Lincoln City & Central Oregon Coast
A vacation stretch on Oregon's central coast, known for glass float hunting in Lincoln City and whale watching in Depoe Bay, with the Oregon Coast Aquarium and Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport to the south.
Lincoln City lies on the central Oregon coast, about 140 km (87 miles) from Portland (roughly a 2-hour drive). Formed from several merged beach towns, it stretches about 11 km (7 miles) along US 101, the Pacific Coast Highway, and is one of the most popular getaways on the Oregon coast. This destination uses Lincoln City as a base and covers the central coast south through Depoe Bay, Otter Rock and Newport to Yachats and Heceta Head. Think of it in three sections: Lincoln City itself is about wide beaches, glass float hunting, kites and Devils Lake, with Cascade Head hikes and the Neskowin Ghost Forest to the north. About 15 km (9 miles) south, Depoe Bay is a prime spot for gray whale watching, and farther south are coastal wonders like Cape Foulweather and the Devil's Punch Bowl. Newport has the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Yaquina Head Lighthouse and its tide pools, and the Historic Bayfront fishing harbor with its sea lions. At the southern end, Cape Perpetua, Thor's Well, Heceta Head Lighthouse and the Sea Lion Caves make a good day trip. The best season is July–September, with little rain and temperatures around 15–20°C (59–68°F); winters are rainy and stormy, great for storm watching; late March and late December bring Whale Watch Week for the gray whale migration. The ocean is cold year-round and not suitable for swimming; always watch for sneaker waves and incoming tides, and never climb on driftwood logs. Getting around basically requires a car, as buses are infrequent. Plan on 2–3 days. Most state parks are free, while federal sites (Yaquina Head, Cape Perpetua, etc.) require a day pass or an America the Beautiful annual pass.
Top sights
- Depoe Bay & Whale Watching Center – A seaside town known as the world's smallest navigable harbour. It is Oregon's top spot for watching gray whales, and you can see whale spo…
- Yaquina Head Lighthouse & Outstanding Natural Area – Oregon's tallest lighthouse stands on a lava headland. At its base, the cobbled beach, tide pools, seabirds and seals make this a highlight…
- Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area – A giant stone bowl formed by the collapse of sea caves. At high tide, waves churn inside the bowl, and the nearby tide pools and surf beach…
- Oregon Coast Aquarium – A marine aquarium on the south shore of Newport, with the Deep Sea Tunnel and exhibits of sea otters, sea lions and seabirds that are very…
- Cape Perpetua Scenic Area – The highest viewpoint on the Oregon coast that can be reached by car. On the lava coastline you will find the Devil's Churn, the Spouting H…
- Thor's Well – A natural “ocean drain” on a lava coastline. Seawater rushes into the hole and then spouts back out. It is the most famous photo spot on th…
- Newport Historic Bayfront – A working fishing harbor where sea lions lounge on floating docks. Fresh-seafood shops, seafood chowder restaurants, and souvenir stores li…
- Heceta Head Lighthouse – The most photogenic lighthouse on the Oregon Coast, standing on a green headland. Its beam is said to be the brightest on the Oregon Coast.
- Sea Lion Caves – Ride an elevator down into one of America’s largest sea caves to watch wild Steller sea lions, with Heceta Head Lighthouse visible from the…
- Cascade Head – A meadow headland north of Lincoln City and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. From the summit, you can overlook the Salmon River estuary and the…
- Devils Lake – A freshwater lake right next to Lincoln City, offering kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. In a seaside town, it is a rare patch of calm…
- D River State Recreation Site – Said to be one of the world's shortest rivers, the D River empties into the Pacific here, and its wide beach is a popular spot for flying k…
- Lincoln City Glass Floats & Glass Center – Search about 11 kilometers of beach for hand-blown glass floats made by local artists. Keep whatever you find, or blow one of your own.
- Siletz Bay – An estuary and national wildlife refuge at the south end of Lincoln City, where harbor seals bask on sandbars at low tide.
- Roads End State Recreation Site – A quiet cove beach at the north end of Lincoln City, with tide pools along the rocky shore at low tide and Cascade Head in view.
- Drift Creek Falls Trail – A round-trip hike of about 5 km through temperate rainforest, ending at a 73-meter suspension bridge that spans a canyon and faces a 23-met…
- Neskowin Ghost Forest & Proposal Rock – An ancient spruce forest that sank after the great earthquake of 1700. At low tide, hundreds of stumps emerge from the sand, beside Proposa…
- Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint – A sea-cliff viewpoint north of Depoe Bay, where gray whale spouts are common. At low tide you can see the boiler of a century-old shipwreck.
- Cape Foulweather & Otter Crest – A headland named by Captain Cook in 1778. Its roughly 150-meter-high viewpoint overlooks the coastline, and the name lives up to itself whe…
- Agate Beach State Recreation Site – A wide beach north of Newport where agates can be found in winter. It faces Yaquina Head Lighthouse and is popular with surfers.
- Nye Beach – Newport's century-old seaside resort district, lined with art galleries, cafés, and inns, with the beach just steps away.
- Yaquina Bay Lighthouse – A wooden lighthouse built in 1871 that operated for only three years. It is Newport's oldest building, and visitors can go inside for free.
- Yaquina Bay Bridge – A steel arch bridge completed in 1936, one of the most iconic bridges on Highway 101 on the Oregon Coast, spanning Newport's bay.
- Hatfield Marine Science Center – Oregon State University's marine research base. Its visitor center has touch pools, a giant Pacific octopus tank, and ocean science exhibit…
- South Beach State Park – A dune beach park on Newport's south shore, with a walk out to the south jetty. Camping and cycling are convenient here.
- Seal Rock State Recreation Site – A line of basalt reefs formed by ancient lava stretches out to sea. Harbor seals and sea lions are common here, and tide pools are rich at…
Where to eat
- Kyllo's Seafood Grill – A seaside seafood restaurant at the mouth of the D River that ranks first in Lincoln City on several lists; fish and ch…
- Mo's Seafood & Chowder (Lincoln City) – A longtime Oregon Coast chowder house founded in Newport in 1946; the Lincoln City branch sits in the historic Taft dis…
- Tidal Raves – A clifftop seafood restaurant in Depoe Bay facing Arch Cove, known for its halibut green curry and Italian-style seafoo…
- Otis Café – A generations-old coastal breakfast favorite known for its German potatoes and marionberry pie; moved in 2021 from the…
- Pelican Brewing – Siletz Bay – The fourth pub from Oregon Coast brewer Pelican, opened in 2022, with a bayside patio, house-brewed beer and a seafood…
- Thai Bay – An affordable Thai restaurant in north Lincoln City that doesn't hold back on spice; the red pineapple curry and massam…
Itineraries
- Oregon Gorge, Crater Lake & Coast Loop – Depart from Portland, looping through gorge waterfalls, Bend, Crater Lake, and the southern and northern coasts