Oregon Coast Highway

Highway 101 runs south from Astoria along the entire Oregon coast to the California border. Sea stacks, lighthouses, dunes and headland viewpoints line the way, and the whole coastline is open to the public.

The Oregon Coast Highway is the Oregon section of US Route 101. It runs from Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River in the north to Brookings at the California border in the south. It is about 363 miles (584 km) long and passes more than 80 state parks. Thanks to the 1967 Beach Bill, the entire coastline is open to the public. Heading south: Astoria (the Astoria Column, and a filming location for The Goonies); Fort Clatsop; Seaside; Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock; Ecola State Park; Hug Point; the Tillamook Creamery; the Three Capes Scenic Loop and Cape Kiwanda; Depoe Bay (whale watching); Newport (the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Yaquina Head Lighthouse); Cape Perpetua (Thor's Well); the Heceta Head Lighthouse; Sea Lion Caves; the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area south of Florence, where dune buggies are allowed; the Bandon sea stacks; and finally the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor at the far south. Plan at least 3 days, and 5 to 7 days is recommended. It can be connected with California's Highway 1 and Redwood National Park to form a major Pacific coast route. Towns along the way have easy access to gas and lodging. At the beach, watch out for sneaker waves, and never stand on rocks with your back to the ocean.

Along the route

  1. Cannon Beach
  2. Cannon Beach
  3. Cannon Beach
  4. Cannon Beach
  5. Cannon Beach
  6. Cannon Beach
  7. Cannon Beach
  8. Cannon Beach
  9. Cannon Beach
  10. Depoe Bay
  11. Newport
  12. Cape Perpetua
  13. Heceta Head Lighthouse
  14. Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
  15. Bandon & Southern Oregon Coast
  16. Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
  17. Brookings