As you start to plan your Perfect Oregon Road Trip Itinerary, you absolutely must include exploring the Oregon coast. This guide will provide you with a list of the must-see scenic views and cities worth stopping to see as part of your Oregon coast road trip – even if you have to fit it into one, epic day.
This itinerary is a one-way trip, meaning that you start at one end of the coast in the morning and end at the other by evening. If you are following the 8-day itinerary, start from Willamette Valley. However, you can easily customize to start in Portland or Astoria, as well.
the itinerary
Exploring the ORegon Coast in One Epic Day
- Start: Cape Kiwanda, Pacific City
- Devils Punchbowl, Otter Rock
- Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport
- Cape Perpetua, Yachats
- Thor’s Well, Yachats
- Heceta Beach, Florence
- End: Coos Bay (or Bandon)
Oregon Coast Stop 1 – Cape Kiwanda
Start the day off with a bang. Cape Kiwanda is beautiful and a great place to stop and stretch your legs. It is a steep climb through the sand but the views at the top are worth it. Enjoy exploring all of the different views of the trails and stop for a drink or a bite to eat at the Pacific City Brewpub afterwards.
Travel Tip
Most stops on the Oregon Coast have limited cellular service.
Download your Google maps and directions saved to your phone to access offline so you don’t find yourself lost if you lose service from stop to stop.
Stop 2 – Devils Punchbowl
After about an hour away from the first stop, welcome to Devils Punchbowl in Otter Rock! Note that parking is limited, but follow the signage from one of the two lots and it is only a short walk to the overlook viewpoint. There are also a few restaurants and shops if you need a coffee or a snack.
Stop 3 – Yaquina Head Lighthouse
While the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area requires a pass to access, it is worth it. Especially if you have some time to spare, explore the tide pools where you can see all kinds of sea animals including starfish, mussels and more.
Oregon Coast Stop 4 – Cape Perpetua
Next up: Yachats! Given that the location has so many natural areas to explore, you could easily spend a day or two here which is why I included two stops here in the Oregon coast itinerary. As shown above, the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area view is breathtaking. As much as I would have loved hiking up to the view, we took the driving route which is a great option if you don’t have a lot of time.
Travel Tip
It’s pronounced “Yaa-Haats”
Stop 5 – Thor’s Well
If you have searched Thor’s Well as part of your Oregon Coast research you will see the epic spouting water. It is important to know that it does not look that way all the time and it varies depending on the tide – so be sure to go when it is high tide! That being said, it is still worth going because the view of the ocean and the coast is stunning.
Stop 6 – Heceta Beach
Finally, the last stop before you wrap up your day exploring the Oregon Coast is Heceta Beach. While this stop isn’t as dramatic as the previous stops, the sand and ocean really ties the day together with a bow on top.
End of your Oregon Coast in One Day Adventure
If you are following the 8-day Oregon road trip itinerary, ending in Coos Bay or Bandon, Oregon will set you up for the rest of the itinerary. There is also so much to do around these areas, but I will save that for another day. If you choose to end at another desired location in Oregon, let me know where you end up deciding!
Marin Olivia
Owner & Founder
My name is Marin and I am a twenty-something living in Milwaukee. My day job is as an advertising Account Supervisor managing my portfolio of clients’ plans and business goals. In my free time I am growing and pursuing my passion for content creation, training and loving my pup, Jarvis, and planning my next adventure.
