Top Things to Do at the Oregon Coast When You Have Less than 24 Hours: Day Trip Itinerary
One of my favorite things about Oregon is that it’s one of those special US states where beach bums and mountaineers can both thrive around their favorite natural elements without ever leaving state lines.
In most places you’re given the option of one or the other at best; either lounge on the beach with your toes in the sand or lose yourself among the trees on a mountain hike. Having the option of surrounding yourself with either natural beauty while still staying within the same state is a special kind of awesome!
Leave it to Oregon to offer up my two opposite loves within a two-hour drive of each other.
When I first visited Oregon a few years ago, a large chunk of my trip was centered around Portland, but I also knew that I would be kicking myself later if I didn’t take the opportunity to do an Oregon coast road trip while I had the chance!
There are plenty of seaside towns to choose from along the coast, but since I only had a single day to make the most of the trip, I decided to take some advice from a few locals and planned my drive to go from Portland to Cannon Beach and then finish out the day in Astoria before circling back to the city.
If you also plan to spend time in downtown Portland during your trip, feel free to check out my other post for suggestions on things to do in and around Portland, and why I’m madly in love with that city!
Getting from Portland to the Oregon coast
If you plan to travel by car (which I personally prefer because it puts you in complete control of your itinerary and pit stops) many towns along the Oregon coast are only a short two-hour drive from Portland. The trip to the coast is a smooth and easy one, plus you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy as many coastal towns, sites, and attractions as you’ve set aside time for!
The most commonly recommended directions that I’ve found from Portland to Cannon Beach is to take U.S. Highway 26 West to the junction of U.S. Highway 101, then continue on U.S. Highway 101 until you reach Cannon Beach. Astoria is then just a short 30ish minute drive from Cannon Beach, and you can easily get there by following US-101 North to US-30 East until you reach Astoria.
If you don’t have a car available and prefer not to rent one, there’s a twice-daily bus service provided by Northwest Point that leaves once in the morning and in the evening from the Portland Greyhound and Amtrak stations, and drops off at Cannon Beach.
Here’s a link for more information on alternative transportation options and where to buy bus tickets.
Additionally, HERE is a link to a local bus tour that will pick you up in Portland and take you on a day-long trip to see Ecola Park, Indian Beach, Canon Beach, Haystack Rock, Hug Point State Park, Oswald West State Park, and Neahkahnie Mountain. If you want to experience the Oregon coast but feel reluctant to rent a car and make the drive from Portland, and would like to have a guided tour by an expert, this tour is a great option!
Below are a few of my favorite stops during any day trip to the Oregon Coast.
Cannon Beach
This small gallery-lined pacific city proudly radiates seaside charms and coastal comforts. Everything that I had previously imagined a Pacific Northwest ocean town would look and feel like, Cannon Beach hit every single mark!
Downtown is arranged with rows of quaint locally-owned shops, restaurants, art galleries, and beachside bed and breakfasts.
It was slightly overcast and misting when I visited (um, hello, because it’s Oregon) and walking through the town and on the beach while surrounded by the smell of salt water and rain felt like a natural therapy session.
Spending only a few hours here was frankly nowhere near long enough and I’m determined to come back in the future to give this beach town the undivided attention it deserves (oceanfront B&Bs - I’m coming back for you!).
Haystack Rock
The thing that really puts Cannon Beach on the map for tourists is Haystack Rock! You may have spotted the iconic rock formation in the background scenes of movies such as The Goonies, Point Break, and Twilight; but overall, The Goonies really turned the natural structure into a well-known tourist destination!
Personally,I have no shame in saying that my primary reason for visiting Haystack Rock to live out my Goonies fan girl dreams, but I ended up lusting over the Pacific coastline just as much!
A bonus to the area is that Haystack Rock is also known for its large population of Puffins during the spring months!
I visited Cannon Beach during the first week of December and at the time there were no Puffins in sight, but I’ve read that during the months of April-July is the prime time to catch these colorful cuties while they’re still nesting in the area.
Ecola State Park
Ecola State Park is only three-miles north of Cannon Beach and even though I unfortunately didn’t have too much time to spend at the park (since I was determined to cram a tour of the coast into one single day) even just driving through for a quick view of the area was incredible.
Ecola dripped with dense green forest throughout miles of cliffs and grassy bluffs that face the Pacific Ocean.
I’m personally a huge lover of lighthouses and the views of the Tillamook Lighthouse off the coast was breathtaking, even through the moody overcast clouds that draped over the park in December.
Astoria, Oregon
Oregon Film Museum
The determining factor that led me to Astoria, Oregon was first and foremost my need to check out the Oregon Film Museum.
After learning that many of the movies that framed my childhood were filmed in the Astoria / Cannon Beach area, I knew that checking out this local gem was going to be a key part of my visit to the coast!
Though the museum is primarily home to Goonies movie props and memorabilia, it also has items and tributes to other well known movies such as The Ring, Free Willy, and Kindergarten Cop!
A huge shout out to the Oregon Coast for hosting so many 80s and 90s films that have a huge place in my heart.
Fun Fact: The Oregon Film Museum is housed in the old Clatsop County Jail, which is where the opening scene of the Goonies (where the Fratelli’s escaped) was filmed!
Northwest Wild Products
After leaving the film museum I decided to grab a bite somewhere local and found Northwest Wild Products on Google as a quick nearby seafood option.
First of all, let me start by saying that without Google Maps holding my hand to show me how to find this place, I probably would have passed by it a million times.
Northwest Wild Products is a tiny restaurant and seafood market that’s located behind the Astoria Marina. It’s very easy to miss but well worth keeping an eye out for! Plus, the seafood is FRESH. I’m talking straight off the boat, fresh.
I’ve always heard people talk about how there’s a distinct difference in taste between Atlantic and Pacific seafood, but experiencing it firsthand was a game changer! I ordered oysters on the half shell along with a crab melt and both were incredible. And the prices were super reasonable!
Astoria - Megler Bridge
The Astoria-Megler Bridge is one of the area’s most notable structures and is a great place to take pictures! At just over four-miles long, it’s said to be the longest truss bridge in America and was created as a link within the U.S. Route 101 between Olympia, Washington and Los Angeles. California!
I actually snapped this picture outside of Northwest Wild Products which is located right below the bridge!
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