Hi, we are looking for lodging advice for the Oregon Coast for July 2026. We have 6 nights and are thinking the first two nights will be Cannon Beach and the last 2 in Bandon. What are your favorite lodgings? Also, what would be a good mid coast town for a 2 night stay and best places to stay? We are willing to splurge a bit.

A bit about us: 60 yo couple, no kids, interested in exploring the beaches, towns, and natural coastal beauty - and maybe taking some excursions like a dune buggy ride, the train in Rockaway, or a jet boat in Gold Beach if we can make it. We love to relax at quiet and comfy lodgings at the end of the day.

We are vegetarians so any restaurant suggestions would also be helpful.

Bonus question: what is worst day to drive from Bandon to Portland (so we can avoid it!)

Thanks for reading and I look forward to getting your advice.

Leslie

I recommend the jet boat rides in Gold Beach, have done it several times. Lots of nice scenery and often better weather up the river than on the coast. If you want a splurge accommodation in that area, look at TuTuTun Lodge which is typically the highest rated lodging in Oregon. They have an excellent restaurant; you’d want to check to make sure the menu accommodates vegetarians.

The drive from Bandon to Portland using 101 to Reedsport then east on 38 to I-5 is a nice drive. I-5 to Portland is just freeway and can be heavy at times, but generally speaking, we’ve consistently made the drive from Gold Beach to Portland in about 5.5 hours regardless of the day of the week.

I think mid coast Newport or Yachats are good places to stay. In Yachats there are 3 motels/hotels within walking distance of each other- the Adobe, the Fireside and the Overleaf. They are all ocean front. The Adobe has a restaurant with ocean views. I usually stay at the Fireside as it as pet friendly rooms and we have a dog.
There is a paved path between the motels and there is also a path into town.
Newport is good too, bigger than Yachats. The Elisabeth Inn is nice place to stay- you can walk along the ocean to Nye Beach where there are several restaurants and shopping areas. There is also an Old Town area with more restaurants and shopping- not on the ocean but on the harbor. We like Clearwater Restaurant which is on the water and Local Ocean. There are a couple of lighthouses to explore. In Newport there is an aquarium with coastal life on display.
Dune buggy riding? I have done that just a bit south of Florence. Very fun. Don't go in the big buggies- go in a small one that holds 3 or 4 and a driver.
The jet boat rides are fun at Gold Beach.
Bandon is frequently pretty windy. There is a famous golf course there and even if you don't play golf you can hike around the grounds stopping for snacks at a couple of club houses. It was fun to do but pretty windy
Have a great trip

Thank you - that's very good to know!

Thank you for the detailed reply. I appreciate the information. The golf course hike sounds like fun!

My parents really like the Overleaf Lodge at Yachats.

The name of the Golf course in Bandon is Bandon Dunes. You can ask for a walking map at the club house.

Overleaf Lodge in Yachats was our favorite stop on our Oregon trip. Here is our day in link below driving from Cannon Beach to Yachats.

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/cha...-oregon-coast/

Overleaf Lodge

From a base in Bandon, or one further south (like Gold Beach) a fabulous day's drive can take you to what I (and many others) regard as the most scenic portion of the Oregon coast, the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, a linear state park set between Gold Beach and Brookings. Awesome doesn't do it justice.

On the same trip, if you have a couple of extra hours to spend, you can pop over the California line and do a quick visit to the Jedediah Smith redwoods, located just east of US 101 on US 199 north of Crescent City. If you haven't visited the redwoods, fair warning, they will leave you gobsmacked.