new children’s play area and cheese-making workshop for visitors to learn and have fun.

Three Capes Scenic Route

This is a beautiful drive away from Highway 101. It takes you along the coast to see big cliffs, forests, and the ocean. It is quiet, with many places to stop for photos or a picnic.

Cape Meares

At Cape Meares, you can see a small lighthouse built in 1890. There is a short trail to the Octopus Tree, an old tree with huge twisted branches that look like octopus arms. Many people take photos here because it looks unique.

Cape Lookout

Cape Lookout has a 5-mile hike that goes through forests and along high cliffs. At the end of the trail, you get amazing views of the ocean. On clear days, you might see whales swimming in the distance, especially from December to May.

Cape Kiwanda

Cape Kiwanda is known for its big sand dunes. You can climb the dunes to see wide ocean views or watch fishing boats launch from the beach. It is also popular for surfing and sunset photos. In 2025, they added new safety signs and marked walking paths to protect the dunes from damage.

Day 4: Lincoln City and Depoe Bay – Beaches and Whales

Drive one hour south from Tillamook to Lincoln City. This town is great for people who love the beach.

Finders Keepers

This is a fun art project in Lincoln City. Local artists make colourful glass floats and hide them along 7 miles of beach. People can keep the ones they find. Every year, they place over 3,000 floats. In 2025, they added special gold floats for the 25th anniversary of the event.

Lincoln City Outlets

If you like shopping, visit these outlets. They have over 40 stores, including Nike, Levi’s, and Bath & Body Works. There are also places to eat, like small cafes and fast-food spots, making it easy to shop and grab a snack.

Roads End State Recreation Site

This is a quiet beach at the north end of town. It has tide pools with sea stars and crabs, and big rocks that are fun to climb. Many people come here to take photos, watch sunsets, or enjoy a peaceful walk.

Next, drive 20 minutes south to Depoe Bay. This small town has some amazing ocean sights.

Whale Watching

Depoe Bay is known as the “Whale Watching Capital of Oregon.” You can see gray whales all year, but the best times are spring and fall when they migrate. There is a special viewing area on the bridge, and in 2025, the town added new telescopes and information boards for visitors.

Devil’s Punchbowl

This is a big rock bowl near the ocean. When the waves come in, they crash inside the bowl and make a loud, powerful sound. At low tide, people can walk closer to see the rock formations and small tide pools safely.

Small Harbor

Depoe Bay has the smallest navigable harbor in the world. You can stand by the docks and watch fishing boats and whale-watching boats come in and out. The harbor is only 50 feet wide, making it look tiny compared to other ports, but it is very busy every day.

Day 5: Newport – Sea Life and Lighthouses

Newport is a busy town by the ocean with many things to see and do. It is one of the most popular stops on the Oregon Coast.

Oregon Coast Aquarium

This is one of the best aquariums in the Pacific Northwest. Every year, over 500,000 people visit. You can see sea otters, sharks, jellyfish, and colourful fish. In 2025, they opened a new seabird exhibit where you can watch puffins dive underwater. Kids love the touch pools where they can feel starfish and sea anemones.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

This is the tallest lighthouse in Oregon, standing at 93 feet high. It was built in 1873 and still helps ships today. You can take tours with park rangers to learn its history and climb to the top for ocean views. Near the lighthouse, there are tide pools with sea stars, crabs, and small fish. Scientists often study these tide pools, and in 2025, new signs were added to teach visitors about marine life.

Historic Bayfront

This is a fun area by the harbor. You can see sea lions sleeping and barking near the docks. There are many seafood restaurants where you can eat fresh fish, shrimp, and clam chowder. There are also gift shops selling local crafts, t-shirts, and sweets like saltwater taffy.

Nye Beach

Nye Beach is a small, cosy beach area in Newport. It has art shops, small bookstores, cafes, and bakeries. You can walk on the sandy beach, buy local art, or relax with a coffee while watching the waves. In 2025, they improved beach access ramps so it’s easier for everyone to reach the sand.

Day 6: Florence and the Oregon Dunes

Keep driving south to reach Florence, a small town with fun nature spots and adventures.

Sea Lion Caves

This is the largest sea cave in the U.S. You take an elevator down 200 feet to see the cave. Inside, you will see many sea lions resting on rocks or swimming in the water. The cave is open all year, but the best time to see the sea lions inside is fall and winter. In spring and summer, they spend more time outside on the rocks.

Heceta Head Lighthouse

This is one of the most photographed lighthouses in America. It is 56 feet tall and sits high on a cliff, giving beautiful views of the ocean. The lighthouse was fully restored in late 2023, making it shine bright again. You can walk up a short trail to see it up close and visit the small museum in the old keeper’s house.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

This place has huge sand dunes that go on for over 40 miles along the coast. You can:

Rent ATVs or dune buggies to ride over the sand hills
Try sandboarding, which is like snowboarding but on sand
Hike or walk on trails through the dunes to see birds and plants

Thousands of people come here every year for adventure and fun. In 2025, they added new safety signs and marked areas for beginner sandboarders to make it easier for first-timers.

Day 7: Bandon – Rugged Beauty and Small Town Charm

Finish your road trip in Bandon, a quiet town with a beautiful and rocky coastline.

Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint

This is a place where you can look out at the ocean and see big rocks called sea stacks. The most famous one is Face Rock, which looks like a person’s face looking up at the sky. Many people come here to watch waves crash against the rocks and take photos, especially at sunset.

Coquille River Lighthouse

This lighthouse was built in 1896 to guide boats into the river. It is a small, pretty lighthouse that sits near the beach. You can walk around it and read signs about its history. In 2025, the lighthouse area was cleaned up with new picnic tables and pathways, making it a nice spot to relax.

Old Town Bandon

Old Town is a small shopping area near the water. It has gift shops, candy stores, art galleries, and seafood restaurants. Many people come here to try fresh crab or fish and chips. The streets are quiet and peaceful, making it a good place for a slow walk and to buy local souvenirs.

Bandon Beach

Bandon Beach is known for its unique rock shapes along the shore. You can walk for miles on the sand, explore small tide pools, and take photos of the rocks. Sunset photography is very popular here all year, with the sky turning beautiful colours behind the sea stacks.

Travel Tips for Your Oregon Coast Road Trip

Plan for all weather: The Oregon Coast can shift from sunny to rainy quickly. Pack layers, including a waterproof jacket and extra socks.
Book early in summer: Hotels and campsites fill up fast between June and August. Reserve ahead, especially in places like Cannon Beach and Newport.
Tide tables matter: Check local tide charts before visiting tide pools or beach caves. Low tide is best for exploring safely.
Gas up when you can: Some stretches of Highway 101 are remote. Fill your tank in larger towns like Tillamook or Florence.
Bring reusable bags and bottles: Oregon has banned single-use plastic bags and charges for paper ones. Reusable bottles are handy at parks and towns with refill stations.
Watch for wildlife: Sea lions, whales, puffins, elk, and bald eagles can all be spotted along the coast. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Respect nature: Stick to trails, pack out trash, and keep a safe distance from wildlife and cliffs.

Conclusion

An Oregon Coast road trip is one of the best ways to see the Pacific Northwest. This 7-day journey includes popular places and hidden treasures, from Astoria to Bandon. You’ll see lighthouses, forests, dunes, beaches, and wildlife. In 2024, Oregon’s coast saw a rise in eco-tourism and park visits, with more than 10 million visitors reported by Oregon State Parks. Whether you're going solo, as a couple, or with family, this route brings plenty of fun and views without feeling rushed. With many towns less than an hour apart, it’s easy to enjoy each stop while still moving forward.