My husband and I are visiting OR at the end of the month and I'm hoping to get some advice re: which area of the coast to visit - Northern or Southern. We'll be spending three days in Portland before driving over to the coast, and have four days to spend before returning to Portland for our flight. We want to hike, beach comb, visit shops/restaurants and generally relax. Do you have an itinerary you'd recommend? Do you prefer the Northern coast or Southern coast, and why?

Thanks for your help!

I personally prefer the southern coast (and just into very northern CA for the Redwoods) . . . But August is very popular anywhere on the coast so you may have to just go where you can find accommodations. It isn't really a region where you can wing it in summer.

With four days I'd do a bit of both. I'd follow this route - https://goo.gl/maps/tYxLfgKFbTE2 - with a schedule something like this:

Day 1 - Portland to Bandon via I-5, OR 38 and US 101. Head south on I-5 to the junction of OR 38 (a little south of Cottage Grove) and take that scenic road out to the coast at Reedsport. You'll pass through a pretty canyon along the lower Umpqua River, and just before Reedsport keep your eyes peeled for numerous elk at a roadside refuge (with viewing area) on the south side of the road. Spend the night in Bandon, with its collection of decent hotels/motels, good seafood restaurants in its "old town," and fabulous Bandon Beach at sunset.

Day 2 - Spend the day driving down the coast to the California state line, and continue south to US 199 just north of Crescent City for a visit to the Jedediah Smith redwoods. Return to Bandon, allowing plenty of time in each direction for looking at beaches and the various spectacular rock formations on offer. This is a marvelous day trip.

Day 3 - Head north on US 101, stopping at various points like the Oregon Dunes, Heceta Head (famous lighthouse, great beach) Cape Perpetua, Yachats, Newport, Depoe Bay... Spend the night anywhere between Tillamook and Astoria; booking something ahead is going to be crucial in this area owing to its proximity to Portland. Note many places in Cannon Beach require two night minimums in the summer. Spend the evening walking along some beach.

Day 4 - Continue north on US 101 over the (awesome) mouth of the Columbia River to Cape Disappointment on the north bank. This is a terrific area with lighthouses, a fine Lewis and Clark interpretive center, waves on rocks, and its own Waikiki Beach.



Return to Portland via the north bank of the Columbia, which is quite scenic in parts, and which travels past or through some very interesting and historic towns; it's a little slower but a lot more interesting (IMO) than its Oregon alternatives.

Note depending on lodging availability, you could easily do this route in reverse; in fact it might be preferable as the ocean will be on your right as you head south down the coast.

If you feel you must have 3 days in Portland, put 2 at the end and only 1 on the day you arrive. I like Gardyoo's route. Detour east on Rt. 138 at Reedsport for about 5 miles to see the Dean's Creek Elk Viewing area.
The coast is about 30-35 degrees cooler than the inland areas every afternoon. Bend hit 105 yesterday and probably will be over 102 today.

Thanks for the information tomfuller and Gardyloo! I appreciate it!

I am going to disagree with the advice. You have four days and one of the things on your list is "relax." Driving the whole length of the Oregon Coast AND into California AND into Washington is not relaxing. It's beautiful, but it's a lot of driving.

And while yes, I like Southern Coast, I don't see it justified to go clear to Brandon, when there's as pretty of beaches further north. And you have some pretty boring bits along there by Reedsport and Coos Bay.

You will still get a lot of beautiful Oregon coast if you modify Gardyloo's map by driving south just to Albany and then taking Highway 20 west over to Newport. Spend at least one night there--so much to do. Great working Port and downtown with shops, a lighthouse to visit, the aquarium and the Marine science center. Plus historic Nye Beach.

Then head north, stopping at Depoe Bay and other towns. Lincoln City has a place where you can blow your own glass btw.

Either spend two nights in Cannon Beach, including the trip to Ilwaco he describes ...

Or... Spend a night in one of the tiny towns along the way to Cannon Beach. The Three Capes are gorgeous, and since 101 goes inland through there, they tend to get forgotten. You need to take aaside road to get to them. Kiwanda, Lookout and Meares each have their own character. There is a hotel at Kiwanda, and I think also some up by Meares/Oceanside but otherwise it's all vacation houses--Airbnb or booking.com, HomeAway. (Don't stay on Tillamook Bay though. )

Mazanita is another small town that gets overlooked and it's a beautiful beach, and very close to Cannon. It does have more hotels.